Embedded Files
10/09/2019
Lilly, Anna and Katha are heading to Christchurch for Barbershop Nationals.
What a gorgeous day to be heading down on the ferry.
02/09/2019
Kanon, Chi Huy and Sayuki are all part of an Aotea College art exhibition at Pātaka Gallery in Porirua.
The Pātaka Friends Art Awards is an annual exhibition that is made up of entries from artists working or studying in Porirua and produced in the 12 months leading up to the exhibition
31/08/2019
Walter took part in the first-ever PSY301 "sleep"over 49 Year 13 Psychology students stayed awake all night (with the exception of a few micro naps at breakfast), conducted experiments testing the effects of sleep deprivation on each other, played spotlight, table tennis and Cards Against Humanity, sung Singstar, practiced the school haka, made pizzas and generally had a great time.
30/08/2019
Kako from Ikubunkan Jr High School in Japan is heading home. It has been our pleasure getting to know her and we are already looking forward to meeting our 2020 Ikubunkan student.
30/08/2019
An action packed day at Daytona Raceway in Seaview with Go Karting, Paintball and Ice Skating on the menu for today.
29/08/2019
The internationals journeyed to Middle-earth and Tracey Island on a tour at Weta workshop.
28/08/2019
Today we went to Te Rauparaha arena where the international group took part in a boat safety course then had a lot of fun playing flippa ball
27/08/2019
The good weather continues as we head out to see the seals at Red Rocks on a 4WD tour with Seal Coast tours.
26/08/2019
We had a beautiful day out with the learning team at Wellington Zoo. Our international students learnt all about unique New Zealand animals like the Kiwi, Kea, Weta and Kunekune
23/08/2019
Our International students visited Victoria University Open Day
22/08/2019
We invited our homestay families for a fish n chip dinner.
It was a great opportunity for our homestays to get to know the International team and each other, as well as a time for us to show our gratitude for the support they give our school and students.
20/08/2019
Kako has been enjoying volunteering with the Whitby Kea (Scout) Group.
The Keas have loved getting to know Kako.
16/08/2019
A gorgeous winters day in Porirua. And a great view of the new build from up Baxters Knob.
14/08/2019
Our international students joined the school environmental group and planted some trees outside the front of the school grounds.
02/08/2019
We fare-welled the Seiryo group with a party in Te Manawa.
Our homestay families enjoyed the presentations that the students prepared.
02/08/2019
Dylan and Marcus have finished up their summer camp and are heading home to Vietnam.
01/08/2019
Dinner at Tuk Tuk Thai with the Seiryo team.
01/08/2019
Today the Seiryo group followed their recipes to make bacon and eggs pies and lamingtons.
The chocolate lamingtons were particularly popular.
30/07/2019
The Seiryo group explored our local supermarket.
They were given a recipe and sent to gather the ingredients.
While they were there the students took the opportunity to try out some Kiwi candy as well.
25/07/2019
Our new international students visited Te Papa today, we were very impressed with the new Te Taiao Nature exhibition zone
22/07/2019
Term 3 begins! And we are happy to welcome Kako, Tsukino, Anna, Annika, Amelie, Merle, Pauline, Katha, Cris, Lilly and Maggie to Aotea College
21/07/2019
Today we welcome the Seiryo group for a 2 week visit.
The group comes annually and we are excited to get to know the 2019 students.
04/07/2019
We are sad to say good-bye to Axel, Matilda, Niina, Kaitlyn, Eric, Reese and Mariette today.
We wish them the best for their futures and hope that they will come visit us again soon.
04/07/2019
Kaitlyn from the USA has wowed us with her painting skills. Here is a painting she has made to remind her of her time in Porirua and one she has made for our International office of Kansas.
28/06/2019
Our International Students attended Polyfest.
Polyfest is an annual event to demonstrate the young people of Porirua's pride in their cultural identity and heritage, through a celebration of unity with the other colleges in the area
27/06/2019
Our International group visited Weta Workshop in Miramar. The students enjoyed discovering the props, amour, costumes, creatures, and miniatures used in both big and small screen productions.
20/06/2019
Kaitlyn has amazed audiences with her performance as Amber Von Tussle in the Aotea College Production of Hairspray.
19/06/2019
Our International Director Jamie was happy to have the opportunity to show agents Diana and Donna from AFS through our new build.
