New Entrant Test, New Parents Evening, Start Dates

New Entrant Test:

Monday 25 November 2024 at 9.00am–11.15am (or thereabouts).

We undertake testing of all incoming Year 09 students. 

The testing is held in the School Hall.

This test is set by the Center for Assessment and Monitoring – University of Canterbury.  The test is three papers:  Maths; English; Reasoning Skills. 

Each paper is multi choice or one word/sum answers and covers various strands in each Curriculum area over several different levels – below/at/above.  There are no practise tests available.

The results are not shared, they become one aspect of the puzzle to place each child.

Boys need to bring a PEN and a water bottle.

Drop off is Kahu Rd, our back entrance.  You are looking for the entrance by Caddick, which is the building with the school crest on it.  We will have traffic cones for a drive and drop and staff will be in the area to direct the boys to the school hall.  Parents are not permitted in the Hall.

For pick up, I would strongly advise that you nominate a pickup point such as Tui Street – which runs along the back of the school of Kahu Road or look at Google Maps and find a good spot that enables you to move in the direction you need to be going, or even carpool with other parents from the same school.  Please remember that 290 boys will be being dropped/picked up, so congestion can be high. 

Class Placement:

Every year, we are asked, ‘How do you place my child?’.  Your child is placed in his class based on:

• Review of his academic data both from the New Entrant Test, his feeder-school and the report that you provide on enrolment.

• Other variables, such as relationships with others, student well-being, and individual student needs and information that is shared with us by feeder schools and families. 

All help me with the placements.

Subject Selection:

In Year 09 students study English, Maths, Science, Social Sciences, Physical Education/Health and choose a language to study for the year. They also do trimester courses in Art, Music/Performing Arts, and Technology. You will receive the subject choice email around mid-September. 

Language choice – please ensure you make a second choice, as some languages fill fast or due to the academic class placement, the language choice may be limited.

Choices are French, Japanese and Te Reo Māori.

Performing Arts choice – students can choose to do Music (stand-alone), Drama, or Performing Arts, which is a blend of Music and Drama.  We only have limited spaces in the Drama and Performing Arts programme.  Music is the default choice. 

Again, due to the academic class placement, the choice may be limited.

Dates for your calendar:

• New Parents evening – Tuesday 29 October 2024 - 5.30pm–6.30pm

• Entrance test – Monday 25 November 2024 - 8.45am drop off, pick up 11.15am (or thereabouts)

2025 Dates

Wednesday 5 February 2025

9.15am - Mihi Whakatau, meet at Te Kura Street (parents welcome to attend)

11.00am - To Kaitiaki class

12.00pm - Lunch

12.30pm - Tabloids House

2.30pm - Home

Looking forward to meeting you all and the boys over the next months, please feel free to contact me with any questions or to share.