Feel free to provide feedback on our charter as community members through our contacts page.
;)
Verdon College
Charter 2014 -2017
The
College Motto is “Rely on God”
Mission Statement
Verdon College is a Catholic learning
community where excellence is fostered and gospel values guide success.
Vision Statement
Verdon College aims to use
gospel values to develop confident, connected, lifelong learners who are
actively involved in their community.
Whakatauaki
Me a matou ki te Toroa ki te rerenga me te whakapono ki te Atua tuturi
We can all be uplifted as
the albatross if we have faith and Rely on God
The Verdon Family Values
Excellence - Respect -
Truth - Community
Members of the Verdon College
community will live and foster the values by:
•
Striving to achieve excellence and supporting all members of the
community to reach their full potential.
•
Respecting others,
themselves and their environment and being
responsible for their actions
•
Living in a genuine and honest manner, seeking knowledge and
truth.
•
Demonstrating whakawhanaungatanga,
being supportive, caring, tolerant, acting with justice and serving others.
Our V8 Values
As a Catholic college our practice and
delivery is underpinned by the teachings of Jesus and gospel values. These teachings and values enthuse, inspire,
inform, and underpin our common purpose at Verdon College. These teaching are
conveyed and expressed in our community through the eight aspects of our charism
inherited from our founding orders, St Dominic, St Catherine and St Marcellin
Champagnat.
Simplicity
·
Focusing on what
is important in our lives
Truth
·
Living in a
genuine and honest way
Presence
·
Being there for
others in the community
Witness
·
Demonstrating our
Catholic faith through our actions
Prayer
·
Expressing our
faith through spiritual practice
Passion for our work and diligent study
·
Striving for
excellence and enjoying the fruits of our efforts
In the Way of Mary
·
Being patient,
fair, firm, loyal, kind, respectful, encouraging and forgiving.
Family Spirit and community
·
Contributing to
others as family and community members
Strategic Planning Links
The planning process has its foundations
within the National Educational Goals and the National Administration
Guidelines. These, coupled with Understanding Faith and the National Curriculum
Statements have guided the Trustees in their strategic planning.
The College acknowledges the place of
the Tiriti o Waitangi in informing the college’s Board with regard to it is
responsibilities to tangata whenua and the
operation of the college in a manner that is consistent with these obligations. The College also acknowledges the special
place of Ngai Tahu as Mana Whenua in relation to the operation of the College
in Murihiku . The College will prioritise the resources to enable the delivery for
the delivery of te reo and tikanga programmes for the students of the college
to access.
The College fosters links with Aurora College,
Te Wharekura o Arowhenua and Ruru School for the benefit of students in each of
these learning communities and for the mutual benefit the communities’ within
this partnership.
The Board of Trustees acknowledges the
traditions and heritage passed to the college from a long History of Catholic
education in Invercargill. In developing
this current charter the Board acknowledges the current strengths of the College
and the improvements that have been gained in the last several years.
The Board wishes to consolidate recent
developments, to set new aspirational goals and develop a future focused vision
for the College which will guide the direction of the College while still
staying true to the traditions of the College and the charisms of the founding
orders – the Dominican Sisters and the Marist Brothers.
The College honours its professional,
legal and moral requirement to deliver a curriculum that meets the highest
educational standards The college is focussed on delivering the National Curriculum’s
identified directions for learning: the foundations are Vision, Principles and
Values linking together with key competencies and achievement objectives in the
Learning Areas.
The Board acknowledges is responsibility
to deliver an education programmes that support:
·
the engagement
and achievement the achievement of all students.
·
the achievement
of groups of identified priority learners within the College.
·
the achievement of National Standards in
mathematics reading and writing by all students
years 7 and 8.
·
the objective of
85% of school leavers achieving at least NCEA Level 2.
·
Maori and
Pasifica learners in order to maximise their success.
The Board of Trustees intends to give emphasis
to the following:
•
Continuing
formation and development in Special Character;
•
To undertake good
governance of the College including being a good employer, and ensuring that
the learning provides the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the
students and staff of the college.
•
The promotion of
excellence within all aspects of teaching and learning ;
•
To develop all
aspects of the college with a view to achieving excellence in all that we do.
•
Prioritising
strategies to maximise the outcomes for all students particularly Maori and
Pacifica students
•
On-going
professional development of the staff to promote excellence in teaching and
learning;
•
Ensuring the
school has a very active, supportive community comprising past pupils, staff,
parents and friends of the College;
•
Providing resources
to create an educational environment that enables students to become effective
and connected 21st citizens
•
Developing goals
and monitoring the achievement of students in years 7 and 8, in relation to
National Standards in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
•
Providing support
and resource to groups of students identified as requiring extra support in
order to realise their potential
The College has formed goals in
relation to students’ achievement in recognition that all students’ achievement
will be raised by introducing, into the College, effective pedagogy that has
been shown through Te Kotahitanga, Ka Hikatia and He Kakano programmes and
research, as effective in maximising educational outcomes for Maori. The
College goals included within this Charter should be viewed from the
perspective that through our involvement in the He Kakano initiative that we
have developed an understanding “That what is good for Maori is good for all”
and as such goals and objectives within this Charter document have been develop
with this perspective and the underpinning values of our Special Character.
