CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL COLLEGE TO LIVE BY FAITH PROSPECTUS

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1 CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL COLLEGE TO LIVE BY FAITH PROSPECTUS

2 WELCOME TO CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL COLLEGE! If you are seeking a quality education for girls and boys from Year 7 (11 years old) to Year 13 (18 years old) based on the values of the Catholic Church and the teachings of Jesus, then you have come to the right place! Catholic Cathedral College was formed in 1987 with the amalgamation of Xavier College and Sacred Heart College. These two schools trace their origins back to 1868 when the first Catholic girls school in the city was opened by the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, followed 20 years later by the Marist Brothers with a school for boys. For more than 140 years Catholic education has been delivered on this site, against the backdrop of the beautiful Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Today the College is a vibrant multicultural community educating girls and boys from Year 7 to Year 13. This is the only Catholic co-educational College in the city. We follow the traditions of our two founders devoted to the teachings of Jesus and the Gospel message of faith, hope and love. By adhering to these values our students develop a sense of justice and care for the marginalised and disadvantaged, and this enables them to develop the skills to make a positive difference to their society. The purpose of our Catholic College is as Pope John Paul II described: to communicate Christ, and helping form Christ in the lives of others. Our central city position close to the Bus Exchange means that the College is easily accessible from all parts of the city. Our proximity to the CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology), the Christchurch School of Music and the city Performing Arts hub allows us to develop connections with a number significant tertiary training providers. Our students come from all over the city, and from many different cultures. There is a strong family spirit within the College that welcomes and respects all individuals. In the tradition of our founders we strive to provide the best opportunities for every student and know that through quality education we can transform lives and deliver excellent outcomes. Catholic Cathedral College is a special place of learning. We have much to offer your son or daughter. Come and join us. 2 3

3 EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUALS At Catholic Cathedral College we focus on the individual, on his or her skills, interests and abilities. Every learner has an individual learning plan which is developed with the Vertical Group teacher, student and parent. There is further input from the Careers Team, Heads of House, subject teachers, and academic tutors. The profile that is developed is designed to enable each learner to be the best that she or he can be through close monitoring and guidance. Our Special Character permeates all that we do. The Gospel values on which our College is based are evident in the relationships between students, and those between staff and students. This is reflected in our Pastoral care systems, the Vertical Family Groups, and the nurturing care of the teachers and Heads of each House. Students are encouraged and supported to develop selfmanagement and communication skills, interpersonal skills, resiliency and adaptability. They are encouraged to participate in a wide range of sporting, cultural and leadership opportunities. The curriculum is designed to best meet the needs of all learners, and is regularly reviewed and developed. All learners study Religious Studies and this reinforces the Gospel values which underpin all that we do. Our motto To live by faith focuses on what we truly value. Through each year of this programme our learners develop the key values and a better understanding of themselves and what their role in society may be. 4 5

4 We deliver the New Zealand Curriculum, with the vision that our young people will be confident, connected, actively involved life-long learners. We deliver the New Zealand Curriculum, with the vision that our young people will be confident, connected, actively involved life-long learners. This includes the key competencies: thinking, using language, symbols and texts, managing self, relating to others and participating and contributing. Our curriculum is developed with the following principles: high expectations, respect for the Treaty of Waitangi, cultural diversity, inclusiveness, a range of learning techniques, community engagement, coherence and future focus. Junior students are offered opportunities for success in all essential learning areas: Religious Studies, English, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, Science, Mathematics, Technology, Social Science and Learning Languages. Senior students are prepared for the National Certificate of Educational Attainment (NCEA), which is the main national qualification for secondary school students, and enables access to tertiary training and university. The senior curriculum is designed to offer flexibility, and a wide range of courses leading to academic and vocational pathways that will ensure success for all. Main Pathways: Academic leading to NCEA Level 3, University Entrance and Scholarship. Vocational leading to NCEA Level 2, vocational skills and qualifications. Gateway an alternative programme which offers both academic and vocational opportunities. STAR funded courses enable students to study courses through tertiary providers such as University of Canterbury and CPIT that would not usually be offered through the secondary school level. Distance Learning programmes using high definition video conferencing, students have access to a vast range of courses delivered by expert teachers through NZ Net. OUR CURRICULUM 6 7

