Junior Curricular Information

Academic Programmes

Tararua College offers a wide range of subjects within innovative programmes. These provide many different learning opportunities for students to gain qualifications in both conventional academic and vocational courses, and cater for all levels of ability. As part of the normal classroom programmes there are extension and remedial programmes.
It is the College's philosophy that no student should embark on a particular course of study without due consultation between student, caregiver and the College subject teachers and Deans. At all levels information is distributed early to help students plan their courses for the following year.
When making selections, students should bear in mind:

• Their interests


• The subjects they like


• The subjects they are good at


• Requirements for tertiary courses


• Their career interests

The subjects below will be offered in Years 9 and 10 in 2007:
In Year 9 all subjects listed are compulsory.
In Year 10 the subjects marked * are compulsory. Students must choose three option subjects from the list and choose a fourth subject in case one of the three option subjects is unavailable.

Year 9 Subjects: English Health and Physical Education Mathematics Science Social Studies Technology Art French Music Te Reo Maori

Year 10 Subjects: English* Health and Physical Education* Mathematics* Science* Social Studies* Year 10 Options: (Choose three) Accounting Business Technology Drama Economics Food Technology French Graphics Information and Communication Technology Junior Rural Studies Kapa Haka Material Technology Music Te Reo Maori Textiles Visual Art

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Correspondence Subjects

To take a subject through the Correspondence School students must:
1. Meet the strict criteria laid down by the Correspondence School and
2. have the approval of the Principal of Tararua College.
The only students who may take correspondence courses are:
1. Students transferring from another school who wish to continue with a subject not available at Tararua College.
2. Students with a specific learning difficulty who qualify for an Individual Learning Programme.

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Homework

Tararua College Policy on homework cites: Homework is a vital part of student learning at Tararua College. It should be used to establish self-discipline and independent work habits as well as reinforcing Curriculum delivery.
All staff are expected to set homework and monitor its completion. All students are to do homework. Homework set should be at a level appropriate to the ability of the individual student and must be written into each student's logbook.
The amount of homework in total should be as follows: Year 9 - one hour per night, Year 10 - one and a half hours per night. This is a guide and represents minimum levels.

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Literacy

Tararua College regards improving the literacy of it's students as an imperative, and has appointed a teacher in charge of literacy initiatives (Mrs Aldsworth).
Students must spend their Form times doing sustained silent reading. Teachers are expected to operate a system of introducing 'key words' during class, reinforced with a written glossary, to broaden vocabulary and encourage the use of appropriate terminology.

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Skills for Learning Programme

In Years 9 and 10, a three-way contract between College, student and parents provides the basis of student learning at Tararua College. Student performance in all subjects is closely monitored in three essential areas:

• Class work completion (students keeping tidy work records and taking responsibility for their own learning and progress)


• Attitude (include taking a proper part in class, behaving well in the classroom, working co- operatively with others, being fully prepared and on time for all lessons)


• Homework (students learning to organise themselves at school and at home by recording their homework, doing it at home and having it finished on time)

During the school year students will be awarded points for their performance in these three essential areas in each of their subjects. Then four times during the year caregivers and students will receive a Junior Graduation Report, summarising their progress in the Skills for Learning Programme. It will describe the standard of the student's performance in each of the three essential areas and will indicate the total number of points they have gained in all subjects. At the end of this year, if they are to graduate to the next level of study in 2008, the student will have to have achieved a minimum of 50 per cent of the total number of points that could have been awarded.

• If you gain over 80 per cent you will graduate with excellence


• If you gain between 65 and 79 per cent you will graduate with merit


• If you gain between 50 and 64 per cent you will graduate with credit