Academic Counselling 2010
Given the overwhelming support shown by parents, students and teachers in 2009, Academic Counselling will continue to be an integral part of schooling at Kelston Boys’ High School.
Many parents commented on the increased knowledge of NCEA they received at the initial interviews. Many said they were also now more aware of the wide variety of career and academic pathways available to their sons.
Students too spoke highly of the process. A common positive was that the academic targets given to them motivated many to pay more than their usual attention to examination preparation and even when completing internal assessments.
Teachers benefited as many saw their students in a different light after the initial 20-minute one-one interviews. They were better prepared to counsel students as the year unfolded and as the work got more demanding.
An added benefit was commented on by Heads of Houses and Deans, that Academic Counselling information was useful when it came to managing discipline issues.
We look forward to continued development and progress with Academic Counselling.
In response to suggestions by parents and staff, in 2010, we have changed a number of things.
Firstly, the process itself will be different to last year; we will conduct the initial interviews in year groups rather than all students on one day.
Year 9 will have Academic Counselling combined with the Tutor Teacher Term 1 Home visit.
Years 10 and 11 will have their initial interviews on March 24 and 25, the second last week of Term 1. These dates fall on a Wednesday and Thursday. Interviews on Wednesday will be from 1.00pm to 6.25 pm and on Thursday from 3.30pm to 6.00pm.
Years 12 and 13 will have theirs on April 28 and 29, week 2 of Term 2. These dates fall on a Wednesday and Thursday. Interviews on Wednesday will be from 2.00pm to 5.30 pm and on Thursday from 4.00pm to 7.00pm.
As we did last year, we will send parents more information closer to the time so interview times can be confirmed well beforehand.
In 2010 there will also be more information for parents and students to leave with after the initial interviews. Each student will have a personal handbook to fill in at the interview as well as to monitor throughout the rest of the school year.
Personal Folders kept at school will be updated as well as have new, additional information. Tutor teachers will to continue manage these Personal Folders but each student will be encouraged to monitor and keep his individual one up to date so it is useful when follow-up interviews are conducted later in the year. The better a Personal Folder is maintained the more useful it will be when that student leaves with it at the end of his time at KBHS.