Values and Learning Philosophies

Please click here to learn about Behaviour Management in the Middle School.

The vision for e-Learning at St Andrew’s College has the student at the centre of all learning and envisions learners who can connect confidently and actively in their community. We aim to produce responsible students who make informed decisions when using ICT in their learning.

To support this vision, all students are required to bring their own laptop, selected from a range of recommended models which are described in more detail here. This environment where there is one computer of comparable functionality to each student is known as 1:1 Computing. This is different from a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme where students can bring whatever computer they already own to class.

We believe there are several reasons why 1:1 computing is important for today’s students:

• we need to prepare our students for future tertiary study and the work environment;
• there are increased opportunities for collaborative learning;
• it increases access to a huge range of electronic resources, which help enhance learning;
• students with their own device find it a natural progression of our e-Learning strategies, tying in with the use of our e-Learning platforms;
• there are a number of pedagogical benefits:
  1. New Zealand Curriculum specifically references the value of e-Learning and
  2. International research shows the benefits of e-Learning for students;
• it is important to attract quality teachers who want to teach in a ‘digital classroom’;
• students exist in a largely ‘digital world’ outside of school, but school is often a non‑digital world. This programme has potential to increase engagement in learning as students use the tools they are most familiar with to facilitate their learning.

Digital Citizenship at St Andrew’s College comprises four strands which are embedded throughout the curriculum. This is reinforced for Year 9 students who are enrolled in a whole year Digital Literacy Programme.

 "Learners connecting confidently and actively within their communities"

Other Expectations

• students are required to abide by the College’s Cybersafety Agreement – respect yourself, respect others, and respect other people’s property online. The full Cybersafety Agreement can be found here: stac.nz/CybersafetyUseAgreement
• students use internet and computing resources for constructive educational purposes only; students should behave responsibly and appropriately on the College’s computer network just as they are expected to in the classroom or on the College grounds. Communications on the network are often public in nature. General school rules for behaviour and communications apply. The use of the network is a privilege, not a right. Students are personally responsible for their actions in accessing and utilising the College’s computer resources. Students are advised never to access, keep or send anything that they would not want their parents or teachers to see;
• although students may find ways to access other materials, we believe that the benefits for students in being able to access the internet for information resources, communication and collaboration exceed the disadvantages.  Ultimately, parents and caregivers are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using social media and information sources.

Points to Note

• a username and password for the Microsoft Office 365 environment is provided for each student, which must not be shared. Students have access to a personal College email account and the internet which is provided to support teaching and learning; a username and password for the Microsoft Office 365 environment is provided for each student, which must not be shared. Students have access to a personal College email account and the internet which is provided to support teaching and learning;
• wireless connectivity is available throughout the campus. Internet traffic is monitored, filtered and logged at all times, with some services like social media blocked during class time;
• students are actively encouraged to make use of cloud storage provided via Microsoft’s Office 365 and OneDrive services, providing backup of important school work files as well as cloud collaboration. Microsoft Office 365 storage areas and email accounts should contain school‑related material only. Periodically, network administrators may review email accounts and Office 365 storage to ensure that students are using the system responsibly;
• students are allocated a reasonable number of print credits each year. When these are exhausted, students pay for additional printing by topping up their credit at The Green Library and Innovation Centre;
• for any assistance regarding Information Technology, please see the ICT Department in TC205.

Additional Responsibilities

• students must make sure they have fully charged their laptop for the start of each day at school, and bring their charger to school each day;
• students must always store their laptop securely in their locker when not using it, e.g. P.E., assembly, lunchtimes etc. – they must not share their locker combination with anyone;
• students must consider personalising their laptop with a sticker, label or cover in some way – there will be many laptops of a similar model and being able to easily identify their laptop will be useful;
• students must report instances of inappropriate use to their tutor or Dean, e.g. online bullying/ harassment, viewing of objectionable or inappropriate content, or the illegal sharing of files such as movies or music;
• students must make sure the latest security patches are installed on their computer and their anti-virus software is up-to-date;
• students must check their College email every day at outlook.office365.com – their teachers and coaches will email them information;
• students must report any damage or problems to their parents and / or the ICT support team in TC205.

