Telephone relay Service - Van Asch Deaf Education Centre

News
&
VAN ASCH DEAF EDUCATION CENTRE
views
Truro Street, Christchurch 8
Voice/TTY (03) 326 6009
Fax (03) 326 5346
e-mail:
[email protected]
contact persons
Chairperson,
Board of Trustees
Dyanne Bensley
Principal
Ian Cocks
van Asch
DEAF
Education Centre
supporting
its region
TERM 4 2004
Telephone Relay
Service
Associate Principal Marie O'Brien
Deputy Principal
Tess Hillmer
Executive Officer Lynne Ferguson
Residential Manager Paul Scammell
Regional Coordinators Bernie Mulcahy
Niel Pouwels
Audiologists
Paul R. Peryman
Neil Heslop
Lauren Slaven typing a TTY phone message to Chris Blum, director of
SPRINT NZ Relay Service, to celebrate the opening day of the service.
Specialist
Resource Teachers
The telephone relay service will give Deaf, hearing impaired and others
who need it, access to instant two-way communication via their home
telephone system.
When the user makes a call they type a text message using a
teletypewriter (TTY) or the internet. This message is sent to a specialised
call centre where it is relayed as spoken word for the person receiving the
call at the other end of the phone line. Then, when that person replies, their
message is relayed as text for the original caller.
Reading/Writing:
Michele Yonetani
Visual Communication:
James Townshend
Speech/Language
Joanne Lake
Deaf/
hearing
impaired
person
(text caller)
NZSL Resource Coordinator
Paul Buzzard
Technicians
Tony Dwyer
Phil Henderson
Library
Margaret Hunt
d Conv ersation
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officer
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In this issue
● Principal's Report
TTY Relay Service
● Regional KIT days
● Exceptional student work
● Awards and achievements
● Inspired sculptures
●
VADEC News & Views
The relay service will be an excellent opportunity for
teachers of the deaf to use telecommunications as
part of a practical literacy programme. The
ability to compose clear, meaningful written
language is integral to the success of using the TRS.
To make a call using the internet, go to:
www.internetnzrelay.co.nz
For more information go to: www.nzrelay.co.nz
Photos courtesy Bay Harbour News.
From the Principal
The 125th Jubilee
Progress with the planning of the 125th Jubilee is
proceeding well.
• The Minister for Disability Issues, the Associate
Minister for Education and the Mayor of Christchurch
have confirmed that they will be attending the
Jubilee’s opening ceremony. Invitations have been
sent to the Governor General and the Prime Minister
and we are awaiting their response.
• Funding has been secured for Donald Gibson,
a deaf-blind sculptor and his mentor Bon Souter
to make a sculpture for the Jubilee. The sculpture
depicts two cupped hands. It is anticipated that the
sculpture will be completed in time for the 125th
Jubilee. The location of the sculpture is yet to be
decided but will be in the vicinity of the old main
building steps.
• Funding has also been secured a memorial wall
that will be located at the top of the old main steps.
The wall will have a number of plaques attached to it
providing illustrations and information about the old
main building.
• A planting plan for the oval garden plot below the
steps of the Old Main Building has been completed.
• A book about the history of the Centre is nearing
completion and will be available for sale during the
Jubilee.
• Good progress is being made on producing a
range of souvenirs that will be available for sale
during the Jubilee. These include
- Post cards sets made from historical photographs
from the Centre’s archives
- A Calendar made from historical photographs from
the Centre’s archives
- Cookery Book including recipes used by past
students at the Centre
- An Afghan Blanket with illustrations of the Centre’s
present and past buildings
- Tea towels with illustrations of the Centre’s present
and past buildings
- T-Shirts and Polo Shirts with the Centre’s logo
- Drinking glasses with the Centre’s logo.
• A model of the Old Main Building being built by
Gregory Pateman, Rodney Henwood and Shaun
Fahey is nearing completion.
• The Steering Committee has had to limit the
number of seats available for the trip to Orton
Bradley Park to 90 because of risk management
issues. It is being recommended that when
registering, if people want to be considered for the
trip to Orton Bradley Park they indicate this on the
registration form. The person’s name will be
included on the booking list in case seats are
available. If no seats are available their money will
be refunded.
• The closing date for registrations is now 31
January 2004.
Remember, for more information about the Jubilee
visit the van Asch website at
www.vanasch.school.nz.
VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
A Meeting Between the Kelston and van Asch
Boards of Trustees
The Kelston and van Asch Boards of Trustees met
on Sunday 7 November, at the Centre. This was an
opportunity for the two Boards to meet each other
and discuss areas of common interest and ways of
more effective networking.
The agenda included:
• Deaf Education Aotearoa New Zealand
- Progress made by DEANZ with the Strategic Plan
and ORRS applications
• Deaf Mentors/Deaf Resource Staff
- Progress by the Boards in securing sustainable
funding for these positions and related resources
• Maintaining Links Between the Kelston and van
Asch Boards
- An opportunity to exchange ideas on maintaining
strong links between Board members
• Cooperation between the Deaf Education Centres
in Resource Delivery and Resource Production
• Updates on the van Asch 125th Jubilee in 2005
and the ANZCED Conference in 2006
All attending the meeting found the discussions
worthwhile and plans have been made to hold
similar meetings in the future.
