Intake 2010/02
Week 12
The last of the Alpine, Kayak 2 and Tramp rotation went well. Due to the heavy rain in the Hawkes Bay the kayakers retreated back to the Waikato river and did some skills at Reids farm and then did the Fall James run. The Alpine group struck high winds so stayed low on the mountain, staying at the Manawatu Ski Club and snow caving one night. Trampers enjoyed the bush and only got light rain in the evening.
This weekend the NZ Outdoor Instructors Association have a Kayak one assessment course. This in an instructor qualification. Twenty of our students have taken up the opportunity to do some more kayaking and be involved in the assessment. The people being assessed are required to instruct students. This gives those boys who wanted to and extra two days kayaking.
This has left the centre with 46 boys today. We then discovered that an international film festival on rock and alpine in visiting Taupo, the only place in the country for one night only. Being the opportunist that we are; we are taking all those not kayaking to the film festival tonight at the Great Lake Centre. This should be a real treat. It is called the Reel Rock Film Festival.
Our trip to Whanganui Bay is on Wednesday – lets hope for sunshine. The boys all say a pepeha on the marae, partake in the preparation, laying and eating of a hangi and enjoy a day on the shores of Lake Taupo. It is a great day.
We are all enjoying the warmer days and evenings.
Regards Cyn and Chris
Week 11
Splendid weather. Whow – I am pleased to report that the Alpine students made it to the summit plateau yesterday and then snow caved last night. That is a huge accomplishment as usually we only do one of those two things due to weather and time. The boys are exhausted and ready for an early night.
The kayakers loved the Mohaka river – the wave trains of rapids really push their skill development and with the sunshine made for a fantastic few days.
Tramping in the Pureoras was successful with navigational skills honed for Parent Tramp.
Tonight we had a fantastic talk from William Pike – Cam's friend – who climbed Ruapehu and lost his leg while sheltering out in the Dome shelter in 2007. It was an inspirational talk and slide show. William has written a book – Every Day's a Good Day. Students can purchase the book for $25.00. We have two copies in the Tihoi library. Everyone is now in bed, feeling uplifted by great outdoors and a great message this evening. William's key points were the importance of being healthy and fit, family and friends and a positive attitude. Lots of buzz around as the lights went out, boys digesting the messages.
This term we are trialling a RRR period each Sunday – Read, Rest, Revive! This hour will replace the study period on the timetable and aims to address boys feeling over tired with the busyness of the programme. This period the boys will be allowed to stay in their houses to read on their bed or rest. Those wishing to study may go to a classroom. We hope this allows some down time and that the boys are able to self manage their rest time. Staff will circulate to ensure everyone is RRRing.
If you have not sent in Parent Tramp requests please do so this weekend otherwise there is no guarantee that we can accommodate you due to staffing. We will make personal contact with anyone who hasn't put a form in (then you will know if it has been forgotten to be handed in!).
On October 21st Mr Henley-Smith and Mr Oehley will visit Tihoi and meet with each student regarding his subject choices for 2011. They will bring with them the subject forms that have been filled in and returned to St Paul's. If your son needs to discuss this with you or decides to make significant changes, boys will have access to calling home on this day.
Tomorrow (9th) we have 35 Old Collegians visiting the Centre with Mr Lander and other St Paul's staff. A busy weekend ahead.
Enjoy your weekend.
Regards Cyn and Chris
Week 8 part 2
Boys are all back safe and well after another very busy three days. The new rotation is Alpine, Kayak 2 and Tramp 2. The dining room is a buzz with stories of the latest adventures. Boys are getting tired and a little scratchy so we hope to have a great last five days in the centre with lots on the calendar.
