Tēnā koutou katoa,

Congratulations to each and every one of our students for a remarkable Term 3. It has been a term filled with growth, learning, and incredible achievements. Our school values of Whanaungatanga (relationships), Perseverance, and Citizenship have shone brightly through the actions of our students and staff. It is heartening to see these values becoming an integral part of our school culture.

However, let us remember that there is always room for improvement. Our values must not only be spoken but embedded deeply into everything we do – from our conduct within the classroom to our interactions throughout the school and our behaviour within the wider community. We are always ambassadors of Aurora College, and how we carry ourselves in public greatly influences our school's reputation. So, as you enjoy your well-deserved holidays, please remember the responsibility you carry with you when you are out and about.

This term has been incredibly busy, filled with memorable highlights. From the Year 8 Deep Cove camp to the eye-opening Stewart Island trips, the inspiration senior students gained by attending CareerFest, outdoor education and physical education camps, our dedicated netball team representing our school with pride, the vibrant PolyFest, and our impressive haul of prizes at the Art awards, including some major ones. Special mention must be made of the Senior and Junior Kapa Haka performances; the mana that you showed in your performances made me immensely proud to be a part of the Aurora College whānau.

We celebrated Te Wiki o te reo Māori, which featured that remarkable Haka competition. It was inspiring to see students get up there and perform. 

Looking ahead to next term, changes are afoot. Early on, you'll notice new outdoor furniture for students to sit at and relax while enjoying break time. We're also adding outdoor games for their enjoyment, including oversized Jenga and an outdoor table tennis table, just to name a few. There is a good chance that the Pump Track will begin next term also. The Board of Trustees are investing money, and people are working hard to lift the state of our physical environment to a place that fosters creativity and fun.

The holidays are a time for reflection, relaxation, and preparation for the final term. Senior students, only have four weeks before entering exam leave, and for juniors, only eight weeks remain until the schooling year ends. If this term is any indication, we can expect another bustling and productive term ahead.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to all our dedicated staff and exceptional students. It is an absolute honour to lead such a remarkable school community. As you embark on your well-deserved break, take the time to recharge and return refreshed, ready for the challenges and successes that await us in Term 4.

Thank you, and enjoy your break.

Craig Taylor

Principal

We love designing and making in technology at Aurora College. Gaining confidence with tools, equipment, techniques and processes are all valuable, but this is not all we do. Students also engage in numeracy and literacy tasks related to the development of their prototypes. Explaining ideas, presenting designs, testing materials, and evaluating these are also important.

On Tuesday 5 September, interested Year 10 Students were invited to take part in Future Ready Farms : The Ballance Agri-Nutrients Innovation Challenge. The event was free, and held here in Invercargill.

Karlos, Oliver, Noah, Mack, Riley, Kade, Harley and Aiden all went to the event. Students were paired up, and placed in teams with students from other Southland schools. They had to solve real world problems about farming today. One example of which included reducing the amount of nitrate that enters waterways, causing problems such as overstimulating the growth of aquatic plants and algae in waterways. The overstimulation is a real issue as waterway can get blocked and clogged up. 

Oliver and Mack, combined with two girls from James Hargest High School, won their section with a clever invention that included an underground tank which would capture run off, filter out the nitrate to recycle and use it again. The idea was very clever and each student got a prize of a $30 voucher in acknowledgement.

Noah Hewitt & Miss Parks

Our School Council members have been busy planning and organising fundraising efforts to help cover the costs of Kapa Haka uniforms for our school.

Cultural Leader Jordie Cairns sourced a generous donation of sausages from Hellers, and the other School Council members agreed to cover the cost of bread and sauce etc, so that all money raised would be straight profit for this event.

On 14 September, The Service Academy expertly cooked and served the food for the fundraiser. Over $420 was raised which was a fantastic result.

Thank you sincerely to Hellers for their generous donation. Thank you to The Service Academy for their work on the day and thank you to all of our hungry customers.

Our next Sausage Sizzle will be run on Athletics Day in Term 4. Keep an eye out for more information to come.

Any members of our Aurora School Community who wish to help us out with our fundraising efforts are invited to email sparks@auroracollege.school.nz for more information.

Hospitality Trip Report

On Wednesday 30 August, a group of Senior Catering students embarked on an exciting and educational Hospitality Tour. The tour was made possible by the coordination efforts of Great South, who organized a range of engaging and hands-on activities for the students. This trip aimed to provide students with practical insights into the world of hospitality and emphasize the importance of transferable skills in the industry.

Waxy O’ Shea’s Restaurant: The first stop of our hospitality tour was at Waxy O’ Shea’s restaurant. During this visit, students received a general overview and a tour of the restaurant premises. The staff at Waxy's emphasized the significance of transferable skills in the hospitality industry. They highlighted the importance of people skills, teamwork, initiative, and flexibility, stressing that a positive attitude and excellent people skills are valuable assets in the field.

The Urban Kitchen: Our final destination on this informative tour was The Urban Kitchen, a charming establishment located on Centre Street. At this location, students had the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of this unique business and even got to showcase their creativity.

During the visit to The Urban Kitchen, students were given the chance to decorate their own donuts. This practical exercise allowed them to express their creativity and provided a glimpse into the artistic side of culinary arts.

We look forward to more such educational journeys that prepare our students for a successful future in the hospitality industry.