Whole Day Options

Dive Into The Environment

The first two terms involve developing underwater skills with the aim to gaining the Safety in Scuba International Dive qualification. The final part of the training involves a shore dive and boat dive in open water. The latter part of the year involves tuning into environmentalism by visiting local and regional sustainable projects. The students also focus on sustainable lifestyles and each whole day course incorporates a healthy lifestyle component. The course culminates in researching, designing,creating and evaluating an environmental action for change (level 2 Education for Sustainability 6 credits available)

Environmental Fitness

Applying actions that demonstrate care for the environment

So far:

• Rubbish clean-ups along the local coastline;
• Helping clean up maintain the recently formed community garden helping transport mulch to the community orchard at Hickey Place prior to planting 400 natives and later the first of the fruit trees.

Fitness through exercise and trying new sports.

So far:

• Exercise and sport running lawn bowls, mountain biking, darts and squash.

Film-making

Film-making is a whole day course which gives students the opportunity to participate in a range of film-making roles. This includes writing, filming, directing, acting, applying make-up and editing. This is a hand- on course and students are encouraged to bring their own ideas and explore the medium of film from their perspective.

Check out our Movie at

www.artroommovies.blogspot.com

Performing Arts

This whole day course seeks to embrace, educate, sustain and encourage Opunake High School's Performing Arts Community. This course provides an opportunity to study various performance techniques as well as styles of acting and dance, through intensive practical classes and workshops.

Experiencing working in a theatre company setting. An opportunity to explore the different opportunities in the performing arts industry.

Automotive Mechanics

A range of year 10, 11, 12 and 13 boys and girls are studying the fundamentals of automotive mechanics in New Plymouth.  The specialized workshops and expert tutor give a hands on experience that serves as an introduction to the trade.  These automotive students do a full day every second Friday as part of Opunake High School’s whole day option course.  Credits at Level One and Two NCEA are available to hardworking students.

Basketball Academy

This is a course for students who want to improve their basketball skills. It is for all year levels so that we establish a basketball program for the future years. Year 9 – 13  are encouraged to participate.  We're working on basic fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, shooting and both offensive and defensive philosophies. This is happening through a number of drills and minor games which put the fundamentals and philosophies into practice. We are also bringing coaches and players for extra tuition, like Zoe Kensington and Trent Adams who both have a wealth of knowledge and experience.   If you are serious about basketball then this is the Whole Day Course for you.

Relationships

This course explores the myriad of elements that go to make up the relationships we enjoy as human beings. The course is shaped by the participants and the questions they ask and looks at the behaviours, beliefs and values that are required to enjoy "good" relationships. The course offers 10 Level Onecredits for NCEA in the Health domain.

Mahinga Kai

Mahinga Kai covers aspects of Maaori traditional food gathering,
preparation, and cooking.

Students are involved with the seasonal capture and gathering of foods that can be found amongst our natural resources i.e in the rivers and in the sea. Drying,smoking, and cooking on embers are some of the methods used when preparing and cooking. Students will also learn how to make a hangi. The making of gill nets is also included in the course.

EQUINE COURSE

There are nine wonderful students currently participating in the Equine Course. All students have their own horses or access to a horse. We are lucky to have wonderful facilities with an all-weather arena and jumping equipments at our finger tips with Opunake Pony Club just up the road. We are very fortunate to have top New Zealand instructors teaching; Including Vanessa Way who is one of New Zealand’s top dressage riders who represented New Zealand at the World Dressage Champs, and Brenda Bellringer who has been teaching riding for many, many years and is The Equine Learning Assessor for Taranaki. We also have a local instructor, Vanessa Hopgood teaching jumping. As the co-ordinator and teacher I want to offer students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and compete in all areas.

The senior students are all achieving well in the Equine Star Course which offers a high number of credits at Levels One to Three of NCEA. Students work on  individual programmes on line and practical tasks are assessed during the course. Juniors are enrolled in the SPEC programme, but the main focus for the younger riders is experience and the gaining of knowledge through practical work. We will also be offering th options of the NZ Pony Club Bronze, Silver and Gold awards from 2010.

Students recently attended the High Schools Dressage Challenge , with two individual performances.  Stephanie and Tania just missed out on placings. For a number of students this was a chance to go to their first competition and there is potential for us to do very well in the future. A small team of four participated with amazing support from the other girls as grooms etc…All students are now keen to participate next time.
A huge thank you to the students who make the course a pleasure to teach, and to parents whose commitment  enables us to give the students  wonderful opportunities.

Andrea Martins
Coordinator , rider and High School Teacher.

Introduction to Journalism

This programme offers students the opportunity to develop IT skills by participating in a team to produce a magazine. Conducting interviews for news stories on a chosen local issue will lead to short news stories being published in the ‘Opunake Coastal News’. Students sub edit and provide photos for their stories.

Surf Academy

The surf academy provides opportunities for beginning and experienced surfers. This year we have 20 students which includes boys and girls from years 9 - 13.

Skills:
Students develop surf skills dependent on their ability. For example, beginners might be learning how to read the waves to catch more unbroken waves, while the experienced surfers are working on improving a particular execution of a move, eg their backhand cutback. Individuals also assess and improve on their surfing ability by viewing video footage of their technique.

Theory:
All students participate in Surfing SPEC which involves 12 tasks to complete during the year. For example, students might choice to research surfboard design or plan a competition with their peers. Students can gain Level One credits from completing this work.

Competition
Students are expected to plan, organise and coordinate a surf contest for local primary school students. Experienced surfers are encouraged and assisted with competition in local and national surf contests.

Video
Students are encouraged to video a surf session and edit the footage along with text and sound, to produce a stand alone short surf movie. This piece of work is worth 3 Level Two credits.

Aviation – The high flying class

Our school is currently offering Aviation as a  whole day option this year. Every two weeks a group of students travels to Hawera Aero Club and undertakes practical flight training for their microlite license with the qualified instructor. I also teach the students the theory for the microlite pilots examinations. In addition to this students are also able to gain credits by completing some aviation unit standards about principles of flight and the history of aviation.  This is a unique opportunity for students to learn how to fly an aircraft,  acquire new knowledge and learn about the career pathways in this exciting industry.

• Phil Hooper ( Teacher and Trainee pilot)

Outdoor Adventures

The only requirement in this whole day option is that you are keen to get outside and explore our awesome region! Our challenges include: Mountain Biking at Lake Mangamahoe, Dam Dropping and Kayaking, Tramping in the Kaitake Ranges and Mt. Taranaki, Paritutu Traverse, High Ropes at Vertical Horizon, Abseiling at Middletons Bay, Rock Climbing, River Safety and Rafting.

click here to for more photos

Crafty Arts

This course is about experimenting with new and old crafts, eg pottery, screen printing, paper craft weaving etc and making a small project which illustrates the basic skills in that discipline. Students get to take their projects home and share them with parents / caregivers.