High school students given a helping hand

Each year Tai Poutini Polytechnic presents a number of awards to students from West Coast secondary schools who demonstrate goal setting and passion in the curriculum areas of Technology, Computing, and Hospitality and Tourism.

At Buller High School’s prize giving Thursday 12th November, seven students were presented with an acknowledgement letter by Jolan Kilkelly, Tai Poutini’s Liaison Officer. They will each receive a cheque for $500 at the Polytechnic Awards ceremony in March next year.

“These awards are a great incentive for students to stay at school and complete their NCEA,” says Kilkelly. “It was great to see so many entries this year from Buller High School.

“It is important for students to stay at school for as long as they can. The Tai Poutini Polytechnic High School Awards are a way of encouraging and rewarding those students that do!”

Students are asked to write an essay detailing what they have done and plan to do to prepare themselves for their chosen career path. Students studying in the curriculum areas of Technology, Computing, and Hospitality and Tourism who are returning to school for at least one more year are eligible to apply. They must also include a testimonial from their teacher in their application.

Claire Westoby, Careers Advisor at Buller High School, says the school was “really pleased” to receive seven awards. “It was a real surprise.

“All of the students who applied received an award which is awesome. It’s a great incentive for them to stay at school for another year and gives them a real boost.”

The Buller High School recipients of a 2009 Tai Poutini Polytechnic High School Award are:

• Sarah McDonald, year 13
• Zoe Watson, year 12 (Head Girl for 2010)
• Shane O'Callaghan, year 12
• Taylor Elley, year 11
• Nathaniel Kearns, year 11
• Cameron Hurst, year 11
• Julia Moloney, year 11

Five of the students are keen to pursue careers in computing; the other two in hospitality. There is no compulsion for the students to study at Tai Poutini Polytechnic when they leave school, but they must be returning to school in 2010 for the full year.

The students are currently on study leave and sitting their NCEA exams until early December.

Further awards will be made at Reefton Area School and John Paul II High School during their prizegiving ceremonies on 10 December.