Mountain Scene
July 6, 2021
By PHILIP CHANDLER
Queenstown tutoring centre The Academy at Kip McGrath can now cope with increased demand thanks to an extension to its Remarkables Park premises.
Initially limited by building restrictions, the construction of an emergency exit allows
educational support to be provided to many more students, owner Emma Wilson says.
Pictured at the recent opening are, from left, Academy director Sheena Ashford-Tait, Ned E Wepiha, who performed a Maori blessing, centre manager Lucy Geraghty and lead tutor Claire Bryceland.
Wilson says the extension comes at just the right time.
‘‘We are busier than we’ve ever been at this time of year, giving over 250 lessons per
Mountain Scene
April 18, 2021
By PHILIP CHANDLER
A Queenstown student practising letter-writing at The Academy at Kip McGrath is stoked to have received a prompt response from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Henry Small (left), 11, wrote suggesting a quarantine hotel should be located in Queenstown.
Ardern responded with generous comments and, in handwriting, added: ‘‘Thanks again for your great questions, Henry!’’
‘‘She wrote back so quickly, and now I know what her handwriting looks like.’’
His tutor, Sheena Ashford-Tait, is delighted, too.
‘‘The students really worked hard on their letters, editing carefully before writing them in joined-up handwriting using ink pens.’’
For the record, Ardern tells Henry Queenstown was ruled out for quarantining as ‘‘it didn’t meet the criteria around healthcare capacity’’.