The Deaf Education Access Forum Meeting
At the last Deaf Education Access Forum meeting
in Wellington the Service Design Group a strategic
plan for implementing the Matrix was discussed. The
Matrix, you may remember is a document developed
by the Service Design Group to
implement the National Plan. It sets out the ideal
services a child or young person who is deaf should
receive to maximise their educational potential from
the time of diagnosis until they complete their
compulsory education. It was agreed that the
strategic plan developed by the Service Design
Group the Matrix would be presented to the
Associate Minister of Special Education in October.
I do want to take the opportunity of thanking the
Board for their hard work. A very special thank you
to Dyanne for taking on the role as the Chairperson
of the Board for yet another term. Your dedication,
commitment and the support that you have given to
me and the Centre’s management is very much
appreciated.
Thank you to our regional teaching staff and deaf
resource staff for the quality programmes that they
provide for our regional students.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all
staff who have been associated with the Primary,
Middle and High School this year.
The long lists of our students’ achievements this
would not have happened but for the considerable
efforts of staff. I know that both teaching and
non-teaching staff have invested many hours into
making sure that programmes have been a success.
In that list I include those staff who work with our
students in the residences for their long hours of toil.
Also a very big thank you to the admin staff, the
media centre staff, the technicians, the audiologists,
our groundsmen and our domestic staff.
To the members of the Centre’s senior management
team, my very sincere thanks for your support and
the enthusiastic way in which you take on the many
challenging tasks that you are confronted with on a
daily basis.
Good luck to all students who have sat
examinations. I hope that your efforts will be
rewarded with good grades.
And finally the students’ parents: Thank you for your
co-operation and support. It is a privilege to work
with you to provide the very best learning
programmes for your children.
To everyone: have a very Merry Christmas, a Happy
New Year and a safe and restful holiday.
Ian Cocks
Principal
This meeting was held with the Minister on 16
October. At the meeting it was agreed that the
Service Design Group with representation from the
Ministries of Education, Health and Disabilities would
look to progress stage one of the Strategic Plan. In
the interim the Minister has asked the Ministries of
Education, Health and Disabilities to make
themselves familiar with the Strategic Plan and the
Matrix, decide who from each of the Ministries will
work with the Service Design Group and develop
thoughts about the gaps in existing services the
Matrix seeks to fill. The Minister also requested
that the Ministry of Education to determine how they
will fund the process. A timeline to begin working
with the Service Design Group to complete the gap
analysis will be determined once the Ministries have
reported back to the Minister.
VADEC News & Views
Congratulations!
New Zealand Federation for Deaf
Children Awards
New Zealand Federation of Deaf Children was set
up in 1976 by parents of Deaf and hearing impaired
children. The objective of the Federation is to
promote, carry out and coordinate measures
conducive to the welfare of Deaf and hearing
impaired children and their families. Much of the
Federation's recent work has focused on insuring
that Deaf and hearing impaired children have
appropriate access to education curriculum.
The academic excellence and hard work of Deaf and
hearing impaired children who are receiving their
education in mainstream rather than special schools
has largely gone unrecognised. Deaf and hearing
impaired children who are able to keep up with their
hearing peers with support are, according to
research in the field, like gifted hearing children.
This award recognises the highest achievement
nationally of a Deaf or hearing impaired child in a
mainstream school.
The 'Devine Family Trophy' citation for
Academic Excellence Award.
New Zealand Federation for Deaf Children year
10 Academic Excellence Award.
Erica Dawson, of Wellington, attends Samuel
Marsden Collegiate School. She received the year 10
Academic Excellence Award.
Rachel Rasmussen of Freyberg High School
capped of five years of hard work at school by being
presented with 'The Devine Family Trophy' "for Year
13 Academic Excellence". The trophy includes cups,
certificates, citation and a scholarship for $250.
Emma Brightwell, Year 13, Hastings Girls’ High
School, received an award for Peer teaching.
Rachel Rasmussen
The Freyberg High School community are very proud
of Rachel's achievement.
When presenting the trophy, the Principal, Michael
McMenamin, encouraged the audience to wave their
hands to applaud Rachel. It was awesome to view
600 pairs of hands waving in honour of Rachel's
achievement.
VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
Lauren Christensen who has completed a
successful year at Hagley Community College in
English and Childcare. Lauren has completed her
course and gained her Certificate in Early Childhood
Education.
Chris Waite, who was awarded 3rd prize for Metal
Technology and 3rd prize for Maths at Stratford High
School's senior prize-giving this year. A wonderful
achievement. Well done Chris.
º
Academic Excellence
A big 'Congratulations" to Gemma Shea, Year 11
student at Marian College.
Gemma has had a very successful year 11 at
Marian.
At the recent senior prize-giving, Gemma received
'Academic Excellence' awards in two subjects:
Information Technology and Physical Education.
In her Art class, Gemma completed her
portfolio for NCEA level 1.
This is a portfolio of paintings based on
Canterbury landscape. Gemma's paintings are
based around the Halswell Quarry.
Gemma's PE class also had a great deal of fun in
the NCEA 1.1 unit 'Physical Activity and Hauora'
(well-being). For this the students worked on a
dance sequence. The girls learned a lot and had
a lot of fun doing this. The end result was
fabulous; with great team work, well-timed moves
and sequences, and very catchy music.
