Years Seven and Eight

A strength of Seatoun School is that it provides a comprehensive full primary education. Students are not required to briefly change school prior to moving to secondary school and can instead enjoy the special family environment a local school provides. This stability can be important given the critical developmental period when change and instability is so much the norm.

This is a unique programme offered only to the Y 7 & 8 students attending Seatoun School. In both depth and breadth this programme builds on what is offered in the earlier years. One full day each week is dedicated to small group learning, which encompasses and enhances the old form one and two technicraft programme.

The morning session is held at Rongotai College. Students are involved in a range of programmes taught by specialist secondary teachers and our own Y7 & 8 staff.

The programme encompasses art, music, hard materials technology, design, second language learning, drama and computer studies.

The afternoon programme runs at our school for three of the four terms. [Over the other term an intensive aquatics programme is run by the staff at the Kilbirnie Aquatic Centre]. The students have sole access to the hall, library and Arts and Technology Centre. Food and Fabric Technology and sport (badminton, basketball, and volleyball) are consistent components, with the remaining options sometimes changing to match staff and student strengths and interests. Previous options have included dance, languages, art/craft, information literacy skills, web design, and film making.

Students are given a varied and challenging programme and in return contribute much to our school. They take on leadership roles and responsibility with growing maturity and confidence.

Held in the last week of the year, this special function recognises the contribution these students here made to our school. Representatives of the Board of Trustees. FOSS and the Staff Management attend this function. A suitable standard of dress for the occasion is required, however parents are not expected to hire or purchase formal evening/ dinner wear.

The Year 7 & 8 programme builds upon the EOTC experiences introduced earlier in the school. In term 4 there is a week devoted to EOTC. Year 7 students experience a range of activities based around Wellington and the harbour. The Y8 students spend 5 days at Nydia Bay Camp in the Marlborough Sounds.