Parents' Guide 2019 - Key dates for 2019 Our School Structure Getting ready for high school - Westlake Girls High School
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Contents Key dates 3 Before school starts 4 First Day and beyond 5 About the school system 6 Keeping in touch with what’s happening 12 Key contacts 12 WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 2
Key Dates Term Dates 2019 Term 1: Tuesday 29 January - Friday 12 April Monday 28 January Auckland Anniversary Day (school closed) Wednesday 6 February Waitangi Day (school closed) Friday 19 April Good Friday (in the school holidays) Monday 22 April Easter Monday (in the school holidays) Thursday 25 April Anzac Day (in the school holidays) Term 2: Monday 29 April - Friday 5 July Monday 3 June Queen’s Birthday (school closed) Term 3: Monday 22 July - Friday 27 September Term 4: Monday 14 October - Friday 6 December Monday 28 October Labour Day (school is closed) Important Dates in Term 1 Monday 14 January School Office opens Tuesday 29 January Years 10, 11, 12, 13 at school Wednesday 30 January Year 9 students Orientation Day Thursday 31 January First day of teaching (full school) Wednesday 6 February Waitangi Day (school closed) Tuesday 12 February ID and class photos Wednesday 13 February ID and class photos Wednesday 13 February New parents information evening Friday 15 February Swimming Sports Friday 22 February Athletics Day Tuesday 26 February Athletics Saver Day Friday 22 March Senior progress reports issued (Years 11,12,13) Wednesday 27 March Junior progress reports issued (Years 9,10) Wednesday 3 April Report evening 1: 4-7pm Tuesday 9 April Report evening 2: 4-7pm Friday 12 April Term ends WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 3
Before school starts Stationery Before your daughter starts, we recommend you purchase stationery only for her core subjects - English, Maths, Science, Social Studies and PE/Health. You’ll find a list of items on our website under “Curriculum/2019”. On your daughter’s first day she will receive her timetable and have her option subject choices confirmed. Stationery for these subjects can then be purchased. Special deals available on BYO devices are available by clicking the ICT/E-Learning button Under “Student Services” on the homepage, www.westlakegirls.school.nz. Uniform Only a small amount of the Westlake Uniform items available are compulsory: • Skirt • Blouse • Blazer • Black winter jacket • Footwear (either shoes and socks, or sandals) • PE shorts • House t-shirt • CYGNET t-shirt if part of the CYGNET Programme. All other items including hats, scarves, jerseys, ties and track pants are optional. You can purchase uniform items online from our website under “About Us/School Uniform Webshop”, or you can go into the Uniform Group’s store at Unit 10, 54 View Road, Wairau Valley. Refer to the Uniform Group’s store website (wghs.uniformgroup.co.nz/page/contact-us.aspx) for opening hours. In January 2019 opening hours are: Wednesday 16 - Friday 18 January: 10am - 4pm Saturday 19 January: 10am - 2pm Monday 21 January - Thursday 24 January: 10am - 4pm Friday 25 January: 10am - 2pm During term time, the Parents Forum also run a second-hand uniform shop where you can purchase uniform items. You will receive an email when school begins with opening hours and location for Term 1. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 4
First Day and beyond Getting to and from school on the first day Lockers School buses will be running from Tuesday 29 January. You can find a list of bus routes on our website under Once your daughter has her timetable, she will be able to “Quicklinks” on the Homepage (2019 School buses). go to the Payments Office and purchase the use of a locker for the year ($60). Please note that a locker near her Form If you are dropping your daughter at school by car, we Class may not be the best option if her classes are mostly in recommend using one of the surrounding streets as a drop- another part of the school. Staff in the Payments Office, will off point. Smales Farm does not allow parking for school be able to assign her the most appropriate locker choice drop off/collection and issue infringement tickets. based on her timetable. She should place her lock on the locker as soon as practicable. Either combination or key There are bike racks between B and C Blocks for cycling to locks are suitable. Your daugther will also require a padlock school. Please ensure your daughter has a lock for her bike. for her PE locker during PE class. The school gates are closed from 3 - 3.30pm each day for What to wear the safety of our students, so you will be unable to enter the Students should be in correct uniform, including skirt or school grounds to collect your daughter. We recommend culottes, blouse, and sandals or shoes/socks. See “Uniform” arranging a drop-off and collection point in one of the in this guide for more information. surrounding streets. What to bring Year 9 students - First Day Students will not need to bring their full range of stationery When for their first day at high school. However, they should bring: Year 9 