Student Welfare
Student welfare is very important to us. Our International Education Co-ordinator regularly meets with the students. She ensures they settle into their homestay, collects or delivers them to or from the airport, and arranges medical and dental appointments if required. The Co-ordinator ensures all the students' families are kept up-to-date with the student’s academic progress and well-being. Dannevirke High School is a signatory to the New Zealand Ministry of Education Code of Practice which ensures all International Students are provided with quality pastoral care. A 24/7 Emergency telephone number is manned by experienced staff in case of any emergency phone 027 249 8004.
Accommodation
Our International Students are placed with local ‘Kiwi’ families who are carefully selected to ensure International Students have the opportunity to experience the Kiwi home life in a safe, caring living environment. All our host families are police vetted. The host families are visited by our International Education Co-ordinator who also acts as a liaison between the school, student, homestay, and the student’s parents/agents.
We believe that placing Dannevirke High School International Students into homestay accommodation is in the best interest of the students. Academic progress enhances when students are continually exposed to the use of the English language and greater study time is available within a homestay environment.
English Language Support
Dannevirke High School employs a specialist, qualified ESOL (English as a Second Language) teacher who offers various levels of English Language instruction. Students are assessed on their arrival at the School and are placed into either ESOL or mainstream English classes according to their needs. Students also have the opportunity to sit IELTS examinations as well as NCEA.
Course Information
International Students are integrated into our usual mainstream classes. We offer a wide selection of approved NZQA (New Zealand Qualification Authority) courses covering various subjects for NCEA Level 1, NCEA Level 2, and NCEA Level 3. We suggest that if you are planning to study in New Zealand for all three NCEA levels, that you consider coming to Dannevirke High School for Year 10 - either the whole school year or at least two terms. This enables the students to learn the New Zealand education system and adapt to life in New Zealand prior to having to start their NCEA qualifications. Our courses include academic options as well as vocational and interest-based courses allowing International Students to structure a course that meets the needs of their international experience. Itinerant music lessons for almost any musical instrument are available for beginners to more experienced musicians. Please note that the New Zealand school year starts late January or early February and finishes early December. Enrolments are accepted during the school academic year for all year levels.