Oakhill-Learners-Induction-Manual-2014

Oakhill College Induction Booklet 2014 New Student Induction Manual - 2014 (Extracted from the Oakhill School Website) Grades – 9: A Time for Growth The Student    a developing adolescent a discoverer wanting to explore and question seeking individual identity The Needs  relevance in education  open discussions on all topics  inspiration  acceptance by peers The Skills     self-motivation decision-making effective oral and written communication understanding and empathy for others Having emerged from Preparatory School, young teenagers are searching for their place in the world This is an exciting yet challenging part of the journey towards adulthood Grades and offer a caring and supportive environment, which stimulates and inspires students to achieve their potential “What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.” - George Bernard Shaw Code of Conduct At Oakhill, students are treated with respect, recognised as individuals, and encouraged to develop self-discipline This Code of Conduct aims to facilitate a disciplined and purposeful school environment, dedicated to improving and maintaining the quality of education Furthermore, this Code aims to inculcate a value system that will serve our students well beyond their school days 2|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014 The Code of Conduct also aims to ensure that the school‘s curricular and extracurricular programmes are executed in the most orderly way possible to create a climate in which teaching and learning can take place effectively Principles     The Oakhill Code of Conduct is guided by the following principles in its Constitution, set out under Aims of the School To assist students in building strength of character and an appropriate value system To encourage students to make informed choices, and to accept responsibility for those decisions and their consequences To provide a flexible approach to discipline with the aim of developing students as selfdisciplined individuals Responsibilities Educators at the school subscribe to the School’s Code of Conduct and undertake [inter alia] to:  Be punctual, well prepared and professional in their approach to education  manage learner performance effectively and motivate learners to achieve realistic and meaningful personal goals  Be sensitive to the needs of their learners and to address learning difficulties in a positive manner  Praise, encourage, recognise and reward learners who strive to achieve  Create a classroom climate which is based on a learning partnership which makes education both relevant and stimulating  Set a positive example for their learners  Administer discipline correctively and with dignity when necessary Our School prides itself on having good relations with the school’s community, its pupils and their parents While parents should expect the school and its educators to provide the best education possible with the available resources, parents should also accept responsibility for helping the school to achieve this goal Parents enroll their children at the school subject to their acceptance of the school rules and other conditions of enrolment Parents also have the responsibility to (at least):  Actively support the efforts of the school and its educators to teach their children  Involve themselves to the fullest possible extent in school activities  Make positive suggestions and contributions to improve the school’s education process and the learning environment  Support the disciplinary structures and procedures of the school, and the reasonable efforts by the school to apply discipline effectively and fairly  Encourage their children to participate fully in school and extra-mural activities 3|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014  Participate in the learning process and assist their children with homework, provide encouragement, check results and communicate freely with the school  Ensure that pupils attend school regularly and are in attendance at all compulsory functions and activities, and that punctuality is practiced In terms of the SA Constitution, every pupil has the right to education The school strives to provide the educational opportunities that its pupils and the community deserve Pupils themselves, however, must recognise that they have a responsibility to their parents, the school, their educators, their fellow pupils and themselves Pupils, therefore, must accept and comply with the school’s rules and its conditions of enrolment In more general terms, they must:         Comply with instructions from teachers and with the general rules of the school Behave responsibly and not endanger the safety, welfare and rights of others Respect and care for the property of the school and of others Maintain sound relations with others, be courteous and respect the dignity and self-worth of others Be punctual Demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning and be diligent in their efforts Behave honestly and conduct themselves with integrity Accept legitimate disciplinary action taken against them _ Moving schools and/or Phases Welcome to