Kaikorai Valley College

KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE Excellence in Teaching and Learning

A Year 7 - 13 Co-educational College

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K A I K O R A I V A L L E Y C O L L E G E Excellence in Teaching and Learning

TO OUR SCHOOL

WELCOME

1

PHILIP CRAIGIE

BA, Dip TchgPrincipal

MISSION STATEMENT

THE HISTORY OF KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE

Welcome to our school.

Kaikorai Valley College is a large Year 7 to 13 school,

situated in a park-like setting in south west Dunedin.

Unusually for an urban school, we offer continuous

education from ages 10 to 18. A programme for our

international students is well integrated into the school’s

timetable and we are known city wide for the quality

and extent of our community education classes.

Our commitment is to support, engage and challenge

every student. The school maintains a full range of

academic and alternative courses and a wide

programme of activities outside the classroom.

We promote clear standards of behaviour and have

comprehensive structures in place for student support.

Kaikorai Valley College is committed to innovation and the promotion of excellence in teaching and learning. In

partnership with our community we seek to provide broad-based learning opportunities which address the needs of

individual students in a safe co-educational environment.

Kaikorai Valley College has evolved from Kaikorai Valley

High School which was founded in 1958.

In 1996 the decision was made to amalgamate the

high school with Kenmure Intermediate School and

Kaikorai Valley College serves the communities of south

west Dunedin. Most students attending come from the

immediate neighbourhood: the hill suburbs of Wakari,

Mornington, Highgate, Halfway Bush and Brockville or

the Concord, Abbotsford, Green Island, Fairfield and

South Coast areas. Students come to this Year 7 to 13

co-educational college from many other parts of

Dunedin as well.

In this prospectus we hope to give you the information

you need to know about Kaikorai Valley College. We

welcome questions about the school.

I would be pleased to meet you to discuss what our

school, Kaikorai Valley College, has to offer and to show

you the school at work.

establish a Year 7 to 13 college on the high school site.

The school was renamed Kaikorai Valley College. The

decision to amalgamate was a popular one and

phenomenal roll growth followed. Kaikorai Valley

College remains one of the larger schools in Otago.


KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGEA CARING AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL

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The principal and staff of Kaikorai Valley College are

friendly and approachable. They are committed to

working as closely as possible with families in the best

interests of their children.

Parents and caregivers are welcome in the school at

any time and there are frequent report and discussion

meetings. A Kaikorai Valley College Parents’ Group

meets monthly and all parents are encouraged to

participate in activities.

The school provides extensive learning and guidance

support for all students. There is a strong guidance

network which includes the Principal, Deputy Principals,

Guidance Counsellor, Careers Advisor, Senior Dean

team for Years 11–13, Junior Dean team for Years 7-10,

specialist homeroom teachers for Years 7 and 8, a Dean

of International Students and form teachers for all.

Senior students accept a caring responsibility for juniors.

The very successful Peer Support programme in Year

7 contributes to the strong sense of extended family

which exists among the students of the school. A

student council represents the interests of all students

and organises school activities.

Kaikorai Valley College has structures which ensure that

all the various groups which make up the school

community can stand tall in the school. Thus …

• The students in the attached Special Needs unit play

a respected part in the wider life of the school.

• The school values New Zealand’s bicultural heritage.

Te Reo Maori is taught and there is good support for

Maori students.

• The school has an International Students’ programme

supported by specialist ESOL teachers, and a special

sister school relationship with Sakuragaoka High

School in Japan. Two-way annual exchanges take

place between Sakuragaoka and Kaikorai Valley.

More recent cultural relationships have been

established with Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College

in Hong Kong. The school offers scholarships annually

for Kaikorai Valley students to spend three months at

Sakuragaoka, and to travel and study in other

countries such as France.

