All students at Wairarapa College are placed in a Vertical Whānau Class. This Whānau class is made up of a mixture of students from all year levels. Students will remain with this class for their time at the college. The aim of the Whānau Class is to:
Each Vertical Whānau class is attached to a house: Rangitumau, Maungarake, Tararua, Remutaka, Puketoi or Aorangi. Throughout the year, there is a range of inter-house competitions including Athletic / Swimming Sports, Cross Country, House Singing, Tug of War, and General Knowledge. These events are organised by the House teacher leader and student house leaders.
Our student support team provides learning support for ESOL students and students with learning needs, such as dyslexia, ADHD and ASD. We have two learning support teachers, Mrs Ella Kokx and Mrs Bridget Price and teacher aides who work in and out of the classroom with students. We also have two learning support coordinators Mr Alistair Morrison and Ms Rachel Harvey.
Our qualified counsellors are trained to help students with all sorts of life challenges such as relationships, mood and addiction.
Our whānau liaison student support teacher nurtures strong home-school partnerships during times when rangatahi require more intensive wrap-around support. This support includes an advocacy service, helping rangatahi and their whānau navigate the school system and wider community agencies.
The school has a Careers Advisor available to give advice to students. This encourages all students and families to utilise the facilities and personnel in the college to make informed decisions about future subject choices, further training, work experience or tertiary educational opportunities.
Tu Ora Compass Health provide us with nursing staff; this includes a registered nurse, a part time mental health nurse, and a nurse practitioner who comes to school one morning each week. The service provided is free and confidential. The nurses work on an appointment basis and provide care for injuries, sexual health, mental health, chronic conditions and anything else that concerns the student. If your child becomes ill during the school day, they see office staff in the first instance. If your child is ill and needs to go home, the office will contact you so that they can be collected. Please make sure that your contact details are accurate. It is important that all medical details are disclosed to the school, so that we can manage your child’s condition appropriately.
The SCL provides support for special education high and very high needs ORS students please see Mrs Amanda Kawana. Amanda runs our amazing Whare Awhina Supported Learning Centre. Students attending the Supported Learning Centre can also access mainstream classes. https://waicol.co.nz/our-learning-experience/whare-awhina-supported-learning-centre/
Mr Rory Hughes provides support, enrichment and extension for our identified gifted students.
We also employ Youth Workers who mentor and support students.
Staff can be contacted through our office and students can contact staff via email, TEAMs or face to face.
Wairarapa College has partnership with numerous community-based agencies, who provide support to students and whanau, both during and after school. Agencies can support our students and whanau with:
For Parents and Whānau, the first point of contact about any general concerns or questions to do with your child’s progress should be the Whānau teacher.
LEARN WITH PURPOSE
ENGAGE WITH PRIDE
ACT WITH RESPECT
DARE TO SUCCEED