5 JUNIOR SCHOOL SUBJECTS SENIOR SCHOOL SUBJECTS Compulsory Subjects Compulsory Subjects Year 7 English/ESOL Mathematics Science Social Studies Physical Education Sport Arts Music Art Technology Food & Nutrition Graphics Hard Materials Year 8 English /ESOL Mathematics Science Social Studies Physical Education Sport Arts Music Art Technology Food & Nutrition Graphics Hard Materials Year 9 Optional Subjects Year 9 Maori Choose one of these options for the full year English/ESOL Mathematics Science Social Studies Physical Education/Health Arts Music Art Drama Technology Food & Nutrition Digital Technology Hard Materials Textiles Graphics French Independent Studies Year 10 English/ESOL Mathematics Science Social Studies Physical Education/Health Arts Music Art Drama Media Technology Food & Nutrition Digital Technology Hard Materials Graphics Year 10 Maori French Independent Studies Year 11 NCEA L1 English or ESOL Mathematics Physical Education Optional Subjects Three chosen from: Art Business History Home Economics Maori Music Drama Digital Technology Science Media Design & Visual Communication (Graphics) Year 12 NCEA L2 Four chosen from: Art Biology Chemistry History Drama Catering & Hospitality Maori Mathematics Music Digital Technology Physical Education Physics Media Health Business English or ESOL Social Studies Hard Materials Design & Visual Communication (Graphics) Sports Leadership Year 13 NCEA L3 Five chosen from: Art Painting Art Design Art Photography Biology Chemistry Maori ESOL English Catering & Hospitality History Drama Design & Visual Communication (Graphics) Mathematics with Calculus Mathematics with Statistics Music Digital Technology Physical Education Physics Media Social Studies Business Hard Materials Some Year students may have the option of studying one or more subjects at Marian College, which currently shares our site. Distance Learning: There are many subjects available to senior students through distance learning, e.g. Japanese, French, Samoan etc. Students have a video conference lesson once a week and work independently in the other three periods. Correspondence Courses: These are available to all senior students. There is a huge range of specific courses covering broad areas such as Automotive Studies, Building, Business Studies, Engineering, Farming Studies, Radio and Electronics, Hairdressing, Child Care etc. Class placement in Year is largely based on each student s choice of option subjects. Minimum entry requirements exist for Year 12 and 13 subjects. 8 9

6 LEARNING SUPPORT Through precise use of data and information from provider schools we are able to develop individual learning plans. At Catholic Cathedral College we have an effective support network for all students. Through precise use of data and information from provider schools we are able to develop individual learning plans. Students with specific gaps in their knowledge or skills are identified and their individual plan will include details about how to best meet these particular learning needs. Our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENco) works with a team of teacher-aides to ensure that students get the support they need in the mainstream learning programme. We cater for students with learning difficulties in the key areas of literacy and numeracy in order to lift them to the required national standard levels. Gifted and talented students are identified and are extended through a range of opportunities and through access to the flexible curriculum. Their individual learning plans will detail their goals and expectations and frequent monitoring will ensure these are tracked and reviewed. With a wide range of cultures we have a significant number of English Language Learners who are well supported by a highly skilled teacher and assistants. The goal is to assist these students to develop the language capabilities to have opportunities for success in all learning areas. Our family-based Pastoral Care network has all students in one of four Houses. Within each House there are four Vertical Groups with a teacher who monitors the students on a daily basis, and a Head of House who looks over their learning goals, progress, effort and attendance. Advice, support and guidance are offered by all members of the Pastoral Care team, including the Careers staff and Guidance Counsellors. Students are all monitored and tracked to ensure they remain motivated and achieve their learning goals. Our student management system enables parents to check specific attendance and achievement data on a daily basis through a web-based parent portal

