Our Values

At Howick College, we believe in the 3Cs:

 

COURTESY
We treat each other with respect and consideration.
COMMITMENT
We pursue our goals with perseverance and resilience.
CITIZENSHIP
We participate in and contribute to school life and take personal responsibility for our actions.
 
Since we demonstrate these values in our behaviour, we help to ensure our school is a safe and positive learning COMMUNITY.

Our Expectations

Showing ‘Courtesy, Commitment and Citizenship’ means we:

 

Have respect for others
Organise ourselves to attend all classes and be on time
Work hard and do our best
Insist on bringing the equipment we need
Complete our homework
Keep electronic gear off and out of sight in class


Celebrate our successes and diversity
Only wear the correct uniform
Let teachers teach
Let students learn
Eat outside class time
Get involved in a variety of activities
Ensure a safe, clean and positive environment

Our Expectations in Action

Have respect for others
 This means:
 
  • No bullying
  • No fighting
  • No intimidating
  • No harassing
  • No swearing
  • No obscene gestures
  • No engaging in inappropriate intimacy
  • Respecting the rights of the school’s neighbours
 
We urge students to make a stand against bullying of any sort.
 
 
Organise ourselves to attend all classes and be on time
 This means:
 
  • Arriving on time to every class  - including Tutor Group
If you arrive after the second bell in the morning: 
Bring a note from your parent/caregiver to explain why and report to the late desk at the Student Office for a late pass.
 
If you arrive at any other time during the school day:
Bring a note from your parent/caregiver to explain why and report to the Student Office to have it stamped before going to class.
 
If you are absent because of illness or family bereavement: 
Parents should email note@howick.school.nz or if you bring a note from your parent/caregiver to explain why, hand it to the Student Office
 
If you need to be absent for one or more days because of special circumstances: 
Bring a letter from a parent/caregiver to the Dean of Student Services or House Dean applying for an exemption at least two days beforehand.
 
If you need to leave school earlier than the end of the school day for a medical, dental or other appointment:
Bring an appointment card or letter written and signed by a parent/caregiver to explain why. Show it to the Student Office as you sign out before leaving the grounds. It will be stamped with the date and time. This is your Leave Pass. When you return from an appointment, sign in at the Student Office and get your appointment card or letter stamped with the date and time. Give this to your Tutor.
Remember, appointments should be made out of school time and leave will not be granted for driving lessons.
Year 13s may leave the grounds during their free periods, interval and lunchtime.
 
 
Work hard and do our best
 This means:
 
  • Taking personal responsibility to develop the habits you need for a lifetime of learning and success
  •  We AME High and strive for excellence
  • The ‘Habits of Mind’ posters around the college signpost the competencies you need to develop
 
Insist on bringing the equipment we need
This means:
 
  • Ensuring you take all of the necessary workbooks, textbooks, stationery and gear (including P.E. gear) to every class every day
  •  Your subject teacher will tell you exactly what you need
 
Complete our homework
 This means:
 
  •  Recording your homework and when it is due in this diary and then ensuring it gets done thoughtfully
  • Remember, the purpose of homework is to help you consolidate and get a really good grasp on what you have been taught in class. It’s for the benefit of YOU, not your teacher!

 

Keep electronic gear off and out of sight in class
 This means:
 
  • Avoid bringing personal cellphones, ipods or other electronic devices to school. The college cannot take responsibility for any loss, theft or damage to this equipment
  • If you choose to ignore this advice, you must ensure that they are switched off and out of sight during class time 
 
If you are found using a cellphone, ipod or other electronic device during class time:
It will be confiscated by your teacher and taken to the Student Office.
The only person who can collect it is your parent/guardian, once they have communicated with a Dean or Senior Manager and signed an agreement that if it is confiscated a second time, it will not be released until the end of term.
 
