There are a large number of resources and services available to support students and their families during lockdown.

Please CLICK HERE for a list (contains multi-lingual options).

If you feel that your child is struggling with their learning or you require access to a device, please contact their Dean or subject teacher. A full list can be found HERE.

If you feel that you or your child would benefit from counselling support, please go to the Hauora section of their Tutor Google classroom to make an appointment. Alternatively, teachers are able to refer students for an appointment.

The Counselling Department provides counselling services for both students and staff within the College. Our team works closely with other key staff such as Deans, senior management, careers advisers, school nurses and teaching staff. Our aim is to ensure the best possible educational outcomes are achieved by students, as well as helping them to develop a clear sense of identity and life purpose.

What is counselling?

Counselling is the process which supports a person to explore and gain understanding of challenges or concerns they are facing.  Young people face many challenges and choices and students who come to counselling will be supported and encouraged to find ways to grow through these experiences, as well as to find solutions or ways of coping with the issue or problem. The College believes that a young person’s full educational potential is only achieved when they are feeling positive and confident about all aspects of their life.

Counselling is a confidential service and the counsellors abide by the New Zealand Association of Counsellors Code of Ethics.

Talking with a counsellor at Pakuranga College is seen as a normal thing to do. Our counsellors have contact with approximately 650 students each year. The majority of students self-refer, but others are referred by school staff or parents.

Parents are welcome to make contact with our counsellors for advice or to seek support for their son or daughter.

Services provided

• One on one counselling
• Group counselling
• Mediation
• Counselling workshops e.g. Seasons
• Referrals to outside agencies where appropriate (e.g. Whirinaki and CADs)
• Advice to staff and parents

How to see a School Counsellor

Students can make an appointment for themselves or they can ask a teacher, Dean, school nurse, parent or caregiver to refer them.

For details about how to make an appointment, please CLICK HERE.

Wellbeing Resources

The College also provides a wide range of wellbeing resources, which can be accessed HERE.

The Counsellors

Our team of four professional counsellors are highly qualified and have studied at university post-graduate level in counselling.  Their experience in counselling and their previous professional background equips them excellently them to deal with young people. All counsellors are full members of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

Alexandra Green (Acting Head of Dept)
Email: GRE@pakuranga.school.nz
Phone: 534 7159 ext 782

Carla King
Email: cking@pakuranga.school.nz
Phone: 534 7159  ext 780

Maude Sewell

Email: msewell@pakuranga.school.nz

The school Health Centre is available for all students and staff, providing a drop-in service if students are unwell or suffering from acute injuries. The facility also provides health talks and education for students and answers students’ questions about these topics.

If a student is unwell or injured, the first aid officer will refer them to a doctor, our visiting physiotherapists or, if necessary, send the student home with parental permission.

Students should have a permission slip from their teacher to visit the Health Centre during class, or they can come along at break times. Our visiting physiotherapists run a service at various times throughout the week. The first aid officer can book physiotherapy appointments (nurse@pakuranga.school.nz) or students can self-refer.

We also have a visiting Nurse Practitioner each Wednesday who is able to offer health advice, diagnose medical problems, order tests and issue prescriptions. Appointments can be made to see her through the Health Centre.

Through the Career Education programme at Pakuranga College students will develop and build a range of career management competencies.  This enables   them to take their best next step beyond Pakuranga College and to successfully manage career decisions and life opportunities.

The main focus of the Careers and Transition Department is to help students find the best first step beyond school.  We work with students from Years 9 to 13 to and offer:

• Careers education
• Careers advice
• Careers counselling
• Gateway programme

Students can come to the Careers department to get help with:

• Career research
• Subject selection
• Advice on entry into tertiary courses
• Provider (university) presentations
• Goal setting and academic mentoring
• Study skills
• Assistance with applications to institutions and for jobs
• Part-time jobs
• Finding alternatives to school where appropriate
• Organising attendance of taster days at tertiary institutions
• CV preparation
• Interview skills and practice
• Open days
• Taster days/student experience days

Above all, we believe an individual approach is the most valuable way to provide timely and appropriate career advice and guidance to students who get the most out of information provided when it relates directly to their needs at the time when they are ready to receive it.