Firstly, we had an emergency evacuation out of the bush on Thursday afternoon. One of our students, William Guest, fainted in the bush and his condition deteriorated. Our emergency systems were alerted via SPOT (Satellite Positioning Transmitter) and staff made it to our mountain radio where contact with the group was established. Due to the condition of the patient Search and Rescue (SAR) were called and we evacuated the student and the group out of the bush. It was a challenging task with very poor weather and the group were 5km from the road end. The good news is that all systems worked well and William and the group safely returned to Tihoi on Thursday evening. He was assessed by paramedics and it appears he was suffering exhaustion. William had been fine on departure, ate well on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning so it is a little puzzling. We have been in regular contact with his family regarding this scenario. Thought I would let you all know so you don't get second hand stories or lack of specific information in letters. Made for a busy Thursday!
The week ahead (and weekend): well tomorrow our wee Jessie is one year old and Jesse (student in Intake) is 15!. We thought that was too much of a coincidence to ignore so we are having a 2 by 2 Noah's Ark Pizza night tomorrow night. Students have been encouraged to come dressed with a pair for the Ark – lots of prizes for best dressed. The house cooks will make the pizzas to go in the wood fired oven – delicious. We will play Madagascar during the evening. Jesse (student) informs me that he and Jessie are going as Fairies!!
Sunday we have an Open Day with 80 people visiting the centre so it will be very busy and hopefully not raining.
Monday the boys will go out on their 6 hour solo in the bush. This is a time to reflect on Term 3 at Tihoi and to set goals for Term 4. The solo sites are all close to the centre and students take snacks, journals, sleeping bags etc so they are comfortable for the duration. Solo departs at 2pm, after a big lunch and returns at 8pm for supper at Tihoi.
Tuesday is the last day of academic classes in the morning. The 7km Cross Country race in the afternoon. End of term is celebrated with dinner in the dining room and inter-house quiz night – a lot of fun.
Wednesday, we look forward to seeing those of you who can make it for Community Day. The boys are so excited to see you and to have a well earned break.
If any of your end of term plans change please let us know.
Cyn Smith and Chris Wynn
Week 8
September 5th
It is Sunday already and we have not sent the weekly update – time is getting away on us. Happy Father's Day to all the Fathers out there!!
In the classroom, boys are very busy with assessments and ongoing work. A full academic report will be sent out at the end of Term 3 as well as a newsletter and parent tramp form.
The Sail, Rock 2 and Sea Kayak rotation has finished. Boys have conquered their fear of heights, climbed a range of graded climbs at Kinloch and Kawakawa bay, paddled approx. 40km on Lake Taupo and Sailed on Lake Rotorua. Lots of fun, skills and learning.
The next Outdoor Rotation is Alpine, Kayak 2 and Tramp 2. This is another step in with regards to expectations of the students and skill development. The first rotation of this will be this upcoming week with the following two after the term break.
Tramp 2 is based in the Pureora Forest Park and focuses on navigation and environmental care. This tramp is the practice tramp for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition component.
Kayak 2 is on the Mohaka river. The boys will hone the skills developed on the Kayak One programme paddling grade 2 water for the two days and over 50 rapids. Always a favourite outdoor pursuit, fill of action, skill, thrill and adventure.
Alpine is based on Mt Ruapehu. The students leave Tihoi at 10am and travel to the mountain – this allows time to walk up to the Alpine Club Hut (at Delta Corner). Walking in snow, building snow caves and using an ice axe are all skills taught. Weather permitting the students will build and spend a night in a snow cave.
Mr Lander is visiting overnight on Monday this week. He will dine in Purple house for dinner and with Hart house for breakfast, as well as spending time with the students, observing classes and enjoying the Tihoi campus.
The days are getting longer and the boys are enjoying playing touch rugby on the field, basketball and spending time outside. The weather is improving and we feel like Spring is at Tihoi (although we always do get a late winter blast).
Chris is finalising the Community Day – if we have not heard from you we are now assuming you will not be joining us. We would appreciate communication from everyone so we can be certain how many people we have for each work site, for catering and students we need to arrange transport for.
Enjoy your week.
Week 7
Another rotation of activities in the great outdoors. The weather forecast was not good so the sea kayakers took the contingency plan and stayed the first night at Whakaipo Bay on the shores of Lake Taupo, the strong winds did not eventuate, therefore they had a great paddle across the lake to Boat Harbour for the second night. The final leg of the journey was to Kinloch.
