van Asch news - Van Asch Deaf Education Centre

van Asch Deaf Education Centre
van Asch
news
Issue 2 2011
www.vanasch.school.nz
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a quarterly magazine of
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cover
contact
van Asch News
2011!
A helicopter
lands at van Asch
as part of the response to the
February 22 earthquake.
38 Truro Street,
Christchurch 8081
Voice/TTY: (03) 326 6009
Fax: (03) 326 5346
e-mail:
info@vanasch.school.nz
www Web:
www.vanasch.school.nz
in this issue
Chairperson,
Board of Trustees
Dyanne Bensley
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Lit
Principal
Bernie Mulcahy-Bouwman
e
ra
Associate Principal
Marie O'Brien
8KIT
Deputy Principal
Tess Hillmer
Executive Officer
Lynne Ferguson
Days
Residential Social Workers
Laurinda-Lee Grady
Michele Hendren
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Cam
VADEC Senior Audiologist
Paul R. Peryman
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An
i mals
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E ar
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ly
Ch
st
ri
Speech/Language
Brenda Sargent
s
Koru Care
Southern Cochlear Implant
Programme:
Senior Habilitationist
Jill Mustard
Visual Communication
Anita Boon
resource
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Regional Coordinators
James Townshend
Niel Pouwels
Specialist
Resource Teachers:
Reading/Writing
Michele Yonetani
cy
In
ma
s P a rty
ter
tr
e
@
vention Cen
NZSL Resource
Coordinator
Paul Buzzard
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Aw
o
ay Fro m H
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Library
Dayle Campbell
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Technicians
Tony Dwyer
Phil Henderson
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A w ar d
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From the Principal
Although this year was full of many challenges there
were also some wonderful highlights. This magazine
includes many of the highlights from around the van
Asch Region and the base school in Christchurch.
It is great to see "Keep in Touch Days” continuing
to take place. Invercargill, Christchurch and Hawkes
Bay provided us with some wonderful photos and
stories about their K.I.T days. Clearly deaf students
love opportunities to get together.
The van Asch High school students based at
Mairehau High school had a great camp in Wellington
in Term four. Their photos and stories describe a
stimulating and enjoyable week where they met up
with Deaf Adults working in Wellington and Deaf
Students from Kelston. It was a lucky coincidence
that both schools happened to be visiting Wellington
in the same week. When the teachers discovered
this, they made the most of the opportunity for the
students to get together. This will be the start of
some new friendships, I’m sure.
Congratulations to the students from different schools
achieving awards – we would love to receive news
of the other deaf students in the region who have
also attained special awards that they can be proud
of. It is great for us all to be able to share in each
other’s achievements.
In the magazine there are stories written by students
about their exciting experiences – camps, overseas
trips, cultural festivals and family outings. Speeches
and creative writing are also included. I am sure
you will enjoy reading the students’ contributions.
van Asch News
Many people have helped van Asch students and
staff this year. We are very thankful to all the kind
people and groups who donated money for the
students’ programmes and for staff wellbeing during
such difficult times in Christchurch. You will see a
summary of the donations made to the Centre on
the back page of this magazine.
In the Early Intervention Centre section you will see
photos of the van Asch high school students based
at Hagley Community College presenting the garden
kitset they won in a McCains competition. It is
wonderful to see these older students helping the
young children set up the vegetable garden. I look
forward to watching the vegetables grow.
If you are visiting van Asch in 2012 you will see that
we have Redcliffs Primary School with us. The
students, parents and staff are very appreciative
that they can share the van Asch site with us for
another year while their school is repaired. They
are always saying thank you for having them and
love the opportunities to meet deaf students and
learn more about their language and culture. It feels
good to be helping other people.
I wish you all the best for the 2012 school year.
I hope you have a great holiday and enjoy reading
this magazine.
Bernie Mulcahy-Bouwman
Principal
Regional Support
Sue Beaton
Anita Boon
Paul Buzzard
Evette Griffiths
Paul Peryman
Brenda Sargent
Kerry Wood
Michele Yonetani
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It’s been busy for the SRT team in this relatively
short last term of the year. We ran a preschool course
in the Taranaki region, involving two families. It was
rewarding for all who participated. The course would
usually have taken place at the Centre, but due to
disruptions caused by the earthquakes, it was held
in the region. A subsequent assessment visit for
a school age deaf student was able to take place on
campus as scheduled.
Paul Buzzard and Anita provided regional support
in Palmerston North and New Plymouth. This included
working with classroom teachers, teacher-aides,
Resource Teachers of the Deaf (RTD) and parents
of deaf children. Paul also undertook regional travel
to Invercargill, where a very successful KIT Day was
held, furthered by the parents and children’s
eagerness to communicate with each other and be
fully involved. Meanwhile, Brenda travelled to
Southland and Otago regions. She presented two
workshops with RTDs, made several school visits
and provided professional development support to
part-time specialist teachers.
Regarding resource development, Sue and Michele
have been working on some new literacy resources,
including “PM Benchmark Kit 1, 2nd edition, Formal
Retell Forms”, "Beginnings and Connectives Posters",
"Abbreviation and Acronym" cards and “Parts of
Speech" Cards. These resources are intended for
release on the Centre’s on-line shop. Meanwhile,
Anita and Evette have been developing a DVD
resource on oral language sampling, for Specialist
Teachers.
The team thanks Evette for her years as a valued
member of the SRT team and wishes her well, as
she begins a new adventure overseas.
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New literacy resources added to the online shop:
Grammar Fans 2
Abbreviation and Acronym Cards
Fan cards support the teaching of written language
goals that have arisen from an analysis of students'
written language. On each card of the fan there is
the target word with and/or a dotted line underneath
for the student/teacher to write a sentence
incorporating the target word. There is also a blank
card added to each fan so that an additional word
to be taught can be added if desired.
A set of fifty-nine coloured cards illustrates everyday
abbreviations. For example AD, ATM, cm, i.e., Mrs,
NZSL, PC, Rd, VIP, WWW, etc.
On the reverse side of each card there is an
explanation of what the abbreviation means.
Cat. No. 289 $5.00
(The New Zealand Style Book was consulted regarding
the use or non-use of full stops at the end of each
abbreviated word. The use of full stops in abbreviations
is in gradual decline. Resource Teachers of the Deaf
should follow the policy of the school in which they are
working, regarding the use of full stops in abbreviations.)
A set of ten coloured cards depicts the following
common acronyms: ANZAC, Auslan, EFTPOS,
INTERPOL, NASA, NATO, OPEC, PIN, UNICEF
and WHO. On the reverse side of each card there
is an explanation of the meaning of the acronym.
Cat. No. 354 $15
degree
Celsius
- temperature
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millimetre
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van Asch News
Parts of Speech Cards
A set of seven A5 well illustrated cards with
examples, designed to explain in an elementary
way the following seven linguistic terms: adjective,
adverb, conjunction, noun, preposition, pronoun
and verb.
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Cat. No. 355 $4
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Sentence Beginnings sheet
Sentence Connectives sheet
A New Zealand themed A4 sheet designed to support
the introduction and use of a variety of written
sentence beginnings by students.
Beginnings listed on the sheet include: The, My, I,
First, Then, Next, So, Last, The last time, Soon, At
last, If, Another time, After a while, Although,
Afterwards, Before, Eventually, Sometimes, Often.