Still photographs do not do it justice at all, but
everyone at the "lunch time presentation" thought
it was just fantastic! Don't you love the gumboots!
So Congratulations Gemma on your hard work
and your successful year!
Congratulations also to . . .
Emma Agnew (Y13) who graduated from the
Christchurch College of Computing and also
received the award for "enhancing the
relationship between the college and the industry
in both work placements" donated by Canterbury
Development Corporation. Emma has been working
at Level five this year and achieved very well. Well done Emma.
Rosie Solouota of the Deaf Resource Class at
Newlands College received 'Personal Excellence'
for her Year 11 work this year in Techology and Art.
Tina Brightwell, (year 11), Hastings Girls’ High,
received an award at the Senior prize-giving.
Matthew Findsen (Y13), Mairehau High School,
for achieving the level 2 NCEA certificate. We are all
very proud of Matthew's hard work this year. I would also like to congratulate Matthew on
receiving the "Basketball player of the Year" at his
senior prizegiving. Ben Webb and Nathan Gilmer on being selected for
the Deaflympics January 2005.
VADEC News & Views
Sports Awards
During the recent Senior Sports Dinner at Linwood
College, Hayley Egan, a Year 10 student, received a
Blazer Award for her achievements while
representing Linwood College at the
Canterbury Secondary Schools Championship finals
at QE2. She was also awarded the Most Improved
Swimmer for 2004.
Hayley receiving her awards
Hayley continues with her sporting interests from
primary school and has been involved in many
Linwood College teams, including the College’s
softball team, water polo team, and soccer team.
Outside of school hours, Hayley is kept busy with
horse riding, a sport that she took up only two years
ago, and is already excelling in.
Damien Taputoro, (Year 11), William Colenso
College, received two certificates for basketball
including "Most valuable player" award and his
basketball team won the Hawke’s Bay Secondary
Schools Fairplay Award.
Farewell and best wishes to all School
leavers in our region, including Malia Ugone,
Shannon Morris and Nathan Gilmer from
Newlands College. Hope you will discover the
best of life out of school.
Deaf student on stage as blind mouse.
I liked being in "Who stole the Year". The face paint
tickled. My mouse dance was fun. Later I changed
into a Christmas tree. This time my face was all
green with sparkles. I didn't like the sparkles
because they were cold and they tickled. When I
went on stage my Grandad gave me a Hi Five.
Samantha Anderson,
7 years,
Weedons School.
VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
From the Regions
Taranaki Kit Day
Gladiators Challenge
Taranaki Deaf students enjoyed a fun filled
morning at the YMCA on October 13th 2004.
Jonathan Walsh helping Madison Davy
with the hoops in the team challenge.
Matthew is rock climbing along the wall to score points
for his team.
Isaac and Osheana fighting against each other with
noodles on a balancing beam.
Keeping in touch, making new friends.
VADEC News & Views
Taranaki Kit Day
Hearing Dog Centre
New Plymouth
We learnt how Hearing Dogs train to hear a fax
coming in, smoke alarms, fire bells, doorbells and
baby monitors. Hearing dogs train for approximately
6 months. When they are working they wear a
yellow jacket.
VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
Hawkes Bay Fun Night Kit Day
In Hawke’s Bay we had a family KIT evening on
Tuesday 23 November 2004 at the Twyford
community hall. As families arrived we played
games and did chalk drawings. Everyone gathered
inside to watch Lee’s storytelling in NZSL. After a
BBQ tea we went off in various groups. The parents
went to hear about the work of the Federation from
Trish, the siblings of the deaf students watched a
video about what it is like to be deaf and the deaf
students went outside for games. Everyone came
together in the hall for card tricks and games before
heading home.
& Hawkes Bay Senior Kit Day
VADEC News & Views
& Hawkes Bay Junior KIT Farm visit
On Tuesday 16 November the pre-schoolers and
junior school children and their parents went to visit
an animal farm in Flaxmere. They had a wonderful
time feeding a variety of animals.
10 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
Canterbury Kit Day
Keeping In Touch days are important dates on the
calendar of mainstream deaf students. On Friday
19th November they were invited to van Asch Deaf
Education Centre for a KIT day. The Itinerant
teachers organised a busy timetable for children,
parents and caregivers who attended.
An aspect of deaf students’ lives is New Zealand
Sign Language and Deaf Studies. It was a great
opportunity to play in Paul Buzzard’s amazing deaf
orchestra. The students also enjoyed activities,
storytelling, games in the gym, visiting the museum,
using TTYs and a shared lunch.
Keeping in Touch days are special events because
of the interaction between older deaf students and
their younger peers. It is this encouragement that
students who don’t have a lot of contact with deaf
people value. It is with much appreciation we thank
Jenna Holland, Craig Findsen, Matthew Findsen and
Jacinda Buzzard for their support.
We have had some great experiences this year and
look forward to more enjoyable outings in 2005.
VADEC News & Views 11
KIT Day
By Hadley Drummond
On Friday 19 November I went to van Asch with my
mum for KIT day. KIT day is a day when deaf
children who do not go to school at van Asch get
together to meet each other and have fun.
We played games. Then we played a game of ball
and it was a lot of fun. We had to get the blocks over
to win the game.
I had some lunch after the game.