Each student in the school is individually advised every year. We also welcome contact with parents to discuss students’ career needs.  The Careers and Transition department is located in the building right next to the student centre on Pigeon Mountain Road.

Ms Steph Ward (Head of Department)                                                             534 7159 ext 761

Mrs Paula Faamalepe                                                                                                   534 7159 ext 760

Mrs Tascha Corlett (Gateway Co-ordinator)                                                           534 7159 ext 762

At the Pegasus Unit, we aim to create independent, happy, lifelong learners, with a focus on individual achievement, in order to reach each student’s full potential. We provide a safe and nurturing environment for our students.  We work closely with families and the community in order for our students to be respected, have a sense of belonging, and to become responsible citizens.  Our ultimate aim for our students is to ensure that they are happy and valued members of society.

We are a special education unit currently consisting of sixteen students and six staff within a mainstream college environment.  We provide a range of learning opportunities to nurture each student’s individual needs. We focus on developing important life skills which help to build independence in our students, and will enable them to develop the self-sufficiency required to feel included in society.

Having the unit in a mainstream school that is dedicated to being inclusive and accepting of all students gives our students more opportunities, and the chance to utilise social skills they’ve learnt in the classroom. The close relationship between the unit and the wider school allows students to experience a range of learning opportunities, attend some mainstream classes, and provide the opportunity to gain NZQA qualifications. We use all facilities at the school to provide a variety of learning environments for our students.

Our days are packed full of exciting and fun learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom.  These help us with our goal of transitioning students towards relevant work opportunities, further education and a range of social and physical activities.

Here is a sample of what we do :

• Individual Education Goals
• Mainstream Classes – dance, drama, woodwork, cooking, langauges.
• Unit Standards – Supported learning credits
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Music
• Science
• A week long camp
• Life skills
• Art
• Computers/Technology
• Special Olympics and school sports days
• Riding for the Disabled
• Working with other educational institutions – St Kentigerns College, University of Auckland, Unitec, MIT
• Shopping and money skills
• Working with volunteers from Table Tennis
• Crossfit at Les Mills
• Social interactions with other special schools around Auckland.
• Transition Programs
• Work Experience
• Tree planting
• Work with health classes from the college

Michael Hunter (Head of Department) Phone: 021 894 706 Email: hun@pakuranga.school.nz

Claire Cuthill Phone: (09) 5347159 ext 990 Email: cth@pakuranga.school.nz

Pakuranga College has developed the Optimal Learning Centre to provide opportunities for all students to develop to their full potential.

If your child is affected by any of the following issues, they may benefit from this facility:

• ASD spectrum
• Dyslexia/Dyspraxia/Dyscalculia
• Hearing problems
• Colour blindness or other visual difficulties
• Difficulty making and keeping friends
• ADD / ADHD
• Other difficulties (social / emotional / behavioural)

The OLC runs core classes in Years 9 and 10 which have been modified in pace and content, to ensure that students learn at a rate that enables them to succeed.

These classes are limited to around 16 students with specialist Core Subject teachers and often teacher aide support. We currently have two Year 9 and 10 Core classes. The students are in these classes to gain confidence, full in their learning gaps, and receive that extra support to prepare them for NCEA.

Jordyn Rouse (Head of Department)  Phone: (09) 534 7159 ext. 981    Email: ROU@pakuranga.school.nz

Student tutors are available after school to help other students with their studies if required.

We also run Homework Club in the library each week, for anyone who needs help with their studies.

Click here to find out more about Homework Club and how to register for a tutor.

Here at Pakuranga College, we have an amazing team of Youth Workers that provides additional support to students as part of our pastoral care team.

They offer both individual and group mentoring and are also available for students to speak to during lunchtime and interval in our two youth rooms.