Figure 1.--These prep school boys prepare for afternoon activities after fininshing classes for the day.
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Figure 1.--These prep school boys prepare for afternoon activities after fininshing classes for the day. |
School: I saw. People talking. People yelling. People thinking. On the first day of school. - Jamie Griffin, 13
Dreadful School: I saw. Dull teachers. Tired students. School buses arriving. Doom about to begin. - Clinton Topp, 13
Teachers: I saw teachers. Eagle eyed. Checking clothing. Socialising. On the first day of school. - Debra Jones, 13
Uniform: I saw the uniform. Screaming. Being hidden. Getting laughed at. On the first day of school. - Glenda Taituha, 13
Canteen: I saw. Canteen Extensions. Flash. Big. Neat. On the first day of school. - Haley Easton, 13
3/4 Form Homeroom, 1997 Piopio College
There I lay, frozen with fear, but also overwhelmed with happiness. My mind was racing with unanswered questions. I felt that if I thought.of one more question my mind would explode. I was impatient for tomorrow to arrive but at the same time I was also scared of what could happen so I relaxed my mind by tossing and turning until I finally lulled myself to sleep.
When I awoke next morning I sprang out of bed and threw on my uniform. My mind began whizzing through all my questions again. What would the teachers be like? Would I like College? Would I remember all my books for each period? These were just some of the many questions nagging at me. Breakfast seemed to go on for an eternity and when the dishes had been washed and cleared away I sat around anxiously biting my thumb and waiting for Mum to leave for college. I checked my bag, brushed my teeth and when Mum finally shouted, 'Headyl' mu body seemed to suddenly become a robot. I walked mechanically out to the car, climbed in and secured my seatbelt As we drove down the road I realised this was going to be one of those days I wouldn't forget!
Charlotte Nicolson, Blue Mountain College, September, 1994
It was so hard getttng to sleep. All of the questions that had not been answered were exploding irt my head. What would it be like catching the bus? Seeing different people, having a uniform? Would they like me?
Finally I got to sleep but then my alarm went....bzzzzzzzz! I sat up quickly to see what it was but I forgot about the alarm as I remembered B.M.C.
I shot out of bed quickly, scrambled into my uniform and went out to catch the bus. I was nervous. My tummy was going round and round like a circus.
When we got out of the bus I didn't know where to go, but after assembly I was all right.
Megan Ogilvy, Blue Mountain College, September, 1994
In institutes of hierarchy,
washed over with other's influence of experience,
we search for relevance,
but are met with empty explanations
Surrounded by cliches of success and performance,
personal expectations take the ride
to an overload
of ranked reality.
Identity is distinguished
by our standard deviations
which, we are told,
determine our destiny.
And embedded in our minds
is the need to rebel,
but instead we escape
through our submission
Rebecca Wolf, Lymphad, Cashmere High School, 1993
Attendance is compulsory by law until a student is 16. Students working toward rxternal qualifications need to attend regularly to qualify for any award.
If your son or daughter has been away from schoo, please send a note to their family form (home room) teacher with them on the day they return. The note should have:
Please write the note in your own handwriting and seal it in an envelope (a used one will do). It is also helpful if you cam leave a teleophone message at the office pn the morning of the day your child will be absent. An answerphone operates outside offive hours. (5.00 pm to 8.00 am).
Ashburton College, 1993