A New Zealand themed A4 sheet designed to support
the introduction and use of a variety of written
conjunctions.
Conjunctions listed on the sheet for use in compound
sentences: and, because, but, so and or.
Conjunctions listed on the sheet for use in complex
sentences: after, although, as, because, before, if,
since, unless, until, when, where and while.
Cat. No. 356 $1
Cat. No. 357 $1
Also added to the website is the latest issue of
Literacy Links newsletter.
http://www.vanasch.school.nz/literacy-links.php
In this issue:
Go Round - Go Round is a special e-mail project
for schools for the deaf and hard of hearing around
the world in which students (age 6 to 18+) have the
opportunity to write to each other in English by
e-mail.
School Journals directly aligned with the levels of
the New Zealand Curriculum.
National Standards - new additions to the
illustrations in both reading and writing
Online Snacks - e-learning skills aligned to their
teaching and learning needs.
YouTube launches a Site for Teachers.
QR Codes - There are a multitude of applications
for using QR codes in the classroom.
Websites for Teachers.
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New VADEC Resources.
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From the REGIONS
van Asch News
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van Asch News
KIT Day In Invercargill
KIT day in Invercargill in September saw us at
St. Johns learning about keeping ourselves safe
and how to use the emergency number of 111.
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After lunch it was golf time and we were off to the
driving range. There we met a famous ex. All Black
Mr. Waka Nathan!
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van Asch News
I went to play golf
I am playing golf
Me and Jak went to the colouring competition and
we coloured in the paper. I got the medal.
I am going to see my farm. I will see the cows and
I will see the chickens. I like going on the tractor
with Dad.
I went to play golf and I hit a ball. The ball went on
the grass.
By Kiara Faga
Y1, 5 years
Salford School
Invercargill
I am playing golf and I am going to hit the ball.
By Mikaire Mookkaiah-Butler
Y1, 5 years
Salford School
Invercargill
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I am going to the house and I am going to eat the
chips.
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van Asch News
KIT Day
November 23rd saw 18 very excited & happy children
arrive in Resource Teachers of Deaf Children offices
in Invercargill, for our final KIT day for 2011. We were
thrilled to welcome Paul who helped run the morning
session and we had lots of laughs & fun as we learnt
more about NZSL & Deaf culture. Thank you Paul.
After our lunch it was off to 10 pin bowling where the
bigger boys tried hard to whip Paul! (no luck though).
Upstairs for party food and our goodbyes. We were
thrilled to have 2 ladies join us from Invercargill South
Inner Wheel Club who had generously given us some
money to help with the running of our KIT days.
We love seeing all our old KIT day friends and we
loved welcoming some new children as well this time.
See you next year 2012 in June!
10 pin bowling
I am going to play 10 pin bowling. I am going to push
the bowling ball down the ramp.
Kahurangi Dawson-Moore
Year 1
Waverley Park School
Invercargill
I went to 10 pin bowling and I pushed the ball down
the ramp.
Mikaire Mookkaiah-Butler
Year 1
Salford School
Invercargill
I am playing 10 pin bowling
at KIT day and we go
upstairs and we have chips.
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Kiara Faga
Year 1
Salford School
Invercargill
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Last Wednesday I went to KIT day and first we had
Paul to teach us about sign language. After we had
lunch we played 10 pin bowling and on my first bowl
I got a strike! My mum came to watch me play and
later we went upstairs to have hot chips and a fizzy
drink.
Tom Nally
Year 4
Sacred Heart School
Invercargill
van Asch News
Hawkes Bay Farm KIT day
On Friday September 23 the children in Hawkes Bay
went by bus to Takapau for our farm visit. As usual
it was a great day and Bridget and Ashleigh did a
wonderful job of organising the activities. Most of
the children climbed the hill to chase the sheep and
lambs into the sheepyards. The younger children
watched the cow being milked and then they fed the
lambs and the hens and collected the eggs. The
older kids helped the farmers dock the lambs, and
got covered in blood! Rene wore a white tee shirt so
the blood would look really good. The farmers were
very grateful for their help. After lunch, and cooking
sausages, marshmallows, damper and lambs tails,
the older students rode on the trailer behind the
crawler tractor to feed out to the bulls, and the
younger ones played in the hay, rode the horse and
went for a ride in the go kart. Some arrived back
covered in mud and water because Ross went
through the stream too fast!
At the end of the day Ross and Tim did some shearing
and then it was time to pack up to come home.
Rebecca thanked Ashleigh and Bridget and Rene
said a karakia. What a wonderful day we all had.
Thank you so much to the McCormick family and JD
our wonderful bus driver.
Going to feedout on the trailer
Climbing in the hay
Claire is milking the cow
Feeding the lambs
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Mustering the sheep
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van Asch News
Rene and Vaughan after docking
Amokura is making damper
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Cooking damper over the smoky fire
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Finn riding the horse
Riding in the go kart
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van Asch News
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van Asch News
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Christchurch K.I.T. Day
Term 3, 2011, Ice Skating
Wordle By Sam Bosma
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van Asch News
Students Experiences and Stories
While we were still in LA we watched an Ice Hockey
game between LA Kings and The Oilers in the Staple
center. We had the best view in the whole stadium
because we watched the game in a corporate box
and our dinner was provided. After the game Jarrett
Stoll (one of the team players), the Kings
Cheerleaders and also the Kings Mascot came up
to visit us and we took photos. It was definitely an
awesome moment of the trip.
I absolutely enjoyed every moment of the trip, even
sleeping, because the beds were so comfortable.
I wish I could go back in time and revisit every
moment again. I want to say a special thank you to
the Koru Care staff for taking me on this wonderful
trip of a lifetime, I really appreciate it. Thank you
again.
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From Jack Dixon
Christchurch
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van Asch News
My name is Blake Dixon and I was lucky enough to
be selected to travel with the Koru Care group to
the west coast of America in October. The Koru Care
group are people that take sick, deaf or disabled
children for a holiday in America. Air New Zealand
supported and fundraised for the Koru Care group.
We all left Christchurch airport and flew to Auckland
and when we arrived in Auckland we all headed to
the Koru lounge, where we waited for our flight to
L.A. Then our group of 24 Koru Kids boarded an Air
NZ Boeing 777 and finally we were on our way! On
the flight we got to sit next to our carer and buddy.
On the trip we had a carer that looks after you and
is your buddy. On the 12 hour flight I watched movies
all the whole entire time. When we arrived in Los
Angeles we headed to the Sheraton hotel in San
Diego at San Diego Sea World. At Sea World we
meet dolphins, starfish, fresh water fishes, sea water
fishes, turtles, sharks and even orca whales. We
also went to a show that had orca whales doing
tricks and splashing us in the crowd with their tail.
We also fed dolphins and the dolphin’s instructors
showed us some trick signals. The shark aquarium
was awesome, because there was a tank that was
under the water and you could see the shark
swimming around over the top of you. The next day
we all went to the San Diego zoo and I got to see
elephants, polar bears, orangoutangs, panda bears,
gorillas, and lizards. We went on a sky rail that takes
you from the bottom of the hill to the top of the hill.
