Enrichment Programme

To complement the core curriculum, St Heliers School provides a wide range of experiences and resources to foster student learning.

After hours programmes
From time to time programmes are offered by specialist tutors on site after the end of the school day.

Aquatics
St Heliers School features an aquatics programme that prepares students for safe use of the local environment and develops basic swimming competencies.

Water Safety and Basics
The school swimming pool is used by Year 1 & 2 students to develop water safety and basic swimming competencies.

Tutored Swim Programme
Students from Years 3 to 6 are tutored by specialist swimming tutors at the YMCA Pool in Glen Innes.

Aquapass
This is a swim skill and personal survival programme for Year 7 students at Swimarama Pool in Panmure.

Waterwise
St Heliers School is one of seven schools that form the Okahu Bay Waterwise Society. The Waterwise group own Optimist sailing dinghies and kayaks. Year 8 students receive instruction in sailing and kayaking. This is carried out by trained instructors and is dependent on parent support.

Education out of the classroom
Opportunities are provided for students to make use of resources within our region. These experiences are an important part of enriching learning.

ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
The school has a language unit which caters for students for whom English is not their first language and who need extra support in English to enable them to fully participate in classroom programmes.

Essay Competition
Through a generous bequest Year 8 students take part in ‘The Whitley Family Essay Competition’ which provides two substantial prizes to assist students with their secondary school education expenses.

External academic examinations
All our Year 4 - 8 students take part in the International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS) (formerly Australasian Schools Competition) in English and Mathematics. Individuals also enter other ICAS competitions. Year 7 and 8 students take part in the University of Otago’s ‘Problem Challenge’. There are also many opportunities during the year for the students to take part in other external competitions or challenges including Science Fairs, Mathex and Kids Literature Quiz.

ICT Web Team
A selected group of students are responsible for presenting news and events on the school’s website.

Performing Arts
Each year many opportunities are available for students to take part in performing arts groups, including the school choir, a modern dance / aerobic group, hip hop and jump jam (students leading other students in aerobic exercise).

Religious Instruction
Religious instruction is not compulsory but is available as part of our local curriculum. The ‘Bible in Schools’ programme has a defined syllabus. It is offered to junior classes and is largely dependent on the availability of volunteer tutors.

School camp
A school camp is offered to senior students each year. The camps are ‘Education Outside the Classroom’ programmes and seek to test communication, problem solving, self-management, social co-operation and physical skills. They are great fun and eagerly awaited by students.

Second language programme
German is offered to Year 7 and Year 8 students. A specialist language tutor is employed to deliver this programme.

Speech contest
Each year, students from Years 5 & 6 and Years 7 & 8 compete to represent the school at a prepared and impromptu speech competition held throughout the Auckland region.

Sport
Classroom sports programmes occur weekly providing opportunities for healthy competition. Representative opportunities are also provided for senior students to compete in many codes at zone competitions.

Student Council
Students from Years 3 - 8 make up the Student Council. Each classroom has two elected representatives who are issued with a badge. They attend regular meetings to discuss issues, help organise school events and support students, staff and community.

Student leaders
Several Year 8 students are selected to be School Leaders. They have a range of duties around the school and are issued with a badge. They support students, staff and community.

Student leadership opportunities
Opportunities exist for students to develop leadership and complementary skills through becoming student monitors. These include librarians, bank tellers for school banking, road patrol monitors and membership of the Student Council.