students in 2019 start on Wednesday 30 January. It will be a full day from 8.45am to 3.15pm, and an orientation • School bag day for the Year 9s only. • Refill paper • Pen Where • BYO device • A lock (for the locker) Covered Courts at 8.45am for a Powhiri. Once in the gates, • Lunch/morning tea Year 13 Prefects will direct Year 9 students to the Covered • Water Courts. You will find a school map in this guide. The canteen will be open for lunch purchases and there are What water fountains throughout the school. Your daughter will After the welcome, students will be taken to Gym 3. There not be permitted to leave the school grounds until the day they will be divided into Form Classes, and will then go to finishes at 3.15pm. their classroom with their Form Teacher and classmates. There they will receive their school diary (if purchased), Second Day timetable, be guided to connect their device to the school system, be given their student email address (which is a Thursday 31 January will be a Timetable Day 1 (see the Day key way we contact our students) and be provided with Timetable in this booklet) and the first day of classes. All the school rules and regulations. There will also be an Year 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 students go to their Form Class at opportunity for students to get to know each other in their 8.45am. class, and they will be taken on a guided tour for bathrooms, lockers, cafeteria, Library, Office, Health Centre, places to Bell Times eat lunch, and classroom blocks. They will also be shown 8.45am Form Time warning bell how to use the Library, including topping up printing cards. 8.50am Start of Form Time 9.15am End of Form Time, Start of Period 1 10.05am End of Period 1, Start of Period 2 11.05am End of Period 2, Start of Interval 11.30am End of Interval, Start of Period 3 12.25pm End of Period 3, Start of Lunch 1.15pm End of Lunch warning bell 1.20pm End of Lunch, Start of Period 4 2.15pm End of Period 4, Start of Period 5 3.15pm End of Period 5. You can find this timetable near the back of this guide. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 5
About the school system Here are a few helpful things to know about how our school runs. Student ID Cards All students are required to have an ID card, which will be issued after Form and ID photos are taken on 12 and 13 February. Cards cost $6. Photos and payment will be taken on the day of Form photos. New students joining after 13 February will have their photo taken at the School Office. The ID card allows access to the school library, and printers and is a means of identification for students travelling on buses. If a card is lost or stolen, it should be reported to the School Office. Attendance Absence: It is a Ministry requirement to have a written or emailed explanation of a student’s absence in order for the correct attendance code to be assigned. Parents or caregivers should contact the school in the morning either by emailing attendance@ westlakegirls.school.nz AND your daughter’s Form Teacher, remembering to give the reason for the absence. Alternatively you can call 489 4169 to talk to the Attendance Officer or press 1 to leave a message. A message must be followed up with an email or note to your daughter’s Form Teacher within three days of returning to school. For parents or caregivers unable to email, a written note on the student’s return to school is expected. Medical certificates are required for extended periods of absence, or if a student is unable to sit an NCEA internal assessment or examination. Lateness: Students must bring an explanatory note and give it to the Attendance Officer upon arrival in the School Office at the Gernhoefer Admin Centre. Alternatively email the Attendance Officer and Form Teacher. Exiting during the day: Students needing to leave school for appointments need to collect a form from the Attendance Officer at reception before signing out. Going away on holiday: If there is a planned family holiday or your daughter needs to take time off school, she must see her House Dean with a letter from a parent/caregiver to get a Leave Form. That Form must then be filled out by all her teachers, signed by a parent/caregiver and then returned to her Dean before the leave date. Sickness: If your daughter becomes sick at school, she will be sent to the School Health Centre and you will be notified if she needs to be sent home. It’s important your daughter sees the Nurse at the Health Centre before she calls you for collection. Uniform Uniform items can be purchased online or in person through the Uniform Group, which has a store at Unit 10, 54 View Road, Wairau Valley. There is also a parent-run Second- Hand Uniform Shop at the school. For more information please visit our website and click “About us/School uniform”. Please ensure all uniform items are named. PE Uniform includes your specific House shirt, PE shorts and PE sport socks (Sports tracksuit is optional). Robust black lace-up shoes must be worn in Terms 2 and 3 and must be of a similar style to those sold through the Uniform Shop. Jandals and fabric shoes are not permitted. Sandals