Then we went to the museum and we did a quiz –
to find out the answers to questions.
I found all my answers. It was very hard.
Then we had story telling with Paul and it was funny
when Paul did the music.
After that we went home with our mums and dads.
Hadley Drummond in the van Asch Museum
Firmesk's Living Earth
My name is Firmesk. I am in Room 1 at Shirley
Primary School. Our class has been studying the
Living Earth and how we need to look after our land
and sea creatures. We visited New Brighton beach.
We picked up rubbish too.
12 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
Production Night
On the 8th of September on Wednesday the whole
of Grasmere children went to the big production
night at Centre Stage. I was a monkey and wore a
hat that had ears on it and we wore tails and black
pants.
Why children should not watch too much T.V.
On the long grass
Where the animals lie
Find me an elephant
Long trunk, grey and high
by Erina Nanai,
9 years old,
Maoribank School
At Pet Day
I have an Elephant at home. His name is greyly.
He eats my food. He is just a baby. He likes to drink
milk and water.
At pet day I took my guinea pigs to pet day. At pet
day there were cats, rabbits, mice and lambs, fish
and dogs. Pet day was at my school last
Wednesday. Mum brought my guinea pigs in the car
to school.
My Animals
I have 7 pets at my house. I have Ella and Charlie,
who are lambs, Zac is a dog, Marmite and Honey
are cats and Sparkles and Princess are guinea pigs.
Zac is black. Charlie and Ella are white. Marmite and
Honey are black and white and orange.
Sparkles is black and brown and Princess is brown.
Children watch too much T.V. I do think children
watch too much T.V. because it hurts your eyes too
much and T.V. can not help you learn. I know that
T.V. is just plays and it makes you play a lot when
your programme is on. That's why children should
not watch too much T.V.
Aleisha Putt,
Year 4,
Grasmere School,
Invercargill
Omaui Camp
A sand shark jumped into my Kayak and I jumped
out of the Kayak and we went back to camp in Toni's
dad's truck. The beach is called Omaui Beach.
The weather was cold on Saturday. I did not cook the
shark because it was yuk and yuk.
I changed the story to trick Mum.
I went to the deep water on the beach. My group was
'd'. I borrowed Toni's wet'n'wild wetsuit
because I didn't have one.
Callum Lines,
Year 2,
Invercargill North School
My Penrod
I like Penrod. I am taking him to pet day.
My Penrod jumped over the jump.
I got a chocolate fish.
Sharna Brownlie,
Edendale School,
Southland
Dream Time
A long time ago in Australia hunters were hunting
birds with their spears.
The hunters cooked them over the fire so they can
have them for dinner.
They lived in the camp site beside the river.
When it was dark the hunters looked up in the sky
and they saw the stars.
James Elliott, Year 2, Ilam School
Shooting at Camp
Aim it straight
Pull the trigger
Bang!!!
Missed
Aim it straight
Pull the trigger
Bang!!!
Bullseye
Kerrin Hodges,
Year 7,
Collingwood Intermediate School,
Invercargill
VADEC News & Views 13
Drew's stories
Fireworks Night
On Friday 5 November at seven o’clock, at Bluff
School, almost everyone in the town went to farewell
137 years of Bluff School. Next year Bluff School is
merging with Konini School and is going to be called
Bluff Community School.
My whole family went, and some of my friends too.
There were lots of things to do and see and also
things to eat. There were jeep rides, tug of war,
Hip Hop and Kapa Haka performances. My sister,
Nicole, was in the Kapa Haka. My brother, Brian,
was the youngest pupil at Bluff School so he got to
cut the cake with the oldest past pupil.
At 9.45pm the Fire Brigade lit the bonfire and some
sparks were blown by the wind into the trees, but the
Fire Brigade put the fire out. At 10.00pm everyone
walked around to Argyle Park to watch the fireworks
display.
The Branches
This morning two men cut the branches down with a
chain saw.
They cut the branches so the sun will shine in the
classroom.
That night I felt sad because I’m going to be leaving
some of my friends behind as I’m going to another
school next year.
P.J. Payne,
Bluff School,
Southland
Black Cat
My Birthday
On Friday the 3rd of December it is my birthday.
I will be 9 years old.
Mum is making a cake. It is going to be chocolate
cream and jam with chocolate icing and M&M’s and
9 candles on top of the cake.
Drew Smith
Wakefield School
A Very Tall, Fishy Tale
“I just caught a big fish”, said Bradley.
“How big was it?” said Cam.
“It was SO BIG that I couldn’t fit it in the car and I
called Grandad because I needed a trailer. When
I took the fish home I got a knife to cut the fish in
quarters. I cooked the fish and ate it and it was
yummy!
Bradley McKenzie,
St Theresa’s School,
Invercargill
14 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
Sudden attack from the black cat.
It glides, spins, twirls, rotates around.
It brakes on a straight street.
From its owner it attempts to run away.
But its caught with a tremble and a shiver.
The chicken who didn't lay eggs!
Every morning in the farm yard the rooster would sit
on the wooden fence post. He would cock-a-doodledoo six times to make sure everyone was woken.
Everyone was woken except chicken who still wasn't
woken by a loud yell "No eggs! No eggs! What are
we going to have for breakfast?"
The farmer looked and looked for eggs. He searched
and searched for eggs but still none were found.
