A good subject choice
THE SENIOR SCHOOL:
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMES AND ACADEMIC
SUPPORT
Life Skills Programme
This course has been designed for year 12 and 13 students. It
concentrates on matters affecting young people and is a positive effort to
prepare students for life beyond secondary school. Life Skills is based on
areas of need as defined by students and staff and includes driver
education, careers advice and health.
Senior study group
All seniors are placed in study groups – some of which have
an academic support focus, as in the te reo Maori, and art focussed study
groups. Study group is a time for NCEA work completion, tracking of credits
and addressing attendance concerns and homework completion.
College culture
We actively encourage
our students to
participate in College Culture once a week, during study group time. This is
the time given to learning cultural performance items for Polyfest and for
enhancing other Maori and Pasifika education opportunities.
Study hall, homework centre
On Wednesdays, school finishes early and teachers do
professional development and students can be directed or invited to go to
either the homework centre in the library and a computer room, or to the
study hall to complete written NCEA work under test conditions.
First Foundation scholarships
We have been successful in gaining First Foundation
scholarships for a small number of our year 12 students. We cannot guarantee
to get one of these prestigious scholarships every year, but we also
successfully gain other scholarships and funding to help year 13 students
afford to go to university.
STAR Funded Courses
We have a range of STAR funded courses available including
textiles, fashion and design, hospitality and junior and senior polytech
“taster courses”.
STAR funded courses give our senior students an understanding
of pathways to further education or a job. We also have unit standards in
vocational subjects as well, such as the NZ Certificate in Employment
skills, the NZ Certificate in Travel and Tourism, and the NZ Certificate in
Retail.
Gateway
We are also a Gateway funded school and have up to 25 senior
students placed in work experience for which they gain credits on the
Framework. Gateway is a great opportunity for students to experience the
world of work, receive on the job work training and also gain credits
towards their NCEA level 1 or 2.
Academic
Support
We also have a very effective Outreach mentoring programme
with Victoria
University.
This helps prepare year 12 and 13 students for life at University. With
Partners Porirua we have a mentoring scheme for year 12 students who need
extra support to keep them well on track at school. All these schemes aim
to encourage our students to go to University and help to equip them with
the skills and academic know how to get them there.
Careers and Transition service
We have an excellent Careers and Transition department and
from 2007 onwards we are participating in the Project CaBL pilot which
provides extra funding to enable a comprehensive careers education programme
to be developed at the school.
