As previously (and extensively) stated we were soundly castigated for deciding to leave Diplomacy out of our senior seminar.  However, after considerable thought we bowed to pressure and re-instated the game in new and experimental mode - an intensive two day 9am to 3pm game running parallel with our senior seminar.  As the game would co-incide with New Zealand's lead-up to the annual ANZAC Day commemorations we decided to award a special prize to the winner.  After a diligent search, the games team leaders, Patrick and Elroy, managed to locate just the right thing:  `The 1916 Experience: Verdun and the Somme' compiled by Julian Thompson in association with the Imperial War Museum, containing rare document facimiles and an audio CD of veterans' first-hand accounts of their experiences. 

Though initially doubtful about the new two-day format, wondering if the players might become bored by lunchtime on day one the games team were forced to cast such ideas aside when the group elected to play though the lunch breaks.    The game was a resounding success, was completed by 2.30pm on day two and the magnificent award was presented to the winner, Max Ashmore of Auckland who will undoubtedly treasure it.

And yes - we WILL be including Diplomacy in our next programme!

This group attracted students from a variety of places in New Zealand:  Auckland (of course),  Hastings, Whakatane, Feilding, Wellington, Whangarei, Palmerston North, Kerikeri, Te Awamutu, Matamata, Tauranga, Porirua, Tokoroa, New Plymouth and in the South, Christchurch. The  group was split into four study teams - YOUNG MOVIE MAKERS led by Paul Willis, WORDS IN ACTION by Russell Greenwood, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION by Elaine le Sueur and INGENUITY UNLIMITED by Robyn Boswell.   Each team was further split into two groups.  They chose to focus on two of the above topic areas over two days, the groups coming together on the third day.   Some outstanding work was produced.

The detectives ploughed feverishly through a range of clues - and false trails of course, in order to solve the mystery devised by Elaine le Sueur but triumphed eventually.  The Ingenuity teams found their pre-conceived ideas challenged as they tackled a range of thought provoking problems and puzzles that led them into unusual areas and forced them to think outside the square.    The Words In Action groups looked at different language styles, venturing forth into public speaking, debating and considering effective and precise use of language. The Movie Makers worked very hard, unwilling to stop for morning tea or lunch>  Each group produced an impressive short film - `Frankie Fails Physics' and `Helping Hurts' - !

A number of High Achievement Certificates were awarded - to Michelle Gramse, Gabe Evens, Kate Hollinshead, Amber Kelso, Anton Norman, Kodey Roberts, Alex Wright, Celine Walters and Campbell Te Paa.   Our two prizewinners were Regan Smith of Pokeno and Kyle Sutcliffe of New Plymouth.   The two grand Medal Winners were Rachel Smith from Wanganui Collegiate, Wanganui and Marcus Ground from Southwell School, Te Awamutu.

All students who have enrolled should have received their registration confirmation.  Please meet at 9.00 am in front of Selwyn College main administration block in Kohimarama.   There is plenty of parking in the ASB stadium carpark adjacent to the college.     You should bring lunch, a drink and notebook and pencil.   Supervision staff will meet you and escort you to the main assembly room.   After the morning meeting you will be taken by your supervisors to the rooms where you will be working in R and V Block at the rear of the college.    At the end of the day (3.00pm) you will be taken in your seminar group to the front of the school.

Those of you attending the two day`Diplomacy' workshop will start and finish at the same time as the students attending the three day seminar.

Supervision staff please note that the morning staff meeting will take place in the Senior Common Room which can be accessed from the ASB stadium carpark via the sloping walkway.  

Our Junior Seminar at Selwyn College last week was a resounding success with seventy-two students attending from Kaitaia in the North to Queenstown, Nelson and Timaru in the South.   The all-new format meant that the children stayed in their individual course groups working with the same students throughout the course.  This gave them the important opportunity of forming stronger bonds with each other whilst also ensuring that each child was able to sample a wider range of topics than normal.

We met a very motivated and enthusiastic group from Aria School in the Waikato and an equally eager group from Queenstown Primary School.   The weather was kind to us which meant that during the breaks our games team, Elroy and Patrick were able to organise impromptu soccer games to the satisfaction of eleven high energy young men and a few female onlookers.  

Russell Greenwood's short course on `Monsters & Tyrants' where the childhood and early development of both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin were ruthlessly examined met with great approval - as did his `Plague & Pestilence'  workshop where the 1665 outbreak of Bubonic Plague followed by the Great Fire of London was examined, then mimed to great effect.   Elaine le Sueur's challenges met with applause and Ken Ring's own particular brand of mathematics was as popular as ever.   Paul Willis's art sessions went down very well and Nick Oram's science sessions were as popular as his eagerly awaited `New Spy School'.  

The Junior Prizewinners were:   VIVIAN XU (Hillpark Primary School, Manurewa), ASHLEIGH MURRAY (Tokoroa Intermediate School), ARTHUR CHIA (Churton Park School, Wellington), LUCAS PETERSON (Gladstone School, Mt. Albert), SAM EASTGATE-BROWN (Worser Bay School, Wellington) and AKASH DUTTA (Welcome Bay School, Tauranga).

The two Holiday Seminars Medal Winners were:  LIAM KIRKPATRICK (Home School, Queenstown) and TONI WHAREHOKA (Cockle Bay School, Howick).

There are still a few places available in our senior programme at Selwyn College which begins on Monday 20th April.   Vacancies exist in YOUNG MOVIE MAKERS (tutored by Paul Willis), WORDS IN ACTION (tutored by Russell Greenwood) and INGENUITY UNLIMITED (tutored by Robyn Boswell) - so if you think this sounds like you, and you would like to join us contact our office on 09 585 0111(Tel), 021 389 448(Mob), 09 585 0144(Fax) or email: info [at] holidayseminars [dot] co [dot] nz