Student Pastoral Care
Papakura High School has a pastoral care structure which supports, encourages and enhances the academic, sporting and social development of all students. Students are allocated to a year level group and one of the four houses, Bledisloe, Cobham, Fergusson and Freyberg. Each group has a tutor who takes responsibility for these students throughout their school year. A necessary and important part of this pastoral care system is the daily meeting between students and their tutor and the pastoral care programme held weekly.
Those providing support services include the Curriculum Managers, Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour, Senior and Junior Deans, Class Tutors, Guidance Counsellor, Careers Advisor, Liaison Team, International Students’ support staff, Nurse, Year 13 student leaders and Deputy Principals. Outside agencies are also available, if required.
• Deans provide an important link between school and home and are responsible for the overall welfare, attendance and discipline of students in their care. They also assist students with course selection and option choices at each level and determine class placement. They are responsible for overseeing programmes and structures to support and promote student welfare.
• Class Tutors provide day-to-day pastoral care and guidance for their tutor group, monitor students’ progress and make daily checks on attendance, punctuality and uniform. They assist Deans to promote learning, a sense of belonging and House competitions.
• The Guidance Counsellor works with individuals and their families on a confidential basis, dealing with personal issues. The Guidance Counsellor also maintains links with community agencies that give specialised support to students, families and staff. Anger management, victim support, assertiveness groups and peer mediation are all provided when necessary.
• The Careers Advisor is available to supply expert advice on subject choices and to provide information on career pathways. Individual student profiles are developed to provide a basis for careers advice and option selection. There are opportunities for students to participate in seminars and visits which are organised to give information about different courses and career options. Students also have the opportunity to attend a range of courses which introduce them to work place skills and tertiary links.
• The nurse is available to educate in health matters and to assist students who become unwell at school. Parents are requested to advise the school about any medical condition affecting their child and to ensure that any medication required is given to the nurse. The nurse will make every effort to contact parents in cases of emergency or if students are considered too unwell to be at school and need to be sent home. However, students will be taken to the nearest available doctor should the nurse consider that urgent medical attention is necessary.
• Community Aide Officers assist with attendance checks, home visits, campus supervision and detention supervision.
• The Principal and Deputy Principals welcome the opportunity to answer special concerns from parents.
• Junior students are taught in Year 9 and Year 10 level classes. In the senior school, multi-level learning enables students to study at a level which best suits their needs.
• A permanent social worker has been appointed in 2008 to work with students and parents in pastoral care