Curriculum

Years 9 & 10 students choose options to take for (in some cases) the first half of the school year and then have the opportunity to continue with these options or choose other ones for the remainder of the school year.

Senior courses flow on during the year in preparation for National Certificates of Educational Achievement Levels 1 - 3. The use of Unit Standards in non-conventional areas will continue in the senior school. Achievement Standards will be used at Levels 1, 2, and 3.

Religious Education
All students take part at all levels in the Religious Education Programme which aims to help students understand the history, beliefs and practices of the Catholic Church. The Syllabus has been approved by the Bishops of New Zealand. All students are expected to participate fully in these classes.

School Masses are held at regular intervals throughout the year to mark events of significance to the School or the Church, with class and Year level Masses and Liturgies being held to highlight important points from the Religious Education programme. Students are also involved in preparing for devotions and Liturgies at various seasons such as Lent.

Gateway & STAR
Students can gain valuable work experience on our Work-Experience programme or, for those students who have identified a desired career path, the Gateway programme is available where they learn work skills out of class and at the same time gain NCEA credits from practical standards in the workplace.

Special Education Needs
When a student is identified as having special learning needs, either because of difficulties with basic work or because they have advanced learning needs, we try to meet those needs by first assessing the student to discover the areas needing support and then by setting up an appropriate short or long term Tutorial Programme (I.E.P), where support is given either individually or in small groups. Our teacher in charge of this programme is Mrs. Zampese.

Students with special needs may have courses arranged to meet their specific requirements, and assistance with organisational life skills is available to students identified as being in need of help in this area. As always, we look at the needs of the individual and try to meet them. These considerations apply also to gifted students.