Years 7-10
During these critical middle school years, the teaching of Literacy and Numeracy remains a primary focus that flows across all areas of the New Zealand curriculum.
When students progress from the Junior Hub to the “Middle School” (years 7-10), new and exciting opportunities are provided to extend and challenge the learner. Students are able to utilise the skills of specialist teachers and facilities while maintaining a homeroom space with the care of a homeroom teacher.
During these critical middle school years, the teaching of Literacy and Numeracy remains a primary focus that flows across all areas of the New Zealand curriculum. Collaborative learning and teaching is encouraged in the middle school with opportunities for inquiry learning to enhance and develop the NZ Key Competencies. We recognise the importance of directing our student’s attention to career pathways as soon as possible, and to support our learners in making wise future career choices, we offer ‘taster’ courses particularly in Languages, Technology and the Arts. These intermediate years provide a supportive yet enriching transition between primary and secondary schooling, along with small classes and the advantage of highly trained specialist teachers in well resourced departments are unique to our school environment.
The intermediate years in the Year 7 and 8 Hub provide a good transition between primary and secondary schooling. Our year 7 and 8 students have small classes and the advantage of having specialist teachers in well resourced departments. Years 9 and 10 can be seen as the foundation years, where students develop a solid base of knowledge in a wide range of subjects with some subject options available prior to selecting specific subjects in year 11.
Year 9 Choice Programme
For the past seven years Akaroa Area School has been fortunate to be able to offer the Choice Programme. Year 9 students set goals, build confidence, face new challenges, step out of the comfort zone and reflect on their performance with a developing sense of maturity. There have been life-changing transformations among the students as a result.
The activities undertaken promote team spirit and allow leadership skills to develop. The Year 12 Akaroa STARs Peer Mentors have come to learn that they are the leaders and role models for the Year 9 students and this filters down to the youngest students in our school. Their training and development is an integral part of the programme. The Akaroa Choice Programme has been a significant contributing factor in the change process that has created a more positive and focused senior school culture.
The programme begins with a Wilderness Adventure Camp early in the year that builds team relationships and gives students a variety of outdoor experiences that challenge them individually and collectively. The next activity is to plan and implement a community challenge that contributes in some way to the greater community. At the Choice graduation ceremony the year’s learning and experiences are celebrated and each student has an opportunity to acknowledge their successes and the support that enabled them to achieve their goals.
Year 10 Te Ara Programme
The Year 10 Te Ara programme has been running for the past 4 years. It builds on the Year 9 Choice programme and looks to develop students who are positive about their learning as they prepare for the Senior School and NCEA.
This course aims to:
- Develop a sense of whanau/family within the class
- Develop a positive attitude to their education in preparation for Year 11
- Help students recognise the value of community, both local and worldwide
- Help recognise the value of giving to others
- Help them develop leadership skills
- Develop self confidence by providing opportunities to excel
- Develop the ability to self reflect, both orally and in written form.
In 2019 we will be combining the Choice and Te Ara programmes into a two year programme which seeks to bring together the best parts of each and provides a positive rite of passage into the senior school.