Mā te whanaungatanga e ora ai te tangata mō ake tonu

Positive relationships are essential in lifelong learning.

The Kōwhaiwhai Pattern

The pattern was designed by Jocelyn Nelson as part of a Year 13 Art assignment in 1995 — Te Tau o te Reo. The school colours have been incorporated in the design which reflects local legend. The green represents the land, the blue represents the sea. The imagery of the design represents the tentacles of Te Wheke a Muturangi which was slain by Kupe in Raukawa Moana (Cook Strait) and the Raukura (feathers) which identify Te Atiawa Iwi as the Tangata Whenua.

The design was approved by Kaumatua and has been adopted by the College for use in the costumes of the cultural group, Nga Tauira.

The curriculum offered at Queen Charlotte College enables every student to participate in the eight Essential Learning Areas of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework in order to gain the knowledge and understanding needed for a broad and balanced education. They provide the context within which skills, attitudes and values are developed. The Essential Learning Areas are English and Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Social Sciences, The Arts, and Health and Physical Education.

National Certificates and examinations are available at Years 11, 12 and 13. We prepare our students for qualifications at all levels and we are proud of their achievements.

Where it is appropriate senior students are encouraged to follow multi-level courses of study. Acceleration of the very able is possible in some subjects, and in all subjects extension is encouraged.

Reporting To Parents and Caregivers

We report to parents/caregivers regularly through the portal on attitude to learning. Also, after approximately six weeks from the start of a school year, a simple, progress assessment is issued to give an early indication of progress and how students are working.

Halfway through Term 1, MAP (My Action Plan) meetings are organised for the caregivers, students and Mentors to meet and set goals for the rest of the year.

A more detailed report is then written at the end of Term 2.  In Term 3, the second MAP meeting with caregivers and students is organised to assess how well the student is meeting the set goals and to discuss future actions that need to occur. Reports are no longer printed and posted out, but are available through the parent portal online.

Parents and caregivers are welcome to meet teachers at any time during the year.  They should not feel constrained to just the MAP meetings if they have issues they would like raised. Caregivers can email staff for appointments or ring the school office to arrange a meeting.  The Principal and Senior Leadership Team will make themselves available whenever possible, to meet caregivers.

Queen Charlotte College is committed to working with the community for the benefit of all our students.

Regular newsletters are emailed to families or sent home with students. Frequent opportunities for informal staff-caregiver interaction are also provided.

Guidance

The College Guidance Network focuses on the psychological, emotional and physical (hauora) well being of students, and provides pastoral care in these areas as required by students.

In addition, each Form has a Form teacher and all teachers are available to help where needed.

The Guidance Counsellor is specially trained in counselling and is available for students and parents/caregivers to consult.

At times, College staff have to deal with personal and delicate matters in relation to students. These are always treated confidentially and sensitively.

The School Uniform

We have an attractive, easy-to-wear uniform, and require the correct uniform to be worn while travelling to and from the College, at school and attending school functions.

Mufti

Those permitted to wear mufti (Year 12 and above) must ensure it is clean and tidy with appropriate footwear. Singlet type tops, spaghetti straps, jandals and clothing of an inappropriate or offensive nature are not acceptable.

The management of the school, in its discretion, may decline to approve any item.

Each Monday and on formal occasions senior students are required to wear the full dress uniform.

Personal Appearance

All students must be clean-shaven when attending the College whether they be in complete uniform or informal (mufti) dress.

Hair

Students’ hair should be a natural colour. Any extreme colours, or colours which are considered by the Board in its discretion to be unnatural hair colours, are to be avoided. 

Hair must be kept in a clean and tidy condition. Specific restrictions are not placed on hair length or style. However, some cuts, styles or colours may be deemed not to meet the requirements of cleanliness, tidiness, or appropriateness, or deemed unacceptable for cultural, religious, race or other reasons. Cuts or styles may be deemed to be offensive and prohibited, although they may not specifically be able to be categorised.

The Principal or the Board of Trustees shall have the discretion to make a ruling in each case as may arise for interpretation.

