Ross PreeceIn an era when there is increasing pressure on family finances, providing an equitable outcome for all students is one of the biggest challenge any school faces, says Ashburton College principal Ross Preece.

And one of the areas where financial inequality shows up is in the requirement from many schools for students to have their own laptop or tablet.

“The issue becomes, what do you do about the students where families don’t have the where-with-all?” he said.

Preece has come up with a novel scheme he believes will bridge the financial gap at college, but its success, he says, relies on the community’s willingness to be part of the project.

While the school has a fund it can use to provide students with a device, without some ownership involved, students are less likely to look after that device, he said.

“I’m a real believer in giving kids a helping hand rather than a hand-out and we’ve looked at the option of giving kids the opportunity to earn a computer.”

The scheme involves a business or an individual employing a student for $15 an hour for about 25 hours until enough money has been earned to pay for a Chromebook.

The business or the individual gives the college the $400 the student earned and the school gives that student a Chromebook.

It’s theirs to keep.

There’s an added incentive for the employer as the donation to the college comes with a tax refund.

A side benefit of the work-for-a-computer scheme is the life lesson it teaches students, Preece said.

“For many of these kids it will be the first time they’ve had a job and they’re keen.

“In some cases these kids many not have a role model to show them what sticking with a job means so it’s a huge life lesson in there – put the effort in and you get a reward.

“This is about building a work ethic too, not just about getting a Chromebook.”

He believes there could be up to 100 students in Year 9 and 10 who would be keen to be part of the scheme.

“The opportunity is there, if the kids want a computer then they can earn it.

“The work can be anything a 14 or 15-year-old could do. It’s a great opportunity for a business or anyone in the community to get some work done.”

The college board has given the scheme the green light, seeing it as a way to ensure equity of learning opportunities for students.

“We’re just hoping the community will come on board and support the concept; you’ll be helping a student with a first up, real life lesson,” Preece said.

 By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 29 November 2017

Six players played their last game for the Ashburton College 1st XI on Saturday, bowing out with a win against Shirley Boys’ High School. From left, Tom Ravenscroft, Ben Niles, Will Tod, Will Graham, Gareth Hunt and George Chapman.The Ashburton College 1st XI sent off their six Year 13s with a win after recording their second straight win over Shirley Boys’ High School at the Ashburton Domain on Saturday.

The win was based around their best batting effort of the one-day competition.

Captain Will Graham won the toss and elected to bat.

Despite the early loss of Tom Ravenscroft, fellow opener George Chapman kept the momentum going with a quick-fire 32, which included three sixes.

A couple more cheap wickets were lost, but a 97-run partnership between Graham and Will Tod (34) steadied the ship.

The innings was based around Graham, who was unfortunately finally dismissed for a fantastic 99.

The team finished with 252 runs off their 50 overs.

They then got off to a great start in the field as Jayden Fuller took a screamer of a catch off Harry McMillan in the second over, before McMillan also removed Shirley Boys’ other dangerous opener in the eighth over.

Gareth Hunt then chimed in with two wickets, while Tod picked up one, thanks to a great slip catch by Ben Niles.

AshColl had their opponents five down for 77 and looked to be cruising to victory.

Chapman, the regular keeper, then had a bowl and managed to snare a wicket as did Fuller and Niles. Batsman Isaac Bazley also showed the bowlers how to do it when he picked up two wickets, including the final one, as Shirley were dismissed for 175.

The win meant AshColl finished seventh in the Christchurch secondary schools’ division one one-day contest.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 28 November 2017

Celebrating the launch of the Ashburton College Alumni, committee memers (from left) Peter Gluyas, Alister Argyle, Mark Kennedy, Rod Fox, Ashburton College principal Ross Preece, Linda Clarke, Rennie Davidson, Darion Gray and Alister Lilley. Photo Kieron GrayAn organisation that will firmly link Ashburton College with its past, had its first outing last night.

While many schools have a strong organisation that attracts a large number of ex-students, Ashburton College’s alumni has been a late bloomer.

Its foundations were laid earlier this year and a small group of people have been working behind the scenes to establish the frame-work of an organisation that will not only provide a link for past students with their school, but also will become an avenue past students can use to support the college through grants and donations.

At Wednesday night’s launch alumni chairman Alister Argyle said the organisation’s first official function was a celebration of about 138 years of education in the Ashburton District because its members represented not only Ashburton College, but also its two founding schools, Ashburton High School and Hakatere College.

The new organisation’s number one challenge Argyle said, was to identify as many of its past students and staff as possible and to make them aware the alumni was in business. “We hope that in the future as many of these as possible can channel their wisdom and guidance into the college’s students today and into the future,” he said.

While many past students would use the alumni as a way to reconnect with friends from their school days, there was also the potential for the organisation to become a way for people to support the school financially, Argyle said.

“Our aim is to establish a fund that will enhance the college and therefore enhance the opportunities for students.”

Currently the alumni had 279 formal members, but in terms of social media it had more than1500 likes and followers and many more who were accessing its website, he said.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 24 November 2017