K A I K O R A I V A L L E Y C O L L E G E Excellence in Teaching and Learning3

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AT KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE

CO-EDUCATION

SAFE SCHOOLAlways focusing on the Kaikorai Valley College Safe

School Policy and Code of Student Rights and

Responsibilities builds and maintains positive

relationships amongst students, between teachers and

students, and between parents and teachers.

• Kaikorai Valley College is a Safe School with firm

discipline and clear standards.

• The right to learn and play in a friendly, accepting

environment is central to life at Kaikorai Valley

College.

At Kaikorai Valley College we believe strongly in

co-education as the ideal preparation for the world

beyond school for both boys and girls.

The priority at Kaikorai Valley College is excellence in

teaching and learning. We are committed to individual

achievement. The expectation is that students will

achieve to their academic potential.

In this regard high achievement classes are selected

in Years 9 and 10 as well as classes for students with

identified learning needs. There is a Gifted and Talented

Programme across the school.

In Years 7 and 8 students spend 15 hours per week in a

supportive home-room class with a specialist primary

trained teacher. Here they study Reading, Language

Skills, Social Studies and Health. In Mathematics they

are placed in a class according to their achievement

level. For the remainder of the week they follow a

special studies programme taught by specialist subject

teachers. Physical Education, Science and Biotechnol-

ogy are studied through the year and students rotate

through a modular programme of Art, Drama, Music,

Electronics, Technology (Food, Materials, Information

and Communication, Structures and Mechanisms,

Production and Processes), Graphics, French, Japanese

and Maori.

In Years 9 and 10 students take the core subjects of

English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical

Education, Health and Careers. Year 9 students also

choose 3 hours per week from each of the Arts,

Technology and Languages subjects. At Year 10,

students study three other subjects of their choice.

In Years 11 – 13 students study a wide range of subjects.

The time-table is flexible to allow for individual needs.

This allows for programmes to be purely academic,

work oriented or a mixture of both.

The highly professional staff is committed to the aca-

demic achievement of the students at Kaikorai Valley

College.

K A I K O R A I V A L L E Y C O L L E G E Excellence in Teaching and Learning 4

STRENGTHS OF THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Kaikorai Valley College is a leading school in providing

high quality education each year for over fifty

international students from all over the world.

As part of this, established sister-school relationships,

especially with schools in Japan, have allowed the

school to offer overseas educational experiences of

varying lengths to local students. These relationships are

strengthened year by year as exchanges continue.

For students coming to Kaikorai Valley College expert

language tuition is provided in small groups, as well as

individual teacher aide help in mainstream lessons.

The students may also study for international language

qualifications and have the opportunity to continue

their education in New Zealand by gaining entry to

a New Zealand university or other tertiary institution.

International students are well supported by the many

people in the community who offer to be homestay

families.

A vitally important feature of life at Kaikorai Valley

College is the strong sister-school relationships.

Sakuragaoka High School, JapanThe first contact between Sakuragaoka High School

and Kaikorai Valley College was in 1987 and the

sister-school relationship has continued to strengthen

since then. Sakuragaoka High School is a large private

school in Toyohashi, near Nagoya in Japan, that

incorporates an intermediate and high school. Like

Kaikorai Valley College, it has an active international

programme. Sakuragaoka High School celebrated its

70th anniversary in 2006 and Kaikorai Valley College

Principal, Mr Philip Craigie, was invited to the

celebrations. There are regular exchanges of students

between the schools each year and many life long

friendships have been made. Students from

Sakuragaoka High School regularly join Kaikorai Valley

College for long term study. The relationship between

the two schools has been a cornerstone of Kaikorai

Valley College’s international student programme.

Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College, Hong KongIn 2005, Kaikorai Valley College established a new

sister-school relationship with Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po

Ling College in Hong Kong. A highlight of the relation-

ship so far was in 2006 when a group of Kaikorai Valley

College students visited Hong Kong and was hosted by

Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College. Along with schools

from China and Singapore, our students participated in

a week long cultural programme. Po Leung Kuk Ngan

Po Ling College is one of the few remaining schools in

Hong Kong where all classes are taught in English.

