Teen parents win scholarships

CELEBRATION: The Wairarapa Teen Parent Unit celebrated the achievements of its students at the end of year break-up on Tuesday. Pictured is leaving student Nikki Bidlake (left), Wairarapa TPU manager Prue Smith, and student Kyleigh Cork. Both Ms Bidlake and Ms Cork have been awarded scholarships for studies next year. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Another successful year has come to a close at the Wairarapa Teen Parent Unit with two young mothers winning scholarships to start new studies.

Unit manager Prue Smith said five young mothers graduated from the unit at the end-of-year break-up on Tuesday, including Kyleigh Cork, who was the first Wairarapa TPU student to win the $4000 Outward Bound scholarship, and Nikki Bidlake, who won a scholarship for studies toward a degree, majoring in criminology, at Victoria University.

Ms Cork was to attend a three-week Outward Bound course next month and will return to the unit at the start of the new school year, Mrs Smith said, and Ms Bidlake was to start her studies in Wellington in the new year.

"We've had a busy and productive year and strong numbers. We had 29 girls at our highest point, which is the most we've ever had and we were bulging at the seams."

She said the roll count at the unit, which can cater for up to 30 students, had fallen to a more comfortable 25 students at the end of a year that had also ushered in two new teachers - Julie Holdsworth and Janet Osborne.

Mrs Holdsworth was moving north with her family next year. She will be replaced by Linda Topp, who will teach art among a range of other subjects. Mrs Osborne will continue to teach English language, Mrs Smith said, which had been "particularly strong for us this year".

She said the students focused each week day morning on academic tasks and for three afternoons a week explored topics like life skills.

"We've got a good balance between the pastoral support the girls get and their academic work, because first and foremost we are a school, and I guess we're continually juggling to get that balance right."

The Wairarapa TPU is unique in the region and is one of 20 similar units in New Zealand designed for young women to continue education after leaving school due to pregnancy.