the Oakhill College! We recognize that you are all going to experience an adjustment period – even for those of you who have been members of the Oakhill family since the very beginning of your school careers As you enter the high school phase of your education, you will soon realise that the college operates slightly differently to the Prep School in certain respects Any move can be traumatic, and we need you to know that support structures are in place for you A Diary Card is issued each term Please consult it regularly to make sure that you are up to date with College events The daily structure, as well as standardised test and examination timetables, are included in the Diary Card each term (Please excuse the way I address some parts of this document to you, the student, and others to you, the parent) New Place, New Buildings and New People 4|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014 It is important to know the school i.e.: what and who can be found where?  Orientate yourself within the college as soon as possible  Get to know where your classes are and the surname of your teachers There is a list of all College teachers and their subjects included in this information pack  Get to know where specific administration staff can be found: Mrs Elna Brown (School Secretary and Administration) – In the main Administration block Mrs Griffin (Bursar) – In the main Administration block Mrs Moodley (Function coordinator and textbooks) – Stationery office near the Copy Shop Ms Heather Mayne (Finances, clothing shop and the Sanatorium) – Based in the Sanatorium Mr Philip Stewart (Grounds and buildings) – His office is behind the IP Phase classrooms Mr Dave Pryke (College Sports Director) – in the Sports Office Mr Andrew Browne – Head Mentor Mrs Juliet Le Fleur – House Mentor for Millwood Mr Adolf Groenewald – House Mentor for Bendigo Mr Riaan van Straten – House Mentor for Jubilee Mrs Barbara Finch (College Administration Secretary and Deputy Head Personal Assistant) Mr Dawie Botha (Deputy Head) Mrs Sharon Brown (Academic Director) We are all in the College Academic office near the IT room   Ensure you know where the top field, cricket nets, pool and sport-sheds are The staffroom is between the Art block and Staff work room Block College Teaching Staff 2014: English Department Mrs Melanie Cloete Mrs Sue Carver Ms Robyn Humphreys Afrikaans Ms Amanda Barnard Ms Tiemke Rijpstra Mrs Mariana du Preez * Mathematics Mr Andrew Browne Mr Gerhard Claassen 5|Page Other Responsibilities English: Head of Department; English teacher English teacher English teacher (& History) Teaching Responsibilities Grades 8, 10, 11, 12 Afrikaans: Head of Department; University and bursary application advice Afrikaans teacher Afrikaans teacher Afrikaans teacher Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Head Mentor, Mathematics: Head of Department; Maths teacher Maths teacher (and CAT); College Administrative co- Grade 10, 11, 12 Grades 9, 11, 12 Grades and 10 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grade Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Mrs Hannalie Viljoen Mr Zac Viljoen * Mr Peter Vieyra Natural Sciences: Mrs Ilse Schoeman Mrs Juliet le Fleur Mrs Hanette Bouwer Humanities: Mrs Sharon Brown Mr Adolf Groenewald Ms Robyn Humphreys Commerce Mr Dawie Botha Mr Liam Bell ICT Mrs Diana Barnard Mr Gerhard Claassen Arts and Culture Mrs Amy Nuttall Ms Leanna Dreyer Mrs Carika Rademan Life Orientation Mr Dave Pryke Mrs Hanette Bouwer* Mr Riaan van Straten LSU Mrs Sue Buchalter 6|Page ordinator Maths teacher GET Benchmarking test Administrator Maths and Physical Science AP Maths Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades and Grade 12 Sciences: Head of Department; Physical Science teacher Millwood House Mentor; Life Sciences teacher Life Sciences teacher, Girls Phys Ed Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 College Academic Director; Humanities: Head of Department; History teacher Bendigo House Mentor, Geography teacher History teacher (& English) Grades 10, 11, 12 School Deputy Head: Administration; Accounting teacher EMS, Business Studies Teacher Grades 10, 11, 12 Information Technology CAT Grades 10, 11, 12 Grades 11, 12 Arts: Head of Department; Art teacher Cultural Director: Whole School Drama teacher Music teacher Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 College Sports Coordinator; Boys PE Girls PE (& Life Sciences) Life Orientation Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Learner support Grades - 12 Grades 11, 12 Grades 8, 9, 10 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades 8, Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 New Student Induction Manual - 2014 * Involved in academic departments As you are integrated into the College, please make sure that you know the names of your various teachers Day to Day Running of the School          School starts at 7:40 In 2014 we will not have a register period, but the day will begin with lesson at 07:40 Resister will be taken during this lesson We have a Daily Memo and daily announcements are read off at the beginning of the lesson If you arrive