Curriculum Overview
At Dio, we see school as a place to seek and build knowledge, explore new ideas, and work to achieve the highest possible standards.
Curriculum & Teaching that Engages
Waikato Diocesan School’s range of subjects and challenging educational experiences are designed to meet and extend the needs of students. At Dio, we see school as a place to seek and build knowledge, explore new ideas, and work to achieve the highest possible standards.
Dio students perform admirably compared to national averages and across all year levels. While such national bench-marking is important, our primary goal is to challenge each student to achieve at their highest level.
Field trips, visiting speakers, national and international competitions, access to technology and e-learning, and excellent teaching resources all enhance the learning experiences of our students.
Every opportunity is taken to give students real-world experiences and hands-on tasks as part of their learning.
Staff expect all students to extend themselves to reach their full potential, in an environment of healthy challenges.
At each level, students are mentored through course selection, goal setting, learning needs, time management, and study skills.
All students follow a Religious Studies and Physical Education and Health programme as these elements are at the core of educating the whole student at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls.
Junior Programme
Each student is placed in a class that best suits their learning needs. This class placement is based on the placement test results, information from contributing schools and any required information. All classes are challenging, and students are expected to maximise their learning opportunities at Dio.
Year 9 students find out which class they are in at the start of the school year, and a letter will be emailed to parents/caregivers by the last week of January to confirm your aakonga’s learning programme.
The mission of the Junior Programme of Learning at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls:
To provide a programme in which each student is given a broad and sound foundation in order to develop her personal and interpersonal skills, and to assist her in building meaningful relationships with God, with self, with others, with society and with the environment.
The Junior Programme of Learning will also provide each student with an appropriate level of challenge and support so that she can develop the necessary skills and learning strategies to equip her for the academic rigour of senior school.
The curriculum at Year 9 is designed to give students a sound foundation of content and skills and to enable them to make informed subject selections as they move through to senior school.
Year-long Courses
All students study the following subjects during the year:
English
Mathematics
Physical Education & Health
Religious Education
Science
Social Studies
Year 9 students study one language for the entire year unless they are on an individualised learning programme. Students choose from one of the following:
Year-long Language Courses
Year 9 students study one language for the entire year unless they are on an individualised learning programme. Students choose from one of the following:
French
Te Reo Maori
Students who require extra literacy support will do so instead of studying a language. This will be at the discretion of the HoD Learning Support and in consultation with parents/caregivers.
PLEASE NOTE: While every effort will be made to give students their first language selection, this cannot be guaranteed due to timetabling constraints and the viability of running courses for small class numbers. However, we will endeavour to cater for everyone’s preferred choices.
Arts
All students also study four of the following subjects as foundation modules during the year, including at least one arts subject and one technology subject:
Art
Dance
Drama
Music
Technology
Design and Visual Communication (DVC)
STEAM Studio
Fashion and Design
Food Technology
PLEASE NOTE: While every effort will be made to give students their first four choices, this cannot be guaranteed. Please be assured that none of these foundation modules are prerequisites for taking the subject the following year. Even if a student does not study a subject as a foundation module in Year 9, they can still enrol in that subject as a Year 10 student.
Year 10 Curriculum
In many ways, Year 10 is very important in a student’s education. The skills gained, opportunities taken, and experiences enjoyed will lay a foundation for academic, physical, cultural, creative, and spiritual success throughout a student’s schooling.
In Year 10, a Student:
Continues their spiritual journey in keeping with the Anglican character of the school.
Develops a global conscience through participating in school-sponsored service programmes and interacting with various faiths, cultures, and international experiences.
Makes subject choices that provide some specialisation and preparation for NCEA.
Takes a wide range of subjects that keep options open
Builds on essential knowledge and understanding in the different learning areas
Consolidates effective learning and study habits
Experience assessments designed to demonstrate achievement and inform further learning needs, with emphasis on self-evaluation and goal-setting
Extends themselves in particular areas of talent or interest across the curriculum and beyond the classrooms
Sets goals about the future based on talents, interests, and passion
Has individual learning needs met within the short or long-term
Has a special focus on thinking ethically and responsibly about technology, society, and personal health
Takes responsibility for self in all areas of school life
Challenges their personal, physical, and spiritual strength.
Gets involved in school life through House events, chapel and assembly, sports, arts, and cultural groups; takes opportunities to participate and lead
Has a voice in school governance through the Student Council and links with student leaders and teachers.
Develops skills enabling them to make healthy life choices
Senior Programme
Waikato Diocesan School offers a holistic education and seeks to nurture every facet of every student. The values, academic and life skills, and love of learning students acquire at Waikato Diocesan School will lay the foundation for a meaningful and successful life beyond school.
Our NCEA results and sporting and cultural achievements show that our students respond positively to opportunities and challenges.
Students are taught in accordance with the internationally acclaimed New Zealand Curriculum. An increasingly wide range of courses is available to give a broad general education while also providing a foundation for future specialisation. Within individual courses, we emphasise the importance of learning, developing independence as a learner, making cross-curricular connections, solving problems, or undertaking projects in real-life contexts.
We provide a positive and focused learning environment to help students meet their individual learning needs. Students can also expect to be involved in various co-curricular and extracurricular activities, which will enhance learning and help develop the personal and social aptitudes that will enable valuable contributions to the community
A diverse range of subjects and a committed and well-qualified staff prepare students well for tertiary education and other vocational pathways. NCEA provides great flexibility in course choice, requiring careful planning. Informed subject and course choice are important, and teachers, deans, and the careers advisor provide students with clear guidance for planning a course of study relevant to future career pathways.
The Senior Options Guide assists students and their parents in deciding on subject choices for their senior school years. It is to be used in conjunction with curriculum planning sessions and, where necessary, individual interviews with the deans, careers advisor, subject teachers, or senior leadership.
Learning Support
Our Learning Support Team, whose role is to meet the remedial learning needs, especially in literacy and numeracy, supports the learning extension needs of individual students. The role of learning support is to provide a needs-based learning support structure so that all students can reach their true potential. This is achieved through:
- Provision of appropriate resources
- Modified programmes/assessments/IEPs
- Small group and individual support
- In-class support/withdrawal support
Priority is given to students identified through assessment as having significant learning needs. This information is obtained from school-based assessments, contributing school information, educational psychology reports, and community and caregiver information. Support is offered across the curriculum and all year levels.