Education Plans The “Middle Years” of learning is characterized by the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of early adolescence. There is considerable diversity in how and when students move through this stage and what the impact is on their attitude to and success in learning. We see it as crucial that our school, its programmes and the adults who work here are aware of the needs of this particular age group of students. That our organisation, curriculum, attitudes, values and environment recognizes these needs and is specifically organised to meet them. Maintaining the quality of the relationship between students and teachers and students and each other during these years is critical. Relationships are important to us at Waikowhai Intermediate. As a school of approximately 400 students we pride ourselves on the large family type spirit that exists within the school. At Waikowhai Intermediate School we believe in a curriculum based on quality instructional, differentiated teaching of core Literacy and Numeracy skills. Our curriculum links proficiency of these basic skills with a range of Higher Order Thinking Skills to enable our students to think more deeply. This is done by using our school wide model of Inquiry Learning, through which students in their integrated study follow a clear set of process which requires them to think more deeply, question, investigate, hypothesize, predict, evaluate, create and communicate. In the modern classroom Technology opens the door to a vast array of learning resources, information and provides endless ways in which students may be engaged and challenged. At Waikowhai Intermediate School all our classrooms have easy and ample access to technology including computers, interactive whiteboards, data show projectors, a television network, satellite television, video and digital cameras. Deeper engagement in learning is always aided when the teachers themselves possess a depth of subject content knowledge. For this reason an Intermediate School’s ability to provide specialist teachers in a range of subject areas is a crucial development along the student’s pathway of learning. In 2009 Waikowhai Intermediate School will deliver Specialist Teaching to all students in curriculum areas of Science, Technology, Food Technology, Visual Arts, Media, Performing Arts, Spanish and Japanese language. These class and specialist programmes are supported by an additional layer of organization which further enables students to extend themselves or explore their passion and interests. These programmes of extension, enrichment, sport, music and culture operate concurrent to the general class and specialist teaching programmes. Opportunities for learning and personal growth abound at Waikowhai Intermediate School. |
.jpg)
