The Whānau system is at the heart of the college and is the foundation of our holistic approach to student education and pastoral care… a ‘school within a school’ where students are part of a smaller group of 300 students rather than being one of almost 1900.
On enrolment, students are placed in a Whānau where they become part of an extended family of teachers and students of all year levels and they remain in this Whānau during their years at college, nurturing a sense of belonging.
The college is designed with six two-storey Whānau buildings. The second floor contains specialist teaching rooms and the ground floor is the Whānau area with five teaching classrooms, staff workroom and kitchen surrounding a Commons space and the student’s lockers. The Commons area is a “home away from home” and provides a recreational living space in which Whānau students can gather in before and after college, as well as during breaks in the college day.
During class time, the space provides a breakout area for the surrounding classrooms. It is also the venue for weekly Whānau assemblies, where student successes are celebrated and “housekeeping” matters discussed.
Each Whānau is led by a Whānau Leader, who is responsible for managing the pastoral care, academic monitoring and discipline of each student.
The teachers in the Whānau mentor senior students individually, so are the people who know the students the best. These teachers are associated with their students and their families for the five years they are in college.
In order to facilitate this relationship, the college places siblings in the same Whānau.
Whānau Mentors and Tutors for the juniors are the primary contact point for families. Both mentors and tutors report regularly on all aspects of student progress. Parents should feel free to contact their Whānau Leader by phone or email with any queries or concerns regarding their child.
Students make a contribution to their Whānau, the college, the community and develop leadership through the co-curricular programme and the Whānau Committees.
Each Whānau has a complement of the following: Arts Committee, Cultural Committee, Environment Committee, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Committee, Service Committee, and Sports Committee. Each Whānau has Lead Students who contribute to the leadership of each Whānau.
It is not my strength alone but the strength of many that contribute to my success.
Whānau Leader: Ms N Folks
Innovation through motivation, perseverance and hard work.
Whānau Leader: Mrs K Beazley
