Lesson for a whiteboard rookie

I was nervous all week about my teaching debut.

What if the students didn't like me? What if I couldn't explain myself properly or clearly? And most importantly – what if I was boring?

With its little symbols and many rules, shorthand is probably not the most exciting subject, and I wondered how I could make it interesting for 11 and 12-year-olds.

Shorthand is a writing and note-taking system taught to budding reporters and also formerly at schools around the country.

The days leading up to last Friday afternoon were filled with perusing my old university shorthand book trying to find some useful symbols and asking friends on Facebook and Twitter what their favourite outlines were.

How in-depth should I go? What about all those finicky rules? The words of my own shorthand tutor ring in my head: Never, ever, ever join an R and a D.

Perhaps I should go back and explain how I got myself into this situation.

I had been talking with one of the teachers a few weeks ago about taking a class one day to see what it might be like on the frontline of teaching.

She and Bohally Intermediate's new principal Andrew Reid both welcomed the idea.

Shorthand seemed to be the only thing I was qualified and knowledgeable enough about to be able to share my wisdom.

Friday afternoon came around like a shot and it was time to step into the classroom and show what I had. Room 9's pupils were the unwitting subjects of my experiment.

They sat quietly at their desks with not a sign of fatigue on a Friday afternoon. They were very obliging and seemed interested and entertained by what I had to show.

There were also a lot of intelligent questions and even a sigh of disappointment half-way through the alphabet when one student had to leave for an extra-curricular activity.

There was a look of amazement during a race with a student when I had finished the symbol for the word "Before" and he was only up to writing the first "e".

I probably underestimated their thirst for knowledge and maturity. The students had understood everything I had said and had picked up all the outlines I showed them including my favourite one – the word animal.

The students asked me questions afterwards, wanting to know how to write their names in shorthand and how to write some of the words on their spelling list.

So the big question is – did I make a good teacher? According to Room 9 teacher Rachael Moran, the answer is yes.

But you'd have to ask the kids.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:15 09/11/2011

Andrew So #3 via mobile 02:33 pm Nov 09 2011

Well done Simon!

impressed #2 08:48 am Nov 09 2011

Go Simon. Give up reporting and take up teaching. Kids need more male teachers - especially ones who make great role models. Well done

Mark Watson #1 08:38 am Nov 09 2011

Well done Simon, great work.

Boys caught with pants down

he Marlborough Boys' College unofficial tradition of a grundy run through the Marlborough Girls' College campus in Blenheim lost a bit of punch today when girls' college staff organised an early lunch period.

The annual run-in-your-undies through the school is usually timed to coincide with lunch period when the girls are out and about on the school grounds. But lunch time was over and most of the girls were back in class when the boys ran through the grounds about 1pm today.

The 50 boys were dressed in boxers or briefs and one wore a glittery gold g-string. They were also covered in blue paint body paint and slogans.

Chanting their college song they ran a lap around the school watched by some girls' college staff.

A small group of girls were seen standing at the side of the school hall applauding the boys, but were quickly ushered away by a member of staff.

The boys claimed this year's run was not just end-of-school hi-jink because they had donated money to the Prostate Cancer Foundation to take part. Several wore body paint in the foundation's colour, blue.

Senior students are nearly finished their school year with NCEA exams starting later this week. The girls' college is holding its prizegiving ceremony is tonight and boys' college ceremony is tomorrow afternoon.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:16 07/11/2011

Marlborough Boys' College students sing the college anthem underneath the Girls' College flagpole.

Climate may heat up business

Marlborough could be growing merlot and cabernet sauvignon instead of sauvignon blanc by 2030 if climate change trends remain as they are, a leading New Zealand scientist says.

Dr Jim Salinger gave an audience at the Marlborough Research Centre a glimpse yesterday of what conditions may be like in Marlborough based on scientific data.

He was joined by journalist Rod Oram, who spoke about how businesses can still profit from climate change.

Dr Salinger said climate data showed Marlborough's average temperature had increased by 0.9 degree Celsius since the 1930s.

As a result there have been fewer frosts in Blenheim and the Waihopai Valley. Between the 1930s and 2009 the number decreased to fewer than 20 per year from 50 in Blenheim and to 37 from about 45 in the Waihopai Valley.

Dr Salinger said the average temperature in Marlborough would increase 1C by 2030 and by 2C by 2090 and that the west of Marlborough would become wetter while the east would be more prone to drought.

He said the varieties of grape would migrate south because of increasing temperatures around the country, and the Marlborough climate would be more suitable for grapes such as merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

He said the acidity of the world's oceans would increase slightly by the end of the century, which would affect Marlborough's aquaculture industry.

Mr Oram said climate change presented opportunities for New Zealand, especially in the primary sector, but that a constructive approach was needed.

He said some in the wine industry marketed their products to environment-conscious consumers by promoting themselves as low-carbon producers, but that sheep and beef farmers were behind the wine industry in this respect.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:41 08/11/2011

Academic accolades

A year of academic success was celebrated at the Marlborough Girls' College hall last night by students, staff, family and friends.

Alison Faulls was named school dux and Amber Woolf was the proxime accessit.

Principal Karen Stewart said the night was "a time of endings and goodbyes, of beginnings and new challenges" for the year 13 students who finish their schooling this year.