The rock climbing group avoided some heavy down pours and managed to all do the 120ft abseil at Tihoi, a full days climbing at Kinloch crag and some time on the High Ropes course. Lots of challenges and lots of fun. The group were highly motivated despite some wet weather. The abseil was such a highlight all boys did in again on the second day.
The sailing group enjoyed steady wind on Lake Rotorua on Thursday. All boys rigged and skippered boats. Friday was a bit disappointing with very little wind but good fishing!! Several trout were caught, smoked and enjoyed by the students.
The boys are feeling the pressure of school work at present with Science and Math tests over the coming days and an internal Social Studies essay assessment due in. Issues of time management and priortising work are being dealt with daily. The boys have a very busy week as time continues to go quickly.
Tonight Cyn is dining with Molly's house for dinner. We have butter chicken on the menu and fresh fruit salad and cream. Please only send very small quantities of fresh fruit in packages as at the moment there is ample fruit in every house (in fact several bowls of mould emerged after morning inspection today! – alas the fresh fruit salad tonight).
Blue Community Day forms need to be sent back URGENTLY please. We need to finalise the jobs and organise resources for the day. If you have not returned your form please do so immediately.
The Parent Tramp form will come out at the end of Term 3. You will get the weekend you request for Parent Tramp as we staff on demand for the different weekends. The weekend you do not choose your son will go caving to Waitomo. Some people have already indicated their preference and these have been recorded – the form will come out with the third newsletter.
Exciting things happening this week include a Social Studies field trip to the Tihoi Trading Post – looking at all the old milling photos and facts (with the bonus of a fizzy drink on complete of the worksheet). School Sport on Monday afternoon, Margie Smith and Gary Judkins visiting on Tuesday from St. Paul's and some student involved in coaching sports at the local primary school as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Service.
Week 6
The boys have settled back into the busy Tihoi routine. The first rotation of trips – Rock 2, Sea Kayaking and Sailing all went as planned. The sailors got some excellent steady wind on Thursday and enjoyed the venue on the edge of Lake Rotorua. The rock climbers had a huge middle day with a tramp into Kawakawa bay and a range of climbs there. Nearly all the boys completed the 120 ft abseil at Tihoi. The sea kayakers had good weather to paddle the western bays of Lake Taupo – many had sore shoulders after the long paddle on Thursday.
This weekend we are back into classes and are enjoying seeing the sunshine today. School Sport (inter-house competition) this afternoon which is always a lot of fun. All students are sitting a Math test today. Sunday roast at lunch time and another week rolls around. We hope you all had a great weekend. the minivan is coming down tomorrow – Monday departing at 3pm so please ensure all parcels are to the office by then. Please only send fresh fruit and juice concentrate as additional food items.
Week 4
We have completed the first rotation of activities in the outdoors and the boys have enjoyed the challenges thus far. Tonight they will enjoy watching the rugby game as they all have completed their journals and handed them in. A few students are working intently to meet academic requirements so they can enjoy the game!!
A miserable cold day here today but spirits are high as we count down to mid term break. The first cross country running race will be held on Monday afternoon over a 4km course. Monday evening we celebrate with house music. The bus departs Tihoi at 10.30am – there are already more than 20 students using this service so if it suits you please use it. Those of you traveling down to Tihoi are welcome to arrive anytime after 10am. There will be morning tea served in the dining room and boys will bring home with them a short attitude report and the second newsletter.
Week 3a
Another brief message from Tihoi as a lot of the emails I sent with the newspaper (Tihoi Times)attached came back to me – I am guessing due to the size of the file. So I have not attached anything to this email. Last night we had a great pizza oven party. All the houses enjoyed building their own pizzas and then they were cooked in the new outdoor pizza oven – what a great investment it is. The pizzas were outstanding and the boys enjoyed a change of routine. Today we are having roast dinner at night due to Gee doing the Taupo half marathon this morning. The boys have had a couple of early nights as we try to keep energy levels up.
