Green Bay High School

About

Green Bay High School is a state co-educational years 9 to 13 secondary school.

Story

Green Bay High School is a state co-educational years 9 to 13 secondary school, decile 8, with a growing school roll of about 1300 students. Located on the edge of the Waitakere Ranges, much of the hinterland of the school is native bush reserve and flows down to Auckland's west coast beaches and Manukau Harbour. It was built between 1972 and 1977 and is surrounded by attractive, park like grounds. The majority of students come from the suburbs of Titirangi, Green Bay and Glen Eden and the semi-rural and bush reserve areas of Laingholm and Huia.

Students achieve well in a school climate where they are respected and where there is a focus on academic achievement. Our students are expected to focus on excellence, both in work and behaviour, and it is made absolutely clear to them that they are at school to learn. At the same time the school maintains a reputation for prioritising positive relationships between students and staff as fundamental to an effective learning environment.

Academic performance of our students has been on an upward trend in recent years. The school is committed to the national qualification of NCEA which provides a range of qualification pathways, both academic and vocational. Such flexibility means we can meet the wide variety of learning needs of students in the most appropriate manner.

The last few years has seen the school enter a new and exciting phase of development as the school buildings are upgraded to accommodate a 21st century curriculum. A 'state of the art' Science and Visual Arts block opened in 2006 and the Technology Centre underwent a significant renovation at the same time. The Administration and Student Services Centre were redeveloped in 2008. A new Performing Arts Centre was completed in 2010, in partnership with the local community. A new classroom block completed in 2013 now houses Languages and the International Education Programme and also hosts our satellite class on behalf of Oaklyn Special School. The Mathematics teaching block has been upgraded and opened in 2014. A Gymnasium upgrade is following. The Board Property Plan targets progressive redevelopment to all school buildings, plant and grounds.

Information and Communications Technology has been extensively improved and advanced to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to enhance student learning and increase administrative efficiency. The Board is committed to a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategy commencing 2015 for all Year 9 students.

The school is staffed by well-qualified professionals, focused on delivering robust, challenging programmes that prepare students to be the successful adults of the future. Professional development is centred on pedagogy that reflects “Teaching as Inquiry”, a core element of the New Zealand Curriculum. There is an understanding that an underlying principal of all professional development will be cultural responsiveness. Such an approach ensures that national and local priorities for students are addressed.

The Board recognises the importance of its role in raising student achievement and that school planning must focus on improving the standard of all learners, especially those who require more support. The Board supports the Ministry of Education focus on priority learners – Maori, Pasifika and those with special education needs. Such a focus reflects the school's commitment to recognising that 'one size fits all' is not appropriate in terms of educating the adults of the future. Our school welcomes diversity and aims to provide opportunities for all learners to learn and achieve in an inclusive and supportive environment.

In particular the school recognises the special place of Tikanga Maori and Te Reo Maori in the curriculum and is proud of the historic association with Te Kakariki Marae that was located in the school grounds. Te Kakariki was re-developed as a Whare Akoranga, or House of Learning, in 2013 to provide a modern learning environment with e-learning opportunities for Tikanga Maori. Students requesting instruction in Tikanga Maori and Te Reo Maori will be provided for, as far as is possible, within the school.