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Waihi College sits on eleven hectares of land and includes Sports fields, a swimming pool and gymnasium, a Farm Unit, Hollis Bush, a Horticulture and Agriculture block, multiple technology, art and academic classrooms and the Year 7 & 8 Waka.

The Waka are a very special area of the school and are made up of eight pod classrooms between two buildings, along with three single cell classrooms.  The pod classes have been named Te Arawa and Tainui and can be closed to create eight individual classrooms, or opened up to create two large open spaces.

Our single cell classrooms also join the wakas regularly and are part of either Te Awara or Tainui.  Currently, one of our single cell classrooms is Te Kākano – our Te Reo immersion programme.

Starting Together

All students at Waihi College are divided into four House groups: Amaranth, Empire, Royal and Dominion. Within each House, there are a number of Ako classes, which are a mixture of Year 7 – 13 students. Each Ako class has a pouako (teacher)  who focuses on making connections and providing support for each student and their whanau. Ako classes meet at the start of every day where they go over the daily notices and take the opportunity to talk about things happening in the school. In addition two kaiārahi (Deans) work within each House and are responsible for the pastoral care of students. 

Year 7 students are assigned a House at the beginning of the year. Please indicate on the enrolment form whether or not you have a family / historical connection with a House on the enrolment form, so your child can be placed appropriately.

For the first two terms, Year 7 students are involved in a Year 7 Ako program. Their House Ako teacher will be a Year 7 & 8 Homeroom teacher. Year 7 students meet together at the start of each day, and then “break off” into their House Ako class. This is an opportunity for teachers to help Year 7  students orientate into Waihi College – who people are, what they do, where to find places, Waihi College values etc. In Term 3, Year 7 students join their own Ako class, where they will remain for the rest of their schooling at Waihi College.  

Learning  Together

All Year 7 & 8 classes work together, using a shared direction, to plan and construct learning programmes that connect each of the curriculum areas. Students are taught according to different factors – curriculum level, interests and learning style. 

Each Homeroom class has a mixture of Year 7 & 8 students. Benefits of composite classes include:

  • Peer relationships and supporting growth.
  • Ability to work across classes according to learning needs and / or interest.
  • More flexibility to make changes.

Year 7 & 8 students operate in their waka / classroom most of the time. The core subjects of Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Te Reo and Health are taught in the homeroom class. For subjects, such as Science and Physical Education, students leave the homeroom and go to specialized classrooms and teachers. 

Over a two year period, students experience a range of subjects from the Arts and Technology curriculums – these include Digital Technology, Music, Drama, Te Ao Maori, Food Technology, Engineering and  Art. Once again, the students are fortunate to be able to access specialised teachers and classrooms for these rotation subjects. 

Opportunities Galore

Our Year 7 & 8 students have many different opportunities to try things. Both the Tainui and Te Arawa waka have a quote printed on the doors, that is like our Year 7 & 8 philosophy – “I can, I will, I did”.

From 2023, all Year 7 & 8 students are involved in our Super Tuesday program, where a significant period of time is spent on different things each term. In Term 1, every student was involved in the planning and preparation of a Gala Activity, and in Term 2, students were either involved in the “Grease” production or were designing innovative solutions to community problems. In Terms 3 & 4,  students are rotating around a number of physical and STEM  activities – Te Ngahere, Forest Science, EPRo8, Sphero and Lego 

Some sporting activities are compulsory – Swimming, Triathlon, Cross-Country and Athletics. Other opportunities are available for our students to choose if they wish – activities that range from college sports teams, Kapa Haka, itinerant music lessons, WPRo8 challenge, chess club etc. Our Sports coordinator, Jess O’Brien and Arts coordinator, Wendy Shave, help ensure our students are kept informed of opportunities as they occur. 

Subjects

As well as our core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Te Reo, Health and Physical Education; all our Year 7 & 8 students are involved in rotation subjects to give them a taste of wider fields.  These often include: Music, Drama, Digital, Art, Engineering, Wood, Textile and Food Technologies and incorporate events and opportunities such as EPRO8, Chess Club, Hall Tech, Community & Service Groups, Kapa Haka, School Plays and Productions, and School Bands.

You will also get a sign in and password to use our Parent Portal which allows you access to your student’s timetables, attendance, daily notices and more.

Kaitiaki Kids Programme

The Kaitiaki Kids Programme offers all our Year 7 & 8’s the opportunity to participate in the Kaitiaki Kids @ Maratoto program which involves a 3 day camping  adventure  at Maratoto. 

The Kaitiaki Kids @ Maratoto programme will include a variety of outdoor day-adventures and experiences. Activities will  include:  developing bush and  building navigation skills, cooking in the outdoors , and a range of outdoor on-site  challenges. The Kaitiaki Kids @Maratoto programme of adventure focuses on different nature elements which may include; ngahere (forest), takutai (coast/marine) , whenua (land), and awa (river), along the way tamariki will explore how as individuals we can best look after these taonga (treasures). 

Students who do not want to be part of the Kaitiaki Kids @ Maratoto program will be involved in their normal school program activities at school.

For further details or to sign up for next year, please contact your waka teacher.  You can also find all our Staff contact details in the Staff Directory.