ACHIEVING FOR
LIFE Cobham I N T E R M E D I AT E
PROSPECTUS
2014
OUR CREST The design has a triple twist shape which
our school not really knowing what is in store
represents the 3 baskets of knowledge in
for them, then everything becomes clear.
the Maori culture. The steps represent the
They move back into darkness unsure of what
steps to higher learning, and the water shows
the future holds. Finally they move from the
tranquillity and calmness. The Waimakariri is
tranquillity of the water to reach for the stars
represented, as are the Canterbury Plains.
and their dreams.
A mountain (Mt Cook/Aorangi/Aoraki) is also
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shown with the long white cloud of New
He Kahurangi to tangata me to pono.
Zealand/Aotearoa and the stars depict the
(People of honesty and integrity).
Southern Cross and the Pointers.
The significance of the statement in Maori is
The fading of colours from dark to light, and
that it reflects the virtues of honesty, service
back to dark, represents the children entering
and endeavour of our school crest.
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WELCOME Welcome to the Cobham Intermediate Prospectus, the aim of which is to provide an insight into our great school and the amazing array of opportunities on offer.
Scott Thelning Principal
I am honoured to be principal at Cobham and feel very fortunate to work in such a talent rich environment. We are very proud of our positive reputation as a quality school that fully utilises the benefits of a large size to provide options for individual students. Challenge, expectation and growth in a junior high school type setting.
with a sample of what we have to offer in our specialised setting for what is recognised as a key stage in human development. I encourage you to visit our website for further information, talk to people associated with our school and to come and have a chat with me and see our super students and staff in action. We welcome and appreciate your interest and look forward to assisting you in any way we can. Enjoy what we have to offer and I look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you.
In our Prospectus we aim to provide you and your child(ren)
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OUR VISION A specialised school for Year 7 and 8 students where they become empowered, actively involved life-long learners who develop the skills to build positive relationships and enjoy successes through being in a stimulating, safe learning environment.
OUR MOTTO
ACHIEVING FOR LIFE
In order for our motto to become
own unique ways. We value
the highest achievement levels
a reality, it is our aim to have
students being known by teachers
possible.
each student reach their potential
within the teams they are
through quality learning and
clustered in and by staff across
Thirdly, Cobham has a wide
teaching with specialist teachers
the school. This is necessary if we
variety of opportunities outside
who understand the unique needs
are to meet their needs and allow
the classroom. We are recognised
of early adolescents. Our sole focus
them to flourish and grow.
and well regarded for our music
at Cobham is achieving this for this
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programmes and the performing
specific age group. There are 3 key
Secondly, we place an emphasis
arts in general, along with a history
aspects to this.
on achievement. Our record in
of success in local, regional and
local, regional, national and
national sporting events.
First, we place an emphasis
international competitions and
on individuals. It is important
events is outstanding. Students
to us that our students can be
are encouraged to achieve
themselves and develop in their
personal goals, and to reach
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OUR CURRICULUM Cobham offers a diversity of opportunities across academic, cultural and sporting domains, a strength that
At Cobham we recognise that not all students are the same and therefore do not all learn, think
meets the educational needs of our multi-cultural intake
and act in the same way. We
and provides rich experiences across the curriculum.
cater for these unique differences by utilising our large roll size to generate multiple options and opportunities across the school. This, coupled with a thorough and robust class placement process, allows us to carefully place each student in a class and with a homeroom teacher who might best meet the particular needs, learning styles and interests of each student. At Cobham we provide the following class options to meet the diverse needs of our students: • Broad-banded classes of students with the complete range of abilities reflecting the norms of New Zealand schools. • Classes for students who we believe are suited to accelerated learning. • Inquiry learning based classes – these classes enable students to have a major input into what and how they learn,
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make greater allowance for
• English as a Second Language
values and key competencies.
learning styles and put the
programmes for students who
All students will experience the
onus on students to take more
need English language assistance.
full breadth and depth of the
personal responsibility for their
curriculum as stipulated over
learning. Parents and students
Cobham is committed to the delivery
must register their interest for
of the New Zealand Curriculum,
these classes. Selection is not
including its stated vision, principles,
the page.
guaranteed. • Extension groups/classes for students with aptitude and faster learning rates in mathematics and some strands of English. • Learning support for all students with identified specific needs through individual or small group teaching.
