Transitions and Orientation Year 9 - 2012

Bishop Viard College

Assistant Principal: Ms Colleen Schuster

Year 9 Dean: Ms Diana Kelly

Year 9 Form Teachers

• Sr Malia Fetuli – 9FI• Mr Lui Lafou- 9LL• Mr Philip Muollo - 9MO

The School CurriculumYear 9 Subjects• Maths• Science• English• Social Studies• Religious Studies• Physical Education

• Options the students choose: French, Maori, Samoan, Art, Music• Other Options: Soft Tech, Graphics, Hard Tech, Food Tech

9FI 9LL 9MO

Maths Mr David Amrein Ms Colleen Schuster Mr David Amrein

English Ms Kelly Ross Ms Kelly Ross Mr Philip Muollo

Science Ms Ilana De Vos Ms Ilana De Vos Ms Ilana De Vos

Social Studies Mr Robert Mason Mr Lui Lafou Mr Lui Lafou

Religion Sr Malia Fetuli Mr Lui Lafou Sr Malia Fetuli

PE Mr Karl McLennan Mr Karl McLennan Mr Marek Wolbinski

Year 9 core subject teachers

Equipment and School Uniform• The students will be anxious to have all the

correct gear on the right days so please help them get ready the night before school or in the morning.

• Label all items clearly with their full name

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION• Red and green striped PE shirt and shorts. • White socks and white soled sports shoes or sandshoes.

SCHOOL JACKET• The school uniform has a school jacket for outer wear. • This is the only one the students are allowed to wear.

BOYSGrey Shirt with grey shorts or regulation black long trousers, white shirt and tie. Red Viard jersey and Viard socks. Black leather school shoes, or in summer Roman sandals. The formal Uniform: Viard tie, white shirt, and red college blazer with regulation black long trousers. The formal uniform is optional for daily wear from year 7. GIRLSShort sleeved white open-necked blouse or long sleeved white blouse with skirt in green tartan. (White skivvy is optional for winter wear). Red Viard jersey. Three quarter white socks for summer, or black tights for winter. Black leather school shoes, or in summer Roman sandals. The formal uniform: Viard tie, white blouse, and red college blazer with regulation tartan skirt. The formal uniform is optional for daily wear from year 7.

Contacting the School

Please feel free to contact the school

with any questions or queries. We are

happy to help and support you and your

child to make a successful transition into

the Bishop Viard Junior School

community.

Contacting the School• For a child’s absence ring the school office on 237 5248 in the

morning, preferably before 9.30am

• You can leave messages for the Form teachers and Dean through the main office too and they will call you back

• Email is also a good way to contact us: office@viard.school.nz

• To contact the Assistant Principal - Junior School, use extension 213 or email schusterc@viard.school.nz

• To email the Year 9 Dean: kellyd@viard.school.nz

• To email the Form teachers: fetulim@viard.school.nz, lafoul@viard.school.nz,

muollop@viard.school.nz

Homework and Study• Homework diaries- To keep all your important

information in one place (Cost: $5 from school office)• Write out a homework “to do” list- work out what is the

most urgent and tick off as you go.• Make a weekly planner- include time for sports

activities and chill out time• Set time limits• Keep homework supplies in one place• Ask for help when you need it!• Year 9: About 90 mins a night • Homework club: Library open for one hour every day

after school Monday to Thursday for those who would like a quiet place to study with access to books and computers

• Be positive about school• If there is an issue stopping students from

coming to school, please let us know• If a student is truant from class, parents are

contacted and the time is to be made up after school in the form of detentions

• All junior school detentions are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at lunchtime.

Attendance

School Lunches

• We encourage healthy lunches here and the school canteen offers many healthy options:

- Filled rolls - Fruit - Spaghetti Bolognese - Macaroni• Only Year 13’s are permitted to go down to

McDonald’s at Lunch time

Friends and Bullying

• Starting a new school can make children very anxious about bullying and losing friends.

• New year 9 students can often feel vulnerable around other bigger, older children

• Bullying Prevention programme is run by Miss Madigan, one of our guidance counsellors

• Senior Peer Mentors available to support and assist junior students.

Questions: We can answer all individual queries after the Stars presentation while parents are

going through the consent forms.

Stars Group Leader

Presentation

© FYD 2012

“Our students need lots of stimulation, patience and respect.. Working

with the Group Leaders has given us great tips

that really work and keep the students calm

and engaged.“

Year 12, Northland College

STARS COMPONENTS: PEER MENTORING LESSONS

Peer Mentoring Year 12 and 13 students are inducted, selected and trained as Peer

Mentors Peer Mentors:

o Facilitate activities to a group of Year 9 students that are based on experiential learning (ratio= 3-4 Peer Mentors : 10-12 Y9)

o Encourage Year 9 students to develop pro-social relationships with peers

o Provide examples of positive mentoring and role-modellingo Meet with their group of Year 9 students weekly during terms

one, two & threeGroup Leader responsibilities Familiarise yourself with the Stars Peer Mentor Manual Actively observe Peer Mentor lessons and provide extra support to Peer

Mentors or students if required. Ratio = (1 GL: 3-4 Peer Mentors : 10-12 Y9)

Provide practical advice to Peer Mentors who are struggling to positively address challenging behaviours

Assist students to develop SMART goals

© FYD 2012

STARS COMPONENTS: ADVENTURE CAMP

“I enjoyed the camp. It was fun and full with

exciting new experiences. I learnt leadership skills. It

helped me to make new friends and settle in.”