We also went on a tour bus that took us all around
the zoo! During the second week we all went to
DISNEYLAND! At Disneyland there were lots of rides
that were involved with the Disneyland characters
and we could also got to meet Mickey and Minnie
mouse in their houses. Over all my favourite rides
were the boomerang - this ride goes really fast and
does a cork screw and a loop and then does the
whole ride backwards! – AWESOME!; The Xcelerator,
Perilous Plunge, Bigfoot rapids, and the Ghost Rider.
We also went to Universal Studios and it was
amazingly awesome because we got to see were
they film Desperate House Wives, War of the World,
Physco, King Kong and Jaws. Over all this holiday
has been an experience I will remember for all my
life. A special thank you to Koru Care for taking me
on a wonderful holiday to America.
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Blake Dixon
Christchurch
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van Asch News
The Devil Skin Camp.
For school we had to do a camp, we also had to
pick a camp where we wanted to be physically
challenged so I picked the Devil Skin camp. In case
you don’t know where Devil Skin is, it is in Lewis
Pass, The devil skin is a saddle we had to walk over.
We started on the Monday and left in the morning
on a bus from Christchurch to Boyle River where
we had to check if we had everything and meet our
two awesome instructors, Isaac and Ashley.
We drove to the Palmer Lodge and started to walk
on the Nina Track where we had to cross our first
swing bridge. We walked for 5 hours from the Palmer
Lodge to the Nina hut where we stayed for a night
and where we saw a possum for the first time that
week! The next day was the hardest because we
had to walk up a very steep hill to get to the Devilskin
saddle. The up hill was more like rock climbing!
When we got to the saddle we had lunch and set
off downhill to the Doubtful hut, the walk had taken
us 12 hours.
On Wednesday we had a resting day and getting
ready for solo night. During that night we had to
build a shelter, that we were given. It was a fly that
we had to tie on trees. It was windy and raining
during the night and I felt vibrations of which turned
out to be galloping I found out the in morning. Isaac
asked me and another if we heard strange noises
I said no but I felt something, He told us that Ashley
was going to her tent up the hill and came in front
of two wild deer. I felt the solo night was a good
experience because I had time to reflect on my life.
On Thursday we walked from the doubtful hut to
Windy Point it took us 6 hours. On the final day,
Friday, we did rafting. We rafted from Windy Point
to a lookout place which is after you turn off to go
to Hamner Springs. I enjoyed the rafting the best
out of the whole camp even if I couldn't hear anything!
anything! I found the camp very full on because you
couldn't stop and give up you just had to keep going,
putting one foot in front another was a motto we
used on camp.
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By Lauren Taylor
Yr 10
St Margaret’s College
Christchurch
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van Asch News
Hearing Aid Poem
Sits on my ear like a cat on a branch,
Mould feels like spongy play-dough,
Smells like yucky ear wax,
Mould moulded to the shape of your ear,
I hear whispers, loud, quiet, low and high,
Awesome hearing aids shaped like a hook.
Margaret-Jean Clarke
Year 6
Addington Primary School
Christchurch
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(First Margaret-Jean thought of keywords about
hearing aids, then she made each one into a phrase.
Finally she put the phrases into an order she liked.
Now she has created a picture poem which describes
the hearing aids).
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Rocky the Gnome
van Asch News
Juliet had a gnome and she brought the gnome
to school. Arona and I sanded the gnome to
make it smooth and clean. This gnome was older
than us.
We had lots of colours to paint the gnome and
we had to pick out some colours. We started to
paint the hat first. We picked red for the hat.
Then we painted his beard too. We had to
carefully paint the beard or we might paint his
eyes too, then we painted his pants, t-shirt and
his watering can. We did some mistakes like we
painted his eyes white. He looked awful, like a
monster. Then we mixed some colours together
for his skin. Now it’s finished.
After we had finished painting the gnome we had
to choose a name for him. We chose Rocky
because he was made out of concrete which is
hard like a rock. We showed room 10 the gnome
and they thought that it was AWESOME!
By Arona Tavui and Marcus Kemp
Room 10, Hastings Central School.
Emma Hill
Year 1, Linwood Avenue School, Christchurch
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My name is Emma Hill. I am in Room 7 at Linwood
Avenue School. I was a pukeko in the school concert.
My friend Cameron and I did the pukeko dance.
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van Asch News
By Simone Lang
Year 5
Beckenham School
Christchurch
On Wednesday I went to KIT day at Halswell Pool
with my mum and Olivia my sister. We sat down
and ate our food. After lunch we played an interesting
game. We had to write two true and one false thing
about ourselves and people had to choose which
one was false. We went swimming in the pool the
water was warm. I was playing games in the pool
with Olivia and Will. Me and Olivia were tipping Will
off his board. It was fun. Next I went on the hydroslide. It was dark in the tunnel and it goes slow at
the beginning then fast. I went on my tummy. When
I went around the corners I went up the side.
I wanted to have my birthday party there because
I love the slide.
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I am in Room 5 at
Aranui Primary.
I love to draw
characters for my stories
and then get my teacher to guess the names.
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Tamatoa Tuhou
Year 4
Christchurch
van Asch News
I think the animals should be at the zoo.
Animals are safe at the zoo because they have their own cages.
Other animals can’t get in and hurt them.
They keep their streams clean and healthy. In the wild, streams might get polluted which could
make them sick.
They have other animals to play with and they get fed. They don’t have to catch food.
So zoos are great for animals.
By Simone Lang
Year 5
Beckenham School
Christchurch
Cultural Festival 2011
Hi, my name is Dion. I’m 12 years old. I go to Saint
Joseph’s School in Feilding. On the 31st of August
and the 1st of September, I performed at the Cultural
Festival at the Civic Centre, in Feilding. At the
Festival, there were lots of schools from around the
area. There was dancing, kapa haka, singing and
a play at the Cultural Festival. When my School did
the kapa haka, I felt so great! During one of the
Maori songs I and two others led it in NZSL. Then,
the rest of the class joined in. It was a fantastic
night for everyone there.
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By Dion Mahoney
St. Joseph’s School
Feilding
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van Asch News
Friends and fireworks
I went to the party with my friends.
We had some fireworks at my house.
I am going to Sarah’s farm and I am on the motorbike.
By Kiara Faga
Y1, 5 years
Salford School
Invercargill
Going places
I am going to the farm. I am going to ride on the
motorbike.
I went to Gore. I went in the car.
I went to my friends house to see the fireworks and
the fireworks went up to the moon.
I am going to the park and I am going to play tackle
rugby with Rzaiah.
By Mikaire Mookkaiah-Butler
Y1, 5 years
Salford School
Invercargill
The BMX Track
Yesterday, the 8th of the 11th me and my class and
two other schools went to Elizabeth Park to ride on
the BMX track. But we had to do other things first
like races and mountain biking over slippery logs,
going over stones that are like circle marbles. I just
about crashed. Then we went to talk to the nice
policeman about going down a hill as fast as we can
and my score was 24k an hour and the winner got
some yummy jellybeans. Then we went to the BMX
track and when I went down the dusty hill I got dust
in my eye. I had fun.
Spongebob Square Pants
I watched Spongebob Square Pants in the morning
in the lounge at my house. I really like Patrick Star
because this morning he did not know anything
about Spongebob Square Pants. Squidwid and Mr
Crab work with Spongebob at the Crusty Crab Shop.
Mr Crab is the man who owns the Crusty Crab Shop
and they make crabby patties there.