Strategic Vision
Our vision for the Year 2014 – 2017 is
to retain our strengths while at the same time, being responsive to the
changing needs of our students and our community.
Ko te tamaiti te Putake o te kaupapa - The Child is the Heart of the
Matter
A priority is seen as ensuring that we
are focussed on making the child the heart of the matter and that our effort in
all things are focused on supporting each student to develop to their full
potential in all areas of their lives.
Ū ki te ako, tu tangata ai apōpō -Excel in teaching so our learners will excel in the future
The Board is also focussed on ensuring
that there is a culture of excellence in the delivery of teaching and learning
programmes within the College. The Board
is focussed on ensuring that the teaching staff of the College is as effective
as possible in delivering outcomes for the students of the College. This requires the board to develop structure
processes to employ support and develop the teaching staff of the college
towards being seen as leaders in their respective fields.
•
An unwavering focus
on quality teaching and learning to support students achievement.
•
Fostering and
enhancing understanding of the traditions and values of the College community –
our special character.
•
Developing the College
programmes and community structures to better support the achievement of all
students.
•
Ensuring high
personal achievement levels for all students in spiritual, academic, sports,
cultural, leadership and social dimensions.
•
A continued focus
on achievement for all students while focusing on a culture of pursuing
excellence both as individuals and as a community.
•
Developing
teaching staff professional knowledge in appropriate strategies to maximise
success for Maori students and all students within the College.
•
Providing
appropriate buildings and learning environment to engage and support students enabling
them to access 21st century learning opportunities.
•
Maintaining and
improving our commitment to our Maori community and other cultural groups.
•
Fostering an
environment where people are respected, feel positive about themselves, can
express their ideas and feel part of the decision making processes of the
College.
Strategic Goals
Our goals define the areas that have
been identified by the College community to focus upon during the next 4 years.
The order in which these goals are presented is not intended to indicate any
particular priority; we believe that all these goals are important.
1
Teaching
and Learning To
ensure that teaching and learning practices and the allocation resources
results in the achievement of excellence, providing an
environment where each student’s potential is maximised
2
A Culture of Excellence To
aspire to and expect excellence across all aspects of the College; teaching and learning,
cultural, sporting, student achievement, special character, facilities,operation
and management
3
A Community of Character The College environment is reflective of and is underpinned
by core values of Excellence- Respect - Truth - Community
4
Maori students’ achievement To
maintain and further develop a school culture and environment that supports and
maximises the achievement of Maori students.
5
Special Character To
continue to develop the College’s special Catholic character in the traditions
of the
Marist Brothers and Dominican Sisters
6
Student Achievement Support
high levels of achievement for all students, ensuring learning progression for
all within a culture that fosters the pursuit of educational excellence as
individuals and as a community.
7
Resources Develop
appropriate financial processes and programmes to ensure resources are available to support
the development of the College leading to improved success for all members of the community.
8
Property Develop
the College environment to provide an up to date modern learning environment
to support community members’ engagement involvement and success.
Strategic Planning and Direction.
|
Goals
|
Objectives 2014 -2017
|
|
1 Teaching and Learning
To ensure that teaching and learning
practices and allocation of resources results in the achievement of
excellence
providing an environment where each students potential is maximised
|
•
Teaching and learning is at the centre of everything
that we do effort are aimed at making the teaching and learning as effective
as possible
•
Develop a pool of great teachers who want to be part of
a great team and continue with their learning development
•
Provide development opportunities to assist our great
teachers aspirational growth and development
•
Support our great
teachers to be recognised as leaders in their field
•
Our great teachers employ 21st century
teaching practises to deliver a well-rounded curriculum which is based on
teacher enquiry and action research
•
Quality learning programmes are delivered to support
students achievement
•
Teacher keep pace and embrace curriculum and pedagogical
change
•
Ensure that effective self-review processes are in
place to support learning programme and personnel development.
|
|
2 A Culture of Excellence
To aspire to and expect excellence across all aspects of the College;
teaching and learning, cultural, sporting, students achievement, special
character, facilities, operation and management
|
•
NCEA achievement will be significantly above national averages and
decile averages and a focus to being the best in the city
•
The College will be recognised at a regional and national level in sporting,
cultural and academic competitions
•
Students are proud to be know as Verdon College students because the
college is known for excellence.