7 Our teachers enthusiastically embrace the technologies that continue to shape our 21st century education system. Through developing our students ability to be inquiring, selective, and discerning, they are able to search for information from a range of sources and transfer this to deep learning. Through access to a number of presentation tools our students are developing the confidence and skills to communicate effectively to a wider audience using a range of technologies and media. With a modern ultra-fast fibre connection and a wireless network over the campus students are able to bring their own device to support their learning. Taking care to ensure equality in access, we strive to enable all students to have access to portable devices that enable webaccess and gmail, google docs, etc. Library and Information Centre Our Library and Information Centre is placed in the centre of the campus and is available to students all day, including both before and after school. Our skilled librarian assists students to develop their research skills to enable them to be independent learners and this is effective preparation for future tertiary study. This facility is bright, warm and inviting, and is well stocked with books, magazines and reference material. A number of computers and laptops are available for students. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES 12 13

8 SPORTING AND CULTURAL Sport Catholic Cathedral College has a proud sporting record, excellent facilities and a high student participation rate. Our new sports centre boasts full-size netball and basketball courts, fitness centre, and mezzanine floor for spectators. Outdoor courts are floodlit and enable year round use both during the school day, afternoons and evenings. Available sports include: football, rugby, basketball, netball, badminton, tennis, golf, volleyball, touch rugby, cricket, futsal, indoor netball, indoor cricket, archery, gymnastics, and dragon boating. More than 80% of students play at least one sport, and most play both summer and winter codes. Cultural All students are invited to join any cultural group, regardless of ethnicity. Having a willingness to participate and learn new skills is all that is required. We have a skilled tutor to teach Kapa Haka, and students can be prepared to enter local and national competitions. Our Pasifika students are each year prepared by tutors for the Polyfest celebration in the city, and take pride in their quality performance. The Filipino students also work hard to retain their cultural dance and traditions and perform for a number of audiences. Opportunities to participate in Drama and Performing Arts are available at all levels, with an annual musical that attracts enthusiastic students of all ages. Through our innovative music programme that has every student in Years 7 and 8 learn a musical instrument, we have a range of performance groups from junior orchestra to a band and choirs to meet both classical and modern interests, such as the Glee Club

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10 CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL COLLEGE AND THE COMMUNITY Giving service to our community is a key feature of our College, our values, and enables us to truly follow in the footsteps of Jesus. There is an expectation that all students offer service to their College and community in some way, through identifying a need and addressing this. This may be fundraising for Caritas, assisting students in a local school, working with St Vincent de Paul or the City Mission, offering hospitality to visitors, welcoming new students, or visiting the sick and lonely members of our community. Through an awareness of the needs of others, particularly the marginalised, we are living our Gospel values and helping form Christ in the lives of others. We are also following our founders, Euphrasie Barbier and Marcellin Champagnat as they were dedicated to these same Gospel values

11 We have much to offer outside the classroom Sports OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM Athletics Badminton Cricket Cross Country Dragon Boating Football Futsal Golf Gymnastics Hockey Indoor Netball Indoor Football Lawn Bowls Netball Rugby Sport Climbing Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Volleyball Musical Activities Beginner Brass Group Beginner Strings Christchurch School of Music Junior Choir Junior Concert Band Orchestras Percussion Group Rock Band String Emsemble Year 9 Performance Other Activities BP Technology Challenge Chess Debating Filipino Cultural Group Film and Ad Making Maori Kapa Haka Group Outdoor Education Camps Pacifica Culture Group Radio Station Science Fair Shakespeare Festival Speeches Stage Challenge OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM 20 21

12 CONTACT INFORMATION Catholic Cathedral College 62 Ferry Road PO Box Christchurch New Zealand Phone: admin@cathcollege.school.nz For more information on entry requirements, fees, uniform and international students please visit our website: www. cathcollege.school.nz 22 23

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