"I know that you are ready to take the next step in life, to take responsibility for yourselves and to face whatever life throws at you," she said.

The school had at least 17 students this term who had received scholarships from the universities they had enrolled at, she said.

The students were also "contributing positively" to the community and the world. She mentioned the charity fundraising they had done during the year.

They had raised more than $30,000 for organisations including the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake appeal, World Vision and the Japan earthquake appeal, she said.

Ms Stewart encouraged the girls to "look for opportunities to succeed" and "to never be one of the masses just agreeing for the sake of it".

"You have so much to give and so much potential. Remember we are proud of you."

The college sporting and cultural prizegiving was held in September.

PRIZE WINNERS The full college prize list will be published tomorrow.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 08:01 08/11/2011

Alison Faulls and Amber Wolf

Drink-driving cases in court

Drink-driving cases in the Blenheim District Court yesterday were:

Vaclav Jendrejek, 27, a seasonal worker from Riversdale, admitted driving on Budge St, Blenheim, on October 19 with an excess breath alcohol level of 971mcg per litre. He was fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for nine months.

Anthony George Heyrick, 49, a manager from Waikawa, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level for the third or more time. He was stopped for speeding on October 12 with 688mcg per litre of breath. He will be sentenced on December 19.

Marion Edith Clifford, 59, from Burleigh, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 641 mcg per litre of breath on October 7. She was disqualified from driving for six months.

Matthew Perepe Le-Noel, 18, unemployed from Renwick, admitted driving driving while disqualified and with an under-20 excess breath alcohol level of 238mcg on October 21. He was disqualified from driving for nine months and ordered to complete 60 hours community work.

Jonathan Brian Mason, 19, a fisheries worker from Nelson, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 462 mcg on October 9. He was fined $300 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Bridget Yvonne Burridge, 19, from Blenheim, admitted driving with an excess breath alcohol level of 400 mcg on October 9. She was disqualified from driving for three months.

Christian Wilkinson Bailey, 17, a landscape gardener from Riversdale, admitted damaging a street sign at the corner of Henry St and George St on October 29. He was ordered to pay reparation of $177, as were two co-defendants. He was also fined $150.

Lewis William Chapman, 20, a brewery worker from Blenheim, admitted driving while disqualified for the third time or more on October 8. He will be sentenced on November 28.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:05 08/11/2011

Dynamic duo take dux

Two Marlborough Boys' College students were named dux at the school's end-of-year prizegiving today, something which has not happened since 1978.

According to the boards of previous winners hanging in the school hall, it was the fifth time since 1922.

Matthew Curnow and Paul Dey were both given the top honours at the afternoon ceremony which celebrated a year of academic, sporting and cultural achievement.

The pair say they are good friends and have worked together in their duties in the library.

Matthew is head librarian and academic prefect while Paul was one of the deputy head librarians.

Both also have big plans for their futures.

Paul has enrolled to study architecture at Victoria University in Wellington.

''I enjoy it in terms of design and thinking processes.''

Meanwhile, Matthew plans to study either computer engineering or computer science at the University of Canterbury.

Since he started college in year 9 Matthew said he had made a lot of friends and that it would be a weird feeling to not come back to the college next year.

''I know a lot of people very well now and it will be sad to see some of them going to the North Island and some going to Canterbury.''

Head boy Luka Velebit said in his speech the year 13 leavers had ''started school as strangers and are leaving as a brotherhood''.

Year 12 student Jack Keown was also named head boy for 2012.

Principal Wayne Hegarty said his highlight of the year was watching the students achieve in all areas.

He was pleased with the overall improvement in the 2010 NCEA results compared with previous years.

However, he expected this year's results to be even better.

All departments have been expected to support students in studying for their merit and excellence marks in their exams, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:21 08/11/2011

BEN CURRAN

Double act: Marlborough Boys' College students Paul Dey and Matthew Curnow were both named dux of the school.

Bride lures groom to secret wedding

David Shoemark would ask his partner Cherie Butler most days to marry him.

"One day," she always replied.

That day arrived yesterday when Miss Butler and a small group of their family and friends gathered in secret at Pollard Park in Blenheim to surprise Mr Shoemark with the wedding he was so eager to have.

Standing patiently in a black and white wedding dress, Miss Butler waited for her groom, who thought he was on his way to a family picnic.

He had been successfully distracted by a fishing trip to Seddon during the morning, but said he realised something was going on as he got to the park. Walking along the path, a few people were taking photos of him and he spotted a few faces he was not expecting to see.

"They stitched me up well and truly."

The couple were married by marriage celebrant Jenny Andrews in the rhododendron garden in the park with a bridesmaid and best man at their sides.

They were joined by about 40 family and friends, including some who had travelled from other parts of the country.

A short ceremony was followed by the signing of the register and a wedding reception at the Blenheim Bowling Club.

Miss Butler – now Mrs Shoemark – began planning the wedding about a month ago and was confident she could keep it a secret, although there was potential for a leak at a family birthday party the night before.

Mr Shoemark's mum Irene said the wedding was "always on the cards" for the couple, who have been together for three years.

"It was just a matter of planning," she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 31/10/2011

BEN CURRAN

THEY DID: Cherie and David Shoemark are married at a surprise wedding yesterday among family and friends at Pollard Park, in Blenheim.