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OUR SUBJECTS All students will be placed in a
All students study with homeroom
All students study with specialist
class with a homeroom teacher.
teachers:
teachers:
Generally students will remain
• Literacy – oral, written and
• Mathematics – ability groups
with this same class group and
visual English
across both year groups
homeroom teacher for both Year
• Outdoor Education
• Science
7 and 8. Students, parents and/
• Social Studies
• Physical Education
or teachers may, for a variety of
• Health and Physical Education
• Sports
reasons, opt for a change in the
• Social Skills
• Music
second year. All are consulted prior
• Information Technology
• Languages – Te Reo, French,
to changes being made.
(computers and multimedia)
Spanish, Japanese • Visual Art • Hard Materials – Metal, Plastics, Glass, Wood Technology • Soft Materials – Clothing • Food Technology
The values of respect, excellence, diversity and integrity underpin all that we do and are infused throughout our learning and teaching programmes. It is expected that everyone within our school community takes ownership of, accepts responsibility for and embraces these values.
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Optional areas for students to study: • Instrumental Music - including orchestral, chamber group, rock band, itinerant and private tuition • Kapa Haka • Choral Music – choir and chorale • Drama/Dance Specialist facilities include: • Science and Technology Centre • Performing Arts Centre • Hayley Westenra Music Centre • Art room • Haberfield Hall/Gymnasium • Library • Learning Centre • Learning support rooms • ESOL teaching rooms • Food Technology room • Clothing Technology room • Metal/Plastics/Glass Technology room • Wood Technology room • Canteen
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SPORT Success in the full spectrum of
All students participate in sport
sporting pursuits has traditionally
every Tuesday afternoon, either
been a key feature of Cobham. In
at school or at another venue
both individual and team sports
representing Cobham against
our students have excelled at
other intermediate schools. Sports
local, regional and national levels.
available are: athletics, badminton,
For example, in 2011 we sent
basketball, cross country, cricket,
48 students to participate in the
dance, football, hockey, netball,
prestigious AIMS Games (national
rippa rugby, rollerblading, rugby
competition for intermediate and
union, sailing, skiing, softball,
middle schools) in Tauranga. 46
squash, swimming, table tennis,
students returned with a top
touch rugby, volleyball and
3 medal.
water polo. We value parental involvement in supporting and enhancing our sporting programmes.
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MUSIC & CULTURE Cobham is highly regarded for the quality music programmes it offers and this provides a significant attraction for many students. In 2012 we have a 60 member orchestra, 15 member chamber orchestra, 80 member choir, 80 member chorale and a newly formed rock band. We consistently have a significant number of students who successfully audition for the Christchurch Schools Music Festival. In addition to the groups above we have 11 itinerant and private tutors who provide specialist tuition in a wide variety of instruments. These cater for students across the spectrum of experience. Tuition is offered in: clarinet, saxophone, flute, violin, piano, drums, bass, guitar, keyboard, voice, cello and brass.
Performing arts are also very well catered for at Cobham. We recently wowed parents with an outstanding performance at J Rock, have multiple dance groups and produce outstanding (recognised as to a secondary school level) major productions every two years. Our strong Kapa Haka group perform with distinction at the annual Christchurch Cultural Festival. At Cobham we are proud to accommodate the needs of 25 different ethnic backgrounds. We are a sought after institution for international education with one of the highest number of long term enrolments in the primary and intermediate sector in Christchurch.
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ACHIEVEMENTS & SUCCESSES The achievements of Cobham students are a reflection of the broad range of activities available and extremely talented staff that facilitate these opportunities for success.