My New Shoes
On Sunday I went to Rebel Sport to buy me some
new cool shoes for basketball. They are coloured
with blue, yellow, green, silver and black. Every
Tuesday night I wear them when I play basketball
for the Sacred Heart “Sharks” team.
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Tom Nally Year 4, 9 years
Sacred Heart School
Invercargill
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Playing with Bud
I am on the swing. I am kicking the ball. I am on the
monkey bars.
I am doing the haka with Pol.
I am playing with Bud. Bud is my dog.
I am going to the pool.
I had some fireworks at Lachie’s house.
By Kahurangi Dawson-Moore
Y1, 5 years
Waverley Park School
Invercargill
Student Awards
van Asch News
5 year old Emjai Welsh at Pembroke School in
Oamaru receiving an award for super attitude to
school and for her amazing reading. She LOVES
reading. Her teacher is Mrs Drew and they have a
busy day with the ‘Sounds Alive’ and ‘Words Alive’
programmes. They have an amazing mimio board
in the classroom where the kids sign in every
morning when they unpack their bags. Ali Winter
(RTD) loves going to the classroom because it is
always humming with bus-i-ness.
Jack Hoswell
of Masterton primary School has been awarded the
Todd Standish Cup Award - for perseverance and
fortitude. The cup was presented to Jack by Lois
Standish who has been Jack’s ORRS Teacher for
two years. Jack and Lois both use a cochlear implant.
Lois has recently retired from a long teaching career,
teaching students with special needs.
So well done Jack for the way you work hard with all
your learning and how you are prepared to give
everything a go. You also have an enquiring mind
and lots of interesting things to talk about.
pa
David Burt attended Timaru Boys High School
and finished Year 13 recently sitting NCEA Level
3 exams. At the senior prize giving he received a
number of awards: First in Painting, Certificate
of Merit in Digital Technology and Tourism and
also a joint award, the P Lowe Prize for Senior
Computer Studies. Well done, David !
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van Asch News
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EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRE
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E.I.C. Christmas Party
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van Asch News
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VAN ASCH BASE SCHOOL
Wharenui Satellite Class
van Asch News
The kids were given beanies donated (and hand
knitted) by 'Beanies for Babies' knitters. They were
able to choose the style and colour they liked.
Aimee and Noelani visited Daisy in hospital after her
operation. The 3 girls were so pleased to see each other.
Daisy was pleased to see Harold (and Anita)
from Life Education. Harold felt the same.
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Chelsey and Daisy learning about bubbles.
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van Asch News
We joined in Athletics Day at Wharenui School. We all did the
egg and spoon race, shot put, sack race and long jump.
Everyone had a great time and we did really well in our teams.
Aimee & Noelani at
Pioneer Pool for
swimming lessons.
They really loved
playing in the pool
afterwards.
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Daisy had a 'Pony
Party' birthday at
van Asch. Everyone
got to ride ponies
and pat lots of
friendly animals.
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On Friday 25th November in the afternoon the
students and staff went to Van Asch Deaf Education
Centre for lunch. After lunch Paula and I went to get
cycles and helmets from the residential house for
everyone. There were lots of cycles. I put my helmet
on and got on my cycle, but the bike seat was too
low for me. Paula helped me to lift up the seat on
my cycle. It looked good. I have been on my bike
lots of times. I was ready to ride the bike to the tennis
court for a practice. I felt a little bit uncomfortable,
because I hadn’t been on my bike for a few years.
It was a nice warm day. We had a very good ride.
On Friday 2nd December I saw some people help
Paula put the bikes into the trailer in the morning.
All the students and staff went to Motukarara for a
morning tea. The vans drove on the way out to
Lyttelton. I looked around and it was very quiet.
Lyttelton looked safe after all of the earthquakes.
It looked fine. We drove over the hills for an hour.
We arrived at Motukarara and waited for Jacqui,
Mary and Rachel to come in the vans. I got my hat
and helmet on. Then I got on my cycle. Paula told
the students that Jacqui’s the first and we followed
her. We were ready to ride the cycle trail. It was the
first time for me. I had never been on the Little River
trail before. I cycled up and down the Little River trail
and saw forest for about 20 km. I felt very strong,
not very tired. I saw lots of sheep, big lakes and the
mountains. It looked like Vietnam. It was very beautiful
and fresher than Vietnam. We had a break for a few
minutes. We then rode over to Little River. I got some
insect bites and it was windy. After 3 pm we went
back home. It was a sunny day. It’s summer time.
I loved and enjoyed it.
Tri Nguyen
van Asch News
On Friday 2nd December in the morning all the
students and the staff travelled over the Port Hills
in the vans. It was a sunny hot day. I borrowed the
loan tandem cycle from the Blind Foundation.
I didn’t need to bring my old bike because it was not
safe. It has thin tyres. I wondered if the loan tandem
cycle had thicker tyres. It was a nice and clean cycle.
I felt safe for the trip. We left van Asch at around
9am. The vans drove through the tunnel. I didn’t
see any damage in Lyttelton after all of the
earthquakes. It looked fine. Some buildings were
demolished on the hill after the earthquake.
We just waited for Jacqui, Mary and Rachel to come
in the vans for a few minutes. The staff drove on
the highway. We went to Motukarara for morning
tea. I hadn’t been biking on the small hills before.
I followed Paula on the loan bike. We cycled up and
down the small hills. Some students were not used
to bends on the hills, so it was difficult work. I was
focused on the path to be careful. It could be
dangerous. It was a cool windy day.
We had a break time for a few minutes. Oh no!
I lost my bottle. We didn’t know where my bottle
was. I had put it in the bottle holder but the bottle
was too small and I must have fallen out. Dylan
wanted to try to ride on the loan cycle with me.
It was his first time. Paula said to me, “If you are
not happy with Dylan swap back again”. However
he did very well and I was smiling with him. We
pushed strongly on the pedals when we rode up the
hill. It was very hard work. I stopped pedalling when
we rode over the bridges. There were lots of trees
and bushes. It was a peaceful and beautiful nature.
I felt better on the loan cycle with Dylan than Paula.
We arrived at the finish. We met at the van. We
gave each other high fives and cheered.
It was so much fun. I really enjoyed it. I want to go
cycling on the high hills without van Asch one day.
ge
By DaWon Choi
33
pa
The cycling from Motukarara to Little River
van Asch News
Our Time at Mairehau High School 2011
At the Start of Term Three, Mairehau High School
had two spare classrooms upstairs in the Ford Block
for van Asch students and staff to use for the rest
of the year. On 3rd of August we started at our new
school at Mairehau High School. We settled down
at school and enjoyed our time at Mairehau High.
Room 11 was for Senior High students and Room
12 for the Junior High. The classrooms were small.
Poor Room 11 because sometimes they felt banging
on the floor from the Drama Class downstairs.
We went to Mairehau High School on Monday and
Wednesday to Friday. Every Tuesday we were based
at van Asch School. Our favourite day was Monday
because it finished at 2:15pm!
We met new hearing students and staff. They were
nice and friendly. All the students enjoyed and studied
our subjects and work given to us from their teachers
in the classrooms. All the teachers worked hard
teaching their students.