Hair ties should be in the school colours of forest green, or Cambridge blue, or Blue Watch tartan (the same material as the skirt).

Scarf

Fringed scarves in uniform colours (bottle green and sky blue) with alternating bands of each colour (each band of colour approximately 150mm thick) may be worn.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses may be worn outdoors 

Hats

Bucket style hats are available from the Warehouse in Blenheim, in the House colours:

Aramoana – Red       Rangatira – Blue        Tamahine – Green

On sports days, if mufti is allowed for all students, and students are outside, any suitable hat may be worn. School Beanies are allowed to be worn.

School monogrammed caps and beanies are also available.

Shoes

Plain black school shoes lace-up or buckled, (flat-soled and heeled walking shoes) or plain black sandals (which must have heel strap) shall be worn by all uniformed students.

Jewellery

The only jewellery items which should be worn are:

o   Wristwatch

o   Up to two plain gold or silver keepers or studs in each earlobe

o   No other form of body piercing is permitted

The jewellery requirements and limitations apply to all students whether they are in, complete uniform or informal (mufti) dress.

Naming

To assist with the recovery of lost property, all articles should be clearly named.

Option 1

Senior Dress Uniform (Years 12 & above)

§  Senior grey skirt (must be ordered via school)

§  Plain white shirt (with button-up neck)

§  School tie (available from the College office)

§  Designated school blazer

§  Plain white ankle socks or black pantyhose

Juniors (Years 7 to 11)

o   Blue Watch tartan skirt with two inverted pleats in front and a straight back. 

o   The plain white shirt or white skivvy/polo short sleeve

o   For extra warmth a plain white skivvy/thermal or T-shirt may be worn under the shirt as long as the sleeves do not protrude below the sleeves of the shirt

o   The designated forest green jersey

o   Plain black school shoes lace-up or buckled, (flat-soled and heeled walking shoes) or plain  black  sandals (which must have heel strap) shall be worn by all uniformed students

o   One of the approved hats

      o   Plain black socks or black tights

o   Black soft-shelled jacket or black puffer jacket

      QCC Green Hoodie

Option 2

Senior Dress Uniform (Years 12 & above)

§  Senior Dress Uniform (Years 12 and above)

§  Long mid-grey trousers (Canterbury Schoolwear Style 6O5/Colour 35)

§  Plain white shirt (with button-up neck)

§  School tie (available from the College office)

§  Plain black socks

§  Designated school blazer

Juniors (Years 7 to 11)

o   Mid grey shorts or long, mid-grey trousers (Canterbury Schoolwear Style 605/Colour 35)

o   Pale blue polo shirt

o   For extra warmth a plain white skivvy/thermal or T-shirt may be worn under the shirt as long as the sleeves do not protrude below the sleeves of the shirt

o   The designated forest green jersey

o   Plain black school shoes lace-up or buckled, (flat-soled and heeled walking shoes) or plain  black  sandals (which must have heel strap) shall be worn by all uniformed students

o   One of the approved hats

 o   Black socks with no other colour on them

o   Black soft-shelled jacket or black puffer jacket

         QCC Green Hoodie

The Warehouse, Blenheim Store has agreed to stock some of our uniform.

All Students

In the Physical Education programme, students require a complete change of clothes, suitable for physical activity. Showers are available at the end of each Physical Education lesson and students are encouraged to use them. Suggested clothes include:

§  Shorts  

§  Sweatshirt

§  T-shirt 

§  Singlet

§  Tracksuit

§  Rugby jersey

§  Socks

Bare feet or light soled sports shoes are the only acceptable footwear for inside the Gymnasium.

For swimming, one-piece swimwear is required. A plain T-shirt/rash vest, or similar, may be worn while swimming if desired.

Sports Uniform

The College Sports Council, with the support of the Board of Trustees, is progressively upgrading team uniforms and the College expects these to be worn with pride and that students will follow the fair-play code.

We wish to continue to enhance the standard of self-discipline demonstrated by so many College teams.