Mr Farmer went to the kitchen and complained to his
wife that the chicken wouldn't get up.
So then Mr. Farmer arranged for the loudest band to
play music beside the chicken . . . but it didn't work.
After letting off dynamite and bombs, all the
neighbours were woken but still not the chicken.
The end.
What was the secret?
This chicken was just a stuffing
whilst the real chicken was away
on holiday!!
Matthew Bylsma,
Year 7,
Rosedale Intermediate School,
Invercargill.
º
Making a Mosaic
by Kitana Potaka-Hetet
This is how to make a mosaic.
You need a cardboard square, 130 mm, a pencil,
some paint, a paint brush, scissors, plastic strips and
PVA glue.
First we write our name on the back of the cardboard.
Then we paint our cardboard on the front and sides.
We put it on the table to make it dry.
While it dries, pick three colours of plastic strips.
Cut them with scissors into little squares.
When the cardboard is dry, get some glue and make
some dots on it.
Last of all you put some little squares on the glue to
maker a pattern.
I put mine on the T.V.
Kitana is making a mosaic at KIT day in Fielding. Her mum and Dad and little brother are watching.
In the Holidays.
Shaye on
his birthday
In the holidays we went to Auckland. We went in a
plane. My aunty picked me up and my sister. When
we got there we played the play station. We went
into groups. I slept at my aunty’s and we were
jumping on the trampoline.
'Lord of the
Rings' book
puzzle
'Lord of the
Rings' boxed
puzzle
By Rene Gardiner.
'Sponge Bob
School bag
My Birthday
Today is my birthday.
I got some presents.
I got a Sponge Bob schoolbag.
I got a Lord of the Rings book and puzzle.
By Shaye Thompson,
Aged 6,
Maugatainoka School.
VADEC News & Views 15
Being There
A short story by Holly MeyerYr 12, Kavanagh College, Dunedin.
She glided through time, like a lone dove flittering.
She was floating just outside her body, yet within. Her
eyes witnessed strange lizard-like creatures that had
lived millennia ago. Before the cataclysm, peace had
reigned for these mysterious lizards. Doom impacted,
punching the soil, a pock-mark in the land. An eerie
silence settled as the animals slowly died out.
Without hesitation time continued its endless journey,
never looking back. She watched, rapt, as beautiful
flying creatures glided over the fresh crust. One of
them gently lifted her up, up from the ground. They
continued upwards until the atmosphere shrouded
them in blue. The bird let her go, but she continued to
hang in space, as though safely in orbit. In her hand a
clutched feather dissolved into nothingness.
Time fast-forwarded and the planet whizzed around.
The Being observed land forms plunging, crashing
and separating on their gigantic playground. A force
took her hand, guiding, guiding. Plunging once again
into the planet’s atmosphere, the Being witnessed
countless amazing events. But one caught her
attention and grasped it squeezing the life out of it.
An ape-like creature evolved and evolved, gradually
attaining its final form. This harmless looking
animal crowded the planet. They had ability. They had
power. Most of all, they possessed an unusual wealth
of intelligence. Time flew on and great civilizations
sprang up. The Being saw immediately that they were
unlike any other animals that she had witnessed.
They fought ferociously, ending lives of countless
millions. Yet, they were cheerful: dancing ,
singing strange songs and even relaxing on an
isolated beach, at one with nature.
She extended her limbs, lazily swimming, swimming.
Thousands of years passed. Time trekked ahead ,
never glancing back, never stopping. By the time she
reached a tiny land mass, split into thirds, cities leapt
towards the sky, as patches of black, brown and red
appeared. She spotted occasional patches of
awe-inspiring beauty, which were instantly conquered
by artificialness. Above her, the star happily burned
through parts of a certain layer, scorching the land
and melting the ice-caps. The planet, she new, was
suffocating. Keening filled the air, but it was too late.
A voice whispered in her ear, “Go back. It is the end.”
Grace glanced up from the display. Tears streaked
her cheeks, ashen she looked up at her mother.
“Earth”. Simply, in one word her mother said it all.
“Once beautiful, but people soon stilled its heart. Mars
will never be like Earth was, long ago.”
Together they watched the Martian sunset, the sun a
solo tear drop in Mars’ bloodshot sky.
16 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
Here's a photo of Tito Va (11) from Te Aro Deaf
Class, with his letter from Helen Clark. He wrote a
story featuring her and sent her a copy with a
covering letter. She wrote back to him!
Below is the story that Tito wrote and sent in.
By Tito Va
One month ago there was a bad girl named
Barbara O’No. She wanted to steal $1 million
because she liked money. One day she took $1
million, and Barbara ran home. She giggled. One
day the woman Prime Minister SCREAMED! She
said “Where is my money?” but she thought maybe
Barbara was the thief.
“The money was on my table.” The police found a
shoe and the police asked the Prime Minister
“Please can you smell this?” and the Prime Minister
said “O.K.” and she smelled the shoe. The Prime
Minister said “Yes, I know it is Barbara.” The Prime
Minister rang Star Man. He said “What is wrong?”
and the Prime Minister said “Yesterday Barbara stole
the money on my table. That was $1 million.” Star
Man said “I will shoot fire at Barbara.” Star Man flew
to grab Barbara but she hid and Star Man couldn’t
find her. But Star Man heard Barbara stamp and Star
Man shot fire at Barbara. POW! But Barbara died.
