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Prospectus


We are proud that Bayfield students will be the leaders of tomorrow in a modern world. The education students receive at Bayfield equips them to face the challenges of the new millennium and to fully contribute to society.

Bayfield is proud of its reputation as an innovative, modern, co-educational school.

We emphasise academic achievement within a range of programmes which offer total educational opportunity. We have become one of the top performing schools in Otago academically while at the same time we have a reputation for providing many cultural and sporting activities. Our students are ready to face the challenges of modern society.

We are proudly and confidently co-educational. We feel that in our co-educational setting our students can learn in a healthy natural and safe environment. We believe that young people should be taught to be able to contribute fully in a world where women and men work together.

Bayfield is a truly modern school. Students have available to them more than 200 computers, the internet and a very powerful intranet to enhance their learning and help them become proficient with the high technology skills needed for modern society.

In this prospectus you will get a glimpse of the high quality education Bayfield has to offer. You will see modern buildings and the latest learning tools. You will also read about unique programmes which have gained Bayfield an international reputation.

If you would like to visit the school and see for yourself we would be happy to organise a visit at a time convenient to you.

We look forward to working with you.


D A Slowley
Principal


Co-educational Education

Bayfield is proudly and confidently co-educational.

At Bayfield High School , the education of boys and girls together is seen as the most healthy, natural and normal setting for learning. It is our way of recognizing the equality of opportunities for sexes.

We provide a broad range of activities and experiences, tailored to meet the developmental needs of the widest possible range of individuals.

The achievement of our students in all aspects of our innovative programmes is testimony to the success of our philosophy and our systems.

Because we are co-educational we can focus on meeting the developmental needs of each student as an individual within a natural social context.

Recent research clearly backs our stance. There is no evidence girls are disadvantaged by co-educational schools. In fact the research indicates girls do better in all aspects including personal self confidence and academic success.

The evidence for boys is quite clear. Boys do better academically and socially in a co-educational setting. Boys also report greater enjoyment and higher self esteem as well as exhibiting fewer sexist attitudes.

There is no greater testament to the value of co-education than the success of our students in the tertiary and work settings. The world beyond school is co-educational and students from Bayfield are highly regarded in both settings for their maturity, their study habits and their balanced approach to life.

Leadership and Personal Growth

At Bayfield High School we place an emphasis on all our students becoming active citizens each with their own unique contribution. Our reputation is for developing the skills and abilities of our young people allowing them the chance to grow to adulthood in a safe and secure environment.

We offer students many opportunities for leadership within our co-educational setting. The school has a Student Council which operates as a ‘school parliament’. Through it, students have a chance to have their say in the running of the school. In addition we have a variety of peer support systems and House leaders. Students can become peer tutors, peer mediators, sports coaches or participate in a variety of councils or consultative bodies within the school.

Bayfield High School is centered on its students. We encourage all of our young people to become active participants in the life of the school - an important step towards becoming fully participating citizens in the modern world.

Bayfield is a safe and open school in which students can grow and develop as individuals. They learn to work together and to be part of a cooperative environment in which they feel they can use their talents or develop new skills in leadership. Comments made about our students include such phases as: “the most mature group of young people I have had to deal with” “you should be proud of your young people; they are amongst the nicest teenagers I have met”

Broad Education

We are committed to providing a broad education for all students. Bayfield has an increasingly international reputation for excellence. We take pride in our ability to provide a full range of academic or vocational courses suitable for each student’s chosen direction in life. We are also proud of our unique programmes in Years 9 – 10 which teach students how to learn.

All students are offered personal guidance to plan their education, identifying short and long term goals and the steps needed to achieve them. In the junior school students are taught to set personal goals and develop learning skills. In the senior school we have developed courses which will allow students to progress in a way that best suits their future needs. We prepare students for university and other tertiary education as well as offering a series of courses in careers and work skills. We also offer a range of opportunities for students to experience the world of work through work experience and Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) Courses.

In years 9 and 10 students experience our “Learning to Learn” Curriculum. Through this curriculum students are taught the skills of learning such as cooperative learning, self evaluation, reflection and self management.

We recognize that the modern world requires young people to be literate and numerate, skillful in scientific knowledge, while being able to work as part of a team, manage themselves and other people. We also recognize that society expects our young people to be life long learners. That is why throughout their time at Bayfield a student’s personal skills are recognized as being as important as their academic skills.

Students who move into the workforce from Bayfield High School are keenly sought after by employers for their work and social skills.

Cultural Life

We believe in a holistic education. Students who come to Bayfield are offered a wide range of cultural activities. Those activities include Music, Drama, Dance, Photography, Practical Art, as well as Maori and Pacific Island Culture. All students in Year 9 take Practical Music.

Bayfield has a national reputation for music and all students are encouraged to participate in the Orchestras, Chamber Music group, Jazz Band, Choirs and Stage Productions. Our teachers of music are among the best in New Zealand . Students from Year 11 and above who wish to specialise in music have the chance to become members of our Music Academy . In this Academy students will have the opportunity to advance their musical skills and qualifications as well as be involved in performance music. Students may also gain qualifications in lighting, sound and set making.

We also have a wide reputation for our drama. Each year the school has an excellent stage production which is open to all students. In this production students gain invaluable experience and qualifications in stagecraft, stage management and self-expression. There are many wide opportunities for students to express, through theatre sports, public speaking and debating and to gain self confidence and maturity.