 
Celebrate our successes and diversity
 This means:
 
  • Respecting and learning about the many different cultures in the college, including Tikanga Maori and enjoying and affirming everyone who seeks to be the very best they can be
 
Only wear the correct uniform
 This means:
 
  • Wearing the correct items and fulfilling the grooming requirements, as detailed in the Uniform and Grooming Guidelines and agreed at enrolment, when travelling to and from school, at school and on official out-of-school activities
 
If you arrive at school in incorrect uniform:
Report to the Uniform Dean at the Student Office before school. If you bring medical evidence that requires an alternative item be worn, the Dean will give you a permit to cover the necessary time period. You must carry this permit at all times and produce it for teachers when required.
 
 
Incorrect Uniform Procedures:
If no acceptable reason is given for incorrect uniform or grooming or if a student persistently contravenes the uniform and grooming guidelines, he or she will be withdrawn from class until the student’s parents remedy the situation.
 
If you are found wearing an incorrect item in a classroom or the grounds:
The teacher will ask you to remove the item and it will be stored securely in the Student Office until the end of term. A letter will be sent home to your parent/caregiver informing them of the situation. Should you be defiant and uncooperative, you will be taken to a Dean/SMT member. In such circumstances, the item will be confiscated until the end of term and an after school detention will be issued.
 
If you wear an item that cannot be removed:
You will be immediately sent to your Dean or SMT member who will supply work and supervise you until the problem is remedied. Your parent will be informed of the situation by phone. This applies to incorrect jewellery and inappropriate hairstyle.
 
If you require a Permanent Uniform Permit to wear a non-uniform item:
Give your Dean the appropriate information - a letter from your parents and accompanying medical certificates or cultural evidence, who will consult with the Associate Principal.
 
If you are required to wear the Dress Uniform:
You must contact the Uniform Shop Manager in person the day before the Dress Uniform is required. You will be given instructions and a labelled photograph showing how each item must be worn, plus the amount to be paid to the college in case of loss or damage for each item.
Should you fail to wear the dress uniform correctly, you will either be prevented from attending the event or required to wear the normal school uniform. The school rules regarding hair and jewellery will also be strictly enforced.
You must return all items clean and in good repair the following day otherwise your parents will be rung and you will be sent home to collect them.
 
 
Let teachers teach
 This means:
 
  • We do not disrupt the class
  • We support the teacher and work together to achieve our goals
 
 
 Let students learn
 This means:
 
  •  We do not distract other students
  • We support our classmates and work as a team to achieve our goals
 
 
 Eat outside class time
 This means:
 
  • Refraining from eating in the classroom during teaching and tutor time
  • Respecting the boundaries each teacher establishes for whether or not you may eat in the classroom outside ‘teaching’ time
 
Get involved in a variety of activities
 This means:
 
  • Participating in one or more of the many co-curricular activities offered by Howick College in order to demonstrate good citizenship
  • Consult the Sports Information Handbook, the Daily Notices, the website and your Dean to identify what interests you
 
Ensure a safe, clean and positive environment 
 This means:
 
  •  Keeping your own property safe and never interfering with the property of others
  •  Mark your gear with identifying marks that won’t come off and leave valuable items at home
  • Never steal, vandalise or graffiti and keep away from bikes and cars parked in the college grounds
 

Never putting your own or others’ health at risk: 

  • No chewing gum, spitting, littering, smoking tobacco or using or being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or other substances at school, on the way to/from school or at school-related events.
  • No associating with anyone engaging in smoking, drugs or alcohol 
  • Never having in your possession cigarettes, lighters, illicit drugs, alcohol and/or other equipment and paraphernalia associated with these activities 
Keeping yourself and others safe: 
  • Use school equipment carefully and appropriately.
  • Leave items that are unrelated to school activities, such as aerosol sprays, raw eggs, skateboards and rollerblades, at home.
  • Weapons and dangerous substances such as firearms, knives, live ammunition, fireworks, cigarette lighters poisons and anything else that could cause injury to others should never be brought to school.
  • If your hair is long, ensure you tie it back in labs and technical rooms and wear protective clothing and footwear, if your teacher requires.
  • If walking to school, use the supervised pedestrian crossings and
  • If biking to school, wheel your bike in the school grounds and use the cycle racks.

Student Welfare