Jane, Olwyn and Wendy worked with students during
the week. Teacher Aides and Janet helped and
supported students and teachers. Sometimes we
went on trips. Every Friday we went out for Adventure
Based Learning. We went on Camp to Wellington
for one week on 7th – 10th November.
At Intervals and Lunchtimes all the students went to
the library, with friends or played basketball. Senior
High students were allowed to have breaks in the
International Room upstairs in Ford Block. Staff had
a break in Room 11. On duty staff supervised other
students. There was a Physical Disability Resource
Centre downstairs in the Ford Block. We made new
friends and chatted with them. They were nice and
friendly. We took turns inviting each other for morning
tea. We were Block Neighbours.
We went to the formal assembly with Mairehau High
School for our first time with an interpreter named
Phillipa. We were meant to have another assembly
but we couldn’t book an interpreter. The 30th
November was our last day at Mairehau High School.
We were ready to move back to van Asch. One thing
we will miss is the Mariehau High School students
and staff.
We are glad to be based at van Asch School again
next year 2012. We will be sharing the school with
Redcliffs School students and staff.
Most of students and staff enjoyed their time at
Mairehau High School. We were exhausted from all
of the moving this year!
pa
Cameron Gillbanks
December 2011
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34
School Camp in Wellington 2011
van Asch News
pa
On 7th – 10th November van Asch Senior High and
Junior High school went on a camp to Wellington.
On Monday in the morning we flew to Wellington on
the plane. We left Wellington airport and went on
the shuttles to Nomads Hostel. We went for a walk
and had lunch. After lunch we went for a walk to Te
Papa and met Newlands College there. We walked
around Te Papa. We had afternoon tea at the Café
there. We went for a walk to New World Supermarket
and bought food. We settled down at the Hostel and
had a BBQ for dinner.
On Tuesday in the morning we went for a walk and
caught the bus. We went on the bus to Zealandia.
There was an Interpreter. We went for a walk around
Zealandia with a guide. After Lunch we walked to
catch the bus. We went on the bus to Parliament.
We met Kelston Deaf Education Centre there. We
included each other. We went for a walk around
Parliament buildings with a tour. There were two
Interpreters from Auckland. We then walked to the
city centre for dinner with Kelston Deaf Education
Centre and had to walk back to the hostel.
On Wednesday morning we walked to the Cable
Car. We had a ride on the Cable Car. Then we went
to the museum. After lunch we walked and caught
the bus. We went on the bus to Weta Workshop. We
met Kelston Deaf Education Centre there. We
watched a DVD with a guide and looked around
inside Weta Workshop. We met Oliver Ferguson
there. He told us a story about his job at Weta
Workshop and when he worked for van Asch. We
asked him questions. van Asch students and staff
went on the bus back to the hostel. We went for a
walk in Cuba Street and met Mark there. We decided
what we wanted for dinner. We all voted Pizza for
dinner. We went to Woodfire Heaven Pizza and had
pizza for dinner. There was a waiter there who knows
NZSL because he has a deaf family. After dinner we
said goodbye to Mark and walked back to the Hostel.
On Thursday morning we cleaned and tidied up. We
went on the shuttles to the airport. We flew home on
the plane. We saw Kelston Deaf Education Centre
after they arrived at Wellington Airport.
The three best parts of Camp:
1. Te Papa
2. Dinner with Kelston Deaf Education Centre
3. Zealandia
I enjoyed school camp in Wellington and it was good
fun!
Cameron Gillbanks
December 2011
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35
van Asch News
Wellington Trip
pa
On Monday 7th November in the morning I went to
Christchurch Airport. It was my first time on a plane.
I was very excited. The plane arrived at Wellington
at 10:05am. We got out of the plane and walked into
the airport building. I found my bag. We went in the
van to Nomad’s hotel in the city. We walked to Oriental
Parade to have our lunch then we lined up to go in
to Te Papa Museum. We met Tagialofa there. Inside
Te Papa we dropped off our backpacks and a man
locked all the backpacks in a cage. I liked seeing so
many things at Te Papa. We went up the stairs and
I saw the tall buildings and Wellington harbour.
On Tuesday we went to Zealandia. There were kaka,
lizards, keas, and tuatara. I like the tuatara best.
The man told us about bad stoats and mice that kill
the birds. They can eat the baby birds and break the
eggs. Possums can kill birds too.
We went back on the bus and met the Kelston
students at the Beehive. I liked the Maori carvings
and the beautiful rooms. We all walked back to
Nomads to change then we went to Readings for
food. I talked a long time with my friends from Kelston.
Poura Nathan.
ge
36
Wellington!
I woke up at 6am then we left at 7:30am to go in
the van to the airport in Christchurch. We arrived at
Wellington and went to our hotel called Nomads.
After lunch we went to Te Papa and I met Tagi,
Amber and Tito. We cooked a barbecue for dinner
and I helped Jake to get the food ready.
On Tuesday I woke up at 8am. We got ready and
caught the bus to Zealandia. We met a man named
Ben, he talked about the animals and keeping them
safe. We went for a long walk around the trees and
bush and I saw many animals. Then we watched
the movie about a long time ago, and I saw the moa.
We went in the bus to Parliament. We met with
Kelston students then we walked around the Beehive
to learn about the Government and John Key. We
learnt about the earthquakes and how the building
is safe, and we saw the DVD about it.
We took some photos with Kelston people. Then we
came back to Nomads and changed our clothes.
We walked to the Food Court with Kelston and I
bought McDonalds. Then I talked with Abdul, Tim
and Charles. We went back to Nomads and got
some Milo then went to bed.
On Wednesday I woke up at 8am and we went to
the Cable Car. Then we walked in the gardens and
the weather was raining. We went to the Pizza
restaurant at night, the waiter signed to us. We met
Mark, who is a Deaf man. The pizza was very good.
After we finished the pizza we came back to Hotel
Nomads. Camp was so good and I had lots of fun!
Mustafa Al Momani
van Asch News
pa
Wellington Camp
Last Monday all the students woke up at 6am! Joni
came in the van and we went to Christchurch Airport.
All the staff and students went to Wellington on the
plane. First we went to Nomads hotel. We carried
the bags up the stairs - too heavy!
We sat down to eat lunch then we met Newlands
College students. I know all the students – Amber,
Tagi and Tito. We looked at the interesting things at
Te Papa, I have seen Te Papa before.
At 2pm all the Newlands College students went
home. We went to Nomads. All the girls and women
staff stayed in Room 204.
On Tuesday we went to Zealandia. Ben talked to
us and Wenda signed. We saw all the birds saddleback, hihi. Kaka, kakariki, takahe and many
more. The tuatara were very close near a bush. We
walked a long way to see the birds.
Then we went on the bus to go to Parliament. We
met with the Kelston group to go together. I have
seen the Beehive before in 2006. There are 120
people in Parliament. The big room is very nice. The
building is strong for earthquakes. All the students
had photos. We went back to Nomads and all the
students changed quickly. We waited in the kitchen
and watched a DVD. Then we were ready and walked
to Reading for food. I bought McDonalds and a cake.
I met all the Kelston students again.
I am happy with my new friends.
Last Wednesday we went on the Wellington Cable
Car and we saw the cable car museum. We walked
down the hill to the city. At lunchtime all the students
ate fast because they were hungry. We had 20
minutes and the food was all gone.