Star Man took the money and flew to give it to the
Prime Minister. She said “Thank you for your help,”
and Star Man said “Fine.”
Yesterday there bad was a boy named Bowen O’No.
He walked to the shop called the Warehouse and he
took an X-Box and he ran home. This morning a man
named Jack who worked at the Warehouse shop
said “WHERE IS MY X-BOX?!” The
Warehouse boss said
“You can ring Helen Clark Prime Minister!” She said
“Hello” and Jack said “Hello my named is Jack.
Yesterday I left the X-Box but this morning I can’t
find the X-Box.” Jack said “I don’t know who stole it.
Please can you and the police help me?” Helen said
“Fine.” She visited Jack’s Warehouse. Helen found
a sock. Jack said “I will smell it.” He said “I know who
it is!” and Helen said “Who?” and Jack said
“Bowen O’No!” Helen said “How do you know - from
the smell?” and Jack said “Because his name is on
the sock!”
º
Te Papa KIT Day
A Trip to Te Papa
On Thursday 7th October I went to Te Papa with
Grandad. I went because Adrienne gave us the Kit
Day notice when I was sick. Grandad and I and the
other Deaf people went to Te Papa. I have seen
them before but I don't remember their names.
Victoria told us about wire, wood and feathers.
Everything was about a maori legend. The wire had
to be long to be the people. The wood was very long
to be a stage. The feathers were short to be made
into a big Maori head and it had an angry face which
made it look scary. Victoria showed us a picture of
a man and it was made out of paint. Some people
thought he was the boss in the picture and behind
him were a fisher man and a maori person. Before
that it was the Maori people pulling the sun and it
was made out of paint and wood. Some other people
thought it was made out of paper and cardboard.
We all went in the art room to do our own portraits.
Victoria told us the instructions. She told us to draw a
picture of someone in our family or a friend.
I decided to sketch Mum. You had to write the things
that Mummy always likes doing and rip some
pictures from magazines to glue them on your paper.
Then we used the paint roller on the plastic. We used
a stick to draw our picture on the plastic. We used
a presser to print our picture onto the paper. This is
how you put the paper inside the preesser. First we
put lots of paper inside the preesser, then we put the
plastic on top of the paper and put them in the
presser. We had to press hard to make the plastic
stick on the paper. Then we had to write our name
on the paper. After that we left the paint to dry.
I was so hungry because it was time for lunch. It was
raining so we had to eat inside. I sat with Grandad
eating my lunch. I ate 4 sandwiches, some chips and
I had a drink.
After lunch we watched the movie called "Golden
Days" about olden days and we saw old things. All
the items were moving. My best part of the whole
day was the "Golden Day's" movie. Then Grandad
took me home.
On Thursday 7th October we went on a KIT Day trip
to the Te Papa Museum in Wellington. The KIT day
was for Deaf children in Wellington and the
Wairarapa. I went with my Itinerant Teacher of the
Deaf, Adrienne Wynne. We drove by car to Waterloo
Station and then went on a train to Wellington. We
met up with all the others at Te Papa. I saw Kane
who was my friend at the last KIT Day that I went to.
At Te Papa I saw portraits and a house with Maui
and his brothers sitting on the roof. They were
catching the sun. We moved on. We saw a
corrugated iron car with windows, a steering wheel
and wheels. It's actually made in New Zealand.
We did portraits of our family or a friend and I did a
picture of my best friend, Ben Wilton holding
Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards and wearing a shirt with a picture
of Yami Yugi with a millennium puzzle from
Yu-Gi-Oh! We ate our lunch and then we watched a
show called "Golden Days". There were fake things
moving, like a cow on a wall, cannon guns like on a
tank and many more old things.
After we left Te Papa, we went to see John at work.
He is Adrienne's husband. He works at the
Wellesley Hotel. We saw some stuffed animal heads
on the wall. They had a buffalo head, a swordfish
head and a deer's head. There was a long trout on
the wall underneath the buffalo head. After that I had
orange drink and Adrienne and John had coffee.
After we left the Wellesley Hotel we went to look at
Toy world. I bought a dinosaur pen light and a little
pack of Yu-Gi-Oh Cards. Then we got back to the
train and went to Waterloo to pick up the car and
drive home to Masterton. It was a great day.
by Sam Birchall
by Nicholas Leow
Nicholas's
mum
VADEC News & Views 17
Allen Rayner's illustrated speech
(which took him into the school speech contest finals)
Hi my name’s Allen.
I’m making a book about the school hall. I took
photos for my book.
First the men made a road, for the trucks to drive on.
Then they took the grass off.
Next they put lots of shingle on the ground.
They made boxing with wood and put concrete for
the floor. The men put black plastic to make the floor
warm and wire over the top of the plastic. They put
white plastic things to hold the wire up.
Next they poured wet concrete on top and made it
smooth. The men used a machine to make the
concrete smooth.
It rained a lot while the hall was being made.
Sometimes the men couldn’t work on it, and
sometimes they had to sweep the water off the
concrete.
The men had an office to eat their lunch in. The walls
and roof of the hall have strong metal frames.
The men dug a ditch and put pipes in it so that when
the toilet flushes it all goes away.
