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Diocesan School for Girls

Page history last edited by Phil Pierce 10 years, 6 months ago

 

Partner institution: 

Diocesan School for Girls

 

Contributors (2013):

Sadie Burns 

 

Instructions:

Contributors: for details on what is required in each section, please look at the Guidance Notes

Contents: 

Placement Information

Accomodation

Transport

Social life

Things to do, things not to do

Useful Contacts

Before you go

Costs

Placement Information

Diocesan is a private, independant school for girls it has approximatly 1400 students aged from 4 1/2 up to year 13 and is also oped to foreign students. It was established in 1903,and founded on the Anglican faith which the school ensure all staff and students understand their anglican identity. The school campus is situated in stunning grounds with state-of-the-art educational and sporting facilities just a 10 minute bus ride from the downtown area. Diocesan School for Girls has a proud heritage, excellent academic, sporting and cultural achievements and visionary approach. Diocesan pride themselves on the ‘family’ feeling that pervades the school. It is a feeling of belonging that stems from the School’s holistic approach to education. The schools annual plan is built on 5 strategic pillars which are; Inspiring Leadership, Growing knowledge, Meaningful Relationships , Innovative Quality Enviroment and Purposeful Action. Dio state " while we teach conceptual knowledge and understanding, it is not enough to just 'know'. We want our girls to have insight- to influence others, to show empathy and make a humane difference to the world".

The language spoken amongst teachers and students is English except from when the students are partaking in Modern Foreign Language lessons or within Maori lessons. The school encorporates the Maori culture within their day to day lessons as students have the option to learn the language and traditions of the Maori tribes, they also partake in various festivals as a Maori performace group performing the traditonal Haka dance.

The school is split into two difffernt section the Junior school (Foundation to year 6), the New Zealand curriculum framework is the foundation of the Junior School curriculum. The essential learning areas are: language and languages; mathematics; science; technology; social sciences; the arts and health and physical well-being. The Junior school has 3 Educational Philosophies; The Primary Years Programme (PYP of the Internation Baccalaureate, The Pedagogy of Reggio Emilia and Te Whariki- New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum. The Junior school also has extra curricular activities such as their own orchestra, along with three choirs, and over 20 representative sports groups.

Secondary school (year 7 to year 13) this section of the school is slit into two again with lower second years 7-10  and higher second years 11-13. In this part of the school the teaching is at a very high leval as all teaching staff are specialists withing their particular field who have all designed a work scheme to enrich the students learning. All students have th eopportunities to work in fully equiped science labatories aswell has having the opportunity to work both inside and out in lessons form English and Maths to Social and Religious studies. The school period ios split into  terms unlike the usual 3 we have in England for 2013 the term dates are;

2013

 

Term 1 Wednesday 30 January - Thursday 18 April
Waitangi Day, Wednesday 6 February (School closed)
   
Term 2 Monday 6 May - Friday 5 July
Queen's Birthday, Monday 3 June (School closed)
   
Term 3 Monday 29 July - Friday 27 September
   
Term 4 Monday 14 October - Friday 6 December
Labour Weekend, Monday 28 October (School closed

Students also have the opportunity to partake in different  qualifications such as; NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) which is New Zealand's national secondary school qualification and International Baccalaureate Diploma which is a follow on qualification from the NCEA.

The Dio school day consists of 5 periods the first begining at 8:30am and then the last ending at 3:30pm. Some girls who are going for various awards with usually start their day by having their first lesson at 7am and working through till 3:30 with lunch and morning tea in between. Most girls at Dio do some kind of sport so they will arrive at school for 6am to partake in 2 hours of sport befor the school day starts.

Dio offer a range of extra curricular activies such as singing, music instraments and choir or orchstra groups aswell as all types of sports which happen throughout the day aswell as before or after school. Dio have a rang of quality facilies with  tennis courts and inside gym and aquatics center and astro turf.

Accomodation

 I stayed at the Jucy Hotel in centre of Auckland which is as backpackers hostal which incoporates either private/group rooms with shared bathrooms or private/group rooms with ensuite bathrooms this is a very basic but adequate accomodation. For all guests there is a communal cooking and living area equiped with all you basic esentials fridge, cooker,microvave and crockary. This is a very clean and welcoming hotel close to ammenities, Word to the wise DO NOT shop in the convience stores as they will rip you off there is a supermarket located behind the Jucy about 3 min walk is very cheap!!

