Southern Cross Campus

Infobox NZ school
name = Southern Cross Campus "Te Kura Taki o Autahi"
badge =
motto = "Inā Te Mahi He Rangatira" (By Deeds A Chief Is Known)
type = Composite (Years 1–13)
established = 1997
address = 253 Buckland Road West Mangere, Auckland
coordinates =
principal = Robin Staples
head_label = Campus Director
roll = 1800 (2006 estimate)
decile = 1
MOE = 452
homepage = [http://www.southerncross.school.nz www.southerncross.school.nz]

Southern Cross Campus ("Te Kura Taki o Autahi") is a composite school that caters for students in Years 1-13 in the suburb of Mangere East in Manukau City, South Auckland, New Zealand. The school (also referred to as 'SCC', 'The Campus' or 'The Cross') has deep ties to the Mangere East community by providing education, facilities, and programmes for the wider use of the whole school. It is a Māori and Pacific Islands ethnic school, with students of European (Pākehā), Asian, and other ethnicities as a 0.5% minority.

Southern Cross Campus is a fairly new school to the Mangere ward of Manukau City, by being an institute amalgamated with three previous schools in the area: Southern Cross Primary School, Mangere Intermediate School, and Nga Tapuwae College. Southern Cross Campus was founded by Terry Bates (MA (Hons), MPhil (Hons), DipTchg (NZ)), the first Campus Director of the school. It now comprises four schools: Southern Cross Junior School (Primary, Years 1–6), Southern Cross Middle School (Intermediate, Years 7–9), Southern Cross Senior School (Years 10–13), and Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae (a total-immersion school for Māori-language education, Years 1–13).

The educational aim of the Campus is "to provide a seamless education for [their] students, so that school transitions are easy and that the student will have total confidence in moving from each level of schooling – providing them with environmental confidence that would improve academic attainment in the classroom as they progress to senior levels of education". "Southern Stars: Campus Magazine" is an annual school publication.

History

The formation of the Campus began to take shape after a decision made by the New Zealand government's Ministry of Education concern for the school. Mr Terry Bates, an educational advisor of the Ministry, implemented an idea that the three schools in the area should integrate to create a seamless branch of education to cater for the students of this community. The decision was taken to the Ministry, and was then passed, seeing that this school would be the first of its kind in New Zealand.

After years of planning from the early 1990s, the Board Members of all the schools were disbanded, and a new Board was set to cater for all four schools, chaired by the late Ms Levuana Tanuvasa. Mr Bill McCook was the Commissioner of the Campus, and his role was to oversee the plans for the new school and to also make sure that the school was meeting government standards and satisfaction. Southern Cross Campus was born in 1995, and officially opened in 1998.

Southern Cross Junior School

Southern Cross Junior School is the primary education sector of the Campus that provides for students Years 1-6. The Junior School is situated in the northern most point of the Campus and is separated from the upper levels of the school and divided by the Junior/Middle School fields.

Reading programmes, mathematic programmes, literacy programmes, and learning support for students who are second-language English speakers are offered at Junior School for students in the younger Year levels. The Life Education Trust, sponsored by the Auckland Airport, is a programme that outreaches to young pupils to engage them in further thinking of the natural world. School excursions to forest, nautical, zoology parks and museums supplement social science and science topics taught in the curriculum.

At Years 5 and 6, students are encouraged to engage themselves in leadership and advanced academic study. The senior levels in Junior School participate in Junior School Prefects, Peer Mediation, House Leaders, Sports Leaders, School Road Patrols and the Advanced Learning Academy (SCJSALA). Students are also encouraged to join sports teams, playing a wide variety of primary sports, such as rugby, touch rugby, netball, soccer, athletics, swimming, cross-country, cricket and field hockey. The school offers Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Samoan, Niuean, and Indian/Fijian clubs. They perform at the Mangere Primary Schools Cultural Festivals.

School House competitions are a highlight on the school calendar, as the four houses compete in an array of events. The four houses are named after the first four letters of the Greek alphabet: Alpha (Blue and White), Beta (Gold and Brown), Gamma (Red and Black) and Delta (Green and Silver). Competitions include Sports, Athletics, Academic and Swimming Carnivals. When the students move to Middle School they move in to the upper year level houses with the same colour, e.g. Alpha House students move in to Bates House.

