Learning about life and horses

A GIRL fortunate enough to be a student at Nga Tawa Diocesan Girls Boarding School will be set for life and all the choices she will face.

For personal development and complete belief in oneself is integral at this school.

It is clear from the time you step through the doors that this boarding school, state-integrated since 1981, holds fast to its beliefs in nurturing, pushing academic achievement and creating a special sisterhood.

However, changes are in the wind because principal Roz Mexted resigns at the end of the year.

She takes over as principal of Westlake Girls High School in Auckland at the start of 2012.

Westlake is another decile 9 girls-only school but with a roll 10 times the size of Nga Tawa.

Ms Mexted has headed Nga Tawa for a decade and her philosophy for every student is to achieve personal excellence.

Since the introduction of NCEA at the school in 2002 pass rates rates in Level 3 (Year 13), Level 2 (Year 12) and Level 1 (Year 11) have consistently been between 97 per cent and 100 per cent.

Last year Nga Tawa topped New Zealand with the highest pass rateswith 100 per cent in Levels 1 and 2 and 98 per cent in Level 3.

Ms Mexted describes Nga Tawa as a boutique boarding school with strong international connections.

Students from Spain, Germany, Australia and Thailand attend the school and student exchanges are offered to schools in Australia and the USA.

Many Nga Tawa graduates take a gap year before starting university in Britain and Europe.

It is obvious these students are trained to steer a straight, strong course though life.

This training will stand them in good stead when coping with inevitable bouts of troubled waters because these girls will have well-honed coping mechanisms at the ready.

The composure among the staff and students was never more evident than when the fire alarms sounded the day I was there.

A mass evacuation from the buildings to the tennis courts at the rear of the school was orderly, quiet ... absolutely no fuss.

Turns out the alarms were tripped by an overload of steam in the kitchen. And what a kitchen it is.

In this stark kitchen which gleams like the main theatre at a city hospital, 800 meals a day are cooked and served.

Even when walking through the corridors this entire school seems to run on well oiled wheels with top-notch team work.

Every window glistens, the floors gleam, and carpeted areas are spotless.

It's about motivation in all areas ... motivation that achieves results from the high-ranking academic results right through to the teams polishing the glass panes in the doors.

Ms Mexted is adamant that a disciplined, yet nurturing environment where every student can fully realise her strengths and abilities, is the only way forward.

Every girl is encouraged to to be a leader with many opportunities available including school-based programmes where the students can experience leadership from senior role models, and the overseas exchange programmes.

Up until Year 12 the girls live in the main boarding houses where the School's Big Sister Buddy Programme allows all students to talk to senior leaders. Year 13 students move into cottages equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, living room and their own bedrooms ... much like a student flatting situation but they only have to cook themselves a meal on Saturday night ... if they want to.

A speciality of Nga Tawa is the equestrian academy.

It is one of two secondary schools in the country with an equestrian programme.

Students bring in their own animals but the academy has 10 horses and ponies for students.

Equine studies are one of the big drawcards at Nga Tawa especially for those girls planning to continue their studies at Massey University in Palmerston North.

The riding instructors are highly qualified and often an Olympic rider will visit to run special tutorials.

With the whole of the Rangitikei spilling around the school in verdant pasture, rolling hillsides and Mount Ruapehu in sparkling view means students have access to the best of outdoor adventures.

Adventures from the ski fields of Mount Ruapehu, to rafting on the Rangitikei River and coastal and river treks.

And in academic mode, students can study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which gives them entry to study at universities overseas.

``The result is young women well-equipped to lead fulfilling lives in a global context,'' Ms Mexted said.

Scholarships are currently being considered by the school's board of trustees and Diocesan Board this year, even though Nga Tawa is already a fully state-integrated school.

The senior management have such a clear vision for the school development and the holistic education of the students, making for a tight-knit team who will achievein life.

``I know that every girl leaves here having achieved personal excellence in all her endeavours ... we all help to ensure she goes from here with the encouragement of all her teachers and the very, very best education,'' Ms Mexted said.-->-->-->