Blues

We recognise excellence in our students in academic, sporting and cultural areas. In addition, we recognise the contribution that students make to the corporate life of the college and their individual achievements in terms of life skills. 

Procedure

The awarding of a Blue is the premier award at Taieri College and as such the prestige of the award must be maintained. Awarding of Blues is at the discretion of the Taieri College Blues Committee. Awarding of Blues previously is not an indication of future awards. A large number of factors will be taken into account when deciding who will receive a Blue.

Academic Blues are given out at a special assembly at the beginning of the year. Our Sport and Arts Blues, students/parents/whānau/coaches/judges/teachers in charge of sports or arts are invited to click on the button below and put forward a nomination to receive an award.

If nominating for more than one Sport/Arts Blue, please complete a separate nomination on the website for each one.

Please be specific and provide detailed information to help the committee make its decision.

Please ensure you provide the contact details for the Arts Activity/Outside Coach/Club Manager/Teacher in Charge etc. supporting the nomination.

The Blues awarded in 2024 are for the period 19 September 2023 through until 13 September 2024.

This is open to Year 9 to Year 13 students while attending Taieri College only. 

Many factors will be considered when deciding who will receive a Blue, eg. displaying dedication and a positive attitude to training and competition, and positive involvement within the Taieri College community.

For an indication of the level of performance/activity required that may merit the awarding of a Blues award, please see the criteria below.

A photo of you participating in your sport (preferably an action shot) or Arts activity/work is required to be submitted as part of the nomination form and will be unable to be submitted unless this is attached.

Nominations close Friday 13 September 2024.

Academic Blues

Each year the results from NCEA Level 1and Level 2 are reviewed. The top students in terms of the number of credits and endorsements of Merit or Excellence, are recognised. We proudly awarded our Academic Blues on Thursday 7 March 2024 at our senior assembly.  Once again 2023 was a year of disruption, yet the level of achievement that our students attained was outstanding.  Quite clearly all our recipients displayed high levels of self-motivation, self-management, and diligence. 

2023 Level 2 Academic Blue recipients

2023 Level 1 Academic Blue recipients

Arts Blues

This is the most prestigious award that we give in recognition of outstanding excellence in Music, Drama, Dance, Film, Speech, Performing Arts, Kapa Haka. Students are entered for the award by their teacher or coach according to a set of criteria. The applications are collated towards the end of Term 3 and a group of staff representing Sporting and Performing Arts interests and members of the Senior Leadership Team come together to debate the awards.

Blues are awarded at the prestigious Blues Evening which is held at the beginning of Term 4. Students who are nominated for a Blue Award are recognised for their achievement and a Performing Arts Ambassador is selected and announced at the Ceremony.

Points Allocation (10 required for a Blue)

Displays dedication to an Arts activity and has shown leadership. The more leadership shown the more points (1-3 points)

  1. attends all practices of one activity and is motivated 

  2. attends all practices of one or two activities, motivated and willing to help out with gear, part practices, shows some leadership within the team 

  3. attends all practices of more than two activities, highly motivated, mentor to a junior group, shows a high level of leadership within their art form

Service to college Arts school-wide activities (1 point)

  1. Participated for two years or more

  2. Displays a positive attitude

Representation and participation across different Arts activities (5 points maximum)

  1. One point per Blues worthy activity

  2. Maximum of 5 points

Displays excellence in visual presentation (1 point)

Consistently shown drive in their own independent Visual Art creation (1 point)

Has been on a journey of continuous growth, mastering a particular Visual Art technique (1 point)

Has exhibited art, achieved in an art competition or won awards for art. (4 points)

Student has successfully completed Grade 8 or higher (1 point)

Has successfully gained representation for an Otago Arts activity OR is individually ranked in top 5 for age group in an Otago Competition (4 points)

Has successfully gained representation for a South Island Arts activity OR is individually ranked in top 5 for age group in a South Island Competition (6 points)

Has successfully gained representation for a National Arts activity OR is individually ranked in top 5 for age group in NZ (8 points)

Has gained representation in the professional industry or in an adult competition (9 points)

 

Sporting Blues

This is the most prestigious award that we give in recognition of outstanding excellence in individual or team sport.  The applications are collated towards the end of Term 3 and a group of staff and members of the Senior Leadership Team come together to decide the awards.

Students who are nominated for a Blue Award are recognised for their achievement and a Sportsman and Sportswomen is selected and announced at the ceremony. Year 7 and 8 students will be recognised separately in a Distinction Assembly to be held after the Blues Evening.

The outstanding teams are also recognised at this Ceremony, and one is chosen for the award of Sports Team for the Year.

Guidelines for Specific Sports

  • Athletics/Cross Country
    Attain first placing at Otago Secondary Schools or higher championships or top five placing at a NZSSS national sanctioned event

  • Basketball 
    Otago age group A team (need to travel to the tournament)          

  • Cricket
    Full Otago age group A team travels to tournament against legitimate opposition (eg. Canterbury, not North Otago)     

  • Netball 
    Otago age group A team Dunedin Netball Centre representative team

  • Rugby
    U14, U16 or U18 representative team (need to travel to the tournament)

  • Football
    Football South A team representative

  • Hockey
    Otago age group A team representative 

  • Swimming
    Otago Secondary Schools top three, Otago Long Course and Otago Short Course top three

  • Tennis
    Otago age group representative to travel to the tournament

  • Touch
    Otago age group (need to travel to the tournament)

Criteria

Team Sport - gained selection into the highest possible Otago age grade team (must play at the tournament).

Individual Sport - either obtain 1st place at Otago Championships or obtain top three placing at South Island/National event or higher.

NB: Athletes receiving a Sport Blue in an individual or team sport must be performing at a senior level eg. U16 age group minimum.  Athletes who achieve at this standard in a team or individual sport at U15 level or lower are eligible for a Junior Sport Blue.

If a student can represent Taieri College they should do so.  If a student chooses not to be part of the college team without suitable reason (eg. would unduly limit their personal progress) it may not be looked on favourably by the committee.  For all sports, the committee will investigate the following with their sporting body:

  • How big was the field?

  • How big is the sport in Dunedin/Otago/nationwide?

  • What commitment/sacrifice did the athlete show to get to the competition?

  • Could the athlete have gone to the next tier of competition?

  • Under consultation the committee reserve the right to amend the criteria.

For major sports, clearer guidelines are itemised below.  Blues are generally not awarded to teams.

In the instance where a small team (eg. triathlon) was to reach an exceptionally high level (eg. top three in New Zealand), it may be appropriate for the Blues Committee to award a Blue to all members of the team.  This is at the committee's discretion and recognises that each member of the team would need to be performing at a very high level for the team to achieve this.

Where an individual does not have a pathway to reach a higher level as it does not practically exist without leaving the college then a Blue may be either awarded at the discretion of the committee or other guidelines may be put in place.

Points prizes will not be considered.

Under consultation, the committee reserves the right to amend the criteria.