Year 9 student

Adventure Camp The Stars Adventure Camp is attended by the Stars Co-ordinator, Year 9

students, Group Leaders and Peer Mentors Students experience a range of activities that require effort, self-

determination, co-operation, perseverance , self reliance and goal-setting

Group Leader responsibilities Read and apply the ‘Guidelines on Adventure Camp Activities’, ‘Stars

Adventure Camp Roles and Responsibilities ‘ and ‘Guidelines for Daily Adventure Camp Debriefing’ in the Stars Programme Manual

Lead Induction and Adventure Camp group tasks with assistance from Peer Mentors

Stay with your group on the Adventure Camp and participate in activities Conduct a debrief of the day to assist students to process learning and

encourage new behaviours Conduct regular debriefs with Peer Mentors Assist the Stars Co-ordinator with the collection of evaluation data

© FYD 2012

STARS COMPONENTS: COMMUNITY ADVENTURE

The Community Adventure The Community Adventure helps students to get to know and connect to

their community, giving them the opportunity to explore resources and supports

The component provides an opportunity for students to transfer the learning gained from the Adventure Camp to the community context

Some schools complete a version of the ‘Amazing Race’ within this component

Group Leader responsibilities Assist the Stars Coordinator with organisation Participate and supervise students. Intervene only when necessary Ensure students complete their Student Diary/Logbook Assist the Stars Co-ordinator with the collection of evaluation data

“Teamwork is really fun and now I know to

speak up and not stay quiet. My attitude

affects other people.”

Year 9 student

© FYD 2012

STARS COMPONENTS: GRADUATION

Graduation On completion of the programme, Year 9 students, Peer Mentors,

parents/ caregivers and other invited guests attend a celebration of students’, Peer Mentors’ and Group Leaders’ achievements and the school’s partnership with Stars.

At the graduation, each group is encouraged to do a short presentation and the students, Peer Mentors and Group Leaders receive their graduation certificates.Group Leader responsibilities:

Group Leaders and the Stars Co-ordinator meet to discuss whether any students should be excluded from graduation.o In order to graduate, Peer Mentors must have attended 75

percent of the Peer Mentoring sessions. They must have contributed positively in planning and facilitating the sessions and completed relevant evaluation forms.

o Year 9 students can graduate if they have completed all of the components of the Stars Programme.

“It was great. I got to see a lot of careers and experience how jobs

work. I learnt that getting the right job takes a lot of

work and needs lots of concentration.“

Year 9 student

© FYD 2012

STARS COMPONENTS: COMMUNITY PROJECT

Community Project The one-day Community Project helps students to think about how they

can contribute to the community and the wellbeing of others. Research has shown that contributing through a volunteer project can

increase social connectedness, improve self-concept, and develop positive attitudinal change (Miller et al: 2002)

Group Leader responsibilities Assist the Stars Coordinator with organisation Participate and supervise students. Intervene only when necessary Ensure students complete their Student Diary/Logbook

“I learnt that there are plenty of things we can

do to help the community and that

every little thing you do helps. I will definitely

help more in the community in the

future.“

Year 9 student

Stars challenges students to use and develop each of the five learning competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC). Stars supports students to:o Set and monitor goals, manage timeframes, arrange activities

and reflect on and respond to ideas (managing self)o Interact, share ideas and negotiate with a range of people

(Relating to others) o Access community resources for information/support and use that

information as a basis for action (participating and contributing)o Analyse and consider a variety of possible approaches to problem

solve and decide on a course of action (thinking)o Use language appropriate to recording and communicating ideas

(using language, symbols and texts) Stars closely aligns to the Health and Physical Education learning areas

of the NZCo Year 9: Level 4-5: Personal Health & Physical Development (Safety

Management) Relationships with Other People (Relationships &

Interpersonal Skills)Healthy Communities & Environments

(Community resources) o Year 12/13: Level 7-8: Relationships with Other

People ( Personal identity)Healthy Communities & Environments (Community resources)

LINKS TO NEW ZEALAND CURRICULUM

“ The Stars programme fits well with the

directions that the Ministry is taking with key

competencies and has become an integral part of our school’s culture

and curriculum. It is not regarded as an ‘add on’

by staff or students.”

Principal, Northland College 

STARS YEAR 9 HANDOUTS

Every topic delivered in the programme has a relevant handout/ worksheet which summarises key information for Year 9 students

Community Partners, in discussion with each school, either print the Year 9 handouts/worksheets as a stand-alone book or have them inserted into the school’s Year 9 student diary/logbook

BENEFITS FOR YEAR 9 STUDENTS

The programme makes the transition to high school a positive experience for Year 9 students by providing opportunities for social support and skill /knowledge acquisition

Stars builds relationships between Year 9 students, teachers and senior students

Programme evaluations confirm that:o The Adventure Camp helps Year 9’s to increase confidence and

teamwork, and extends friendship groupso The Community Project encourages and teaches Year 9’s the

benefits of social reciprocityo The Community Adventure provides Year 9’s with an opportunity

to get to know their community bettero Peer Mentoring encourages Year 9 students to ‘have fun’, ‘become

confident’, ‘work as a team’ , ‘communicate with others’ and ‘make new friends’

“Stars helped me to make new friends and get to know others

I didn’t really know. I have made better bonds with the

Peer Mentors and have enjoyed their help…I have

more respect for everyone in Stars especially teachers and Peer Mentors. I have enjoyed

the experience.”

Year 9 student

BENEFITS FOR PEER MENTORS

Stars provides increased leadership opportunities for senior students Peer Mentors report that Stars helps them to develop leadership,

self-confidence, patience, friendships and personal growth Stars enables senior students to give service to their school Certain Stars schools are supporting senior students to achieve Unit

Standard 18862: Facilitate the Stars Peer Mentoring Programme in Schools.

“Stars this year has been awesome. You

get to help others and it’s good getting to

know younger students. You get

leadership skills and you learn about

yourself”

Peer Mentor