12/06/2019
Year 9 and 10 students currently studying Japanese Language and some of our International students made Dorayaki (a Japanese sweet) with Mr Tweddle during Japanese club last week. A lot of very happy students, enjoying a yummy treat.
12/06/2019
Matilda enjoyed a bushcraft camp as part of her Level 1 PE Outdoors course. The group ventured out on their overnight camp where they experienced staying a night in a bivouac and a backcountry hut, cooking in the outdoors, building survival items and carrying everything they need on their backs
10/06/2019
Our International Director Jamie has been busy visiting agents in Thailand, it has been a great opportunity to update them on the progress of our new build.
06/06/2019
Mariette and Niina have been busy with the Aotea College Jazz Orchestra.
On Saturday they competed in the Manawatu Jazz Competition and today at the New Zealand School of Music competition at the Michael Fowler Centre.
24/05/2019
Axel and Eric challenged themselves at the Wellington Secondary School Tough Guy and Gal Run on a course that included swamp crossings, a spider’s web net climb, barb wire, beautiful native bush trails, tunnels, hurdles, a climbing frame, and not to mention, mud mud and more mud!
18/04/2019
Some of our international students joined Wesley Community Action and came in on Wednesday to bake muffins and fudge for the following day. Thursday morning they made our way out to WesleyHaven to have morning tea with residents.
12/04/2019
Today we fare-welled Michael, Sophie and Aurel, all from Germany. It has been our pleasure to have them and they will be missed by by the International group as well as the domestic friends they have made.
11/04/2019
Our international students enjoyed an end of term trip to El Rancho. Despite the weather not cooperating the students had fun doing tubing, archery and an escape room.
11/04/2019
Today our ECE Group head home to Thailand.
It has been a pleasure to have them and we look forward to our next ECE group arriving in Term 3.
10/04/2019
Today our ECE group visited Zealandia, the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. The 225 hectare ecosanctuary is a groundbreaking conservation project that has reintroduced over 20 species of native wildlife back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.
09/04/2019
Tonight our ECE group thanked their homestay families by hosting Thai night. The students worked hard at preparing traditional Thai food to share after performing for their guests.
08/04/2019
Our ECE group had the opportunity to visit the Royal Thai Embassy before exploring the NZ Parliament Buildings.
05/04/2019
Our ECE group had an exciting adventure 4x4 wheel driving to the Seal colony at Red Rocks today.
04/04/2019
Our ECE group visited Te Rauparaha arena today, we participated in the Coastguard Safe Boating Programme.
01/04/2019
Our ECE group visited Pataka today, we explored the idea of ‘taonga’ using the museum collection as the focus, including their beautiful pounamu hei tiki. The group then made their own hei tiki to treasure and take home.
29/03/2019
We are sad to say good-bye to Masaya and Hiryu, both from Japan, we wish them the best of luck for their futures and hope they will visit us again soon.
28/03/2019
We enjoyed a fantastic trip to Kapiti Island, the ECE group enjoyed seeing the native reserve and the many bird species that call it home, the highlight of the day was a pod of dolphins accompanying us back to the mainland.
26/03/2019
Today our ECE Group enjoyed a tour of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
25/03/2019
We officially welcomed our ECE group with a Powhiri run by our MAO101-MAO201 Students.
22/03/2019
Welcome ECE
Welcome ECE
We are happy to welcome the ECE group from Thailand who will be on an education and cultural exchange for 3 weeks.
22/03/2019
Adrenaline Forest
Adrenaline Forest
Today Masaya and Hiryu took buddies to have a go at Adrenaline Forest-a multi level aerial obstacle course that we are lucky enough to have just next door to Aotea College.
16/03/2019
Tēnā koutou i tēnei ata
You will have learned of the tragic loss of life in Christchurch in yesterday’s act of terrorism. Like all New Zealanders, we at Aotea College are shocked at the violence that has been visited on our country and the Muslim community. While we know that our international and local students are safe and well removed from this act of violence, we know that we will have students in our school community who will feel the impact of this attack. The school will be putting measures in place to ensure students receive whatever support they need.
As our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, we are a nation of more than 200 ethnicities. Many of the families affected have chosen New Zealand as their home because we are an inclusive, safe and welcoming society. The Prime Minister’s most recent statement is HERE.
As a country we have appreciated the messages of support from other nations, including from Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Queen, Australia, Canada and USA. It is at times like this that the compassion and solace of the international community strengthens our sense of common purpose and shared values in rejecting violence. We are grateful for this support.
