YEAR 7 AND 8

YEAR 7 & 8 LEARNING PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of the year 7&8 area is to prepared students to gain skills to not only succeed academically in later years at Waihi College but also to encourage them all to be prepared to “have a go” at new challenges and activities. It is very important that they become life -long learners with strong positive personal values.

The year 7 & 8 students are able to spend the majority of their time at Waihi College with their homeroom teacher. The cornerstone value for this is the building of positive relationships between the student and the teacher. The students are also able to utilise the expertise of specialist teachers for science, PE, art, drama, music, Māori and technology. This assists greatly going forward into years 9&10.

There is a strong pastoral link maintained with the parent body and encouragement is given for the parents to stay involved in their children’s education.

The year 7&8 students participate in many opportunities that will prepare them for their later college life. They are encouraged to explore and value the great outdoors with the annual year 7 camp. Year 8 students in 2011 participated in a walk over to Maratoto Valley, and an afternoon of outdoor activities in the “Great New Zealand Day Out”. Leadership opportunities are offered with student run assemblies occurring regularly. Music and Drama programmes encourage students to learn an instrument, or participate in a school production. This year’s event, “Starblaze” was performed to full houses, and was very successful. Acknowledging our ethnicity is important to us. Our Kapa Haka/cultural group is strong and performs at assemblies, and out in community events.

The year 7&8 teachers encourage all students to participate in all the many activities on offer here at Waihi College. There are numerous sporting events that are challenging and compulsory. A “Learn to Swim” water safety programme is run in conjunction with the PE staff. Our students participate in an annual sports exchange with Katikati College, and are enthusiastic participants in the New Zealand AIMS games in Tauranga.

The junior section of Waihi College has run a “Connected Curriculum” approach to learning for the past 3 years. The New Zealand Curriculum document drives the learning and the 8 principles from the document are to the forefront of all programmes of learning on offer.

The year 7&8 team have developed a reporting format that more than meets the new National Standards requirements. Parents are encouraged to meet regularly with all their children’s teachers and attend regular “Celebrations of Learning”

After the recent ERO visit, the junior area received glowing compliments for their teaching programmes, their compliance with National Standards reporting requirements, and their very positive relationships with the students in their classes, and in the playground.