Terms and Semesters, School Donations, Subjects and Options, Leadership and Personal Confidence
Perry's Initiative, Leave of Absence, Gateway, Careers, Special Needs, Extension Groups, Guidance, Te Kotahitanga
Reporting to Parents, Sport Activites, Adult Students, Kaupapa Maori, Cultutal Opportunities
School Terms and Semesters |
On enrolment parents and students will be advised of the start dates for 2011.
The Board of Trustees hold their meetings every fourth Thursday of the month in the conference room. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.
School Donations |
We are asking for a donation for 2011 of $75.00 per year for one student and $100.00 where two or more students from the same family are attending the school. This is not a compuslory fee, however the school does rely on this to help supplement the income from the bulk funding used for the day to day running of the school.
MATERIALS FEE
Students taking certain courses, e.g. Workshop Technology, Text and Information, Food Technology and Art are asked to pay an additional fee to help offset the cost of the materials used. They will be notified of this fee at the start of the school year.
SPORTS FEES
Students participating in sports teams will be expected to pay a subscription to offset costs of affiliation fees. Sports uniform is provided by the school but students are expected to provide their own footwear.
Subjects and Options |
JUNIOR SCHOOL
All Year 9 and Year 10 students are offered a general course embodying the subjects laid down by the Ministry of Education core requirements, together with additional subjects designed to present a wide variety of choices on which to build later more specialised courses.
Year 9,
English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education and Wellbeing***, Music*, Art*, Graphics*, Hospitality*, Materials Technology*, Te Reo Maori**, Information Technology**
* = 8 Weeks, ** = 10 Weeks, *** = 30 Weeks
Year 10,
Students are required to study the following subjects and select 2 options for study in preparation for Year 11
English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Health & Wellbeing
The options for students are:
Maori, Art, Hospitality, Enterprise Studies, Graphics,
Woodwork, Engineering, Computer Studies, Music
SENIOR SCHOOL
Year 11Students will do a six course Level 1 NCEA programme. This includes English, Mathematics, Science (all compulsory) and a further three subjects selected from a range of other curriculum area. Some students at this level may also participate in the Gateway programme It is the endeavour of this school that each child entering Year 11 will complete the year with NCEA Level 1.
Year 12
Students will do a six course NCEA programme. Students with strong academic and motivational ability are able to follow a six course NCEA Level 2 programme which strengthens their position toward tertiary study. Other students may follow a full alternative NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 programme. These students are also able to participate in the Gateway programme. Year 12 students may continue with subjects offered at Year 11 and/or opt to select from a new range of subjects offered at Year 12 only. Subjects such as Tourism, Economics, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, Recreation, History, Geography
Year 13
Students continuing on to Year 13 are able to follow a fully academic NCEA Level 3 programme provided they have met all suitable criteria from Level 2 NCEA (necessary for those wishing to pursue tertiary studies). Students may also complete an alternative NCEA Level 2/3 programme.
Leadership and Personal Confidence |
Ngaruawahia High School students have the opportunity for leadership roles through involvement in a wide range of activities including:
School Leaders
Board of Trustees Student Representative
School Council
Whanau Leaders
School Committees (eg Ball Committee, Magazine Committee)
Kapa Haka
Community Service
Sports Coaches
Leadership Initiative Year 12/13
Perry's Initiative |
The Perry Foundation supports Ngaruawahia High School through its trusts by way of sponsorship for the Year 9, 10 and 12 Camps. The Camps are a compulsory part of our student’s education. The cost to parent’s is minimal covering such things as transport and some food.
The Year 9 camp is held early in Term one consisting of three days. Year 13 students attend the Year 9 Camp as leaders. The purpose of this Camp is to assist students to gain confidence with themselves and with other students in their new classes.
The Year 10 and Year 12 Camps are held at the beginning of Term four.
The purpose of the Year 10 Camp is to further develop skills that test abilities in structured activities such as high ropes, mountain biking etc. The year 12 students also attend the Year 10 camp as leaders.
Year 13 have a two day live in early in Term one part of which is dedicated to the organisation and responsibilities of the Year 9 Camp.
Leave of Absence |
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
It is very important your child is present at school unless sick or there are any other very important family reasons. Please make doctor, dental, physiotherapist and other appointments outside school hours.
NOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR:
i) Absence/Lateness/permission to leave school during the day - notification from parents/caregivers is needed either by telephone or written
ii) Permission to have a lunch pass (to Dean)
iii) Permission to bring a motor vehicle to school (to Assistant Principal)
VEHICLE PROCEDURES
Students may bring motor vehicles to school after parental permission is obtained and the appropriate licences have been sighted. The school has a policy on motor vehicles and if students do not abide by the rules set out they will have the privilege of bringing their car to school taken off them.
MOBILE PHONES
All mobile phones are personal items and are considered to be used during personal time only. Ngaruawahia High School does not take any responsibility for lost or stolen mobile phones. The use of mobile phones during teaching time is unacceptable. Teachers will confiscate mobile phones during teaching time and will pass them onto the office for a parent to retrieve.