Transport

Going  New Zealand unfortunatly entails a very long flight with several stops along the way, i would advise to pack a small wash bag in your had lugage as on long stop overs there are facitlies so you can shower and clean up, i made this mistake and after traveling for 30 hours you definatly will want a shower. I booked my flights seperatly to anything to else as wanted to shop around and get best deal, i flew with Emirates all the way and their customer service was second to none. Book your flights as early as you can as the closer the dates to leaving gets the price rockets. Altough being a 36 hour journey it is deffinatly worth it!!!

The bus service in Auckland is reliable although not that cheap, but if you invest in a HOP card you get discounted fare and is so much easier as like Nottingham bus drivers like the right change. you can get a student HOP card and i would adivse you to take ur student card as also most attractions will give you student discount!! The bus stop is 7019 (to get to the school for 8am you will need to get the 7:30am bus which is the 348) just outside the showergirls club 5 min walk for the Jucy, don't be worried to ask driver anything as they are all really friendly and happy to help. The Britomart center in about 10 mins for Jucy and this is where you can find all train and bus infomation again staff really friendly and helpful.

Getting to the hotel there is as airbus service which drops you at britomart for $16  this will also take you back to airport and runs every 15-30 mins or you can get the shuttle bus (which i did as was so tired) $33

Social life

Unfortunatly i was only able to stay for 2 weeks just enough time to complete my placement which really was not long enough to go exploring. Although there is alot to do its handy being in the city as about 15 min walk up the hill you have Auckland Uni's student union bar, also there is a very good nightlife as you walk up Queens street with various bars and clubs (you will need your passport as ID) safe area did not feel threatened walking about on my own at all. Depending on what you fancy doing there is the auckland zoo, museum, underwater sealife center, Sky tower amazing (i'd go at sun set its so cool) catch a ferry to wahieke island is beautiful deffinatly worth a day trip, you can also catch a bus or train to the south island. Something i would deffinatly recommend would be to go to Polyfest this is a Maori festival and is amazing i didnt think i would enjoy it but deffinatly worth a trip!!  

 

Things to do, things not to do

 

-Unlike most contries you can drink their the tap but, i would advise to drink bottled only for ease and due to weather temps the cold water is a warm temperature 

- Only shop in the countdown supermarket

- Take suncream if you are not used to the sun you can buy factor 100 when out there i would advise it as im used to the sun but still got badly burnt as temps were never lower than 32 degrees in the day.

- Drink as much as possible to kepp hydrated as ive said preivoulsy temperaters are silly hot!!!

- You can exchange money in UK or NZ exchange rate is the pretty much the same, also you can use you bank cards out there and all ATMs willl tell you the exchange rate befor you accept!!

-Get a NZ sim and do pay as you go as contracts will sting you either take a UNLOCKED pay as you go phone with you or you can buy one they are cheap out there

-if you have a smart phone you can use apps such as viber or whatsapp the JUCY do have internet $3 for 4 hours $15 for 24 or $50 for 7 days i had my laptop and smart phone so paid this but up to you!!

 

 

Useful Contacts

 

Main Reception

(8:00am-4:30pm)
Tel: +64 9 520 0221
Free: 0800 DIO GIRL (0800 346 4475)

Fax: +64 9 520 6778
Email:
office@diocesan.school.nz

 

I dealt with a teacher within the school as he is a family friend, but the school on a whole is very quick in replying and all staff are lovely  

Before you go

 

 Before you go, ensure that you have spoken to the setting about who will be your main point of contact there and have a arranged a time to start on your first day and where you will need to go when you enter the setting. Also, reasearching and reading through the schools webpage helps to provide a better understanding of the schools ethos and background information before you arrive.

Also, make sure you have researched what you need to find out during your placement experience, so you are better prepared for what to look out for and what questions you may need to ask to support and assist you - also taking a notebook to jot down notes as you go along may be beneficial to ensure that you don't forget any of the information you recieve!!

 

Costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

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