Sometimes it was very noisy. The builders wore
earmuffs to stop them from going deaf.
This is what the new hall looks like from our school
office . . .
This is what it looks like from the other side . . .
AND this is what it looks like from OUR ROOM!
(not so good)
Allen Rayner, Year 5, Redwood School.
18 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
Rock Climbing
Before I started to climb I looked up the wall and
thought it would be easy to climb. But when I started
climbing I was trembling with fear. I didn’t get a
chance to touch a horizontal pole when I was up
there. I yelled “Get me down now! Hurry!” When I got
down on the ground I was shaking and ran away fast
from the terrifying wall. Then I scaled the wall again
to see if I was any better.
Really I was not because I was trembling again and
then I froze with my eyes wide open. I felt my eyes
popping out and my face turned pale. My fists were
clenched very tight and my hands started sweating.
I was halfway there and couldn’t make it to the top.
Again I shouted to get me down, then I walked away
fast from the wall.
I went thinking and thinking hard about what I should
do. I waited for my third climb. Finally it was my turn.
My heart started banging and racing around in my
chest. All I wanted was to make it to the top. I scaled
the wall again.
Suddenly I felt a little better. I was up at the top. But
before I want to touch a horizontal pole my hands
started sweating. Any time I thought I could slip and I
didn’t want to fall. I tried to touch the pole without
falling. I made a little touch at the pole and yelled
“Finished! Get me down now!” At the same time I
yelled I looked down. I was trembling again because
all of the people looked like tiny kittens or insects that
are big. I found it was difficult to drop myself.
But I knew I couldn’t stay up there forever.
I dropped with the trust of the kids who won’t let go of
the rope. When I was half way there my body started
relaxing and I stopped jumping around. When I got
down on the ground I decided to stop the wall and
took off my safety gear. I sat on the bench to settle
myself down after the climb. When
everything was quiet I left to go back to camp.
Katherine Hickson,
11 years old,
Year 6,
Burnside Primary School.
The Best Times at Camp
We went to Dunedin on camp.
Ice skating was fun. The ladies were dancing and
spinning on the ice. I fell over five times.
Penguins have yellow eyes. They were waddling.
I flipped around and dived in the water at the
swimming pool. The water was deep. Morgan
banged his head on the water slide.
Dorne Kini,
Clifton School,
Invercargill.
Matthew's trip to Wellington
On Thursday 8 July 2004……. Mr Turner, Mattias
and I travelled to the Beehive in Wellington. We were
there to watch the first reading of the bill that will see
New Zealand Sign Language become the 3rd official
language of New Zealand.
After we checked in at the airport with our tickets,
we had a drink and something to eat. We checked
our watches and looked at the screen to make sure
we didn’t miss our flight. We had told the staff on the
plane that we were deaf and they were really good at
explaining everything to us but it was hard.
We took off for Wellington in the morning and it was
very boring when we were sitting in the plane. It was
very rough landing. When we arrived and got off the
plane, we had to walk to a taxi. We were really
hungry so the taxi drove us into town and dropped us
off at Burger King so we could have some lunch.
We wrote down on paper for the taxi driver where we
wanted to go. When we were full, we walked to the
Micheal Fowler centre and the Art Museum to have a
look around. Some of the art was weird.
We stayed at the museum for too long and were
nearly late for our meeting at the Beehive because
Mattias left his bag at Burger King.
It was the first time that any of us had been in the
Beehive and we were surprised at how big and old
the building was. In the speaking chambers, there
were lots of people around and we got to watch them
all talking. There was a woman signing for all of us
and a camera was videoing her and showing
everything on four televisions. Some of the things
they were talking about were very interesting. Then
we left and had a look around the buildings. It was
great to be able to understand what was being said
because of the signing.
When we left the Beehive, we went into town and it
was really big. There were heaps of Vodafone shops
and everyone was talking on cellphones. We were
hungry again so we had some Chinese food which
was really nice. When we were full again Mr Turner
made me find us a taxi and we all went to the airport.
We arrived at the airport, we checked our tickets and
read some magazines in the bookshop for 15
minutes until our plane was ready to leave.
We flew into Christchurch late on the plane and I was
really tired. Mr Turner dropped us off at home; it was
really cold in the car. I went straight to sleep.
It was an interesting finding out some more about
deaf culture and I had a great time on the trip.
Having more sign language around would make life
easier for me. People do not understand me and I
do not understand them sometimes, and this can get
very frustrating.
Matthew Findsen,
Yr 12 student,
Mairehau High School.
VADEC News & Views 19
Regional Support
Hi again from the Specialist Resource Team!
As usual, another busy term for us all! It was great
to start the term with a 2-day presentation by
Dr. Connie Mayer. There has been a lot of
discussion amongst staff about the points she raised.
She has left us with some ideas to challenge our
thinking and practices, and we look forward to more
discussions next year!
We have had 3 preschool courses this term, working
with 8 children from 7 families. The families
travelled to us from Palmerston North, Oamaru,
Hastings, Invercargill and Wellington. We’ve also
worked with other families who visited for
assessment/placement weeks.
Our travel this term has taken us the length of the
South Island, and up as far as Palmerston North
in the North Island. Joanne, Jane, and James all
visited Palmerston North and Wellington together,
with Paul joining them for the Palmerston North visit.
