LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL

Community Newsletter

29th April 2012 No 5

Dear Parents and Friends of the School What amazing weather throughout the holidays, a simply brilliant autumn. A number of our senior studnets were busy in the holidays attending the New Zealand Area Schools Leadership Camp at Wainui. This proved to be a great opportunity for them to meet with peers from throughout New Zealand as they tackled physical, cultural and social challenges
As the attached timetable attests Term 2 will be very busy for the school with many activities planned. Our Yr 7 & 8 students are looking forward to Camp Queenstown. A very physical camp is planned, as well as studies that compliment our school curriculum in and around understanding the importance of GOLD to the growth of Otago and New Zealand. Senior students likewise are looking forward to Area Schools Tournament at Maniototo to compete with the other Southern Area Schools: Twizel, Waiau, Roxburgh, The Catlins and Maniototo.
Kind Regards John Auld
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CAREERS MONTH
May is Careers month in Otago. There are many interesting events being held; for students, parents, returning workforce. Pamphlets are available at school office or Information Centre. I will take Year 9 and 10 to Balclutha for the Careers Expo on there on 10th May. You can also ring Linda Howell for more information.

Your Support will help fund new Library books for our Students

What is Fuel for Schools

Fuel for Schools is a brand new sponsorship programme that provides all Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools throughout New Zealand with an exciting new way to raise additional funds.

Who is operating Fuel for Schools?

The Fuel for Schools programme is operated by Southfuels in the South Island and Northfuels in the North Island.

How much money is this going to cost me?

Nothing - Fuel for Schools is designed to channel support back to the children in rural communities that we are involved in. The programme is 100% funded from our promotions budget. We cant think of a better way to say thanks to our rural customers!

How does the Fuel for Schools programme work? 3 easy steps for existing customers!
1 Go online to www.southfuels.co.nz and click on the Fuel for Schools link. 2 Nominate your school of choice. 3 Once your nomination is validated, we will provide confirmation of your support via email.

How much money can a school make being part of Fuel for Schools?
The school receives 1 cent per 2 litres of bulk fuel that is delivered by SouthFuels or Northfuels to the bulk fuel user. (supporter)

Is there a limit on the amount of sponsorship that the school can receive?
No.The more fuel used, the more money the school makes.

4 easy steps for new customers!

1 Go online to www.southfuels.co.nz and click on the Fuel for Schools link. 2 Nominate your school of choice. 3 Enter your relevant new account details. 4 Once your account and nomination details have been validated, we will provide confirmation of your support via email.

How many schools can a bulk fuel user nominate?

A supporter can nominate one school only.

How does the school actually get paid?

We will issue a cheque on a quartely basis to the school.

Or fill out the request form and send back to us.

This year, the Year 13 Biology class was given the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the University of Otago Genetics Department. This term we have been studying Biotechnological techniques and applications; examining how biotechnology is carried out, what it is used for and looking at the moral/social/ethical implications of biotechnology. In order to carry out some of the techniques themselves, the students were invited to work alongside two geneticists, so they were able to utilize the equipment they needed. After donning protective coats and gloves, the students were told they were to use the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to make millions of copies of Fruit fly DNA and then they were to run the DNA through a Gel electrophoresis to observe some transgenic genes. The students practiced their pipetting skills, observed the PCR process, made their own gels and transferred the DNA into the wells of the gels. The lectured remarked that their pipetting skills were better than some of her third year University students! While the gels ran the students observed fruit flies under the microscope. These fruit flies had been genetically modified to have; different coloured bodies, wrinkled wings, red or white eyes and one type with no eyes at all! They then were taken for a tour through the Genetics department and discussed the type of work geneticists carry out. Now the DNA had moved through the gel, it had been separated into different lengths, from a few hundred base pairs, to a million base pairs long. In order to be able to see the DNA, the students placed the gels into an X-ray reader and printed out X-ray films. Once back in the lab; the different samples of DNA were compared and the transgene was identified. Experiment complete, the students collected their goodie bag and we headed home.

Year 13 Biology Class

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LEADERSHIP CAMP - LEADERSHIP CAMP - LEADERSHIP CAMP

Area Schools Leadership Camp (Wainui)

In the first week of the school holidays Kate Anderson took Tom, Matt, Rhea, Emma and Ashlea to Leadership Camp in Wainui. We spent the week with 40 students from other Area Schools from all over the country. Team building, physical challenges, cultural activities and personal challenge featured during the week, aimed at building character and facing leadership skills. We all really enjoyed our week and met lots of cool people.

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