Sometimes in life we are given the opportunity to get away from our every day circumstances and have the time to reflect. To be given such an opportunity at an early age is a wonderful gift. To be given the opportunity to explore who you are, what you want to do with your life, and more importantly, to consider if the path you are on will get you there, is a valuable tool to our teens.



Sometimes it takes a HUGE event like this to challenge students to reach inside and really get up close and personal with the world around them - to see what is out there. This trip is about stepping outside ones comfort zone and experiencing the wide world. Looking outside Pahiatua, the North Island and New Zealand. It's about looking beyond themselves.



Why Italy? Because it brings some of the things we read about in books to life! Students can experience their learning first hand and apply it to real life situations. How powerful is that?
Italy is the hub of historical and contemporary arts. Italy has wonderful resources such as the Uffizi Gallery in Florence where Leonardo de Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo's original paintings hang on large walls in stunning beauty. The Sistine Chapel in Rome offers frescos by Botticelli and Michelangelo and stunning architecture. Verona offers the historic home of Romeo and Juliet that gives Shakespeare a whole new dimension, not to mention Venice, Milan, and who could forget Pisa.



Why Dubai? Dubai is the perfect place to stop over and break the long flight and travel time of 40-something hours with an overnight stay. An overnight stop over allows plenty of time for a Red Bus Tour of Dubai where students will see another part of the world that is very different from what they know. I believe students can get enough of English and American culture on the telly. Asian culture is also more common these days in New Zealand; but to come face to face with Arabs, in the desert, in traditional dress, and be able to watch them go and pray to Allah 5 times a day in the mosques, is truly something out of this world. Dubai itself is thriving metropolis bringing together an age-old culture with modern technology and architecture, stunning jewelery with all the gold and silver that is traded, religious police and spice trade boats in the harbour. Dubai offers a very different culture.



We hope to select 15 students to join the 'Dream Team' and embark on a two year fundraising and art skills extension mentoring programme.



The Mentoring Programme will see students who are invited and or selected for the programme spending group time with the other students and teachers/adults on the trip. Parents will be encouraged to come along and support their students in fundraising events and wherever practical.
We are very excited to be able to offer such a programme and trip at Tararua College.

The Dream Team will plan for the trip and maybe pick up some extra credits through learning about the countries we will visit. Students on the Tour will be expected to keep daily drawing journals and collect images for a series of final art works upon their return. This will help them to express what they have learned and experienced, and will provide the community with something tangible that can be shared.


...Deadline for applications: March 27th


Currently applications are being sought from Gifted and or Talented Art students in Year 10, 11 and 12. Applications close Friday 27th of March.
From here the applications will be read and considered on individual merit by a selection panel. We will notify successful students no later than Week One, Term Two.
Good luck to all..... and watch this space! We will be travelling in April 2011 but as we progress on our adventure we would like to share updates with you.

Lisa Purda
HOD Art
Tararua College
Pahiatua

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