Cobham has a strong history of high achievement and success across the curriculum, whether it be local, regional, national or international events. We value high performance and are very proud of the attainments of our students. One of the benefits of a large school is the range of talents on offer from the staff due to this increased pool. We have talented, motivated and dedicated staff. These, along with targeted specialists from outside of our school, are used effectively to facilitate high achievement. Future Problem Solving (FPS) thrives at Cobham. A highlight for us was gaining 5th place at the FPS
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RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS Future Problem Solving – consistently placing high in New Zealand; 2011 5th in the World Finals in United States of America. Literature Quiz – 2012 1st in Canterbury, 3rd in New Zealand; 2013 1st in Canterbury, 5th in New Zealand. Cantamaths – Current Year 7 Champions; traditionally very successful and regularly in the top 4. Chess – 2011 1st in Canterbury and South Island finals. New Zealand Association for Intermediate and Middle Schools Games – send 40-60 students each year and achieve high proportion of top three placings. National boys hockey champions last two years. Regular and consistent success at local and regional sporting tournaments. Canterbury Science Fair – traditionally very successful. For the past three years Cobham has won approximately 1/3 of the total prizes, including 2nd and 3rd Best in Fair (including secondary school entries). Chorale - last year 25% of the special choir at the Christchurch Schools Music Festival was made up from Cobham students. Canterbury Intermediate Speech Competition - held for the first time in 2012. Cobham won it. World Finals in the United States of America in 2011 (1st place in the Drama Section). Cobham also receives a disproportionate number of awards at the Canterbury Science Fairs. In 2011 Cobham on its own secured over 1/3 of the prizes on offer, including second and third Best in Fair, which is open to secondary schools. Cantamaths, Literature Quiz, chess, sports, music and academic competitions are other areas that Cobham is renowned for success.
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EXTRA CURRICULAR We have shared with you many of
It is important we engage and not
the opportunities on offer outside
enrage our students and allow them
of the traditional classroom at
to have a voice in our school. We
Cobham. We encourage students
have introduced new leadership
to make the most of their time
roles for students and these have
with us and explore, discover and
been very well received. We have a
put themselves forward for new
head and deputy head girl and boy,
activities to enable any new talents
24 house captains (4 for each house)
and passions to be discovered.
and are soon to announce student leaders in the following areas:
During their time at Cobham
technology, culture, environment,
students will participate in sailing,
sport, music, dance/drama and
skiing, tenting at Kaituna in Year 7
arts. These enable us to foster and
and other styles of camps in Year 8.
grow leadership and provide a voice for, and an opportunity for development in these areas. In addition to these we have a student council led by the four head and deputy head students. These four also work with the principal on developing their leadership skills and school and community projects.
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ENROLMENT DETAILS Cobham Intermediate School has an enrolment scheme to limit the roll and prevent overcrowding. Students who live within our enrolment zone are entitled to enrol at our school. If you live outside our enrolment zone you are entitled to apply for enrolment. The number of places available for these students will be determined by the number of both in-zone and out-of-zone enrolments. Should the number of applications exceed the number of places available, a supervised ballot will be held with the following priority groups being allocated places in order until the available places are filled. 1. 2. 3. 4.
Siblings of current students Siblings of former students Children of former students Children of board employees or children of members of the board of the school 5. All other applicants We request that all in and out of zone enrolments be submitted to us by Friday 30 August. For full details of this process, including a copy of our enrolment zone, dates and timelines please either visit our website or contact our team in the office. Full details regarding class placements, entrance testing, uniform, key dates, stationery and other associated information will be provided on confirmation of enrolment. This is also available on our website.
CONTACT US For further information or to request an enrolment pack contact: 294 Ilam Road, Burnside P.O. Box 29411 Christchurch Telephone: +64 3 351 6381 Email: office@cobham.school.nz www.cobham.school.nz
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Cobham I N T E R M E D I AT E
294 Ilam Road, Burnside P.O. Box 29411 Christchurch Telephone: +64 3 351 6381 Email: office@cobham.school.nz www.cobham.school.nz