Newsletter - April 2021 Newsletter - April 2021

All Together Kaiapoi Contact Details: Linda Dunbar, CoordinatorPhone: 027 781 3048

Office: Kaiapoi Community Centre24 Sewell Street, Kaiapoi

Opening Hours: Mon, Tues & Wed 8.45am - 4.30pm

Celebrating the youth in our communityKYDz, the Kaiapoi Youth group of All Together

Kaiapoi is back in action this year with their first event; a 3 x 3 Basketball Tournament being held at Kaiapoi High School on Sunday 16th May.

The tournament has been very popular in other years and the team are hoping for a big turnout especially as last year there was no KYDz team because of the Covid lockdown.

KYDz came about after Kaiapoi North School Principal, Jason Miles, approached All Together Kaiapoi (formerly You Me We Us Kaiapoi) on behalf of his students, expressing their concern about the lack of events for youth, in and around Kaiapoi.

The ATK team brought the Kaiapoi schools together and KYDz was born.

The concept is that the members of KYDz have conversations with their peers and bring ideas of events, activities and projects for the youth of

Kaiapoi to meetings. With support from All Together Kaiapoi, these students take responsibility and ownership to make the events, activities and/or projects happen.

The initiative provides the involved students with an opportunity to grow as community leaders, learn new skills and hold rewarding positions in the community, as they play a part in providing fun and exciting things for youth to do in Kaiapoi.

In their first year, members came up with their own name for the group, developed a logo, ran a very successful Skate Jam, raised funds for future youth projects and events by holding their own sausage sizzle and helped at various other All Together Kaiapoi (formerly You Me We Us Kaiapoi) community events.

During 2018 and 2019 a number of very successful youth events were organised by

the members, including a Mud Fest, Kaiapoi’s Got Talent, Family Quiz Nights, Youth Art Exhibitions, Colourfest and a 3 x 3 Basketball Tournament as well as helping at a number of All Together Kaiapoi events and projects. Bruce Kearney, Principal Kaiapoi High School, endorses the group.

“Many of our head students started in this group which gave them opportunities for leadership that they have continued to develop. “KYDz has contributed to the community in so many ways but the wonderful help the students are providing to making their community a better place often goes unrecognised by the general public.”

Any students who would like to join KYDz can find out more from their school principals.

Kaiapoi High School Mural CompetitionLast term, students at Kaiapoi High School were invited to create designs for

the schools mural competition.A collection of exciting and creative artworks were submitted. Year 13

student, Alyssa Paduganao, won first place with Sam Baxter (year 10) taking

second, Ruiha Reuben (year 13) coming third and Joseph Charles (year 13), highly commended. Congratulations and well done to these students.

Alyssa’s design also made it into the finals of the Keep New Zealand Beautiful ‘Wall Worthy’ competition where she came 4th overall. Way to go Alyssa!

During the weekend of April 10th and 11th, Kaiapoi High School Year 11 student, Josh Keating travelled to Auckland to compete at the 40th anniversary of the Auckland Country Music Awards. Josh walked away with a clean sweep winning the intermediate solo section, the intermediate gospel section and the intermediate country rock section.

He also won the over 18 open duo section which was performed with his Nana, Sharon Russell. Josh then went

on to take out the intermediate overall title. This is huge for Josh as this now gives him entry to compete in Taupo in October for the title of New Zealand intermediate country entertainer of the year. What incredible results.

Josh has been an entertainer at the All Together Kaiapoi Waitangi Day Family Celebration event every year. He is a fantastic ambassador for our community and for music as a whole. We wish you all the very best come October Josh.

Auckland Country Music Awards

Kaiapoi North SchoolKaiapoi North School have a very keen Gardening Group made up of

enthusiastic young gardeners. With support from All Together Kaiapoi Trustee and the Kaiapoi Food Forest Co-ordinator Brent Cairns, the Gardening Group have now created a Food Forest of their own at the school. The children have been involved in planning, digging, planting, weeding, harvesting and preparing food. This year has started really well and Kaiapoi North Schools Food Forest is now producing lots of fruit and vegetables for our students and school community to enjoy.

Way to go Kaiapoi North School.

Alyssa’s winning design and description:

“The meaning behind this concept represents the community of Kaiapoi. The hands which hold the river that runs through the town symbolises our values that we hold. There is also a man fishing on the hands as something Kaiapoi is known for is its fishing. On the buildings, there are evident cracks which reminds us of the earthquakes and how there is always hope and restoration after hardships, thus the flowers which grow upon it. The water flows from the hands and creates a river, which then bleeds into mountains. The mountains represent our Southern Alps. I chose this quote in particular because it reminds us that doing something together as our community makes feeling home much more meaningful and gives us a sense of belonging. Especially here in Canterbury, we suffer through many hardships however we are always capable of bouncing back when we are together as a community.”

Registrations are open.Enter your team now to avoid disappointment.

Limited to 12 teams per category.

All Together Kaiapoi acknowledges and thanks our 4 local schools and John Rhind Funeral Directors for the sponsorship of our newsletter.