Latest news with #CraigheadDiocesanSchool
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Students not LYTE on good ideas
A group of five Craighead Diocesan School students are getting a taste of the entrepreneurial world. As part of the 2025 Young Enterprise Scheme, students Ella Laming, Briar Allan, Georgia Smith, Georgia Greenslade and Ruby Laming have launched their start-up business LYTE Hydration. Their product is a dual purpose, single-use energy sachet that combines pre-workout and electrolyte formulas. Chief executive Ella said the special twist with their product was that it is mixed with barberry powder, a natural ingredient scientifically proven to help with acne. "When you work out, you sweat, and that leads to bacteria on your face. "It all goes hand-in-hand, you are recovering back the hydration you lost exercising while also helping with that acne side of things. "It's something you can use on the go, it's portable, easy to use and you literally just rip it open and pour it in your water bottle." The group wanted to make something innovative and creative, Ella said. "We received guidance from Regan Powell, the Young Enterprise co-ordinator and he helped us with the idea for barberry powder as a way of adding something a bit different into our mix." Chief financial officer Georgia Smith said the reason they decided to go for a hydration product was that they were all involved in sport. "We found it annoying ourselves that when you go to the gym you have to get separate tubs for pre and post-workout. "It was like, why can't we come up with a convenient option that can serve for pre and post-workout in just one session, one product. "A lot of our generation go to the gym and are involved in sport and with a teenager target market, acne is a thing everyone struggles with. Our product serves to help with that." The scheme required each company to complete four different challenges and yesterday the students took part in challenge two, the pitch, where they had to present their business plan to a panel of professionals. Over the next two terms they will complete challenge three, promotions and sales, then challenge four, the annual review. They had also recently just completed their first production batch of 40 sachets, Ella said. "We're going to sell them first to the school to get feedback. We plan to then stretch out to the community after this first lot of selling. "We've had to do all the labour ourselves so far, which is fine for a startup but it is time-consuming. "We'd love to look at getting it manufactured if we are successful. We did look at it for a start but the cost was way too much." Marketing and sales director Georgia Greenslade said they were also doing it as part of a school subject. "I feel like the the reason a lot of us took this class is because there were so many specific roles. I took it because I'm interested in accounting and finance. "We can specialise but also be involved with everything within the business, so you kind of learn everyone's part plus the thing you're passionate about which is something I've really enjoyed about it." Ella said the group had learned a lot about teamwork and collaboration through creating their product and business. "Also to cater to everyone's strengths and work in a way where everyone feels that they can contribute, feel heard and be part of the process. "We also learnt that mistakes are part of the process, It's how a business forms — everyone makes them and you just have to learn from them. "How you bounce back from the mistake is how you measure your success as a business." They are aiming to sell their product for $7.99 and are looking to introduce several different flavours. Anyone wishing to learn more or follow their progress can do so by visiting LYTE. hydration on Facebook or Instagram.
Otago Daily Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Recognition thought to be a hoax
Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen (left) and businessman Gary Rooney officially open Fraser Park. PHOTO: CONNOR HALEY Waimate's Gary Rooney was so surprised to be included in the King's Birthday Honours List he thought it was all a hoax. The well-known businessman was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (for services to business and philanthropy). "I thought it was a joke, a hoax email," he said. "I feel extremely privileged, I certainly did not expect this at all. We just work quietly behind the scenes to better the communities we are present in." Mr Rooney started his earthmoving business in 1976 with a single bulldozer. "I wanted to be a farmer and buy a farm and the only way to do that was by being a contractor. "We bought a farm, then had to continue to be a contractor to pay the interest and it's been a lifetime of hard work to be where we are today." The Rooney Group now employs more than 300 people across multiple divisions including earthmoving, pipe and cable laying, transportation and farming. His work in irrigation scheme construction has made a significant impact, including the Rangitata South scheme which irrigates 13,000ha on the South Canterbury plains. He encourages natural fauna regeneration and has pioneered the development of a rock fish screen, designed to prevent salmon smolt from entering irrigation schemes. He has been a driving force behind numerous transformative community projects in the region, including the $8million redevelopment of Timaru's Fraser Park and the revitalisation of Waimate, including investment in a medical centre and the restoration of Quinn's Arcade. He has supported the local foodbank with three months of funding and has set up several scholarships for young athletes. After the Christchurch earthquakes, his support was integral in the design and build of the new gymnasium and other facilities at Timaru's Craighead Diocesan School. "What motivates me is watching people and communities grow, it's important to give back to the community. "I'm very grateful to a number of people and staff," he said.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Craighead to give 'em Elle
Natalie Holland (centre), 16, will be taking on the role of Elle Woods in the musical Legally Blonde. PHOTOS: CONNOR HALEY Harvard's beloved blonde is set to take Craighead's Turley Auditorium by glittery pink storm. Craighead Diocesan School students will share the fabulously funny story of Elle Woods in staging Legally Blonde The Musical JR next week. Director Lucy Bradley said she selected Legally Blonde as the musical as she wanted something upbeat and that would keep the girls engaged. "I think for a lot of these girls, they haven't necessarily had that upbringing in musical theatre, especially not the classics. "Doing something that was maybe a bit more relevant to them, and with Y2K being such a prominent fashion accessory at the moment to them, I thought it would be a really fun one that would get as many girls involved as possible. "We've got a cast of 50 students from year 8 to 13." She said a lot of the students were not aware of the musical or the film. "A lot of them had not heard of it — [though] I think for the drama girls, in inverted commas, it was quite a well-known one. Quite a few said they thought they had seen it on TikTok. Performing a choreographed number are Delta Nu members (from left) Katelyn Valentine, 14, Maddy Smith, 15, Mea Still, 15, Olivia McLachlan, 14, Elsie Evans, 15, and Emily Jones, 13. "In terms of them understanding it, I think it's a really important one to do at a girls' school. Elle Woods is such an underestimated character due to her looks, due to her gender and the perceived notions of who she is. "How she is able to break through that barrier and that stereotype is quite an important message to put out to our girls as well as the audience." Mrs Bradley said the audience could expect a lot of energy and a lot of pink. "There will be excellent vocals, excellent choreography and a very engaging storyline. Hopefully they'll leave with the morals, values and lessons the musical promotes." Student Mea Still said she had enjoyed being a part of the production. "It's been really fun getting to know lots of girls from other year groups, doing some really cool things and learning about what it's like to work as a team. "I was never really into drama as such but I came to Craighead and did the last production and now I'm taking drama as a subject." Student Emily Jones said there had been a lot of laughs and good times working on the show. "I was so quick to put my hand up to audition because I knew it would be such a blast and ever since then I've absolutely loved it. Every time I saw a rehearsal on the schedule I'd be like, 'yay'. "I've just loved working with teachers and people. It is going to be an amazing show to watch." Performances will take place at 7pm on May 14, 15 and 16 — doors will open at 6.30pm. Tickets can be purchased from the iticket website and are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors, students with ID and children 12 and under. Door sales will be available.