•
Verdon College is the College of choice for the Catholic community of
Invercargill and wider community.
•
Teachers expect themselves their peers and their students
to aspire to excellence.
•
Retain recruit and develop excellent teachers and
create an environment that enables them to succeed.
•
Ensure self-review processes and practices are in place to support
progress towards achieving excellence I all areas of the College
|
|
3 Community
of Character
The College community is reflective of and underpinned by the core
values of Excellence – Respect – Truth and Community
|
•
The College is seen within the Catholic and wider community to be a
college that reflects the core values.
•
Develop school pastoral process and procedures to
support students’ development of core values.
•
Develop a shared understanding of the meaning and
application of the core values across all member of the Verdon community.
•
Develop opportunities to communicate and discuss these
core values within the College and wider community.
•
Staff and students consistently display and
role model the core values in everyday interactions.
•
Create opportunities for Verdon community
member to contribute to the wider community.
|
|
4 Maori students’
achievement.
To maintain and further develop a school culture and environment that
supports and maximises the achievement of Maori students.
|
•
Develop effective processes and procedures within the
College to deliver equity of access leading to equality of achievement for Maori Learners and their whanau.
•
Maori students achievement will be above national level
for Maori students and the same level or better than all other student at the
College.
•
Students participate in opportunities to succeed as
Maori such as Marae visits , Manu Korero speech competitions and opportunities
to participate in the wider Maori community as Maori
•
Continue professional development for staff on strategy
that support and maximise the success for Maori Develop the college
environment to reflect the bicultural nature of the College.
•
Further develop and support an effective whanau group
and Rangatahi Piki Ake group
•
Develop opportunities for Maori to be involved in te
reo and Tikanga Maori programmes.
•
Further develop mutually beneficial relationships with iwi,
local runaka, whanau and other kura.
|
|
5 Special Character
To continue to develop the college’s special Catholic character in the
traditions of the Marist Brothers and Dominican Sisters.
|
•
Ensure the environment of the College reflects the V8
values
•
Ensure all staff understand, are supportive of and role
model the Catholic character of the College.
•
Ensure policy and procedure reflects the Catholic
nature of the College and community.
•
Continue to develop opportunities for students to
demonstrate Catholic character by attendance of, and involvement in tutor
group liturgies, prayer and Mass.
•
Continue to develop the culture of the College so that
the Catholic nature of the College is tangible and observable in everyday
activities.
•
Continue to develop opportunities for students to be
involved in parish activities and for the parish community to be involved in
College life.
•
Continue to develop Religious Education programmes
within the College.
|
|
6 Student
Achievement
Support high levels of achievement for all students, ensuring learning
progression for all, and a culture or pursuit of educational excellence as
individuals and a community.
|
•
Continue to develop College processes in order to
support every learner to be able to reach their full potential.
•
Continue to develop processes to identify and address
factors limiting students’ achievement and success within the College.
•
To maintain and further develop success of students in
NCEA qualifications with a focus on the achievement of excellence and merit
endorsement
•
Further develop opportunities to achieve in scholarship,
external competitions and learning opportunities outside the classroom on a
regional and national stage.
•
Develop and monitor progression towards specific targets
for Reading, Writing and Mathematics in year 7 and 8 to maximise learner
success in the achievement of National standards.
•
Develop processes and practices that focus on the
retention and engagement of students towards achieving a 100% of Leavers at
Verdon College have at least NCEA level 2.
•
Further develop tracking programmes and data analysis
and usage to inform teaching practice in the College to assess individual and
cohort progress.
•
|
|
7 Resources
Develop appropriate financial processes and programmes to ensure
resources are available to support the development of the College leading to
improved success for all members of the community.
|
•
Provide adequate budgeting financial processes to
ensure that the College is managed appropriately to build on College
resources.
•
To ensure that resources are provided to ensure that
all students achieve to their maximum potential.
•
To raise funds to provided resources to support students to
achieve to their full potential.
•
Identify and / or create programmes to support our
great teachers aspiration growth and development.
•
Allocate money to further develop the learning spaces
of the College to support the achievement of all learners.
•
Develop processes of self-review to identify areas of
need within the College for which resources should be prioritised.
|
|
8 Property
Develop the College
environment to provide an up to date modern learning environment.
|
•
Further develop te reo and “whare” area of the College
within existing teaching spaces to support Maori students achievement.
•
Develop Maori imagery in the College celebrating our
diverse community.
•
Continue with exterior maintenance plan to ensure
weather tightness of the College.
•
Continue the modernisation of learning spaces within
the College to enable flexible 21st century learning.
•
Develop the college property to improve access to the
College.
•
Develop the property to a high level to engender a
sense of pride in the community.
•
Develop and implement plans for the maintenance of non-integrated
property within the College supported by locally raised funds.
|