GENERAL INFORMATION - 2010

• Classes will be organised and timetabled to operate only if there are sufficient numbers of students interested, or if staffing and resources are available. There may be composite classes here or at Timaru Girls’ High School. Correspondence School courses have to be applied for through Mr Sparrow. This School's policy is to have students taught here by our teachers wherever possible.

• Some courses may be supplemented through the NZ Open Polytechnic, the local Aoraki Polytechnic or Video Conference tuition. The careers teacher and level dean must sign their approval; an extremely large range of subjects is available, but textbook and other costs can be considerable.

• Students may take courses at multiple levels. This gives the student flexibility to repeat earlier work and to study at their ability level.

• Some courses lead to qualifications other than NCEA (e.g. Polytechnic courses), but most students will be expected to enter for the national awards at each year level in NCEA.

• Counselling for subject and career choices is available at School from the Deans of Years 10, 11, 12 and 13, from the Careers Advisor, and from HOD’s and subject teachers. Please ask more than one person for such guidance. You need to know these factors, among others:

  • you study 6 subjects in Years 11 and 12

  • which subjects are compulsory, and which are optional

  • prerequisites and co-requisites (these may alter from year to year)

  • the dates by when decisions must be made

• Above all, you must plan for the long term, and keep your options
  open!

Managing Workload

Careful planning is essential if you are to balance the commitments that you have. Good planning improves achievement and reduces stress!

You need to think about academic, sporting, cultural, family commitments as well as any paid employment. Be realistic about what you take on, so that you can achieve the goals that you set for yourself at school this year.

To help you to PLAN it is important that you use the school diary. This 
will help you to see when assessments are due, to set goals early on, see what school events are happening throughout the year and just organize your day-today activities.

Students who are doing programmes that involve subjects from more than one year level need to pay particular attention to planning.

At times some students find that workload becomes extreme. If this happens it is vital that you let someone know. The form teacher, subject teacher and dean are people that you can approach if this becomes a concern.

Refer to the Course Planning page of the Curriculum Section for further information.