Gateway |
Gateway supports senior students (Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13) undertaking learning and assessment in the workplace.
Structured workplace learning is a formalised learning arrangement set in an actual workplace for a sustained period of time, with clear understanding about the knowledge and skills to be attained, and the assessment of unit or achievement standards.
Students complete a work placement and have their learning in the workplace assessed against unit and / or achievement standards on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and integrated with their current programme of study.
Gateway integrates general education with workplace learning and assessment. Gateway builds on existing partnerships to develop new relationships among schools, Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) and employers. This approach dovetails with Modern Apprenticeships and the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) to provide further pathways and recognise a broader range of achievement.
Gateway provides senior school students with valuable learning and work opportunities. For example, students can gain specific vocational skills leading to future employment and can benefit from making significant progress towards qualifications. All students can enhance their career management skills in a world where the roles of learner and worker continue to change.
Students best suited to participate in Gateway will be those who are:
- interested in a career in a particular industry
- are work ready
- are able to undertake individual assessment for NQF credits in the workplace, and
- are able to undertake self-managed learning in the work-place
Key features of the Gateway programme include:
- A workplace learning component is incorporated into the student’s overall study programme
- Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13 students are eligible to participate in Gateway
- there is no additional cost to students who participate in Gateway
- a work placement relevant to the student’s learning and vocational goals is arranged
- an individualised learning plan is prepared with each student, which identifies the learning and assessment to be undertaken
- placement with an employer who can deliver the learning plan is arranged
- a work placement is for a sustained period to ensure planned learning goals are met
Careers |
All teachers are Careers Advisers for their subject areas. They are able to promote the relevance of their subject to student’s career pathways. Career education is an integral part of the school curriculum and advice is available to all students and parents.
Students are encouraged to consider and research several career options. Visits are organised to the local university, polytechnic, private providers and Careers EXPO. Assistance is given with job and course applications.
The Careers Adviser ensures that all students planning to move into tertiary education are aware of opportunities available. Students are able to use the school library computers to access the Careers data base which provides updated information on both occupations, scholarships, training courses and job vacancies available nationally. The Career Quest programme is available to all students to help find suitable careers and investigate job options.
Students are encouraged to organise work experience to assist in formulating
career decisions.
Special Needs |
The school operates Special Needs Programmes for students requiring assistance. The Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) is responsible for these programmes and the identification of students who would benefit from them. The SENCO reports to the Principal and Board of Trustees regularly.
Just as students are individual, so their learning needs vary. Our approach at Ngaruawahia High School is to meet these needs within their timetabled classes as far as possible. Our engagement in the “Te Kotahitanga Programme” - a Ministry of Education funded initiative, demonstrates the commitment we have to ensuring that all teachers are involved in identifying, understanding and working towards building relationships with the students as well as meeting their learning needs. We believe that this approach is right for our school and that it is successful.
The thrust of our work is based on improving students’ knowledge of and ability to use language. The greater the ability to use language, the greater the success in learning and the less threatening school is for students. We begin by using the Supplementary Test of Achievement in Reading (STAR) and the asTTLe tests, which many students are familiar with from primary school, along with other data to provide us with baseline information. Staff have access to and use a range of current assessment tools and practises to help monitor students performance and plan the next steps in teaching. Our school strongly believes in reading and writing across the curriculum and we encourage all departments to use Three Level Guides, Guided Reading Reciprocal Reading and Writing strategies. These tests and teaching strategies are extensions of those used in the local primary schools with whom we are involved through the PEN (Performance Enhancement in North Waikato) initiative.
The Special Education Needs Co-ordinator, co-ordinates both the mainstream and the alternative education programmes for those students with additional learning needs. Please contact the Special Needs Co-ordinator if you have any concerns about the learning needs of your son or daughter.
Extension Groups |
Students have also successfully taken part in New Zealand and Australian Mathematics, Science and Social Studies competitions. There have also been trips to special events and workshops have been held within the school on the internet, writing workshops, drama days, art workshops.
- New Zealand and Australian Mathematics competitions
- Year 9 Matariki Week
- Science/Social Sciences Star Dome visits
- NZSO Musical Concerts and Productions
- Involvement in school magazine
- Kapa Haka National Events
- Nga Manu Korero Regional/National Events
- Leadership Forum
YEAR 9 & YEAR 10 TAUMATA (High Achievers) |
Year 9 Taumata
For 2011 we will be determining entry to Y9 Taumata on day one when all Year 9 students will undergo literacy and numeracy assessments. This gives us a better opportunity to determine who will become a part of 9 Taumata for the next two years.
There will remain in place the facility to review all students in this programme. Families will be informed of students entering this class (and/or leaving this class after a review process).