While in Palmerston North, the team presented a
full-day workshop for mainstream teachers who will
have a deaf student in their class next year. Joanne
and Paul also presented workshops to the
Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf up there. Evette
travelled to Southland and worked with the Itinerants
down there, and also presented a workshop to them.
Olwyn has continued travelling around South
Canterbury working with Itinerants.
Joanne also travelled around Canterbury and South
Canterbury and presented other workshops, and
Jane had a 4-day trip to Nelson/Marlborough
presenting courses also.
Sue has been working hard to get the new regional
literacy website up and running. It looks fantastic!
You can check this out for yourself at:
www.vanasch.school.nz/literacy
the Regional Literacy Web Site
s c h. s cho o l. n z l i
. vana
t e ra
w
cy
ww A kaleidoscope of resources
to enhance literacy learning
and teaching for deaf students.
The literacy team have also produced a new Bingo
game for emergent readers.
Joanne and James have worked with Anita and
Jill Irving and produced a new DVD called Action
Rhymes for Pre-school kids. These resources can
be ordered through the media centre now.
The writing project contract with the Ministry of
Education is coming to an end; however, Kelston and
van Asch staff will continue to work on this project
next year. Preliminary trials of the exemplars and
the developmental matrix will start early next year.
Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone!
James, Paul, Joanne, Evette, Jane, Olwyn, and Sue.
van Asch Early Intervention Centre
Our Wednesday group of three children spent a
morning visiting each others preschool centres.
They really enjoyed showing their van Asch friends
the programmes they are involved in for the rest of
the week.
20 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
Regional
Support
º
Inspired Sculptures
Inspired by visiting local sculptor Julie Tuihana and
Donald Gibson, the deaf-blind sculptor who is
making a sculpture for the Jubilee, van Asch
students have completed sculpture of their own.
Julie Tuihana helping sculptors Khodadad & Damaris
My sculpture is a fish.
I liked doing the drilling best.
The hardest part was making the shape right.
by Damaris Muthamia
Face Sculpture. I did it softly not hard. I drew on the
stone with a purple crayon. I used some tools to
carve my face. I used them to make lines and holes
in my face. Then I cut the edges of my face with a
saw slowly. I drilled holes to make the eyes.
I carved the face out. A woman named Julie came to
VADEC and taught us how to do the sculpture.
by Khodadad Rezaie
I like Kangaroos.
The kangaroo was
easy to carve.
My Kangaroo is
not finished.
by Nicole Boese
When I did carving it was my first time to do that.
But now I can do it myself, it was easy making it.
Julie taught us how to do carving, she is really
clever. She made her own at home. The carvings
look good. Cool. Julie always helps us to do carving.
by Kylie Berry
I work in the rock
I made something in the rock
I'm busy with the rock
Making a hawk-like sculpture
A face like a hawk
by Tyrone Te Tau
VADEC News & Views 21
Local News
Farewell Gerry
Gerry after receiving C.C.C. Keeping Christchurch Beautiful
awards for 'Outstanding School Groundsman'
Gerry driving off into the sunset
Gerry Dennehy likes to say "a good day is a day and
a half". Following this idea, the ten years Gerry has
worked at van Asch as Groundsman have been a
decade and a half. Gerry will be sincerely missed by
everyone at base school. He has worked hard and
taken great pride in keeping the Centre well
maintained and serviced. We will miss his wonderful
sense of humour and his friendliness.
Best wishes for a wonderful retirement Gerry.
22 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
º
Notices
Thank you
"Thank you to all the wonderful people who have
donated books to Samoan Schools. Ben, from
Palmerston North, who is Deaf is living there now.
His Mum, Tanya asked for books to help out the
schools who have very few resources.
We had an amazing response to the need for books.
Boxes of them have arrived at my Base School.
Tanya is "Blown Away!"
Special thanks to the Streeter family, Tokomaru
School in Palmerston North and Jill Taylor at the
Mackenzie Community Library at Fairlie, way down in
the South Island, who are attached to the local High
School. So far and so giving.
Thank you.
And Tokomaru School where I work with a Deaf
student, have taken the time to sort out their old
books.
What an amazing response from you all!!! Thank you.
We have 11 boxes of books now. But the Appeal is
not over. If you want to outdo those who have gone
before you - Well DO IT. There are lots of out-dated
books in libraries and schools all over NZ. Can you
help to educate the students in Samoa????
THANK YOU ALL.
Send to:
Sue Perry (Itinerant Teacher Deaf)
SRC
C/- Somerset Cres. School
Highbury
Palmerston North
Ph. 06-3561133
Fax 06-3561132
van Asch Term dates 2005
Teacher only day Friday 28 January
Term 1
Monday 31 January to Friday 15 April
Term 2
Monday 2 May to Friday 8 July
Term 3
Monday 25 July to Friday 23 September
Term 4
Monday 10 October to Monday 12 December
Board meeting dates are:
14 February
14 March
11 April
16 May
14 June
1 August
29 August
10 October
7 November
5 December
VADEC News & Views 23
Produced by
van Asch Deaf Education Centre
Truro Street, Sumner,
Christchurch 8.
Voice / TTY 03 326 6009
Fax 03 326 5346
e-mail : [email protected]
24 VADEC News &Viewsxˇˇ/ˇˇ˛
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