late you will need to collect a late slip from the Academic Reception Area You will have been marked absent and our records need to be updated A late slip will be issued for you to take to your teacher so that he/she knows that you have been checked in If you are continuously late, your parents will be interrogated as to the reason and if necessary you will receive a late detention which is held on a Friday afternoon after school It might happen that during the school day, you not feel well: You need to chat to the teacher responsible for you at the time that you decide you cannot carry on in the classroom If your case is genuine, you will be allowed to begin the check-out process: You will need to find your particular House Mentor (Mr Riaan van Straten [Jubilee], Mrs Le Fleur [Millwood], Mr Adolf Groenewald [Bendigo] who will issue you with an early leaving slip Armed with this, you will report to the College Admin Reception area We may advise you to lie down for a little while in the San (Sick room) If you are allowed to go home, you will wait in the College Admin reception area where your parents will need to sign you out Under NO circumstances may you decide to phone your parents to come and fetch you without following the official procedure Ensure that you understand the 7-day-cycle time table and bring the correct books for that day The times of each lesson and the daily structure will be explained in the Diary Card There will be some lockers available for those who wish to leave books in a safe place All lockers must locked and kept neat and secure School finishes at 14:05 If you need to leave the campus for any reason before closure, you must bring a letter from your parents stating the reason for your early leaving, and it must state the time you will be collected At no time will you be allowed to leave the campus on foot This letter must be handed to your House Mentor during registration You will be issued with an early leaving slip which you will keep with you until it is time to leave when you will show it to your class teacher before leaving the class room You take your early leaving slip to Mrs Finch and she will then sign you out You will wait for your parent/ guardian in College Reception Failing to follow these signing off procedures will be classified as bunking school Parents, should there be a crisis during the day and you need to reach your child, please phone the school, ask for College Admin and chat to Mrs Finch If necessary, we will help you extract your child from class Delivery of forgotten books and gadgets: We appeal to you to keep this to a minimum A part of the discipline of organization is to sometimes have to suffer the consequences of having forgotten However, if you need to bring something to school for your child, please deliver it to the College Reception area We will get the message to your child as best we can 7|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014 8|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014 The Mentor System In the College we run a house mentor system Each student is assigned to one of the three houses – Jubilee, Bendigo, Millwood Teachers are also assigned to houses Students will be divided into small mentor groups The groups are arranged horizontally Each grade is sub-divided into smaller house groups The mentor groups meet twice weekly, on a Monday and Friday The teacher is a ‘go-to person’ for each one of his/her mentees, and the House Mentor is available to deal with bigger non-academic issues House Activities During the course of the year there will be a number of inter-house activities These range from the traditional inter-house sporting events, to cultural competitions to other activities like fund-raising for projects or community outreach Student Representation: The SRC At Oakhill we not have a prefect system We have a rather special SRC structure: The SRC ensures representation across all grades by having students in each grade elect their representatives for the year Once the Grade Induction process is complete and the mentors are happy that everyone has settled, the Grade class will elect their representatives They will join the rest of the SRC for regular meetings and they will soon be assigned a variety of tasks There is SRC representation on all management bodies in the school, and the succession planning model will ensure that all members are invited to attend a variety of meetings The SRC President for 2014 is Fern Wolf Her vice-president is Finn Stevenson The SRC executive will brief you fully on the structures, duties and responsibilities of the SRC Interact Interact is officially the junior arm of Rotary International and our Interact Club is supported by the Knysna Rotary Cub The main aim of Interact is community involvement and the club will ask you to join and to become involved in a variety of projects through the year The Interact President for 2014 is Kristin Groenewald PRO: There is a team of students who help show prospective families around Oakhill on Open Days and on other notable occasions Please volunteer to be a shepherd if you talk to people about Oakhill