Bayfield is also justifiably proud of its Visual Arts programmes. Each year the school holds a variety of art exhibitions and shows in a range of locations around the city. Through these events our students have a well-deserved reputation for excellence in both art and photography. Indeed Bayfield students are regarded by the local Tertiary institutes as being amongst their best students.

Students may also become part of our thriving Multi-Cultural Group which already has gained accolades for its performance and skill. In the group students can experience other cultures as well as advance their skills of performance.

Caring Environment

Because education provides such a strong social context, all students are made to be welcome and secure. We take pride in our low incidence of bullying at Bayfield, and in our Charter of Student Rights. We know your son or daughter will gain the best from the opportunities offered by the school because we are open and friendly, know our students well and the expectations of our community.

Whatever the concern, people are always ready to help. Each student is part of a House. Within that House they are part of a Tutor group, looked after by a Tutor teacher. Each House has a Dean whose role is the care of students within the house. In addition there are two Guidance Counsellors who are available to help with any concerns students or parents may have.

We ensure that our staff are all trained to work with students so they have all the assistance they require to meet their needs.

Students are encouraged to help each other. There are a variety of peer support and student support groups throughout the school aimed at making everyone feel part of the school. These groups give the school a strong sense of ownership by the students.

From the moment a student enters our school to when they leave Bayfield we will ensure we will be focused on equipping them to cope with the demands of their life at school and the world beyond school. This will cover not only personal concerns but study skills, homework and revision as well as career choice and subject selection.

We care about the future of your son or daughter and will work with you to guarantee that their time at Bayfield is positive and enjoyable.

Academic Achievement

Bayfield High School has a strong focus on individual achievement. All students are encouraged to reach their potential in our caring and safe environment. From the moment they enter the school they are treated as individual learners and we work to meet their specific needs including teaching them how to learn in our unique “Learning to Learn” Curriculum Years 9 – 10.

We are proud that Bayfield is one of Otago’s top performing schools.

The basis of our success is the broad and modern curriculum which enables all students to reach their potential. This curriculum also focuses on the essential skills all students will need to become learners for life.

During the Year 9 (Form 3) and Year 10 (Form 4) emphasis is placed on mastering the basic learning skills. Students are taught to set goals and to take charge of their own learning. In this way we ensure that at the end of Year 10 (Form 4) our students are ready for the demands of the senior school and already have the foundation for independent study.

In the senior school, students are offered a wide range of subjects suitable for the direction they are going in life. Courses are flexible and designed to suit individual needs and abilities. Students may take purely academic courses, work orientated courses or a mixture of both. Some courses, particularly in Computer Design and Webpage construction are unique to the school.

We also offer extension programmes and a Gifted and Talented Programme at both senior and junior level designed to develop your son or daughter intellectually. At the same time we have a highly professional group of staff who cater for students with learning difficulties

We see education and learning as a lifetime commitment. Students at Bayfield High School are taught to be lifetime learners.

Sport

We have a proud tradition at Bayfield and all students are encouraged to participate in sport. We take pride in the many national and international achievements students or former students from Bayfield have obtained.

Students who come to Bayfield may choose from more than 20 different sports. Each sport is supported with expert guidance so students may develop their talents while enjoying the sporting experience.

Students also have the chance to gain a Sporting Scholarship which enables them to access top level coaching in the sport of their choice. They may also become part of the school’s unique Sports Academy which allows a student to specialize in sport and gain qualifications which will take them on into the world of sport.

Also, senior students have the opportunity to take on a coaching role, gaining skills which will prove valuable in their life beyond school.

Among the sports available at Bayfield are:

•Athletics •Canoe Polo •Golf
•Netball •Rowing •Skiing
•Tennis •Triathlon •Yachting
•Badminton •Canoeing •Hockey
•Rock Climbing •Snowboarding •Soccer
•Table Tennis •Volleyball •Basketball
•Cricket •Horse Riding •Rugby
•Softball •Squash •Touch Rugby
•Waterpolo

 

Outdoor Education

Bayfield is proud of the Outdoor Education Programme it offers. The programme allows students the opportunity to learn and gain skills which will enable them to build their self-esteem and self-confidence. All students in Year 10 are offered an exciting and challenging camping experience at the end of the year. In Year 11 students are offered the chance to take part in an extended outdoor activity.

In the senior school, students at Bayfield also have the opportunity to gain qualifications in our Outdoor Education Course. This supplements the already extensive extra and co-curricular experiences the school offers. Students may also take part in other subject-based field trips.

In all outdoor education activities safety is emphasised. The school has staff trained in all aspects of safety and outdoor activities to ensure each student is secure and the experience is rewarding and fulfilling.

Community Relationships

Bayfield High School is proud of its reputation as a community oriented school.

Parents and caregivers making the transition from primary or intermediate to secondary school may fear they will lose touch with their child's school. At Bayfield we endeavour to ensure that this does not happen. We know that a strong partnership with parents/caregivers is vital if we are to meet the needs of students.

Parents and caregivers are always welcome at the school to discuss the progress of their son or daughter. The Principal is available at any time by telephone or in person.

Because of the school’s modern approach to learning parents may also participate in the learning using the school’s intranet and web page. Staff are also readily available by email.

The school has a strong Parent Teacher Student Association, which meets once a month. This is a great way for new parents to meet other parents and to learn more about the school.

Parents may wish to develop closer contact with the school by offering; assistance with school camps and trips, sideline encouragment at sporting events, and support of students with learning difficulties. The value of such help cannot be overstated - many activities could not go ahead without parental participation.

Each term the school produces a community newspaper which celebrates not only the achievement of the school but also of the local community.