MacKenzie Bryant

I have spent the last two terms on a work placement with Melinda Tweedie Interiors. This has involved spending either Wednesdays or Fridays with Melinda. I have learnt so much in this time from how to fit all of the clients requests into their space, to the effects colour can have on a space. I have really enjoyed the practical hands-on learning and the whole concept of the work. I've learnt many new skills that I know I can take forward into my future. I now know that I really want to be an interior designer when I leave school at the end of the year and what I have to do to make this possible. I would really like to thank Melinda for the time and effort she has put into teaching me about her job. She has been really supportive and is a really good teacher. 

The highlight of the work placement for me to date has been seeing the rooms going from how they were before she fixed them up and comparing them to how they are after she's done and the satisfaction of this, along with looking at tiny homes and learning about how to make organic food for chickens. My Gateway Work Placement has been incredibly valuable and rewarding for me. It has allowed me to experience the interior design industry first hand and ensure it is the right job for me to move into.

Gemma Thompson

I have spent the last nine weeks on work placement with the Central Otago District Council. During this time I have learnt the importance of well-being and looking after our community in the years to come. I loved working in a team with the members of the council in the different departments including People and Culture, Business Support and Property Management. They all included many different roles and working with different people. I would like to thank Jackie and Kirsten for making me feel so welcome in the council and helping me. I would also like to say a huge thank you to David, Donna and Bex for working with me in their departments over the nine weeks I have been working there. It has given me such a confidence boost through talking to new people and sharing my ideas in meetings and teams. It has given me a great insight into what the council does day to day and the huge impact they have on the community.

This work experience has been very rewarding and exciting.  I am very grateful that I have been offered the opportunity to come back to the council once I have finished my Diploma in Business. This will allow me to work alongside the council for a longer period and have the opportunity to learn even more. 

Keel Davidson

I have spent the last three terms on a work placement with Contact Energy at their Hydro Electric Dam in Clyde. This has been taking place every Thursday over regular school times. I have learnt a tremendous amount from my time, from working in the field collecting rainwater measurements, to seeing how much water is coming down the mountains, to working on-site in the office. I am working on a project with my boss, Gregor, to update the current museum model in Clyde; this is being done because a lot of the information currently on display is out of date and in need of improvement. I have enjoyed the fieldwork that I have done with Ken and Dunstan, as they are both great guys who make it easy to have a 10-minute chat that expands into an hour-long conversation. I now know that I want to work within Information Technology and that University is not the right choice for me, but Polytech is the better option.

I would like to thank Gregor for all the work he has put in despite being one of the busiest people I know. Shree, Ken, and Dunstan have also been massively accommodating, and I thank them tenfold. Also over my year in Gateway, I was able to do a 4-day holiday course on cyber security. This course taught me more advanced techniques while still giving me credits and was fully paid for by the school. I also thank the Gateway teachers, Ms. Kelly and Kirstiy McEnteer, for all the hard work they have put in to allow me and every other student to find a work placement they can love. My placement has been incredibly valuable as it has allowed me to learn what I want to do going forward.

Jade Cockburn

On the 14th of August I started work placement on a sheep farm in Poolburn for Tom and Debbie Arthur, which involved going to their farm on Mondays. In the short time that I have been doing this I have really enjoyed it and have learnt so much about practical farm skills such as what is involved in feeding out, how to shift breaks, and drenching. I have really enjoyed the hands-on learning style of this program and believe that experience is the best way for me to learn. I am now certain that I would like to go into the agricultural industry once I leave school. I would really like to thank Tom, Noeline, Debbie and Gemma for their time and the effort they have put into teaching me. They are really great people to be around and have made the experience really fun. 

The highlight of my experience so far has definitely been getting to work hands-on with the animals. It was a really cool experience. My time in my Gateway Work Placement has been a very rewarding experience and has allowed me to gain knowledge and skills within the agricultural sector.

Josh Patterson

I have spent the last two terms on a work placement with Andersons Engineering. This has involved spending Wednesdays in the workshop in Alexandra. I have learnt so much in this time from how to use tools, to the precision required when measuring out projects. I have really enjoyed the practical hands-on learning and being able to work on my own. I now know that I really want to gain an apprenticeship in engineering when I leave school. I would really like to thank Russell and Tom for the time and effort they have put into teaching me over the couple of terms. They have been really supportive and are good teachers. 

The highlight for me of my work placement was being able to see my finished projects. My Gateway Work Placement has been incredibly valuable and rewarding for me. It has allowed me to experience engineering first hand and I know I want to do it when I leave school.

Ruthven Bahler

I have spent the last term on work placement with Sushi Cafe. I spent my morning and early afternoon in the kitchen. I learnt not only how to make sushi and Japanese-style meals, but also all sorts of little tips and tricks - like what to put in rice, different kinds of cooking, sauces, what flavours go well together and how other methods can affect the whole dish. I’ve enjoyed almost everything about being in the kitchen, working as a team, working fast, and good communication, and I have found it a very comfortable environment for me. 

Thank you to everyone at Sushi Cafe for the time and effort they all put into teaching me and for your support and patience. This experience has been such an eye-opener for me, it has allowed me to experience what it's like working in a commercial kitchen as well as what it is like to work with people from entirely different cultures and backgrounds.

Skyla Thomas-McLeod

I spent last term on work placement with Dunstan Educare. This has involved spending Fridays looking after children under five. I have learnt to be compassionate and patient. I have really enjoyed teaching the kids new things and getting to know everyone to build better connections. I love going outside, working with the team and learning new skills every day. I wanted to see if I would enjoy being a preschool teacher and try the experience and although I have enjoyed it, I think I would like to try some other options before committing to Early Childcare. 

I would really like to thank Linley, Kim and all the other staff members for the time and effort they have put into helping me during the past term. They have been really supportive and are really good teachers. My Gateway Work Placement has been incredibly valuable and rewarding for me. It has allowed me to experience what working at an Early Childhood Centre would be like to allow me to make future decisions.

Lucas Tyrrell

I have spent this year work placement with Pete Benny at Leaning Rock Cherries. This has involved spending Wednesday and Thursday on his orchard. I have really enjoyed the practical hands-on learning and the physical nature of the work. I love being outside, working with the team and learning new skills every day. Some of the tasks I have done are pruning all different types of fruit trees, thinning, driving forklifts, planting trees, set of irrigation and debudding. I am going to work in horticulture for summer, then may look for an apprenticeship in plumbing or irrigation. However my long term plan is to get back into horticulture. I would really like to thank Pete, the pruning crew, Jeff and Jeanine for their time and effort supporting my learning. The highlight for me was the whole experience, I really enjoyed the jobs and working with everyone.