Year 10 Taumata
This class will comprise students returning to this school who were in Year 9 Taumata in 2010. Change of students going into or leaving this group will be at the discretion of the Curriculum and Timetable Committee in consultation with the student and their families.
Year 9 and 10 achievement group activities - an emphasis in this initiative is to provide an extension to the mainstream learning and cater for the different intelligences of students.
Guidance |
Counselling is confidential. It often can include assisting students with relationships with peers and teachers. Additionally counselling is provided for management and care of problems such as depression, anxiety, anger management or whatever problem may be impacting on the individual. Counselling is offered to students, parents and family.
The full time Guidance Counsellor is fully qualified to meet all counselling needs. Referrals for counselling to be provided by outside agencies can also be arranged. We have a fully qualified Drug & Alcohol Counsellor as well as a qualified medical nurse who conducts a medical clinic on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Te Kotahitanga |
Te Kotahitanga is a research and professional development project that was funded by the Ministry of Education in response to the rising problem of underachievement among Māori students in mainstream schools. The project, which began in 2001, is now in its fifth phase and has involved 50 schools around New Zealand, hundreds of teachers and thousands of Māori students. Ngaruawahia High School’s involvement with the project began in 2007as a Phase 4 School.
The goal of Te Kotahitanga is to raise Maori student achievement. Results from Phase 3 Schools have shown that both Maori and non-Maori student results have improved significantly since the onset of Te Kotahitanga. These results are now reflected in the Phase four schools. Year 9 and 10 classes have been targeted because of the need to engage Maori students early on in secondary school education. Our own schools results are as follows:
NCEA Level 1 73.2%
NCEA Level 2 64.0% which confirms the importance of this project
We have a team of Te Kotahitanga facilitators within the school who work individually with each of our teachers. There are six key areas to the Professional Development process, where teachers create a classroom environment based on:
- Mutual trust, respect and concern.
- High teacher expectations of students.
- Superior teaching organisation and management.
- Interactive teaching with use of feedback and feed forward techniques.
- A range of teaching strategies.
- Ongoing assessment and an awareness of the needs and capabilities of individual students.
The Lead Facilitator co-ordinates Te Kotahitanga within our school. Please contact the Lead Facilitator if you have further enquiries about the project.
Reporting to Parents |
Reporting to parents is a vital element if the partnership between home and school is to operate effectively.
Student progress is reported on three times during the year. The first is a tick/comment report in March to indicate how your son/daughter has settled into school. The other reports are issued in June/July, November and December.
The formal reports show skill achievement levels and has a written comment focusing on attitudes and social skills.
In addition staff monitor individual students progress. If there are any concerns parents/caregivers are notified.
Parent/Teacher evenings are held during the year in March/April and in June/July where parents/caregivers have the opportunity to discuss their respective son or daughters progress.
These are the organised opportunities for parents and staff to meet. If parents are concerned about any matters, appointments can be made at other times on request. Many parents do take advantage of this opportunity, and are urged to do so if necessary.
Sport Activities |
Students are encouraged to take part in individual and team sporting activities. Sport is an important aspect in the growth of all students.
We foster participation and achievement in a wide variety of sports to encourage enjoyment and skill development.
Students are expected to play for school teams where there is a school team competing in a particular sport.
Adult Students |
Adults (18 years and over) are able to return to school to take either full or part time courses at Levels 1 – 3 depending on their prior learning.
People within the community have benefited from taking high school courses and gained entry to Tertiary Education, Armed Forces or moved into employment.
A fee of $75.00 for a full year course, plus applicable subject fees for each subject are charged.
Enrolments for adult students can be made through our Careers Advisor.
Kaupapa Maori |
We have a culture in the school that embraces, recognises and accepts people’s differences, a culture that cares!!!
Kaupapa Maori threads throughout the school, its staff, its students and its immediate and wider community.
Academic Opportunities for Maori in 2011 |
||
| Year 9 | Te Reo Moari | 1 Term |
| Year 10 | Te Reo Maori | 2 Terms |
| Year 11 | NCEA Level 1 | Full Year Course |
| Year 12 | NCEA Level 2 | Full Year Course |
| Year 13 | NCEA Level 3 | Full Year Course |
| Students who have come through Kura Kaupapa will have the opportunity to attempt Te Reo Maori NCEA in their Year 9 and Year 10 classes appropriate to their level of Te Reo. Ongoing Te Reo Maori can happen through the University of Waikato with the STAR Programme. This involves doing University Level papers over 2 Semesters. | ||
- Ngaruawahia High School involved at Regional and National Kapa Haka level
- Ngaruawahia High School Manu Korero participation at regional and national level
For those parents who feel that their students, who grew up with Te Reo Maori from Kohanga Reo to kura kaupapa, are now ready to take the challenge of enhancing their students achievement by taking the opportunity to embrace a broader programme that opens up their knowledge and skills in an English medium then Ngaruawahia High School can do this!
An inclusive programme that encourages
“An excellence in Maori and English”