Cashmere High School

Description

Cashmere High School offers its students a broad choice of subjects and activities in a caring, supportive, secondary school learning environment. It is proud of the sense of community among staff and students, and this is reflected in its record of academic, sporting and cultural successes.

Students are encouraged to achieve their personal excellence, and also develop a sense of service and belonging. Cashmere High School fosters student leadership and is committed to a successful partnership between home and school as a key ingredient of positive and successful secondary school experiences for its students.

We value the diversity of cultures at our school and welcome international students to join our school community.

International students have been a part of the Cashmere High School community from the earliest days of the school's establishment. The multinational character of the school is valued by teachers, students and parents as part of its outreach to the world.

Students considering study at a New Zealand school will find Cashmere High School has many opportunities for personal and academic development. There are many reasons for attending school outside a student's home country and Cashmere High School carefully selects a programme of study appropriate for each student.

Before international students begin classes, they attend an orientation programme and meet with the International Academic Manager to discuss their course of study. All new students take an English test to help us with class placement and the number of ESOL hours the student may need to be able to cope with mainstream study requirements.

It is important that our new international students have the opportunity to participate in a well-designed and age-appropriate programme that provides the information and advice necessary for a student at the outset of his or her educational instruction.

The orientation programme introduces our international team and provides international students with full information and advice on relevant Cashmere High School policies, services, support and all the facilities that we offer.  It also provides information relating to the health and safety of international students while they are studying at Cashmere High School.  We introduce the complaints procedure for both internal and external grievances.

Programs

Students at Cashmere High School are equipped with a high quality education in a wide variety of subjects.  It is our staff who truly bring the curriculum to life. We are extremely fortunate to be able to attract and retain a group of highly qualified and experienced teachers.  Students benefit greatly from the commitment, expertise and passion of our teachers and form positive and supportive relationships with them. 

As students progress through the school, they are able to select subjects leading toward their career choices and further study beyond school.  A Studies Choice handbook is published each year; it gives details of courses being offered, their entry requirements and any related costs. 

Year 9 and 10 students are broadly streamed into ability classes for their core subjects.  In Year 9, our entrance testing, contributing school data and enrolment information determine classes. However, there is room for movement between classes as the year progresses and students’ abilities are further assessed.

Year 9

We believe it is important for students to try a wide range of subjects in their first year at secondary school.  This means that they have a good basis from which to select optional subjects at Year 10 and beyond.  For most Year 9 students our curriculum is a compulsory one.A small number of students will not be required to study a language.  We realise that for these students more time spent on the core subjects, English and Mathematics for example, better meets their learning needs.

Junior Graduation System

All Year 9 and 10 students are involved in a graduation system in which points are awarded to students by each of their subject teachers.  Graduation points are awarded for demonstrating a positive attitude, completing class work, bringing the correct equipment and completing homework.  Attendance is also monitored and points are deducted for any unexplained absence. Graduation Reports are issued at the end of Terms 1, 2 and 3 and students are required to maintain an average of 60% or more in order to graduate to the next year level.

Years 10 to 13

As students move through the school more optional subjects become available and at Year 13 all subjects are optional.  Students enter the National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) at Levels 1, 2 and 3, with Scholarship also available. 

Different courses in some subjects may be offered at the same year level and further detail of this is provided in our Studies Choice booklet, available by contacting the school office.  Providing varying packages of learning and assessment through different courses is one of the ways we show our commitment to meet the learning needs of all students. 

Multi-level study is often undertaken in the senior school.  This means that students may select courses from two or more year levels in any one year.  Again, multi-level programmes are designed with the learning needs of individual students in mind.

Studies Guide

As students progress through the school, they are able to select subjects leading toward their career choices and further study beyond school.  A Studies Choice handbook is published each year; it gives details of courses being offered, their entry requirements and any related costs.

The purpose of this booklet is to help students make the best subject choices to meet their particular needs. Students should study the options available very closely and fully discuss these with their parents, caregivers, teachers and the school's guidance staff if necessary.

Qualifications

Since 2002 the National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA) has been New Zealand's national qualification for secondary school students.

The specific levels of the NCEA qualifications (and usual year studied):

Level 1 NCEA (studied at Year 11)

Level 2 NCEA (studied at Year 12)

Level 3 NCEA (studied at Year 13)

New Zealand Scholarship Award (studied at Year 13)

University Entrance (for New Zealand Universities)

Sporting Opportunities: There are many sporting opportunities including: archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cricket, crosscountry road race, cycling, fencing, frisbee, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, ice hockey, indoor netball, indoor football, karate, mountain biking, orienteering, polo, rock climbing, rowing, rugby, shooting, skiing & snowboarding, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, touch rugby, trampoline, triathlon, volleyball, yoga. 

Vibrant Music and Performing Arts: Music and performing arts include groups like: Brass Ensemble, Boys Barbershop Chorus, Boys Barbershop Quartet, Chamber Music, Choir (70), Chorale Concert Band (40), Girls Barbershop Chorus, Girls Barbershop Quartet (25), Irish Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra (50), Percussion Group, Recorder Ensemble, Rock Bands, Saxophone Ensemble, Stage Band, Conchestra (20), Jazz Ensemble (25)