Kaikorai Valley College also has sister school

relationships with Kun-ei Girls High School in Osaka,

Myojo Gakuen in Tokyo and Harbin Number 13 Middle

School in Harbin, China.

SISTER SCHOOLS OF KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE


YEAR 7 - 10FOSTERING EXCELLENCE IN A BROAD-BASE CURRICULUM

The priority at Kaikorai Valley College is excellence

in teaching and learning. On enrolment in Year 7 or

in Year 9, a profile of each student is prepared and

progress is measured against it. Parents are kept fully in-

formed. Guidance staff meet all new students and their

families, and visit students at their primary schools.

Students in this important age group have the security

of dedicated homeroom teachers, enthusiastic about

building on the learning foundations laid at primary

school.

Students in Year 7 and 8 benefit too from the expertise

offered by teachers who are trained specialists in Art,

Music, Drama, Technology, Languages, Physical Educa-

tion and Science. Option subject choices are kept as

broad as possible at both levels. All students then

experience what every subject involves so that wise

and informed decisions can be made in future years.

YEAR 7 AND 8 STUDENTS

YEAR 9 AND 10 STUDENTS

“Excellence in Teaching and Learning”

All students study English, Maths, Science, Social Studies,

Physical Education, Careers and Health. At year 9 there

is still a broad option choice offered of four languages

[Maori, Japanese, French and Mandarin], all the strands

in the Technology curriculum, Art, Music and Drama.

At Year 10 three options are chosen in addition to the

core programme. This still leaves open many subject

choices in the senior school.

High achieving students join an achievement class at

Year 9 and at Year 10. The curriculum is enriched to

provide extension work for them.

Most of the classes are broad banded to ensure that

students are with others at similar achievement levels.

A learning support class is in place at both levels to

serve the students who struggle academically. Two

teachers cover the four main core curriculum areas in

these two smaller groups. They join with the rest of their

Year 9 or 10 peers for the option subjects.


THE SENIOR SCHOOLYEARS 11 TO 13 AND BEYOND

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Kaikorai Valley College has embraced fully the

introduction of the National Certificate of Educational

Achievement through its three levels, including entering

students in the Scholarship examinations at Year 13.

Kaikorai Valley College offers a full range of academic

subjects for students planning to advance to university.

In fact, because the school is co-educational, there is a

wider choice for both girls and boys than will be found

in many single sex schools. At all senior levels students

are encouraged to achieve at the higher performance

levels of Merit and Excellence. Students often achieve

well above their own expectations.

At Year 11, all students study English, Mathematics and

Science along with three other subjects from a wide

choice. The aim at this level is to assist all students to

meet the Level 1 literacy and numeracy requirements

and achieve at least 80 credits over the six subjects

to gain a Level 1 National Certificate of Educational

Achievement.

YEAR 11

YEAR 12

YEAR 13

At Year 12, all students must study English and five other

subjects. These subjects can be academic or

vocational or a mixture of both. Students aim to gain

the 60 credits needed for the Level 2 National

Certificate of Achievement as well as University

Entrance Literacy credits. Much care is taken with

subject selection to meet the needs of every student.

Career counselling and work experience are offered to

all and an extensive network of employers known to the

school often means students find good occupations or

apprenticeships to enter straight from school.

At Year 13, courses are again arranged to meet the

needs of individual students. Careful guidance is given

about the requirements to gain entrance to university

and of the National Certificate of Educational

Achievement at Level 3. Able students are

encouraged to enter the Scholarship examinations.

Career opportunities, subjects and pathways to tertiary

courses are considered and discussed with all Year 13

students so that the best possible advantage is gained

from the final year at secondary school.


EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

DRAMA

SPORT

In addition to a full academic programme, students are

encouraged to participate in a comprehensive range

of cultural, sporting and outdoor education activities.

Kaikorai Valley College has a fine tradition and

representation in creative and performing arts.