may be worn in Terms 1 and 4. These must have a back strap which must be worn done up. Safety at school is an important issue, particularly in Technology and Science classes. Only regulation closed-in shoes can be worn during these classes. Students who have pierced ears may wear up to two sets of solid/plain gold or silver studs (two in each ear) lower lobe only. Diamante and dress earrings of any design are not acceptable. No other jewellery is permitted, except a watch. Permission to wear necklaces of cultural significance may only be given with written permission from the Principal. No make-up or nail polish is permitted, and hair must be well groomed and off the face. Ribbons or ties must be black. Only hair colours in the natural human hair range are acceptable. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 6
Supplementary Curriculum Resources Blazers Along with stationery and uniform costs, there are also Blazers are compulsory on your daughter’s House assembly Supplementary Curriculum Resources costs associated with day. However, the wearing of blazers is optional in February your daughter’s study. (except for class and ID photo day) due to the warmer temperatures. At other times blazers should be worn as the A list of Supplementary Curriculum Resources can be found first choice of an extra layer. Jerseys may be worn under the on our website under “Curriculum/2019”. The list includes blazer. House Assembly days are: a student diary, textbook bond and Auckland Secondary School Heads Association Levy. You can pay online through • Monday - Akoranga/Hauraki the website by clicking the Online Payments button. • Wednesday - Onewa • Friday - Pupuke/Wairau If you have concerns over the payment, please contact one of our Learning Enhancement team (see “Support”). Westlake Network Every student has an individual account on the Westlake Network. Here students can create and save files, print School donation documents, and access email and the internet for school School donations are a voluntary contribution from our use. Access is given once parents/caregivers have signed parents to help us provide a quality education for our the IT Cybersafety Agreement, which you will receive during students. Donations supplement locally raised funds, your daughter’s first week at school. including money raised by our Board of Trustees and are used for: Her personal username is her school ID number, and her Form Teacher will give her a password in the first week of • Resources to support learning beyond those supplied school. She should immediately change the password to her own personal password. To change a password, log into the by Government grants school network. Press “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” and from the • Additional staff beyone Ministry entitlemnet to menu choose > Change Password. continue to offer a wide range of subject choices • Subsidising curriculum trips to the community, Who’s Who including teacher relief costs. These are an important You’ll find a list of the Senior Leadership Team, Deans, way for students to connect their classroom learning Teachers and support staff on the website under Contact/ to industry, and create opportunities for future career Staff Contacts or Contact/House Contacts (for the Deans). If paths you need to email someone at WGHS, use the first initial of • Updating and maintaining IT equipment, such as their Christian name followed by their surname audio visual gear, projectors and state-of-the-art @westlakegirls.school.nz. IE, John Smith would be computers jsmith@westlakegirls.school.nz. • Technology equipment for specialist subjects such as Board of Trustees STEAM and robotics Our School is run by a Board of Trustees comprising (as of • Specialist equipment for areas such as music, sports January 2019) and performing arts Board Chairperson Joy Bradfield • Extra coaching and tuition costs for groups such as Deputy Chair Michelle Alexander sports and music Principal Jane Stanley Trustee Mark Robinson The school donation for 2019 is $535 (single), family is $720. Trustee Joanna Hopkins You can pay online through the website by clicking the Parent Trustee Mandy Curry School Donation button or Online Payments button on the Staff Trustee Jez Scull homepage. Student Trustee Sania Mohammadi Jafarian The Board is the governing body of our school and is Things to note: responsible for setting policies by which our school is controlled and managed. Meetings are held in February, • Your annual donation can be a one-off payment, or April, May, July, August, September, November and you can utilise one of our four instalment options December. For a list of dates see our website under “About • Your full or partial donation is tax deductible through Us/Board of Trustees”. You’ll also find our Annual Reports IRD - so keep your receipt and claim back a third of there. the donation • A donation of more than $100 enables your daughter Parents Forum to receive a free Year Book at the end of the year Our Parents Forum is a group of parents who volunteer their time at Westlake Girls, and is led by Barbara Scholten. • Value option of $720 for families with two students or Primarily the group runs the Second-Hand Uniform Shop more at WGHS. and organizes events. If you are keen to get involved, email • While a full donation provides us with greater scope Barbara at barbara@durello.co.nz. for equipping our school, we appreciate a partial donation if there are financial constraints within your family. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 7