We caught a bus to Miramar to Weta. I looked at
the Weta Museum and saw a wide range of movies
and merchandise. The students from Kelston met
van Asch again. I like Kelston and my friends. We
stayed at Weta workshop. I saw the movie museum
of The Lord of the Rings, District 9, Avatar, King
Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia. We talked with
Oliver Ferguson, he is a Deaf man working at Weta.
We went back to Nomads and changed clothes
ready for dinner. We had to pick Indian or Pizza or
other food. Heather said yes! and we went to the
Heaven Woodfire Pizza restaurant. I picked
Hawaiian, other staff and students picked different
pizzas.
We went back to Nomads and my mum and sister
came at 9pm. I saw my Mum and sister looking
happy to see me. Heather and Margaret met them.
I got my bags and we all said Bye! Then I went home
with Mum for the weekend.
Dasha Taylor
ge
37
van Asch News
Horse-riding
On Friday we went to Sumner Valley for horse riding
with all the high school students. We met Lisa and
we learnt about horses. I was safe because I had a
helmet on my head. Dasha lead my horse and we
walked around on the grass. I was feeling confident
on the horse. Then we had to take off the saddle
and brush the horse. That was a good day!
Nora Hita
Last Friday I went horse riding in Sumner Valley.
The woman’s name is Lisa and she helped me ride
the horse, named Jamal. It is coloured brown and
black. First I put on my helmet, then I mounted the
horse. It was my first time. I like horse-riding. I held
the reins and I felt happy. The horse took small steps,
then went faster. There was a little dog running
around, he barked and barked. I will go horse-riding
again, it’s a lot of fun.
pa
Mustafa Al Momani
ge
38
van Asch News
Kotuku sculpture
All the van Asch middle and High school technology
students at van Asch were involved in the concept
design and final finishing of the Kotuku sculpture.
Design drawings were polished by Mr Prince and
emailed to Prometal for Laser cutting. CWF Hamilton
rolled the shape to get an even curve. High school
students made up boxing to reinforce and concrete
a base and also bolt it down.
The ground staff tidied up the round garden for the
unveiling on the 6th of December by Dawon and
Dasha. These two students are leaving at the end
of this term and like the Kotuku I'm sure that they
will come back and visit us.
pa
Russell Prince
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39
Hagley Satellite Class
Living in Afghanistan
and Moving to New Zealand
My family and I moved to Auckland from Afghanistan
on 15 September 2004. (When I was born in Oruzgan
near to the river called Nili River in Afghanistan I
thought I could hear and listen. When I was 2 months
old I caught measles and I got them all over my whole
body. Maybe this caused me to become deaf because
my mum would talk to me and I would stay asleep.
As I grew and I did lots of things that got me into
trouble because I didn t understand what people were
talking about.
When I was 3 years old I took my clothes off my whole
body and ran around to my neighbours’ houses
because Afghanistan is a very hot country. All the
people laughed at me but my grandmother caught
me and took me home while mum got angry and
smacked on my bum with her hand so I cried and my
bum was sore! Nobody knew how to communicate
with me. Nobody knew sign language. I would stay
close to people to try to hear just a little bit.
When I was 5 years old I got sick again because I
had a problem with my stomach. There was no
hospital, no transport, no market or electricity. This
was because Afghanistan was at war. There was no
injection for us as children but there was medicine
from a dropper.
One day the soldiers knocked on my house door.
I was 9 years old when the army asked me to be a
water boy. Mum said “No”. “They don’t care for my
boy”. She was worried. Mum was quiet. She secretly
shook her hand down by her side. She was telling me
to run away. At the same time mum kept the soldiers
busy talking, I crept to the door, slowly opened the
door then I ran and ran and ran fast away to my auntie
s house away from the army. I stayed hidden in my
auntie s house for one whole day. I waited to see
them gone then I went to back home to see my family
were safe. I was lucky to come back home. All safe!
During the war I never went to school. My mum and
dad hated the war. My dad talked to my mum. We did
not have enough food for all of us so my dad decided
to bring my family to NZ but my dad had to leave us
in Afghanistan and travel on a boat to NZ. It was not
easy. He had to come on his own and leave mum,
me and all my brothers and sisters in Afghanistan.
I missed my dad when he went to New Zealand in a
boat in 2001. My family and I had to wait three years
before we could go to NZ to be with him.
When Dad left I was 10 years old. I told the
Government man that I wanted to get a job but he
said I was not allowed. I was not old enough. They
put my name on a list. I had to wait for a long time.
Finally I got a job. I was working on making a new
road. I worked for one year and half. I was digging
and lifting heavy rocks and the government gave me
money and food like grain, for my family. It was really
hard work. I worked twelve hours every day. My dad
asked me to accept responsibility for the family.
In winter time in Afghanistan it was very cold. It
snowed. The snow was heavy on the roof of my
house and it would drip inside so I used to take my
wooden shovel and clear the flat roof of heavy
snowfall. I didn’t have any jackets and I had holes
in my socks.
One day my uncle explained to me that dad rang
and it was time for us to go to NZ. It was 15th
September 2004. We would be refugees. We had to
get passports. Dad went in a boat but we were going
in a plane. I felt really nervous. When I looked out
the window of the plane I thought I was going to
drop. My mum was sick in the plane.
van Asch News
When we arrived in New Zealand we all went to
Mangere Refugee camp. At the Mangere Refugee
Camp I went to my class and I did all my work.
I loved addition in maths but it was harder for me
because I was deaf. The teacher marked it and
would give me the thumbs up. What? I couldn’t
understand. I felt sad my confidence was going down.
When she gave me the “thumbs up” I didn’t
understand that she was really saying “good work
well done”. In Afghanistan thumbs up meant the
opposite “bad”. One day I saw a poster on the wall
showing ‘thumbs up” with a face smiling AHHH! Now
I understand. When my teacher was saying “thumbs
up” and “WOW EXCELLENT WORK”, well done.
Following this Christchurch had another one on
Tuesday 22nd February 2011. It was magnitude 6.3
at 12:51 pm. After lunch time I was in my class in
Hagley Community College having a meeting. We
quickly went under the big table for safety from the
damaged building. Afterwards we all ran outside to
the field. I saw hospital buildings shaking after the
strong earthquake. My brother came AND picked me
up to driving home but most of the traffic stopped
because the traffic signals were not working because
the power was cut off. I felt sorry for the 181 people
were killed after strong earthquake.
Dad said it was time to move to Auckland. I went to
Papatoetoe High School on Friday 1st April.
We waited for the government to decide where we
were going to live. My family and I went to
Christchurch. We were interested and loved looking
around the Christchurch. It was a beautiful place
and I didn’t know about school?
My friend called David helped me visit Van Asch
Deaf Education Centre. I watched some students
who were signing but I could not SIGN!
I saw Miss Nicol and students were signing but I
didn’t understood North Island sign language.
I understood South Island sign language and now I
know they are different. Now I’m trying to improve
my NZSL. I enjoy living in NZ now and also enjoy
going to school with other Deaf students at
Papatoetoe High School.
Khodadad Rezaie
In 2005 I started school. My teacher taught me how
to sign and I practiced and practiced and practiced
. . . It was a long time before I signed to the other
students. My teacher also taught me how to do
maths, English, technology, P.E, art and drama.