and think that you could be a good ambassador for the school 9|Page New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Disciplinary Matters and Structures In the College Phase we expect our pupils to strive for self-discipline and to learn that immediate gratification is not always possible We expect certain basic requirements like wearing the correct uniform to school, doing homework, being friendly and greeting each other, teachers and visitors to be met without teachers having to punish anyone for transgressing We not run a merit or demerit system Code of Conduct Please ensure that you have read and understood the Code of Conduct Document that you signed when you joined Oakhill Failure to uphold the Code will result in disciplinary action Severe contraventions will lead to a formal disciplinary hearing and disciplinary measures will be taken (The Code of Conduct as it appears on the website is to be found at the beginning of this document) Uniform Infringements Our uniform lends itself to a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere This however does not allow for you to bend the uniform rules The uniform rules are implemented by all staff Please ensure you know what you may and may not wear according to Appendix A of the Code of Conduct You will be verbally warned by any staff member If you continue to ignore the rules, the boys will be dealt with by Mr Botha and the girls by Mrs Viljoen If you persist in breaking the rules, you will receive a detention and thereafter a disciplinary hearing Care of personal possessions It is an unfortunate fact of modern life that we all have to be responsible in caring for our own possessions Thus, the school cannot take responsibility for any loss or theft of personal possessions and we request that cell phones, ipods, laptops and other valuable items are either kept on your person or locked away safely when at school Cell phones may not be used during class time unless your teacher asks you to use it for research or to make a particular point Should you contravene the cell phone policy your phone will be confiscated and locked away in the school safe for at least one week (ipads and computers fall under the same constraints) Please note that we are an electronic device friendly environment and encourage every student to bring his/her own device to school for research and the completion of tasks However, inappropriate use of the device will not be tolerated Students are allowed to use earphones and listen to music in class on certain occasions This will be managed and guided by your teachers We advise students to research the ‘good’ type of music to have on a play list that encourages efficient brain function 10 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Absenteeism Regular and punctual school attendance is a prerequisite and an expectation WE expect you to be at school from the first up to and including the last day of each term If you are going to be absent please follow the following procedures:  If you wake up sick: please ensure that the school is informed A phone call to Mrs Finch will be appreciated On your return to school, please bring an explanatory letter from your parents or a doctor’s certificate if you saw a doctor (If you are sick for three or more consecutive days, a doctors certificate is required; if you are sick for an examination, a doctor’s certificate is required)  If you plan to miss school: We expect a letter asking permission for this eventuality Please address all such letters to Mr Kidwell These letters may be emailed with a copy to Mr Botha and Mrs Brown The school does reserve the right to take action against any person who has missed a large number of school days in any year We may even refuse the student permission to write the year end examinations in extreme cases Academic Progress and Assessments Project and Test timetables, class tests and other assessments: We issue a Project and Test Timetable per Grade every term This document records the main tests and projects or assignments that teachers have planned It is a planning aid, and we encourage you to learn to plan ahead and to work with the document (We also use it to help global planning and hopefully to stop overload) Take note of all the dates and ensure you know when the assessments will be done If you are absent on these days it is your responsibility to see the teacher the day you get back to reschedule the class test or to hand in your tasks Please NOT wait until the day a task is due to tell your teacher that you don’t understand You will not receive sympathy if you this Standardised Tests Standardised tests are written every Wednesday morning during the FIRST lesson The lesson is 50 minutes long, so this is a substantial test The S.Test timetable is published in the Diary Card that is issued at the beginning of each term Please ensure that you have the test information from your subject teacher by the previous Friday, so that you can prepare adequately over the weekend If you are absent for a Standardised Test, you need to bring a letter from your parents/guardian offering a valid reason for your