BACKRangitoto College is a school proud to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme alongside NCEA. The curriculum promotes a multicultural and globally interconnected world. The IB cohort at the college is a good reflection of this, with students’ diverse backgrounds and cultures from six continents. In past years, several international students have attended Rangitoto College to take part in the IB, introducing unique cultures and experiences to the cohort—one of the largest benefits of the programme. Unfortunately, due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, this has not been possible for a while.
This year, Rangitoto College has been fortunate enough to welcome the first international student to the IB diploma program in over two years. Carlos Rojas Cárdenas, the first Peruvian international student at the school, was warmly welcomed by Mrs Brandt, the IB Coordinator, and the Year 13 IB cohort on the morning of Monday 27th June. Although Carlos has been working with the cohort through online classes, they were excited and pleased to see him in person for the first time.
Carlos’ journey to Rangitoto College was tough. The restrictions from the pandemic made it difficult for him to enter the country, with the application process taking around a month to complete. Nonetheless, Carlos is happy to join the school, particularly admiring the beautiful landscapes, the culture of the country, and the welcoming environment of the college. He also shared he is most looking forward to returning to an actual classroom and meeting new peers.
The room was filled with warm smiles and cheers as Carlos was introduced to the school and met his new classmates for the first time. Mrs Brandt welcomed Carlos through a speech and special gifts for him. This was followed by a breakfast with delicious Danish pastries, and tea and coffee; a great treat for a Monday morning. Carlos was able to mingle and get to know the people of his cohort during this time. A wholesome group photo wrapped up the morning as Carlos prepared for his first-class at the college.
Welcome, Carlos! We are looking forward to a great year with you.
Alex Jung, Year 12