Junior School has maintained a strict discipline of being a "water-only and healthy eating school". Students and parents are encouraged to bring a water bottle and healthy lunch to school. Junk food and confectionery items are not permitted as student lunch. The Campus bucket sunhats are a compulsory item as students are to be outside with their sunhats on, as this is for sun-safety and awareness of being smart in the sun.

The Junior School is managed by two Deputy Directors who take care of the two aspects of school life: Mrs Brenda Woolley is Deputy Director of Pastoral Care and Mrs Lesley Pether is Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning.

Southern Cross Middle School

Southern Cross Middle School is the intermediate level of the Campus, replacing Mangere Intermediate since the amalgamation of the founding schools. Along with the Campus motto, the Middle School also emphasizes the phrase "Search for the hero inside yourself", which contemplates with the idea of self-reliance and leadership.

The Middle School caters for students from Years 7–9. At Year 7 they accept students from the surrounding primary schools, as well as their own Junior School. The Middle School is the founding school on which binds the students from within the area who have not attended SCC Junior School for primary education. At the Year 9 level, which is meant to be entry year level for secondary school, students are accepted from some intermediate schools. From Middle School, students are automatically sent to Senior School.

The Middle School is the school of the Campus that teaches them to 'wise up' rather than 'grow up'. This concept suits the school ideals as students are taught to be more physically and mentally disciplined. Across the school, Deans take charge of their respective year groups and remain with them until their last year of Middle School. Alongside their tutor class teachers the Dean provides pastoral care and management of their year.

The Middle School’s curriculum has been shaped to meet the demands of higher learning that can be compared with the curriculum of other advancing schools. This is to provide the students with educational motivation to show that they can equally succeed with other schools from outside their communities. The advances of the learning programme of the Middle School has been a major benefit to ERO Reports as they continue to positively progress each report.

Middle School activities include inter-house Swimming, Athletics and Academic Carnivals, as well as inter-class and inter-year challenges. This is to provide that sense of "whānau" as they settle in to the Southern Cross fold of learning and community. Highlights of the school calendar include the Year 9 Camp, the Strings Project (violin and cello lessons), drama productions, school bands, nature trips and the annual cultural festival and performance night.

The Middle School is co-ordinated by the two Deputy Directors and Senior Management: Mr Taoro Taia is Deputy Director of Pastoral Care and Mr David Valgre is the Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning.

Southern Cross Senior School

Southern Cross Senior School caters for the eldest students of the student body from Years 10–13. The school itself is the reincarnation of the old Nga Tapuwae College, however historical aspects of the old school do not exist in the modern Senior School of today. The Senior School, along with the school motto, also aspire themselves with two other adages: "if it is to be, it is up to me" to contemplate the idea of leadership and perseverance; as well as a line from the School’s alma mater, "Honour, Strength, and Pride", which empowers the students to motivate and achieve. Since the amalgamation of the Campus the Senior School has gone through many changes, including the school structure, policies, conduct and student atmosphere.

Academically, the Senior School continues to grow with positive results, as well as advanced expectations. Since the educational programme of national secondary schools changed from School Certificate to the new National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), the school has steadfastly attained positive results and academic achievement. The number of school leavers who leave without any qualification (e.g., NCEA Levels 1–3/School Cert., Sixth Form Cert. and Bursary) has dropped from 70% to 2%. In the sporting arena, the Senior School have excelled in netball, rugby union, rugby league and "waka ama" (outrigger canoeing).

The Senior School has a strong Pasifika heritage, contributed by the diverse Pacific Islander student body. The Senior School has no students of European descent and a probable six students (or less) of South-East Asian decent. The students participate in the annual ASB Bank Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festivals held in Manukau each year, sending performers of Tongan, Samoan, Cook Islands, and Niuean heritage to compete in the competition. Musically, the school has a strong tradition in string, guitar, and singing instruments, as well as a growing brass and percussion bands. The school is new to the drama concept, but delivers productions that are of a congratulatory calibre.

The Senior School also participate in regional and local youth events, such as speech competitions, debates, symposia and international health forums. Students are also given the chance to participate in student tutoring programmes run by the University of Auckland, called the MATES Programme. The school is well known for their orators, who have represented New Zealand at regional, national and international levels.