The following homework guidelines are taken into consideration when teachers assign homework to any student at St Andrew’s College:

We believe:

• homework is targeted, purposeful, and based on consolidating material already taught in class;
• homework is preparation for, as well as practice, reinforcement, and extension of classroom content and skills;
• homework encourages self-management, perseverance, and responsibility, which are important learning dispositions needed for success;
• homework should not require extra resources or excessive adult support in order for the student to be successful but can provide opportunities for parents to become involved in their child’s learning, although this will naturally tend to diminish as students progress through to Senior College;
• homework should provide opportunities for teachers to give learners feedback on progress;
• reading is essential in developing vocabulary and comprehension skills across all subject areas. It broadens knowledge, imagination, and impacts positively on well-being. Thirty minutes reading at least four times a week is strongly recommended at any level of secondary education.

Parents can support their child’s learning at any level of schooling through the following:

• make it part of your day to talk to your child about school: What are they learning? What do they find most interesting? What are they struggling with?
• support your child in developing regular routines. Research tells us that distributing or spacing the amount of time spent on any one subject is key to learning. Help your child create small spaces of time for homework and revision of material that has been previously taught. It is important that this space is away from any distractions;
• get involved, even when your son or daughter is in their final years at school. This doesn’t mean doing it for your child, nor should it involve assessing or marking it. Help them to adhere to agreed daily routines;
• check that they are clear about what their teacher’s expectations are. Find out about what they are learning, and what they are expected to produce from home;
• see homework as an opportunity for your child to test and get feedback on their learning. Help your child to see errors as a way to help them learn;
• ask your child to teach you a concept that they have recently learned. Research tells us that if they are able to teach someone else, they will have learned it;
• if your child says they do not have homework, is struggling, or needs some extension, encourage them to review material that has been previously taught, read widely, or get in touch with their tutor or teachers.

Fortnightly Feedback reports are an opportunity to get feedback on the completion and quality of homework in each subject. Useful resources on learning: stac.nz/LearningResources

Learning Support aims to provide students who have learning challenges with the extra help they need to develop their foundation skills in reading, writing and mathematics in particular. At Years 9 and 10 we have four accelerated learning classes, two at each year level, where students get intensive instruction to help them catch up so they are ready to tackle Level 1 NCEA. At Years 9 and 10 we also provide a literacy option for students who need to improve their reading and writing skills. Intensive one-on-one private tuition is also available for students in any year group with our Seabrook McKenzie tutors. There are also a range of extra tutoring opportunities.

At Year 11, the Learning Support Department runs special study groups for students who need help in specific areas.

Pastoral care is the integration of the academic, social and religious dimensions of the school, so that an atmosphere of care prevails.

Pastoral care seeks to respond to student needs such as:

• well-being;
• self-esteem and self-discipline;
• career counselling and vocational awareness;
• religious meaning and spirituality;
• moral and personal development;
• developing social relationships and effective communication;
• encouraging and supporting students in their sporting and cultural endeavours;
• knowledge, skills and academic progress.

The goals of the St Andrew’s College pastoral care system are to connect students to a key caring adult in the College system, to foster a sense of well-being amongst students, and to encourage students to maximise their potential in the school environment.

The Pastoral Care Committee meets weekly to discuss individual student’s needs and to develop policies to meet them. It is chaired by the Principal of Secondary School and includes the College Chaplain, the Director of Boarding, the Heads of Middle School and Senior College, the Head of Guidance, the Head of Learning Support, Director of High Performance Sport and the Director of International and Exchange Students. The committee co-ordinates the wide network of people providing pastoral care, which includes Deans, tutors, boarding house staff and Learning Support staff. 

Having the skills, dispositions and characteristics to lead one’s own learning is vital, both at and beyond school. That is why the key competencies of managing self, thinking, using language, symbols and texts, relating to others, and participating and contributing are taught alongside curriculum content and skills. Our aim is for students to understand what it means to be an effective learner. We want them to be independent, life-long learners. We want them to develop into adults who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate their future with confidence. We want them to flourish.

Manage Yourself
Be motivated, disciplined, reliable, resourceful, and resilient.

Think
Be curious about and critical of information, experiences, and ideas, using a range of processes and strategies.

Use Language, Symbols and Texts
Work with and make meaning of the ways in which ideas are expressed.

Relate to Others
Interact effectively with a diverse range of people.

Participate and Contribute
Be constructively involved in your community, at a classroom, College, local, national and/or global level.