The classroom system To make an appointment, contact one of the counsellors: Your daughter will remain in the same Form Class and Linda Clouston lclouston@westlakegirls.school.nz House for her entire time at Westlake Girls High School. Siew Lee Foo sfoo@westlakegirls.school.nz Her subject classes, however, will have a mix of students Barbara MacKay bmackay@westlakegirls.school.nz from across the same Year level. This is a great way for her Fleur Piper fpiper@westlakegirls.school.nz to meet new people and make friends across a wide section of the school. Students can book an appointment by: Homework, assessment and exams • Using the Request Counselling form in the sidebar At Year 9 and 10, students will receive an average 1-11/2 menu of the Westlake Girls School App hours homework each week night. Your daughter will have • Emailing our counsellors directly units of work that are assessed by tests and assignments • Completing a counselling request form in the during the year, and end-of-year exams in mid November counselling offices area in the administration building that will be marked by her subject teacher, based on a strict • Visiting counsellors before school, at interval or at set of criteria standards determined by the school. lunchtime to book an appointment At the end of the year your daughter will receive either Our Health Centre is located in the Gernhoefer Admin Achieve, Merit or Excellence for each subject - similar to Centre and is staffed every day from 8.30am to 3.30pm by our Senior School assessments, however she will not receive a registered nurse. If your daughter has a chronic illness, NCEA credits. If you have concerns over assessment or condition or injury, contact one of the nurses so we ensure testing, please contact your daughter’s House Dean or the right people know. subject teacher. Ashia Ismail-Singer (Senior Nurse) Parent Teacher Interviews Sally McGhee There will be two parent teacher interview evenings in Term 1 on 3 and 9 April. You will be able to book appointments Both can be reached by emailing through the Parent Portal, and details will be provided hnurse@westlakegirls.school.nz or by calling with your daughter’s report, which you will receive through 489 4169 Ext 759 the Portal on Wednesday 27 March. Teachers will be in classrooms right across the school, so please allow time to When your daughter is getting close to leaving high school, walk between buildings when making your bookings. our Careers Department will be able to guide her to take her next steps. Support We understand the jump from intermediate to high school can be a big one, and we have a dedicated team to support our students during their studies. First point of contact for any small issues will be your daughter’s Form Teacher, and there are also two Deans who oversee her House. Our Learning Enhancement Department consists of a team of four trained counsellors who students can talk to, and there is also a Learning Support team if they need a little more assistance to achieve their academic goals. Parents are also able to make appointments with our counsellors to discuss their daughter. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 8
What is STEAM? Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM) are subjects we believe help students to widen their career options, and remove gender stereotyping when it comes to technical and non-traditional jobs. We want our students to feel passionate about STEAM subjects from an early age, so we introduced the STEAM Year 9 Enrichment Programme. How it works: This Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics programme will provide a pathway that strengthens links between subjects and will involve some project-based learning opportunities. Integrated into STEAM are coding, robotics, design technology with projects that link into several learning areas. Students will be encouraged to be innovative and creative as they attempt to solve real-world problems. Science and Mathematics will be enriched with projects linking the two disciplines whilst English and Social Studies will strengthen written and oral communication skills and global appreciation. Tutoring Departments offer free tutoring in all of our core subjects Integrated into STEAM are three six-month courses that during lunchtimes throughout the year. The times and dates involve robotics, coding, electronics and design, with for these will be notified in the Daily Notices (see Keeping in projects that link into several learning areas. Students will be Touch) and through Departments. There is no need to book. encouraged to be innovative and creative as they attempt to solve real-world problems. Please note that these