Afterwards in 2010 I went to Hagley Community
College and I made new friends. I was a new student
in Year 11. I was studying graphics, computer art,
ESOL, science, maths and P.E.
pa
Suddenly I got awake up at 4.25 am. We were
surprised and felt scared by the strong earthquake
for one minute. When we heard the earthquake
sound so loud we quickly ran out of the house.
I forgot that my brother slept in his bedroom so I ran
and got him outside from the dangerous house. The
magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred at 4:35 am on
September 4, the epicenter was 40 km west of
Christchurch city and the depth of the quake was at
10 km.
ge
41
van Asch News
Congratulations to our elegant Year 11 graduate students
and teachers at Hagley Satellite Unit.
Left to right: Helen (teacher), Bryanna (teacher), Hanna, Drew,
Rachel, Hamish and Taylor.
Senior Prizegiving
Benazir Kumar received the prize for ‘First in Y12
Information Management’.
Year 11 graduation
Not bad for our little class! It is now known as
‘The best little class in the world’
Drew Smith, Hanna Deal, Taylor Rahui and Hamish
Rathgen- graduated with the Hagley Diploma of
Learning. Rachel Baker- graduated with distinction
with the Hagley Diploma of learning.
Hamish Rathgen was First in Year 11 accounting
Hagley Community College.
Taylor Rahui received a trophy for ‘Hagley Community
College excellence in sport - first in Year 11’.
Duffy Theatre 2011
pa
In August we welcomed the touring Duffy Theatre
group to van Asch. The show was originally scheduled
for Term 1 but postponed after the February
earthquake. After two shaky terms we were all looking
forward to some light relief and we were not
disappointed. Duffy’s Book Bus Adventure had
something for everyone.
Duffy’s Book Bus Adventure was written by Cathryn
Monro, directed by Kerryn Palmer, set design by
Brian King, costumes by Emma Ransley and starring
Simon Paenga, Michael Leota and Rutene Spooner.
What are libraries for? Do we need them? Our
audience thought they were very important.
Mr Barrier was going to close all Public Libraries!
With help from the Children’s Librarian, Tiaki, our
audience and Duffy went head to head in a debate
to convince Mr Barrier that libraries are necessary.
Of course it was decided that libraries are necessary
and we all had lots of fun in the process.
ge
42
van Asch News
Duffy Books at Mairehau High School
Just three weeks before the end of term the Mairehau
students invited our Duffy sponsor, Carlie Jones, to
afternoon tea. It was a good opportunity for Carlie
to catch up with some old van Asch students and
for the new students to meet Carlie and introduce
themselves. Carlie talked about some of the good
things and some of the not so good things about
leaving the United States and coming to live in New
Zealand many years ago. Tri and Shahil shared their
experiences with Carlie. Tri came from Vietnam and
started at van Asch in 2010. Shahil came from Fiji
and started van Asch this year.
The students also talked about the earthquakes and
how their schooling and been disrupted. Carlie was
interested to learn that after the February earthquake
some of the students had gone to Kelston Deaf
Education Centre in Auckland, some of the students
had gone back to their local school and that the
Christchurch students had gone to Hagley College.
After the June earthquakes the students all went
home again then came to Mairehau High School for
the rest of the year. What a year!
pa
Carlie then presented each student with two Duffy
books to take home to read over the holidays. We
finished with a delicious afternoon tea.
ge
43
van Asch News
Residential Care
‘Home Away From Home’
This has been a particularly difficult year for
everyone in Christchurch and a year that most
people would like to forget. However the sense of
community and spirit has risen above the dust
clouds and staff and students have carried on with
determination to make sure that the students
education and living environment is continued as
best as possible.
The bravery, resiliency and maturity shown by our
residential students has been outstanding and they
have all shown an amazing acceptance to changes
as a result of the earthquakes. We have all been
sharing one residential home which has created a
more homely environment for all and many in-house
games have kept the spirits high.
Not only have there had ongoing aftershocks, we
also had a massive snow storm in August which
was incredibly exciting, especially as some students
had never seen snow before. We had lots of fun
making snowmen and of course, snowball fights.
Term 3 will always be remembered for the Rugby
World Cup and thanks to SKY in the house, we
watched many of the games. Well done to our All
Black Heroes. A day trip to Akaroa was also great
fun and the middle school students prepared for
their 4th term trip to Wellington.
We have also been creative with activities on-site
- creating obstacle courses on campus, having
“Fear Factor Food” challenges in the house, cycle
races on the field and many more activities.
Recently we had a secret santa day and afterwards
a big waterfight. We also had a day at paintball
which proved hugely successful and a few bruises
as well.
We farewelled Dasha who is moving to Australia.
We will miss you Dasha but hope you have lots of
great memories from your time here at van Asch.
May you all have a very happy Christmas and a
safe New Year from all the Residential Team.
pa
Laurinda-Lee Grady and Michele Hendren
RESIDENTIAL SOCIAL WORKERS
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44
van Asch News
Hello,
It has been my first time staying in one house full of
students at Crawford House. On the first weekend
we did fun activities and team work. On the third
week we had snow in Christchurch for a few days.
We had "Snow School" in Crawford House and
played in the snow. It was good fun. That weekend
we did smell, taste and feel blindfold games. I got
only two points. On the next day we had 4 huge
hours of tidy and clean up. After that we had a party.
Michael the support staff taught all students life skills
sometimes that term. On the 4th weekend we did
earthquake drill and had a Chocolate Game.
I wasn’t very good at that. On 9th September (two
things were very exciting for us that day). We played
Dodgeball vs hearing schools - we won 3 times and
lost 1 time. We watched the Rugby World Cup
Opening Ceremony and watched rugby often that
term. Well Done to All Blacks!
Sometimes that term I did walking for fitness around
the school field. On 7th week, we played Ten Pin
Bowling and it was good. On 8th weekend we did
ball in tube game and blindfolded rope game. It was
ok. On the last weekend of this term we had sausage
sizzle fundraiser for school camp in Wellington in
November.
I went home one day early before the end of that
term ready for work at the New Plymouth Opera
House 24 hours book sale.
pa
Hope you have a nice holiday.
Cameron Gillbanks.
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45
van Asch News
For effort and perseverence in Y12 NCEA level 2
visual Art
Da won Choi
For embracing Tikanga Maori
within the Hagley whanau
Taylor Rahui
For achieving NCEA level 1 in very difficult
circumstances
Hamish Rathgen
van Asch Awards Evening
8 December, 2011
Primary Participation Cup
Aimee Stocker
Ngaire Gribbon English Award
for Literacy
Tri Nguyen
van Asch Satellite Class award
for leadership
Benazir Kumar
van Asch Satellite Award for Academic Strength
in Science, Maths and Accounting
Hamish Rathgen
Sefton Bartlett Cup
for Leadership
Dylan McGrath
For a positive attitude and achievement over all
Technologies
Dasha Taylor
For consistent application in Hard Materials - Wood
Poura Nathan
For Excellent Skills and Attitude in Hard Materials
- Wood
Dylan McGrath
SPEC Headway Unit - ‘Managing Self’
Ayoub Alawi
Da Won Choi
Cameron Gillbanks
Dylan Mc Grath
Tri Nguyen
For showing a positive attitude towards his learning
Ayoub Alawi
For Working within a whanau
Taylor Rahui
Primary Awards
Mainfreight Award
for an excellent Attitude to Learning
Rachel Baker
For beautiful signed singing
Aimee Stocker
Maori Studies Award
Dasha Taylor
For fantastic progress in swimming and making
swimming so much fun
Daisy Collins
The Pruden Memorial Desk
for General Excellence
(in memory of the first day pupils at the school)
Alex Field
Academic Strength Award
Hanna Deal
Science Award
for acheivement in level 1 NCEA science
Drew Smith
Science Award
for acheivement in level 1 NCEA science
Hamish Rathgen
Acheivement Awards
Acheivement in Y13, Level 3 NCEA maths
Benazir Kumar
pa
Achievement in Y11, Level 1 NCEA Maths
Drew Smith
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Sitting on the mat with the class
Chelsey Hardyment
For knowing the days of the week
Ralston Sialavaa
For beautiful signed singing
Noelani Ritchie
Final Assembly Speech to Students
Tonight is a night to celebrate all that you as students
of van Asch Deaf Education Centre have achieved
this year. There will be prizes tonight for special
achievements but I want to say congratulations to
you all. I hope you all stop and reflect on the many
big and small achievements that you have personally
attained this year.
