25 years evolves into Remote Covid learning
We were lucky!
Over the weekend of 14/15 March, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary at NZSFW and 10 days later, New Zealand ground to a halt in the Covid19 Lockdown.
And while our day to day life has dramatically changed, looking at all these photos gives me a lot of pleasure and especially to be able to share in the achievements of our current students and graduates. The highlight has to be the magnificent dinner; an inspired menu created by our gifted chef, Finn Gybel and prepared under his watchful eye by the cookery students.
Fortuitously, the lamb arrived fresh from Pigeon Bay via Harris Meats in North Canterbury and after a number of dramas leaving us worried that it would in time. Finn's dish, where he wrapped the lamb in crepinette, to hold it together while cooking, was certainly a new technique that we had not used in the past.
It was a thrill to have veteran broadcaster, Carol Hirschfeld as MC for the dinner and lend her distinctive and thoughtful commentary to our story. Carol asked me who she could "interview" during the dinner. Victoria Biddick, our first enrolled student from 1995, Oliver Hay and Joelle Thomson all shared their unique perspective on their association with the school.
There is certainly some irony in the fact that as we were celebrating these 25 years, another significant challenge was about to explode. Drawing on my earthquake experience, where we relocated our students to my second business at the Duvauchelle Store and Café, I knew that we had to find a way to keep going.
As the Covid19 crisis escalated, I discussed with our tutors how we could teach the programmes online and with the cookery students cooking in their own kitchens at home. Again, I was fortunate that my son Oliver, computer systems engineer, and recently returned from his super yacht chef sojourn, decided that he wanted to work full-time at NZSFW. Oli then set about finding the best platform for the tutors to stream their classes live and to administer the programmes. We have used Google Classroom and the Hangouts conferencing software to do this and it's working well.
By Friday 20 March, we had amended our cookery timetables to focus on baking, pasta and dishes that were easier to prepare at home. The students then went home with a 5kg bag of flour, 2 kg sugar, 1kg butter, 12 eggs and other ingredients. We trialled the video streaming from NZSFW while we could and then following the lockdown, the tutors now continue from their homes. The logistics are much easier for Franck with his hospitality students!
For the cookery students, the model is they watch the demonstrations at home and later upload photographs of their cooking. It's not ideal, as the tutor cannot taste their food and sometimes the livestream is pixellated or cuts out but it's better that doing nothing. Plus, everyone gets to chat and socialise from the safety of their bubble. And with supermarkets open, we can continue to buy supplies. View Foundation cooking shots here. And Advanced Cooking here.
Stay safe and have fun,
Celia Hay
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.6% Yes
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13.9% No
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1.4% Other - I'll share below
Stunning Outdoor Transformation – Before & After"
Check out this incredible project where we tackled everything from agapantha removal and walkway cleanup to concrete installation and fresh garden beds! Our team also added some beautiful timber edging, riverstone accents, and gave the fence a brand-new look with fresh paint. We love seeing the difference a well-planned makeover can make!
#Landscaping #GardenMakeover #BeforeAndAfter #OutdoorLiving #PropertyEnhancement #ConcreteInstallation #TimberEdging #FencePainting #GardenTransformation #BobJonesLandscaping
I recommend Chunli's Table Tennis Club & Coaching - Panmure
Join the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club Training Program and embark on the road to becoming a champion! Experience the power of elite training!
This year, Coach Li Chunli made history by winning her 10th New Zealand Women’s Singles Championship, over 20 years after her last title! This unprecedented achievement showcases her extraordinary talent and incredible endurance. As a World Cup bronze medalist, Commonwealth Games Women’s Singles Champion, and five-time Oceania Champion, she is a legend in New Zealand table tennis. Now, she is focused on training New Zealand’s young players and developing an Olympic-level training program. Don’t miss the chance to train under a champion coach and quickly elevate your table tennis skills!
Coach Li Chunli not only has a stellar career but also extensive coaching experience and a unique teaching style. Whether you’re a beginner or a player preparing for competitions, she can create a personalized training plan tailored to your needs and provide forward-thinking technical guidance to help you achieve rapid improvement. Training face-to-face with a champion coach is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss!
Training Times:
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
• Saturday, Sunday: 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Whether your goal is to improve your skills, boost your fitness, or prepare for competitions, the Chunli’s Table Tennis Club training program is the platform to achieve your goals. Train with a champion and experience table tennis like never before!
Sign up now, limited spots available!
Phone: 021-1534129
Address: 44 Domain Road, Panmure, AKL
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