Every two years, New Zealand schools consult with their community on the delivery of the Health Curriculum – as per requirements of the Education Act 1989 (Section 60B).
Kia ora Parents/Caregivers,
The following is an overview of Health Education at Mackenzie College and a link to the community feedback survey can be found at the bottom. This survey will help us to gather your thoughts and ideas about our Health Curriculum and help us further develop our programmes.
The survey has been emailed to students, staff, and parents/caregivers. If you would like further information about the Health Education programme or the consultation process, please contact Sam Nelson at samn@mackcollege.school.nz
Aim:
The aim of gathering feedback from the community is to help us create a draft Health Education delivery statement that summarises Health Education at Mackenzie College.
Why:
We see our consultation with the community about the Health Education programme as a valuable opportunity to:
• Refine and revise Health Education programmes – based on community needs and interest
• Assist in the development of well-being-related school policies
• Provide opportunity for students, teachers, parents and whānau to contribute to and enhance learning in Health Education at Mackenzie College
• Raise the profile of Health Education at Mackenzie College and the wider community.
Our School Vision: “Providing a unique and rich learning environment for our students, built on a foundation of excellence and care: The College of Choice”.
Our School Values: Maanakitanga (Kindness and Respect), Aspire (Wawata), Grit (Niwha), Integrity (Tika), and Creativity (Auaha).
Mackenzie College Draft Health Education Statement:
At Mackenzie College we offer a Health Education programme that gives every student opportunities to develop their critical thinking, attitudes and the values they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. They also learn that well-being is a combination of the physical, mental and emotional, social and spiritual aspects of people’s lives. These enable students to understand and bring about sustainable health-enhancing change for individuals, communities and the society. Health education helps students learn the values and key competencies of the New Zealand curriculum. We teach in a way that supports our school’s strategic goals of enabling students to develop the skills needed in a modern world, and become confident and socially responsible digital citizens.
Health Education is integrated. Key areas of learning provide contexts for students to develop skills to become physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. We explore: hauora and wellbeing; friendships and relationships; managing change and building resilience; food for health and wellbeing; sexuality and gender; and alcohol and other drugs. Throughout all of these topics, students will develop their ability to think critically, manage themselves, participate and contribute, and relate to others – key competencies in the NZ Curriculum.
Health Education is taught by qualified teachers who are trained through health education specialist courses to identify student learning needs and design a learning programme in this subject.
We also use external providers, such as South Canterbury District Public Health Health Nurse, Attitude, YMCA, and Life Education Trust to complement the health programme. Classes from these providers add real-life context to the learning students have already had in their health classes. All of the material covered in these lessons and the people providing these are reviewed by our Head of Health Education before delivery, to ensure it aligns with our school curriculum and meets the learning needs of our students.
All health and wellbeing initiatives at our school build on what is taught in these classes. Some groups of students are supported to be involved in student-led programmes that create an inclusive school community where being healthy and well is encouraged. Some may need further support, and we have a pastoral support team who can provide this. Where possible, our pastoral team builds on the learning students have received in these health classes.
Your feedback is important to us. Please click here to complete the Health survey by the 14th July.
Kindest Regards,
Sam Nelson Kelly Cassie Steve Onyett
Principal HOLA PE and Health Teacher of PE and Health