Every year during the spring holidays, Rangitoto College students embark on a service trip to Cambodia where students and teachers build houses for local families.
This year was the College’s 12th trip, with 24 students constructing eight houses as well as providing funding for water wells in a village near the Vietnamese border. 2018 saw the College’s house-building total rise to 92, along with funding provided for over 32 wells. Students also raised funds to help educate and support disadvantaged children living on the city rubbish dump in Phnom Penh and in a small community in South-Eastern Phnom Penh, and the group spent two days doing painting work in these communities.
Over the past 12 years, students have raised over $240,000 for this service project, with plans for the 100th house to be built next year.
While service is the trip’s primary purpose, students also had ample opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and history of Cambodia with excursions to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat complex and floating village on Tonle Lake. In Phnom Penh, visits to the Killing Fields at Cheong Ek and the Tuol Sleng Prison provided a sobering lesson on the horror of genocide.
Year 11 student Jamie Cupples formed part of the 2018 house-building contingent and says: “House building was the highlight of my trip because you felt like you were able to give back to the citizens of Cambodia. I believe that the trip is a really positive and important thing to participate in - I didn’t want to leave!”
Fashion Show
The College auditorium was transformed into a runway for 150 textiles students to showcase their work in the annual Fashion Show.
Students from all year levels had fun walking the runway and displaying their creations, which ranged from fashion based items, to costumes and wearable arts pieces. A selection of garments from the Show Quest competition were displayed, including the piece which won Best Costume, created by Emma McMillan, Emily Thomson and Samantha Abbott. The show also included pieces designed by our student finalists in the Walk the Line young designer competition: Nikki Cupples, Victoria Hunton, Avi Wilder, Simone Van Emmenes, Shilo Cowie and Elizaveta Rasskazova.
Cut Above generously supports the show every year, with their students volunteering their time to do hair and makeup, which creates an authentic fashion show experience for our students. For all involved, it is a highlight to see garments come alive and to see the students’ pride and confidence in their work.
Show Quest Wins!
For over 80 Rangitoto College students, Term 3 was occupied with preparations, choreographing and rehearsals for the new inter-school performing arts competition, Show Quest.
The College’s production ‘Muze’ portrayed the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, who was the inspiration behind many of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s literary classics, such as The Great Gatsby. The performance prompted the audience to consider the complex nature of Zelda’s life and reflect on sources of inspiration in their own lives.
Muze was embraced by both the audience and the judges, with Rangitoto receiving the awards for Performance, Choreography, and Wearable Art in the Auckland competition. The students were also proud to receive the ‘Star Award’, which recognises the school that best epitomised the spirit of the event. What’s more, Rangitoto also took out the national award for the Best Wearable Art Costume, as judged by World of Wearable Art representatives!