courses We also offer the Smart Swans tutoring programme. Year 12 become part of her option subject choices. and 13 students who have a high academic record volunteer their time to tutor younger students. It can be in any subject Year 9 students are then able to apply for STEAM in Year 10. and usually kicks in around the middle of the first term. In While STEAM does not exist in Years 11-13, the programme the Daily Notices, students will be asked to sign up if they prepares students for advanced science and maths subjects would like tutoring. They are then buddied up with an in those final three years. appropriate Smart Swan, and the pair arranges to meet – usually after school or at lunchtime. When and how long the tutoring continues is up the students. Streaming We do not have a streamed system for Year 9 students. Students who perform at a high level in Year 9 may be invited to enter an enrichment or extension class in Year 10. English, Maths, Science (Extension Class) Socials Studies (Enrichment Class) If your daughter is being considered for one or more of these classes, you will receive a letter before Subject Choice selection takes place (see below). If you’re interested to know what sort of level your daughter needs to achieve in Year 9 to be considered for an Extension/Enrichment class in Year 10, talk to her subject teacher at our Teacher Parent Interview Evening in April. Subject choices for Year 10 You will receive an email during Term 4 notifying you of when Subject Choices will be available, including instructions on how to make selections. Your daughter will find out on her first day in Year 10 which subject choices she has received. Generally most students receive their first choice. Subject choices for 2020 can only be changed until early December 2019. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 9
How does NCEA work? NCEA is recognised by universities and employers both nationally and internationally as an academic pathway designed to challenge and extend students of all abilities and in all learning areas. There are three levels of NCEA which are usually attained by students in specific year levels, starting with Level 1 in Year 11, Level 2 in Year 12 and finishing with Level 3 in Year 13. University Entrance is also attained in Year 13 via an NCEA pathway. Students are assessed by a combination of assignments which are internally marked to strict guidelines by the school’s teachers, and by portfolios and examinations which are externally marked. Each level can simply be Achieved, or endorsed with either Merit or Excellence which denotes a higher quality of work In addition to the overall level endorsement, individual courses can also be endorsed with Merit or Excellence, acknowledging students who have performed exceptionally well in that subject. High-achieving students can elect to sit Scholarship exams, which provide recognition and monetary rewards for top performing students in the country. Students wishing to continue their studies at university in New Zealand must meet the minimum requirements for University Entrance (UE): • NCEA Level 3 • Approved subjects: 14 credits in each of three approved subjects at Level 3 • Literacy requirement: 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing • Numeracy requirement: 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of achievement standards in a range of subjects; or all three numeracy unit standards 26623, 26626 and 26627 For more information on University Entrance, please see NZQA’s website www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea More information will be available at our NCEA Parent Information Evening for Year 11 parents at the beginning of each year. Cell phones Cell phones are specifically included in the Westlake Girls High School “Cybersafety Use Agreement for Students” as Privately-Owned ICT and thus all provisions of the agreement apply to the appropriate use of cell phones at our school. If students use their phones during class time without the permission of the teacher, they will be asked to put the phone away and given a warning that if they infringe again during the lesson they will be given an after-school detention. Students who repeatedly offend will be referred to the Deans. This protocol will also apply to the inappropriate use of ipods, cameras and any other similar technologies. Bullying If your daughter is being bullied, she should approach her Form Teacher, House Dean, Learning Enhancement Team or any staff member. Bullying is not tolerated at WGHS. If you have concerns about your daughter’s welfare – for any reason – you can contact her Form Teacher, House Dean, or a member of the Learning Enhancement Team who offer free and confidential counselling (under contacts on our website). Detention Detentions are given for a range of reasons, including uniform violations, and are held either over a lunchtime, or after school for the more serious offences. Lunchtime detentions are to be completed on the day given. After school detentions are held Tuesday to Thursday between 3.30 - 4.15pm. Your daughter will be given at least 24 hours’ notice of an after school detention and it takes precedence over other activities, including after-school employment. Our detention policy is on our website under “About us/policies”. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 10