absenteeism or a doctor’s letter This letter must be delivered to Mrs Finch on the day that you return to school Your teacher will reschedule the test for you on the day you return or at the earliest opportunity thereafter S Tests are written under the same conditions as examinations Failure to try to catch up a test missed can lead to the teacher awarding a for that assessment 11 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Examinations We write two sets of examinations a year: a mid – year exam (June) and end of year examination (Nov – Dec) During these examinations you will come to school when you write and exit the campus when you have finished We reserve the right to change this system to accommodate a fixed session length and study time at school We follow strict IEB examination procedures This means we not tolerate any unacceptable behaviour in an examination venue Any irregularities will be dealt with severely Irregularities are: having a cell phone with you while you write, any type of supportive notes, copying from a peer, and any type of peer communication These types of irregularities will lead to a disciplinary hearing (An exam briefing will be held before you write your first set of exams) Intranet: We have an intranet and teachers are learning how to manage the many facets of this mechanism Work and notes will be placed on the intranet Tasks can be downloaded and completed work submitted via the intranet You will all be taught how to manage it, and we look forward to developing the system with you all Homework You should receive homework on a daily basis You can expect about 1½ - hours per day across all subjects Ensure that you plan your day and afternoon so that you have enough time to your homework conscientiously and with zest Establish a good working routine every afternoon as to make the best of your academic progress Homework is an important part of the learning experience Independence and self-discipline is the order of the day, you have to become academically responsible Make sure YOU copy all homework down and work responsibly, with a dairy so that you know when homework/assignments/projects are due In the College, teachers will not always write the homework down on the board, so be sure to listen for the instruction and to write it down If you are unsure or you battle to get the homework recorded, please approach your subject teacher for help Your group mentor teacher is also there for you to go to for assistance He/she will help you find a system that works for you and can help you to find out what you should be doing If you are absent it is YOUR responsibility to ensure you get the homework from a reliable friend (and from the intranet) If you, as a result of your absenteeism, find the homework difficult to do, it is your responsibility to go to your teacher the day you get back to school and set up a tutorial to help you with the work you have missed It is always a good idea to at least try the work so that the teacher can see where you are struggling and help you with those specific issues ADAM We are using a data programme called ADAM A part of this system is for recording and reporting Teachers will be using the online mark book facility This means that you and your parents can access the programme and check on your progress from time to time Teachers have the opportunity to make a comment when they put in a mark This comment is visible to you and your parents 12 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Academic Support: Teachers strive to provide all necessary support during the structured lesson times However, if you feel that you did not understand a concept properly, please approach your teacher to set up a tutorial session at a time that is convenient to you both We not offer extra-lessons, but will gladly offer tutorials Homework: Any student is welcome to stay at school to complete homework We have a homework class operating and Mrs Buchalter is available from Monday to Thursday for extra support if necessary As the term progresses, you may well be asked to attend some special, focused homework classes with her Alternatively, you may approach her for assistance You may also merely choose to use the venue The IT room is also available most afternoons Teachers will offer tutorials and will expect those students identified to attend these special sessions Academic Daily Report This is a personal report that you carry yourself You may be asked to carry an Academic daily report if the staff feels that you are not achieving to your full potential in any of the following areas:  not doing homework,  not learning for tests,  failing to hand in assignments or  generally under achieving After consulting with your parents, we may place you on a daily report to monitor your academic progress You will report to a designated teacher every morning so that she can see what comments were made on the previous day At the end of the day you take your report home for your parent to sign so that they are kept up to date with what your achievements academically were throughout the day There is also space on this report for you to write