• Technology conference: The main atrium in the Sir Peter Blake technology Centre.
  • Hospitality students with lunches prepared for Technology Conference participants.
  • The promotional poster, designed by TGS staff member Lorraine Clark.
  • Junior girls relay team: Samantha Korck, Anna Tucker, Roxanne Korck, Gerri Gibson.

Takapuna Grammar News for May

MIND THE GAP:  A Technology Education Conference

More than 100 technology teachers from all around Auckland and further afield were treated to a wonderful day of professional learning and inspiring guest speakers at the third annual Technology Conference held at the school at the end of Term 1.

Once again the super team, led by HOF Jane Rouse, put together an impressive speaking list.

Entrepreneur, Andy Hamilton from Icehouse, architects Yusef Patel and Alice Couchman, from Unitec, designer Jun Tsujimoto, of Jasmax, and Peter Cullinane, from Lewis Road Creamery, a boutique New Zealand dairy company, were all well received by the large audience. 

Another presenter was former TGS teacher, Chantelle Gerrard, now Head of Costume Designer for the Pop Up Globe, who has a 20 year career in costume which has included making costumes for Game of Thrones, constructing space suits for 'The Martian', Costume Design for the feature film ‘Insatiable Moon’, as well as the Design and construction for  all of Tim Bray's Productions from 2006 -2009. 

Ann McGlashan, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education at Auckland University provided current teachers with an insight into in the pre-service primary and secondary programmes for the learning area of Technology in the New Zealand curriculum and Design & Visual Communication. Suzanne Bliss, from AUT University gave a lecture called – “Food and the Senses” focused on the aspects of ethics and sustainability which are core to the secondary Technology curriculum, and a core paper in the degree programme at AUT.

Sandy Geyer’s presentation was titled:  Circles of Empowerment for Academic Leaders and Future Leaders. She works with business leaders, academic leaders and future business leaders in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to develop what she terms their Entrepreneurial Intelligence (EnQ), and their Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

The keynote speaker list was rounded out with Dr Tracy Berno, Auckland University of Technology, an Associate Professor in the Department of Culinary Arts, whose research interests include the relationship between agriculture, tourism and cuisine, sustainable food systems and, food and health in the South Pacific, and Vijesh Nangia, of Scratchpad, a group of innovative technology learning centres, where students can learn about Coding, Robotics, 3D Printing and Electronics, developing their logical and analytical thinking skills and learning how to be curious.

In its third year this conference is getting quite a name for itself and is obviously filling a need for stimulating professional learning for technology teachers.

 

Food, glorious food

Wonderful food smells filled the Languages department “alleyway” recently, for the annual International Food Market, organised by the prefect committee. It was a huge success as students from all levels enjoyed organising their stalls and preparing the food. Amelia, one of the key helpers at the event said, “Being a part of the Spanish stall was such an awesome experience, preparing churros and quesadillas helped me immerse myself in the culture that I am learning about in class and all the food was super delicious!”

Students bought delicious foods inspired by different cultures from all over the world. Lining the deck of the languages department was tables filled with foods from South Africa, China, as well as Spanish, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, French, Japanese and Maori. Students and teachers were able to buy fried rice, dumplings, croissants, spring rolls, quesadillas and heaps of other foods.  Prefect Christine Zhao, reflected , “The market was much more diverse with student input this year, and I hope to see this develop into even more cultural participation in the future.”

 

A highly successful track and field season 

Seven medals at the Greater Auckland Athletics Championships this year has completed a highly successful season for the school’s athletes. Heading the impressive list was pole vaulter Imogen Ayris who won gold. The new crop of juniors also shone with silver in the 4x100 girls relay, (pictured) after having won this event at the earlier North Harbour Zone Day. 

Anna Tucker gained a silver and a Bronze on the track in the 300m and 100m respectively. Just behind her in the 300m Junior girls, and collecting bronze, was Samantha Korch. On the field Gerri Gibson was awarded bronze in both the triple jump and the 70m hurdles, having won both of these at the North Harbour Zone event.

Most recently, at the New Zealand Interprovincial champion ships, Samantha Korck, Roxanne Korck and Gerri Gibson represented Auckland, where they won a relay team silver medal. 

Samantha went on to place 5th in the junior Girls 300m, at The North Island Secondary School Championships, where both Roxanne and Gerri along with Samantha won a Gold medal in the 4 x100 m junior girls relay.

The athletics potential over the coming years with this new young crop of talented female athletes looks very bright.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Issue 87 May 2018