An attractive, modern tracksuit is associated with school sports teams. This may not be worn as a substitute for the designated uniform jackets.

Students, parents and caregivers will be advised of the dress code for interschool sports exchanges prior to the event and this will normally be dress uniform or school tracksuits.

The School Day

§  8:45 am  school day starts

§  1.10 - 2.00.pm lunchtime

§  3:15 pm school ends for the day

Students should not be at school before 8:30 am or after 4:30 pm unless under the direct supervision of a staff member. Pupils may be kept until 4:00 pm if required.

Punctuality

Students are expected to be punctual to school and to classes. Explanations for lateness are accepted at the discretion of the senior staff. Sleeping in is not an acceptable explanation for lateness.

Lunchtimes

Lunchtime is from 1.10 pm to 2.00 pm. If you prefer your child to lunch at home, please apply for a lunch pass at the beginning of each year. Lunch passes are a privilege and can be revoked for breaches of school requirements.

Those pupils who stay at College for their lunch may bring their own lunch or eat the lunch provided or buy from the school canteen they are not allowed to leave the school grounds to go shopping in the lunch hour.

Absences

Absences from school must be advised by a letter or a telephone call giving the reason for the absence. Notes should be brought on the day that your child returns to school. We appreciate a telephone call if your child is going to be absent. If a student is injured or becomes ill during the school day a staff member, trained in First Aid procedures, deals with the problem. We always try to notify parents and arrange for sick students to be taken home as quickly as possible. In the case of injury, students are taken straight to the doctor and their parents are contacted.

If students are to be away for matters other than illness we would appreciate notification and discussion before the absence. Except for absences due to long term illness, work will not normally be supplied. Catching up on missed work is the student’s responsibility.

Canteen

The College Canteen, which is open daily at intervals and lunchtime, sells a wide range of healthy foods.

Textbooks

All necessary textbooks are on loan to pupils, who are responsible for their upkeep, and must pay for any losses or damage to them. Textbooks must be returned in good order.

Stationery

A full set of stationery will be supplied to all students at the beginning of the year.  Parents/caregivers will then be invoiced for the cost of this in Term 1.  The cost will vary according to the year level of the student.  Additional stationery may be purchased from the student office during the year.

Homework

All students should do homework to consolidate their classroom learning. Homework may be set in the form of assignments to be handed in sometime later after the setting. Homework may also be short overnight tasks with the intention of developing good long and short-term study habits that will help pupils greatly.

The time spent on homework should gradually build-up, from about two hours per week in Year 7 and 8 to about eight hours in Year 11 and ten in Years 12 and 13.

School Council

The College has an active School Council which does a great deal of good work for the benefit of students, and all parents/caregivers are urged to support it when requested.

Vehicle Passes

Senior students who wish to travel in vehicles must make an application to the Deputy Principal.

Bringing a vehicle to school is a privilege that will be revoked for breaches of school requirements or traffic laws.

Cycle Helmets

The wearing of cycle helmets by students who cycle to or from school is compulsory.

Sporting and Cultural

Queen Charlotte College does not charge an Activity Fee, students participating in sports or cultural activities outside of curriculum requirements are required to pay all costs involved. These may include affiliation and entry fees, transport and other expenses. The Board of Trustees allocates an annual budget to support sport and cultural activities. This is mostly spent on equipment but the Sports Council may agree to support some activities.  Workday each year contributes to the sports and cultural funds.

Endeavour Magazine

This Magazine is produced each year as a record and is electronic but may be printed. Students feature in the annual magazine and we encourage all students to purchase this high-quality publication as a record of their schooling.

STATIONERY

Many subjects require the purchase of write-on student workbooks. These will be billed as stationery items as they are the students' books to take home and use in class.

Other stationery items will be packaged up as a one-off payment at the beginning of the year.

OTHER FEES

Year 7-13    $120  -  $300  Annual Camp contribution to food accommodation and transport (approx, varies for year groups)

Year 11-13    $50    Refundable Bond for a external courses (Aquaculture Dive Qualification)