WESTERN NEWS
Tuesday August 9 2016
Industry expert invites Villa student back to US A VILLA Maria College student has been asked to return to the United States next year after achieving high results at a world performing arts competition last month. Year 13 student Sophie Holt was selected to represent New Zealand at the World Championships of Performing Arts last month in Long Beach, California. She won six awards at the competition including an industry medal, three “silver awards” for the contemporary, country and pop categories for 18 to 24-year-olds. Sophie also won a gold award for the original works category and an overall gold award for 16 to 24-year-olds. Now she has been invited to return to the US next year to perform her original songs by music industry professional Jeffrey Weber. “I never signed a contract but I’m hopefully heading back next year to record my songs with him,” Sophie said. Mr Weber has been in the American music industry for more than 30 years and has worked with American singer and actress Ariana Grande’s musical director. He was the founder of
American television network Studio M and has produced more than 180 CDs. Sophie is a singer-songwriter and one of 21 New Zealanders who was selected to travel to the US to compete. The competition started with a boot camp which consisted of workshops ran by professionals from the New York Film Academy. Sophie said the boot camp was beneficial and gave an insight into how the industry works. The competition was set up in three rounds. After each round, judges who were interested in talking with competitors about their talent were issued “go see slips”. Sophie received three of the slips. This provided Sophie the opportunity to sit down with Mr Weber and discussed her future singing career. “The results of this trip were more than I’d ever imagined and I am honestly so humbled by it all,” she said.
She said while she is still exploring music genres she is writing a lot of piano ballads. “I focus a lot on my lyrics and I pretty much write something every day.”
Make it a Happy y Father’s Da
WAS $249
WAS $199
We have over 40 years’ experience to assist you with…
Call John, Brendan or Andrew today on 03 366 8996 to find out how we can help you. Email. lawyers@mclegal.co.nz Airport Business Park 92 Russley Road Christchurch 8042
involved in growing food organically. It provides young people with job experience and sells 70 per cent of produce grown while giving 30 per cent away. The social enterprise also picks up organic waste from restaurants and turns it into compost.
The Ministry of Education is currently working on plans for future primary education provision in the Halswell area and is seeking your input. This is an exciting opportunity for parents and the whole community to contribute innovative ideas and have input into future education provision. The first phase of the engagement will involve face-to-face public workshops, facilitated by Dr Gabrielle Wall, to gather and explore ideas about future education provision. These are scheduled as follows: •
Tuesday August 16th, 7.30 – 8.30pm, Halswell School
•
Tuesday August 23rd, 7 – 8pm, Hillmorton School
•
Wednesday August 24th, 6 – 7pm, Rowley Avenue School
•
Tuesday September 6th, 7 – 8pm, Oaklands School
These sessions are all open to the public and parents or interested community members can attend any session. Similar content will be covered in all sessions, so feel free to attend whichever best suits your schedule.
WAS $279
WAS $249
STUDENTS GOT their hands dirty last week as part of a Rebuilding Christchurch class run by Canterbury University Associate Professor Billy O’Steen. The class of 50 students helped prepare the new site behind the Halswell Timber Company for planting which was recently obtained by social enterprise Cultivate Christchurch. The day was also spent digging out trenches where willows will be planted to serve as a windbreak for the crops. Cultivate Christchurch is aimed at getting young people
Community engagement on proposed new primary education provision in the Halswell area
WAS $299
• Buying and Selling Houses and Commercial Property • Wills, Trusts and Estate matters • All issues facing you and your business; • Employment Law matters; • Traffic matters; • Earthquake related issues; and • Advice regarding Retirement Villages
Students help rebuild city
THINKER: Hillmorton High School year 9 student Allan Taylor received distinction in The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools Digital Technologies Competition. This places him in the top 10 per cent of the students to compete across the country in this competition.
WAS $349
LAWyerS
13
While stocks last
WAS $299
NOW $9995
EACH
Ilam Watchmakers 207 Waimairi Rd. Ph 357 1002
The ideas and themes generated through this first phase will then be used to construct an online survey that will make it possible to identify which options and ideas have a wider base of support. The online survey will be open from September 12th – 30th. Further information If you have any questions about the process, or would like to add your details to the contact database, visit http://www.education.govt. nz/halswell-community-engagement-on-proposed-new-primaryeducation-provision/.