Albany Junior High School Prospectus

Prospectus


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Albany Junior High School is unique. The rst purpose built Junior High School in New Zealand.
The school is designed around a mix of the Middle School and Junior High School philosophies based on a sound, well researched pedagogy with a strong curriculum focus relevant to the needs of students in Years 7 to 10.
Albany Junior High School is designed philosophically and structurally to identify and cater speci cally for the needs of the emerging adolescent. Therefore it is vital that staff, students and parents are able to articulate our vision, for it pervades every aspect of what we do as a school in terms of catering for individuals and in improving teaching and learning.
We see the school as helping to create the heart of the Albany community and welcome and encourage parent involvement and input. We work closely with parents and caregivers to identify the potential that is within every child providing them with the means to succeed as lifelong learners.
■ Stephen Kendall-Jones, Principal
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Student
Achievement 2 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Students at Albany Junior High School engage in teaching and learning that produces achievement at the highest levels.
Recent results show that more of our students are at or above the National Standard in Reading, Writing and Mathematics than the national total.
In 2013 the school’s ERO report stated
that “Teachers use valid, well-analysed achievement information to inform teaching programmes. They share expectations for learning with students and help them to identify their next learning steps.” Teachers are focused on creating assessment capable learners who understand where their learning currently is, what their next steps are and what success will look like when they achieve their learning goals. This student driven learning cycle is evident in the engagement of students at all levels in the school across curricula.
Truth, integrity, achievement with endeavour
❝
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The Albany Learning Pathway
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Students in the Albany area are able to immerse themselves in a unique learning pathway.
Local schools and Board of Trustees meet regularly to ensure that the primary, Junior High and Senior High Schools are not seen as separate entities but as steps on one continuous learning pathway. Albany Junior High School students mingle regularly with Primary students from all feeder schools visiting the Junior High School for the Science Roadshow, Science Week, Maths Week, the school production and many other annual events. During the year Albany Senior High students are engaged in Impact projects at both the Junior High School and other Primary schools; teaching, assisting and mentoring younger students. In addition Albany Junior High School students visit the Senior High School in Year 10 to take part in lessons, watch a special performance of the school production as well as other learning opportunities.
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Schools within a school
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Whanau
Central to our philosophy of meeting the needs of emerging adolescents is the Whanau structure. Upon starting at Albany Junior High School students are placed in one of four Whanau; Tui, Makomako, Kiwi or Ruru. The students are vertically grouped in Whanau classes that meet for 20 minutes each morning for administration and pastoral care. Each class has a range of students from Year 7 to 10.
Community spirit is engendered with each Whanau having their own identity through student leadership, peer support and assemblies.
❝It’s the best feeling when we dress in our
Whanau colours and wear our badges,
it makes me really proud to
belong ❞
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Integrated Curricul8 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


um
Year Seven and Eight
Our Year 7 and 8 students are taught in homerooms for English, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, and Performing Arts. Science is a homeroom subject at
Year 7 and a specialist subject at Year 8.
The students have specialist teachers for Mathematics, Music, Visual Art, Technology and Languages. Homeroom teachers build up positive and nurturing relationships with students to facilitate their transition to more specialisation in Years 9 and 10. Learning through authentic rich tasks is a focus of the integrated curriculum where students are exposed to a variety of activities utilising all learning styles.
❝Our teacher gets to know us really well in
a homeroom; it helps me to learn when someone
knows who I am❞ ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 9


Personalised Learning
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Year Nine and Ten
Albany Junior High School students are able to select options from a wide range of subjects to complement their core subjects. AJHS offers many option subjects not found at other schools – such as Robotics (with programming) and Forensic Science.
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CORE SUBJECTS
• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
• Health & Physical Education
• The Arts – at Year 9
OPTIONS – Year 9
• Business Academy
• Dance
• Digital Design
• Digital Technology
• Drama
• Environmental Studies
• Fabric Technology
• Food Technology
• Film Studies
• Graphics
• Hard Materials Technology
• History
• Human Biology
• Japanese
• Music
• Robotics
• Spanish
• Sport Science
• Visual Art
NCEA
OPTIONS – Year 10
• Business Academy
• Digital Design
• Digital Technology
• Fabric Technology
• Food Technology
• Forensic Science
• Geography
• Graphics
• Hard Materials Technology • History
• Japanese
• Media Studies
• Music
• Photography
• Robotics
• Spanish
• Sports Science
Not all options may be available every year.
There is the opportunity for Year 10 students to gain NCEA Level One credits within a number of curriculum areas. This is offered to enhance their academic success in their senior schooling.


Sports 12 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Albany Junior High School students have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of sports through the curriculum and extra-curricular sports teams.
There are in excess of 50 sports teams across more than 20 sports. Year 7 and 8 students can choose to participate against other schools in zone days throughout
the year in addition to competing in New Zealand’s largest sporting event the AIMS Games (Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools). Our elite sports people apply to our Sports Academy in Year 9 and 10. Those chosen receive individualised programmes with support from outside agencies such as physiotherapy, sports nutrition and personal training. Every two years a sports exchange with schools in the Cairns region of Australia is held over a week in September.
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The Arts 14 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


The Arts are a vital part of life at Albany Junior High School with students performing regularly both at school events and in the community.
Students are able to receive extra curricular tuition in a variety of instruments, visual
art students work with visiting artists and students of all the arts compete in a variety of national competitions.
School productions bring together all strands of the Arts every two years. Students take lead roles in all facets of the show – choreography, backstage management, lighting, sound, marketing, direction and performance. On an annual basis the local and regional nals of the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival are held in our Performing Arts Centre.
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Outdoor Education16 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Taking students beyond the classroom walls to learn has always been part of the Albany Junior High School philosophy.
All year levels take part in an annual camp. This could be camping in tents at Shakespear Regional Park, tramping in the Waitakere Ranges, or experiencing life on a Marae. Relationships are forged, leaders are discovered, risks are taken and memories are made that last forever.
Class groups regularly leave the school on day trips around Auckland, as well as more extensive eld trips for Geography, Science, a sports exchange to Australia and a cultural/ historical exchange to France.
The school has invested heavily in outdoor education equipment and training of staff,
so that we can continue to deliver diverse experiences that are safe and of a high quality.
❝ I never thought I would have the courage but we
worked together and
I achieved so much❞
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International Students 18 | ALBANY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou, Tena tatou katoa
Albany Junior High School openly celebrates that
our campus comprises some 40 different nationalities and cultures. We are proud of New Zealand’s bi-cultural heritage and our multicultural society. In addition we regularly host visiting school groups from Japan, China, Thailand and Korea for short stays to experience schooling in New Zealand.
We warmly welcome students from all over the world and have a burgeoning international students department. With students from Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, the Middle East and many others. We provide excellent support for our international students, in terms of academic achievement, ESOL programmes and pastoral care. The well-being and happiness of our international students is paramount to us.
AJHS has changed the
course of Juhee’s future....
she can now enrol at prestigious universities
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Student Leadership
Student leadership is an important aspect of school life. Our students are active citizens of the school community and
have their ideas and opinions routinely sought, respected and encouraged.
There are opportunities for student leadership at every year level and in many areas of school life. The inclusive leadership model is offered in a supportive and structured environment by enthusiastic
and dedicated staff.
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