Drama and musical productions have always been

highlights of the school year. The school has its own

theatre and dance studio and has enjoyed success in

cultural competitions including being national finalists in

the annual Shakespeare Festival and regular prize

winners in the Smokefree Stage Challenge.

Each year large numbers of Kaikorai Valley College

students from Years 7 to 13 prepare for and participate

in either a school production or wearable arts awards

enjoying the team work, cooperation and sense of

achievement involved.

Our philosophy is that sport is for all.

The importance of participation in sport, especially in

light of concerns nationally about the deteriorating

fitness of young people, is top priority at Kaikorai Val-

ley College. Staff and parents, along with some senior

students, continue to give time and energy to providing

coaching and supervision for a wide range of individual

and team sports at all levels of the school. Pride in

being competitive and fair play are important

messages given to Kaikorai Valley College students.

Much has been spent recently on sports uniforms so

that the teams continue to look good in competition.

The school employs a Sports Coordinator who

organises, equips and enters teams in the many sports

at Kaikorai Valley College. The school has excellent

sporting facilities with extensive sports grounds,

hardcourt areas for netball and tennis and now a

second well equipped gymnasium which will expand

the school’s capability to host many more indoor teams

and individual sports. There is ongoing acknowledge-

ment of success of sports people who have achieved

representative status at provincial and in some cases,

national level, in a wide range of sports. In 2008 a Sports

Academy was introduced to give these individuals the

skills, knowledge and mental edge to continue

excelling in their chosen sport.

Sports that students are involved in at present include:

Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Cross Country,

Flags, Golf, Hockey, Horse Riding, Ice Hockey, Mini-ball,

Mini-volley, Moto-Cross, Mountain Biking, Multi Sport,

Netball, Orienteering, Rugby, Skiing, Soccer, Softball,

Surfing, Table Tennis, Tennis, Petanque, Touch Rugby,

Volleyball and Water-polo.


DRAMA, SPORT, OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND MUSIC FOR ALL STUDENTS

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Kaikorai Valley College is committed to an extensive

Outdoor Education programme which includes beach

education and safety for Year 7 students and a range

of outdoor skills including kayaking, a day tramp and

the practical set up for successful camping at Year 8.

Year 10 students all spend a week at the Otago Youth

Adventure Trust Camp at Tautuku in the Catlins where

many outdoor activities are experienced. School ski

trips are organised annually and much enjoyed.

All Year 12 students participate in two modules of

Outdoor Education [12 weeks] as part of their Year 12

activities programme. Seniors who have developed

a love for Outdoor Education can gain further experi-

ence and qualifications in the Year 13 Outdoor Pursuits

course.

Kaikorai Valley College is fortunate to have a high

number of staff who are experts and enthusiasts in

leading outdoor activities.

Music tuition on a wide variety of instruments is

available and popular with students. Music groups

include bands, orchestras, rock bands and choirs. There

is an active Kapahaka group working at preserving and

promoting our Maori culture. Informal concerts,

performances and celebrations such as Talent Quests

and the Wearable Arts Awards are frequent.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

MUSIC SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE

Stage Challenge Productions

Wearable Arts Art Exhibitions

Ski Trips Yr 8 Camps

Yr 10 Camps Theatresports

Photography Club Shakespeare Festival

Mountainbiking Choir

Orchestra Kapa Haka

Rockquest Horse riding

500 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand Fax: +64 3 453 1602 Telephone: +64 3 453 6035 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kvc.school.nz

K A I KO R A I VA L L E Y C O L L E G E Excellence in Teaching and Learning

KAIKORAI VALLEY COLLEGE, 2008, 50TH JUBILEE YEAR.

500 Kaikorai Valley Road, Dunedin, New Zealand Fax: +64 3 453 1602 Telephone: +64 3 453 6035 Email: [email protected] Website: www.kvc.school.nz

K A I KO R A I VA L L E Y C O L L E G E Excellence in Teaching and Learning

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Kaikorai Valley College