We would like to reassure you that New Zealand is still a safe and welcoming country for international students. At Aotea College we sincerely believe in the importance of building strong, positive, international relationships and experiences for our young people and we look forward to continuing to build these relationships in the future.
Ngā mihi Nui
Kate Gainsford - Principal
Jamie O’Connor - International Director
07/03/2019
HOMESTAY BBQ
We enjoyed hosting our homestay families for a BBQ, it was great to have the chance to get together and for the International Students to introduce themselves and their host families, as well as for our International Students to have a very Kiwi meal.
01/03/2019
STUDY WELLINGTON WELCOME
Students were officially welcomed to Wellington by Mayor Justin Lester and Porirua Mayor Mike Tana as part of the Study Wellington International Welcome event. Our students enjoyed a morning making poi’s, learning a haka and trying our some circus tricks.
Aotea College local and international students had the privilege of training as lion dancers for the 2019 Chinese New Year parade. They worked with tutors from the Cultural Centre and the Aotea College Performing Arts Faculty to perfect their moves. Thanks to Evan Li from Education Pathway for supporting this opportunity. Watch the training and performance HERE
08/02/2019
SPORTS DAY
Fun was had by all despite the weather not behaving.
Congratulations to Itsuki Ebisawa who placed in 100m Snr Boys.
08/02/2019
COAST TO COAST
Whakamihi! Jamie O’Connor our International Director and Axel af Klercker of Sweden, who completed the Coast to Coast, an iconic multisport event based in the South Island of New Zealand.
Held every February, the race starts on the West Coast, at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast with the finish at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
01/02/2019
Orientation
Our new international students enjoyed a fun and informative first week at Aotea College.
On Tuesday we took a train trip to Wellington city and walked along our beautiful waterfront before taking a tour of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, we finished our day by visiting Oriental Bay for an ice cream.
Wednesday saw our international group officially welcomed to Aotea College as part of the school Powhiri, before spending time with student leaders.
7 September
TONGAN LANGUAGE WEEK
Momoka Saito (Japan) and Juan Pedro Torres (Argentina) were special guests at the school's celebration of Tongan Language Week. Yes, they had to learn some and use some Tongan language for the occasion.
17 August
Makoto Giga and Manamu Ishikawa have been visiting Aotea College this term. Today they were farewelled by the Principal, Ms Kate Gainsford. It has been a pleasure to have them staying with us.
17 August
Students from Vietnam and Japan visited Victoria University to start finding out about opportunities in avaiable in New Zealand. Soon we will start planning their subject choices for 2019 and their eventual pathways from school to university.
The first three weeks of this term have been a busy time for our new students from Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Vietnam. They are now getting used to Kiwi English, family life, our school and of course the fact that they have come from summer to the middle of winter. They have all appreciated the support that they have received from their Aotea College student buddies.
We were happy to welcome students and staff from Seiryo High School Tokyo to Aotea College today. The students will be with us for two weeks taking part in English Language classes, attending regular classes with the Aotea College buddies and trips around the region to learn more about our region.
The students are all living with local host families. We are lucky that we have local families who are willing to host international students and provide them with excellent care.
22 July 2018
The end of Term 2 was time for farewells to a group of students who have become valued members of our school community whether their stay has been long or short.
Back row:
- Kongpop Puakrom (Thailand - 2.5 years)
- Kostia and Moritz Fischinger (Germany - 1 term)
- Lea Dalfen (Austria - 2 terms)
- Kristin Sander (Germany - 1 year)
Front Row
- Patricia Genter (Germany - 2 terms)
- Bela Heymann (Germany - 6 weeks)
- Paul Koblizek (Germany - 2 terms)
- Amandine Veine (France - 1 year)
- Megan Lewis (USA - 2 terms)
- Maike Weyers (Germany - 2 terms)
Istuki Ebisawa (Japan) and Nugyen Minh Duy (Vietnam) took part in the recent Year 11, PE Outdoors camping expedition. The involved two nights in the bush, sleeping under a fly (not a tent - just overhead shelter) and tramping through the Orongorongo Valley in the Remutaka Forest Park. A great adventure in the middle of winter!
Itsuki Ebisawa arrived from Japan at the start of 2018 and has quickly become a part of the school. He played futsal in term 1. Itsuki has now joined the College's 1st XI. He has quickly shown himself to be a talented player and is the top scorer in the team. We expect that he will continue to shine as he learns the kiwi way of playing and starts to understand his coach's London accent better!
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