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 The Next Generation of Teachers
The following report was written by one of our recent Gateway Students who achieved a great deal of success during a Gateway Placement in Education. She plans to become a teacher.
For two years I have been in the Gateway programme at The Catlins Area School. My interest in teaching and working with young children lead to the opportunity to have my placement at Big River Educare in Balclutha, and during this time I have studied, by Distance learning, the Level 1 & 2 Childcare papers offered by PORSE.
I really enjoyed this course, and found the tutors extremely helpful, and supportive through every step of the way. This has led to my achieving my Level 3 National Certificate in Early Childhood and Care.
Through my experiences I have developed skills and gained confidence that will help me in my future career as a teacher. It has given me a test run and sample of what I will need to do next year and beyond.
Gateway and working through PORSE has defiantly helped me decide that teaching is my passion and the career pathway I wish to pursue. Completing the PORSE certificate gave me the step I needed.
Next year I am going to Otago University, College of Education to study a degree in Early Childhood teaching, and plan to complete a Diploma in Primary Teaching including psychology.
A big thank you to the team at PORSE for all the support and guidance they gave me, and to my Gateway Coordinator, Mrs.Helen-May Burgess.
 Industry
Recognition
The October / November edition of Aviation
Business Asia Pacific includes an excellent article, 'Frontier Training
Online', which recognizes the curriculum initiatives being developed at The
Catlins Area School for Aviation Studies.
The article focused on the presentations made by
Mr Jon and Mr Bird at the Tauranga Aviation Careers Expo and the Annual Aviation
Industry Association Conference during 2008.
Building a future in Agriculture!
This year students at The Catlins Area School have met with a great deal of success in Agriculture.
Not only have students been able to complete work for their own year levels - but in 90% of cases they have also successfully completed
course work and assessment for higher levels as well. You can view a sample of one of our Year 10 Agriculture student's work in this file as a PowerPoint presentation:
 Food Constituents
 From
Paper Plans to 3D Computer Models
The student pictured chose to
investigated architecture through the Gateway programme. She worked alongside
Rebecca McElrea who has her own Architecture and Design business. While there
she developed an understanding of the Auto CAD programme and has continued to
use the programme to complete a Graphics achievement standard instead of by
hand drawings. She has drawn up her own house plans and continues to feel
enthusiastic about this field and will investigate design directions.
Gifted and Talented Marine
Biology
Three Year 10 Science students from The Catlins
Area School were selected to participate in the 2008
Gifted and Talented Rural Schools programme at the New Zealand Marine Studies
Centre in Dunedin.
This is what the students have said about the
programme:
Towards the end of May, three year 10 students from
The Catlins Area School went to the Portobello Aquarium to study marine
life. We all stayed on Quarantine Island in the Otago Harbour for nine days
over a period of three months while researching different aspects of marine
life. Over 15 schools participated in this investigation specially designed
for rural schools. It was hugely enjoyable, a great way to meet new people
and learn more about different areas of science. This is a extremely
recommended experience and if you get the opportunity, take it!
The students worked on a number of areas of
Marine Biology, including conducting experiments on the strength of cockle
shells. You can view a sample of their work in this file as a PowerPoint presentation:
Crushing Cockles
Gateway to Creativity
The student pictured left participated in The
Catlins Area School's Gateway Programme. As creative
student, who enjoyed Visual Arts, she chose to base her Gateway experience on
the foundation units in Hairdressing.
Her placement for work-place based learning was at ‘Make ‘n Waves’
in Balclutha, and as part of the Gateway Programme she was also able complete
qualifications through the Headquarters Hairdressing Academy.
Those qualifications not only helped her to develop hairdressing skills and
knowledge, but also contributed to her NCEA results.
She always received rave reports, and at the end
of this placement she was
offered an apprenticeship which she began in January and is now continuing with
her creative passion.
Through a combination of the Gateway Programme
and traditional school subjects this student was able to achieve her core school
qualifications, introductory work place qualifications, and make a successful
transition into the workplace for her dream career. Well done!
She listed the following points as highlights of her Gateway
experience:
• Working alongside a great team
• Getting an inside view of how the industry works
• Getting hands on experience.
Recognising Excellence
The Ministry of Education has recognised that The Catlins
Area School provides innovative and high quality teaching spaces for students -
including the school as an example of property
development being used for
Improved Learning Outcomes. You can download the Ministry of Education
report on The Catlins Area School, titled Innovative School Learning Spaces,
here.
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