Profile of the week
This week we profile Year 10 student, Ben Blackwell. Ben is a guitarist in the School band PD, is a member of the Student Forum and plays in the U15 Rugby team. Recently Ben travelled to Darwin with his Palmerston North Kiwi West Aquatic swimming team to compete in the Arafura age group championships meeting. He achieved no less than a remarkable nine personal best times at the meeting.
Name: Ben Blackwell
Class/House: 10MI/Totara
Home Town: Pahiatua
Favourite Subjects: Music and PE
Sports and Hobbies: Rugby, swimming and guitar
Staff and students were keen to get back into school after the long weekend. Last week was assessment week for the senior school, with some assessments being held over this week also. The ERO team were back in the College for one day last week to have their final briefing with senior management before compiling their final report, which will be out later in the term.
There were no winter sport games over the long weekend except for Girls' Football. They played a Massey side in atrocious conditions on Sunday and were defeated. Player of the day was Layla Spiers. In the previous week the Boys' First Hockey X1 had a game on Thursday night against a PNBHS team, winning 3-1 with Dylan Bennet scoring twice.
Arriving on the Friday night, tents were pitched in the dark at Donnelly Flats in preparation for an early start on Saturday morning. It was cold and damp but activities were undertaken with enthusiasm, and leaders were especially impressed by the way that our young people were navigating through thick bush by the end of the day.
On the Sunday the group again divided into small teams for a tramp up to Mountain House. It was a good test of fitness as a full pack had to be carried and the track climbs steeply out of the Atiwhakatu Valley. Now they have to do a practice expedition before planning and completing their actual expedition.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the Scheme should talk to any of our young achievers who put in such a good effort that weekend. They are Anna Arends, Caron Purvis, Ngaire Boyden, Fiona Stokes, Gabrielle Mudford, Ashlyn Newport, Liam Fouhy, Ben Blackwell and Ian Giblett.
Duke of Edinburgh trampers Gabrielle Mudford, Anna Arends and Caron Purvis 
Brandon Little and the Horticulture class recently sharpened up their tree pruning skills For further information on this column, or about Tararua College, please email Mr. Mcknight at the College.
Tararua College, Churchill St, PO Box 94, Pahiatua, 4941.
Phone 06 3768344, email: admin@tararuacollege.school.nz
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Site last updated June 2, 2010