Lost property All property that is labelled will be returned. Any unlabeled items will be held in the Admin Building and students should check in with the School Office. Clubs and making friends A great way to get connected and make friends at high school is to join a club. We have more than 30 on offer including philosophy, robotics, writing, kapa haka, debating, astronomy and dance. If your daughter isn’t sure what sort of club to join, we have Mello, where students can just hang out and play board games and get to know other students in a relaxed environment. If your daughter enjoys sports, she can join Stay and Play – an after-school opportunity to give new sports a try. Keep an eye on the Daily Notices at the start of the year for a list of clubs and sign-up days. What happens at lunchtime? Lunchtime can be a little daunting at the start, but there are lots of places around school to meet friends. Our school canteen is open at morning tea and lunchtimes, offering a range of food items that can be paid for by cash or Eftpos. You can also order your daughter’s lunch by clicking Student Services/School lunches on our homepage. WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 11
Keeping in touch with what’s happening We love communicating with the parents and caregivers of FACEBOOK our students. There’s so much that happens in the life of our school, and we want to make sure you have your finger on We have several Facebook pages officially associated with the pulse! the school, including some student-run pages. These are where we post photos, celebrate success, publicise events The Voice and activities, and share some of the interesting things that are happening around our school. You’ll find our latest school You’ll receive our newsletter by email every second Friday video there, for example. Our primary Westlake Girls page is during term time, starting on 8 February 2019. designed to be interactive – we want you to Like us! Emails www.facebook.com/Westlakegirls From time to time you’ll receive emails from the school over www.facebook.com/WestlakeGirlsHighSchoolAlumni various matters. It will come from westlake@westlakegirls. www.facebook.com/WGHSLibrary school.nz. Please do not hit reply as the address is for outgoing email and not checked regularly. If you have a Parent Portal general query, email office@westlakegirls.school.nz or www.westlakegirls.school.nz/Portal. Daily notices are contact a Dean or teacher. available here and it is where you will receive your daughter’s reports. APP The Westlake Girls app is the best way to find out what’s Student email happening in the Daily Notices. That is where we announce Your daughter will be assigned a school email address at the sports trials, club sign-ups, mufti days and other upcoming beginning of the year. This is the main way the school will information. It’s your portal for: contact her, so it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking emails first thing in the morning. • Key school contacts and absentee link • The Parent Portal, Daily Notices, the school calendar Key contacts and The Voice • Term dates, maps and important school updates Website: www.westlakegirls.school.nz • Sports information and other useful links Attendance: attendance@westlakegirls.school.nz Nurse: hnurse@westlakegirls.school.nz You’ll find it in the App Store under Westlake Girls High General Enquiries: office@westlakegirls.school.nz School Staff contacts: www.westlakegirls.school.nz/staff-contacts WEBSITE House Deans Akoranga: Christine Casey / Will Anderton Our school website is updated regularly and is a great Hauraki: Louise Clouston / Soo Lee source of news and information including our curriculum, Onewa: Pamela Meyer / Maggie Cogger-Orr extra-curricular activities, examination timetables, upcoming Pupuke: Gillian Crowe /Nicola Ov events and contact details. www.westlakegirls.school.nz Wairau: Ella Wilson / Claire Guy WGHS 2019 Parents Guide 12
Departments and other Important Places Building Departments Principal, Main Office, SLT, Deans, Attendance Officer, Nurse, Administration International Department, Conference Room, Staffroom, Accounts, Payroll, Property Manger Extension of M Block Reprographics Art Department, Social Studies Department, A Block (New) Science Department A Block (Old) Business Studies Department, ESOL Department Gold Swans Cafe and Hospitality facilities, Media Studies, B Block Tech Support C Block Mathematics Mathematics Department, Fabric Technology, Graphic Design D Block and Hard Materials Departments G Block Physical Education and Health Department, Gyms H Block English Department, Drama Library Library, Reading Room M Block Music Department, Careers S Block Science Deparment, Languages Department- Japanese, Spanish, Chinese Māori Studies Department, Health/PE, Sports Department P Block (prefabs)
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