The Day School

The Day School is responsible for the school based education of the students whilst they are at HRC. At HRC we are determined to cater for the differing needs of our students. An example of this is that our Day School now has 7 different programmes according to student need –

• Te Puna Wai O Te Reo (A level 2 Immersion Mãori class)
• Room 2 (For those students who need extra support in their learning)
• Crossroads (Work Experience)
• Te Pãmu (The Farm class for those students who respond well to learning in the outdoor setting)
• Behaviour Support Class (For students who temporarily need extra support with their behaviour)
• Rooms 1,5, 7 and 8  (More ‘normal’ classroom settings)
• Mainstream school placements (Intermediate and secondary level)

Teacher to student ratios are kept at a minimum level and are usually around one teacher to ten students. The Day School employs twelve Assistant Teachers who assist with individual student programmes.

A Physical Education Teacher, Literacy Teacher and Music Tutors are also employed. Assistant Residential Social Workers assist in the classrooms as Mastery Tutors to support student learning.

Te Puna Wai o Te Reo - Bi-Lingual / Whänau Class

In keeping with the College's Mission Statement, the goals of the Charter, and the Te Reo Mäori me öna Tikanga policy, the aim of having a bi-lingual class within the Day School is:

• To provide a positive learning environment for students that will enhance their self esteem and identity
• To promote students' cultural, spiritual (taha wairua) and emotional well-being
• To provide students with varied opportunities to understand and respect Tikanga Mäori (Mäori values, attitudes and behaviour)
• To enable students to understand and speak Te Reo Mäori and provide opportunities for them to read and write in Te Reo Mäori
• To provide students with the opportunity to advance and extend their knowledge and understanding of Te Reo Mäori me öna Tikanga

Curriculum Goals

The day school curriculum is based on the national curriculum and encompasses all subject areas. This includes English, Maths, Health, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies and Technology.

The residential school curriculum based assessment focuses on the domains of: self-care skills, social skills, living skills and recreation. Key areas within these domains are the areas toward which considerable amounts of staff time and effort are directed. They are also areas where the greatest, most immediate needs of the children are presenting.

Assessment tools used include the Applied Behaviour Analysis Scale( ABAS).

The emphasis is on individual rates of learning, maximising academic potential, oral language, essential communication skills and practical academic skills for everyday living.

Halswell Residential College ’s Student Achievement Goals are;  

• Students' strengths are recognised and enhanced in an environment that is consistent in all practices between the classroom and villas - a 'One School Ethos'.

• To empower our students to operate more effectively in their home communities, the programmes at Halswell Residential College will provide students with opportunities to demonstrate improved learning outcomes in:

• communication skills

• basic literacy skills

• living skills including numeracy and information skills  

• physical skills including self care/well-being and recreation  

• self management skills including self esteem and emotional well-being, personal and community living skills  

• social and co-operative interactive skills including self management and monitoring of behaviour  

• problem solving relating to personal and community living skills.

• Students' special learning needs will be met in a school culture that values safety, transparency, self review and external monitoring and review.

• Students' social and emotional needs will be met through identifying individual strengths, giving opportunities to develop life skills for home and community living in a positive learning environment.

Halswell Residential College ’s local curriculum goals are:

• To provide an appropriate educational environment that will meet the needs of its students.

• To foster and develop a higher level of self esteem among students and to promote emotional well being.

• To enhance every individual’s potential toward the highest possible academic level and functional living, social skills.

• To ensure the physical well being of each student is kept through a high level of healthy fit living.

• To provide pre-vocational and vocational training for students where considered appropriate.

• To provide a well balanced recreational and leisure programme.

• To ensure that a social, locational or functional mainstreaming programme is available for students where appropriate.

• To promote and establish appropriate behavioural patterns.