down your daily homework this allows your parents to see what homework you received that day If there are any unacceptable comments on the report the teacher will respond to these and put measures in place to rectify this behaviour If your comments are acceptable for a period of time, the Academic Director, in consultation with your parents, will review the validity of the daily report This is a rectifying behaviour tool not a punishment Behaviour Daily Report: This report works in a similar way to the academic daily report, but here the focus is on your behaviour and attitude in class Remember every pupil has the right to be taught without being disrupted Therefore if you are causing a disruption in class, a positive learning experience is being taken away from your peers, and this is absolutely unacceptable The repercussions of this format of daily report are more severe as it could go as far as a disciplinary hearing 13 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Communications Academic Mid-Term and Academic Reports Parents will receive regular academic reports Mid-term reports for all Grade 8’s and all other new learners to Oakhill will be issued in Term This report is purely comment - based Each subject teacher will comment on your academic performance, behaviour and attitude in their subject Full Academic Mark Reports will be issued at the end of terms 1, and Term 1: Marks and comments based on the school based assessments of the term Term 2: Marks and comments based on the school based assessment of the term Term Exams: A mark only summary of the June exam results Term 3: This will be a mark summary report only It will indicate the term’s achievements and will also indicate a Year to Date Mark Term 4: The final marks, including the November exam results and a comment to sum up the year General Communications  Diary Cards are issued each term Please ensure that you receive one  The Weekly Link is an emailed communication issued on a Monday that updates the Diary Card information and offers other snippets as necessary  Other general email notices will come from the desk of Mr Dawie Botha  Teachers will make use of the ADAM email or sms facility to communicate with parents and students when necessary  There will also be newsletters from the Headmaster and the Academic Director from time to time; usually one per term Parents’ Evenings We offer an Academic Parent Evening each term We invite parents to make appointments to meet with teachers in a one-on-one setting to discuss your progress at these meetings To schedule an appointment, parents will be asked to phone the school and book appointments through Mrs Barbara Finch Besides the Academic Parents Evenings there will be a variety of other parent evenings like the Grade Subject Choice Evening, Grade 10 odyssey Briefing, Grade 11 Job Shadow Preparation Meeting, Matric Meeting to discuss the Matric Dance, Valedictory format and looming exams Regular Parent Fora will continue to be a part of the Oakhill offering Parent communication channels When parents need to communicate with the school, there are a number of channels open for use: Academic Matters: 14 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 If there is a class or subject issue that needs to be dealt with, please approach the subject teacher directly as the first port of call We encourage you to email the teacher or to phone in and ask that the teacher makes contact with you to set up a meeting time Should you feel that your case has not been heard, please approach the subject Head of Department, and if that fails, Mrs Sharon Brown, the Academic Director It is only if all these measures fail that you should need to take your issue to Mr Botha or Mr Kidwell Discipline Matters: Mr Dawie Botha is in control of boys’ discipline and Mrs Hannalie Viljoen is in charge of girls’ discipline Pastoral Matters: The house mentors or Mr Andrew Browne are on hand to deal with pastoral and emotional issues In the event of a real crisis, or if you want to seek permission to miss an important school event, then you need to address these issues to the head of the school, Mr Kidwell 10 Phases within the School Each phase in the school is an academic building block By Grade 8, students have completed two phases: Foundation Phase - Grades R to Intermediate Phase – Grade to Senior Phase – Grade We divide the College into the following Phases:  Senior Phase – Grades to This completes the General Education and Training Band and we call it the GET Phase ( GET )  Further Educational Training – Grades 10 to 12 ( FET ) Each Phase has its place within the educational journey through school 11 Learning Areas and Subject Choices In Grades and you will be taught in the learning areas namely:  English  Afrikaans  Mathematics  Natural Science- Physical Science and Life Sciences  Social Sciences- History & Geography  Economic Management Sciences- Business Studies & Accountancy  Creative Arts – Art, Drama & Music  Technology – Computer Literacy and Quickbooks 15 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014  Life Orientation – Life Skills and Physical Education (Some subjects are taught individually and some are tackled as Learning Areas: You will be advised about this each year) The Arts are going to use a modular approach: You will spend six months exploring Art and the following six months Drama (or visa versa, depending on your class) Music is a full year's course There are a large amount of subjects to deal with but at the end of Grade you will make subject choices There are compulsory Subjects:  English  Afrikaans  Math Core or Math Literacy  Life Orientation Oakhill’s subject lines are as follows ONE subject from each line must be chosen These subjects are called Electives  History OR Physical Science OR Business Studies  Visual Arts OR Geography OR Accounting OR Life Sciences OR Music  Life Sciences OR Drama OR Information Technology **The school reserves the right to review these subject lines Unfortunately we are not in a position to offer complete freedom of subject choice, and many years of research and juggling has shown that these are the lines that best serve our students (CAT is a non-designated subject, and will only be offered in Grade 11 should there be IT students who cannot cope with the IT curriculum) 12 Benchmarking and extension We participate in a variety of external assessments each year: The Commonwealth Essay Competition, the De Beers English Olympiad and the SACEE English challenge are just a few We also participate in Maths Olympiads In Grade we participate in the IEB organised international benchmarking test: The ACER IBTs These are Australian set tests We also complete this exercise in Grades and 6, so those of you who have been at Oakhill for a while will have been tested at least once already These tests are an important measurement of how we are doing as a school, as well as how you are progressing as an individual From Grade 10 onwards, we encourage everyone who is serious about Maths or English to tackle APMaths or APEnglish if you desire extension in these subjects 13 Learner Support Unit (LSU) 16 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 The LSU at Oakhill offers academic support for remedial and extension learners This department is run by Mrs Sue Buchalter in the College This unit provides the necessary support for the student and will work towards ensuring that the necessary accommodations are obtained if your child qualifies for them Accommodations are processed in the years between Grade and 11 Any student on an individual learning programme does need to have been fed back into mainstream by the time he/she is in matric if the IEB matric requirements are to be met The College teachers work as a team to help those with barriers to learning to find a way to overcome these or to learn to cope with issues Sue Buchalter will be the interface and will help by being available in the afternoons, and sometimes in the mornings if teachers ask for this intervention Sue also manages a number of tests involved in the accommodation request procedure When it is felt that a student might benefit from some type of accommodation, a stringent battery of tests will be asked for This testing is completed by a psychometrist (we use Mrs Anne Clarke) or an educational psychologist who will be recommended by Mrs Lifson Once testing is complete, we submit the results to the IEB There, a specific panel of specialists analyses the information and either grants the accommodation application or turns it down Special arrangements for tests or exams depends on the outcome of these processes 14 The College Camp Experience: There is a College Camp each year These camp experiences cover up to nights away from home In Grades and the foundations are laid for the Grade 10 Odyssey The Odyssey is a three week Adventure Experience The Grade 11 camp is split: early in the year the group breaks up and does a work shadow programme and at the end of the year a specially devised leadership camp, designed to develop a strong matric group that will be capable of leading the College constructively, is held The College Camps are an integral part of the curriculum offered at Oakhill and as such, they are compulsory 15 You as a College Learner: At Oakhill, Students are treated with respect – by staff and peers, recognized as individuals and encouraged to develop self- discipline (Code of Conduct) We strive to create a family feeling at school, where we expect acceptance of all other learners regardless of Race, Colour or Creed We accept each individual with their own strengths and weakness’ We believe in a triangular support system Learner 17 | P a g e New Student Induction Manual - 2014 Teacher Parent Our question is not always “what can the school offer you?” but also “what can you offer the school – academically and extramurally?” We respect each other’s property and each person The Code of Conduct is very clear in all areas but be assured when it comes to stealing and bullying there is zero tolerance You are here so that you can be prepared to take up a meaningful place in society one day Enjoy the experience; make the best of all that Oakhill has to offer you Work hard and live the “Joy of Learning.” 18 | P a g e