As I begin to reflect on this school year, I think
about some Highlights for me. The Wellington
School Camp for the students who were based at
Mairehau this year. When you came back from this
I saw lots of refreshed faces and sparkly eyes. It
was fantastic to hear of the opportunities you had
to meet up with Deaf Adults, Deaf students in
Wellington and Deaf students from Kelston. The
senior students worked hard earning money for this
experience and you also have some very kind people
to thank who donated money to you because of the
earthquakes.
Another highlight for me this year was attending the
Kelston regional sports day in Auckland. I was there
to make sure that you were all getting on okay. I
was very proud of you all for making the best of
your situation and loved seeing some of you beat
our Auckland deaf friends in races!
All of Christchurch is rebuilding. Rebuilding means
starting to see the new opportunities. Moving forward
in 2012 VADEC will be building on the wonderful
things that we already have. We have found a happy
friendly place for the Primary school students at
Wharenui Primary School. When I visit there I see
busy students and staff surviving in a small space
but keeping their chins up as best they can as they
wait most patiently for a portacom and then a new
classroom block that we will build next year.
The new initiative of a unit at Hagley Community
College over the last three years is proving to be
a real success story. We would like to build on this
for more of our High school students. There’s not
enough space to fit you all in there so we are trying
a new approach of providing school programmes
across campus for students. This will involve making
the best of the Hagley and van Asch school sites.
Finally from me…I want to wish you all a happy and
safe Christmas with your families.
Bernie Mulcahy-Bouwman
Principal
And just this week we had a small but very special
gathering on a cold Tuesday outside the
Administration area. We unveiled the stunning
Kotuku sculpture in the round garden. An enormous
thankyou to Russell Prince and the van Asch
students at Mairehau for designing, polishing and
setting up the Kotuku sculpture. It makes me smile
every time I walk past it. It will remind us of 2011.
I look at it and it reminds me of the good things of
2011. I see the metal showing the strength of
students and staff. The movement of the Kotuku in
the wind is the flexibility of us all to a changing world.
The tucked in beak is the students and staff looking
after each other.
pa
As I look around the room tonight I see many of
the people who have supported you this year to
learn and develop and grow. I will be thanking the
staff tomorrow for all their hard work. I hope that
you all will take the time to thank the people who
have supported you at school, home and the
residences.
I have learned that Principles can’t look after
everyone by themselves. A strong school community
is developed by everyone pulling together. I have
seen many examples of this during the year and I
thank you for this.
For most of this year we have had to travel over
rough roads, school programmes have had to move
to different sites and we are sharing our school
grounds and buildings with another school. We
have had to work hard this year to get through the
Earthquake experience and now that we have done
this we look to the future.
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van Asch News
Farewell Leitha Adams
During the year we said farewell to Leitha Adams who
has worked at van Asch since 1984. Leitha’s career in
Deaf Education began shortly after her husband Dave
gained a position at van Asch. Leitha worked in long
term relieving positions until she completed her training
in 1985. This was followed by work in a wide range of
situations on base and in units but for the last two
decades Leitha has worked predominantly as a
Resource Teacher of the Deaf in Christchurch and is
well known and respected by many of our students and
their families. At Leitha’s farewell she confessed to
having been awarded a certificate for breaking another
well-known teachers record for the most dents in a
work car. She was also awarded the “Willy Weaver
Award” for excellence in knitting finger puppets to
engage young students in language and speech
activities. Leitha expressed her gratitude for the
experiences that have come her way and felt that it
has been a great privilege to see the achievement of
so many of our students. While Leitha expressed her
thanks to her colleagues at van Asch, it was a wonderful
opportunity for us to thank her for her huge commitment
to Deaf Education. Leitha readily worked with Deaf
Students from Preschool to High School level. Many
students and staff will remember her fondly. Enjoy the
daffodils and grandchildren Leitha.
Also Fare-welled
pa
We have fare-welled a number of staff throughout
the year. It is sad to say goodbye. We wish all the
staff who have returned or moved onto other things
all the very best. Thank you for all your hard work
with students, schools and families. We just might
see you back relieving sometime in the future.
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Donna Sperandio
Cochlear Implant Habilitationist
Christchurch
Liz Rees
Teacher Aide
van Asch High School
Ethne Maher
(Rtd Levin)
Simon Grady
Teacher Aide
van Asch High School
Colleen Downes
(Rtd Napier)
Julie den Boer
Teacher Aide
Wharenui Satellite Class
Jane Newell
(Rtd Dunedin)
Evette Griffiths Specialist Resource Teacher
Good luck for your new life
in Australia
Sharyn Armstrong-Cleeton
(Rtd Wanganui)
Notices
van Asch Deaf Education Centre
School Terms 2012
First Term
Monday 30 January to Thursday 5 April
Second Term
Monday 23 April to Friday 29 June
EARTHQUAKE RELATED DONATIONS
We would like to acknowledge the following people
and organisations for their generous donations
following the 2011 earthquakes Ouota International District 37
G Bruhlmann, Canada
Kaitake Kindergarten
Third Term
Monday 16 July to Friday 28 September
Kelston Deaf Education Centre
Fourth Term
Monday 15 October to Monday 10 December
Oticon Foundation
Regional and Base School
Teacher Professional Development Days 18, 19, 20 April
Teacher Preparation Day Friday 27 January
NZ School Trustees Assn
Students from Kaitoke School, Wanganui
Federated Farmers
ALTRUSA Club
Canty Primary Principals Assn
Special Education Principal Association New Zealand
Lincoln University Students
Thank you for your support.
pa
B.O.T. meetings in 2012:
Monday 13 February
Monday 12 March
Monday 2 April
Monday 7 May
Monday 11 June
Monday 16 July
Monday 13 August
Monday 15 October
Monday 12 November
Monday 3 December
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van Asch News
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van Asch News Featured Artists - Redcliffs School Room 5
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Contact Details:
van Asch Deaf Education Centre
38 Truro Street
Sumner
CHRISTCHURCH 8081
Phone: 0064 3 326 6009
Fax: 0064 3 326 5346
E-mail: info@vanasch.school.nz
Web: www.vanasch.school.nz
pa
van Asch News
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