Management

A Senior Management Team and the Senior School Prefects maintain the pastoral care of the students. The Senior Management Team, which consists of the two Deputy Directors, Campus Directors and Deans of each level engage themselves in providing proper well-being and services for a functional school. The Senior School Prefects, who consist of the two Head Prefects, two Deputy Head Prefects, two Sports Captains and six School Prefects, maintain playground duties, morning and afternoon gate patrolling, lifting school and spirit morale, managing student programmes and activities, managing school assemblies, and are responsible to each respective year group. The student leaders in the Senior School do not just come from the Prefects core group. Students from the Senior Levels (Years 12 and 13) also provide leadership for programmes in the school. However, the Prefects are responsible for any activity that the student body wishes to do. The Student Representative to the Board of Trustees is usually chosen from the Year 12 class (who move on to Year 13 the following year, in which they carry out their term) but it can be chosen from anyone Years 7–13.)

The Senior Management Team for the Senior School is Mr Colin Gray, Deputy Director of Pastoral Care, and Ms Heather Muir, Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning.

Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae

Te Kura Maori of Nga Tapuwae is a Māori-immersion school for Years 1-13. The school emphasises the concept of "whanau" and also contains a marae. The curriculum comprises core learning topics in te reo Maori and culture, in addition to standard curricular subjects such as English, mathematics and science; others include business studies, engineering and the arts. Extra-curricular activities are available in sport, music, theatre sports, drama and culture. The school is also supported by an ex-student culture group and the Marae Committee.

Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae is headed by Ma Arihia Stirling, who is also the Campus Director of Matauranga Maori (Māori Education). She is assisted by Mereana Anderson and Renae Maxwell.

Uniforms

The Southern Cross Campus uniforms reflect the school colours, and are designed for community identity and to encourage school pride and unity. The only jewelleries that can be worn are two small studs in the earlobes alone and a watch; bracelets, bangles, and necklaces/chains are not permitted, although items of familial or cultural significance may be worn under the uniform. Summer uniforms are worn in Terms 1 and 4, while winter uniforms are worn in Terms 2 and 3. Formal uniforms are required for senior students to participate in formal events.

House/Whare system

The House/Whare systems of Southern Cross Campus start from the Junior School right through to Senior School. House sorting is randomly selected at the younger year levels of Junior School. New students of subsequent years are also randomly placed in these Houses. The Houses compete in a wide range of House Competitions, such as House Chants, Talent Quest, Swimming Carnivals, Athletics Carnivals, Academic Challenges, and Top Town Icebreakers. Each house is led by House Deans with associated school tutors. Students are placed into House Tutor Classes with a mix of younger and older peers. There are five tutor classes per House. In the Middle and Senior Schools each House is run by three Prefects – two School Prefects and one of either the Head Boy/Girl or the Deputy Head Boy/Girl. They help lead each house and are given responsibilities such as organizing events, competitions, student advocacy, house chants and endorsing House pride.

Students are encouraged to participate in all House activities and challenges. Houses are awarded House Points accumulated after House Competitions. Students are also individually awarded House Points based on academic merits, school service, and at the discretion of class teachers and Deputy Directors.

;Mainstream Southern Cross Campus House system

Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae also have a Whare (House) system, enhancing the sense of whānau in the school. The Whare Wars (House competitions) consist of Swimming, Athletics, Chants, Kapa Haka and Rumaki (Primary School) challenges. The whare of Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae are named after deities of Māori folklore.

;Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae

Sport

The different schools of Southern Cross Campus have excelled in sports such as rugby union, touch rugby and netball, while providing many others. Sports uniforms reflect the school colours of peacock teal, charcoal grey, black and white. The school mascot represents the Southern Cross Chiefs. Julie Wharton is the Campus Sports Director.

Alma Mater

The "Alma Mater", "Southern Cross, our Guiding Star", was composed and lyricised by students from the Senior School in 2001. It is sung before school assemblies start during the procession of the Senior Management. It is accompanied by piano, flute and brass.

Staff

Southern Cross Campus is headed by Mr Robin Staples (Campus Director). The Campus Director is assisted by three other Directors: Director of Teaching and Learning Dir. Karen Mose, Director of Pastoral Care and Well-being Dir. Warren Waetford, and Director of Matauranga Maori and Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae Ma Arihia Stirling.

Past campus directors

* 1998–2000: Mr Terry Bates
* 2001: Mr Alan Burton
* 2002–2006: Mr John Clark
* 2007: Mr Bill Gavin
* 2007–present: Mr Robin Staples

Notable alumni

* Valerie Vili (née Adams): Olympic athlete and shot put world champion

References

External links

* [http://www.southerncross.school.nz School website]