Week 3
A fabulous day and boys have all returned from the outdoor adventures!! They had great sunshine which is always a positive boost. Tonight is a games night and early to bed.
Another busy week planned – we have a pizza evening tomorrow night. All student cooks will be learning to make the dough with yeast and then we will build the pizzas in the dining room and cook them in the new pizza oven. I am sure it will be lots of fun with prizes for best pizza etc.
On Sunday our chef Gee is doing the Taupo half marathon so we will have to wait til dinner time for our Sunday roast. Classes have got academic assessments in the next week so the boys are very busy and starting to feel the pressures of Tihoi life. We will have an early night this week.
To the right is a copy of the 'Tihoi Times' newspaper for those of you who wanted another copy or missed the morning tea. Boys may send a hard copy in their letter this week. It is a .pdf document.
Week 2 - Saturday 24th July
Good Morning all
The boys enjoyed the first rotation in the outdoors. We had groups in the bush on survival, kayaking on the Waikato river and rock climbing at Tihoi. We had some wet weather so the rock climbers learnt the skills of belaying and enjoyed some challenges on the high ropes course. Everyone enjoyed a hot meal in the dining room last night after their adventures.
Today we are in class and enjoying the sunshine!! Letters were written and depart on the mail van at noon today. I am sure you are all enjoying the letters and the boys love the mail that is arriving regularly, please keep up the great writing – it is appreciated a lot.
Parcels this week to the office by Monday at 3pm or you can bring them along to the morning tea. The boys are in the outdoors on Wednesday so they would not get anything taken to the morning tea til Friday afternoon. Reminder that the morning tea is at 10am in the Long room. We look forward to seeing you there.
Regards Cyn and Chris
The First Days
Good Morning All
Glorious weather – boys are out in the forest on house tramp and all reports last night were positive. They had fires going and spirits were high as they begin the outdoor adventures.
A couple of things that have come to my attention
1. A keen group of parents are starting a coffee group for parents of boys in the intake. This will take place each Friday at the Coffee Club in Chartwell at 9am and is a weekly get together. A great way to make contact with other parents and to hear varying stories as the boys partake in the Tihoi experience.
2. If you are posting packages etc please use NZ Post rather than other courier companies. These will get to Tihoi quickly and are the only company that deliver to our door. Remember the weekly trips in the van take place – ensure your packages are clearly labelled and in the school office by 3pm on Monday each week.
You will receive the first newsletter in the mail later this week with lots of information regarding procedures, administration etc. Have a great week.
Cyn Smith
The First Week
The first week has gone well with boys settling into their new lifestyle and getting to know their house members. We have continued to have some very cold frosts and some glorious days!! The investment you made into warm clothes is paying off every day!
Academic classes have started and boys are busy with school work, fitness, cooking and homework times. It has been a very positive and pleasing start to all aspects of the programme.
First letters were posted on Saturday and included the first newsletter. You should receive these in the mail today or tomorrow depending on your postal address. Chris and I are in Hamilton tomorrow for the re-entry service for Intake one so if there are any last minute packages please deliver them to the St Paul's Collegiate School office by midday tomorrow.
A reminder that the only food items to be sent initially are small amounts of fresh fruit. The boys have access to plenty of basic fruit e.g. apples, oranges, bananas but specialty items e.g. grapes are enjoyed. This afternoon we have our first inter house sport competition which is always a lot of fun and the start of some exciting competition. The first rotation of jobs changed today. The first week cooks prepared spaghetti bolognaise and beef stir fry and noodles. Tonight it is pizza on the menu.
On Wednesday the boys head out at 2pm into the Outdoor Programme – they will be doing Survival in the bush, Kayaking or Rock Climbing. The outdoor groups are regularly mixed so they will be working with people from other houses and academic classes.
Enjoy your week and please make contact if you have any queries.
Cyn Smith
Intake 2010 - 02 First Day
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