International Students

Our English Language Centre - Room 41

This unit has been established for overseas students for whom English is a second language. The unit is lead by Mrs Pam Wright (Cert TEAL, Cert TESSOL).

For new arrivals to our unit, the emphasis is upon listening and speaking skills. We progress to developing reading and writing skills.

Code of Practice
Pukekohe Intermediate School has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Ministry of Education.
Copies of the Code are available on request from Pukekohe Intermediate School or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website, www.minedu.govt.nz.  It is also available in Korean.

About Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a rural township about 45 minutes from the centre of Auckland City. The surrounding area is known for its market gardening and other agricultural activities including dairy farming, equestrian centres, and small holdings. Pukekohe is also known for its car race track. There are many attractions and facilities available in the area, such as libraries, recreational centres, swimming pools, golf courses, sports grounds, beaches, cafes and restaurants.

ENROLMENT INFORMATION
Addresses
As an enrolment requirement, it is the obligation of the parent or caregiver to provide the school with up-to-date New Zealand and overseas addresses.  If the family moves within Pukekohe, please update the school with the new address and telephone number.

Application Requirements and Requests
To apply to enrol your child at Pukekohe Intermediate School, please request the information from Mrs Wright at the school, email p_wright@pukekoheint.school.nz.  You will receive an application form for "offer of place" which needs to be returned to the school.  We will then send you an application pack which must be signed by the parent.  Enrolment will not be allowed without parental signature. 

Attendance
Students will attend school.  If for reasons such as illness, visit to home country, doctor visit etc, then the school must be advised in writing.

Categories of Accommodation
The following types of accommodation are available for international students:
- School-arranged homestay.
- With their parents.
- With a designated caregiver who must be a close friend or relative.

Conditions of Acceptance and Enrolment
Pukekohe Intermediate School accepts international students based on the number of places available at the time of application.
A maximum start of the year roll is 18 full-time students.  An interview between teacher and student or Principal and student will be held as soon as possible after enrolment is requested.  Enrolment will be conditional upon the school being able to meet the needs of the child. This decision will be communicated to parents after four (4) weeks of attendance at school.  If further enrolment is declined, a full reason why this is being done will be provided.

Contacting Parents
The school requires contact details for parents of students under the age of 18.  Parents are to sign all enrolment material.  Enrolment cannot start until parents have provided all details and signed all relevant paperwork.

Course
The course of study will be as Year 7 or Year 8 and will offer an initial intensive English language programme if necessary.  In the initial programme, they will have a mixture of their own classroom and a New Zealand student classroom.  Students will follow the New Zealand curriculum and essential learning areas in Literacy, Numeracy, Science, PE and Health, Social Studies, the Arts and Technology.

English Language Proficiency
English language is important to make enrolment a success. 
However, we also recognise that foreign students may not have much beyond a basic grasp of English language, spoken or written.  If enrolment is accepted, your child will be tested to determine the entry level and initial support for English language.

Fees
Application & School fee: $300.00
Tuition fees: $10 200.00
Government levy: $1 000.00
Total $11 500.00
It is a requirement by the Department of Immigration that the full year's tuition fees are to be paid in order to get a student visa.
The tuition fee includes:
* All costs for normal school programmes including school stationery requirements and specialist programme and material costs.
* Entry fee for any external school examinations or testing programmes required and administered by the school.
* School module costs, school sport costs, school badges.
* Text books loaned for the period of study.

* Y8 student camp
Not covered in the tuition fee are:
* School uniform.
* Lost library books or any vandalism or damage to school property.
All fees are inclusive of GST of 12.5%
The above fees are for a student at Pukekohe Intermediate School for one (1) year.  Students enrolled for one or two terms pay for their stationery and trips.

Fee Protection for International Students
The Pukekohe Intermediate School Board of Trustees guarantees a refund of unspent fees if the school becomes unable to continue to deliver the course.

Grievance Procedures
Any grievances can be resolved using the school’s Policy for Resolving Grievances, which is available from the school office. An Advice for international Students page is in this booklet.

Health and Travel Insurance
All international students MUST have insurance
International Foreign Fee Paying students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand unless they are:
* A resident or citizen of Australia; or
* A national of the United Kingdom in New Zealand; or
* The holder of a temporary permit that is valid for two years or more.
If you do not belong to one of these special categories and you receive medical treatment during your visit, you will be liable for the full costs of that treatment.  You must have insurance that will cover the cost of medical treatment in New Zealand for the duration of your stay in New Zealand. We also strongly recommend that you obtain insurance to cover your travel to and from New Zealand.

Immigration
Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at
www.immigration.govt.nz.

Orientation
On your son/daughter’s first day of school, they will receive an orientation to the school.  This will include a tour of the school and an introduction to their teacher, the Principal, and the school first aid person.

Refund Conditions
Any student who withdraws from his/her course of study before the student’s originally advised course completion date may be eligible for a partial refund of school tuition fees. An application for refund of school tuition fees must be made in writing.  Parents must write to the Board of Trustees explaining why the student has withdrawn from the course and the reasons for seeking a refund.  If the application is made before the start of the student’s course, school tuition fees will be refunded in full less the application fee of $200.00 to cover costs incurred by the school.  If the application is made after the start of the student’s course, but before the second half of their course, school tuition fees will be refunded less:
* The application fee of $200.00.
* Costs to the school already incurred for tuition on a term-by-term basis.
* Components of the fee already committed for the duration of the course, including appropriate proportions of salaries of teachers and support staff.
* Costs already incurred for the use of facilities and resources.
* The proportion of the Government Levy the school is required to pay.
* Any other costs already incurred.
If the application is made after the second half of the student’s course, no refund will be given except in exceptional circumstances.
No refund will be given to a student who is expelled from the school by the Board of Trustees.
No refund will be given to a student who has breached the terms of their contract with the school.
Any student who becomes a permanent resident during their course will have their unused school tuition fees refunded from the end of the term in which they became a resident.

Termination
Pukekohe Intermediate School reserves the right to terminate the enrolment of any international student on the basis of continued and unexplained non-attendance.  In this event the New Zealand Immigration Service will be notified.  In the case of gross misconduct and/or serious disobedience by a student, the New Zealand Ministry of Education Stand-down, Suspension, Exclusion and Expulsion Rules 1999 will be followed.  These Rules can be found on the Ministry of Education web site at www.minedu.govt.nz.

Withdrawal Procedure
If you wish to withdraw your son/daughter from Pukekohe Intermediate School, please advise the Principal in writing at least two weeks’ in advance.  The school refund conditions will apply in the event of any withdrawal.