Welcome to Hamilton’s Fraser High School This information will help you to prepare for life in New Zealand and adjust after you have arrived. Remember, we are here to help you.

The School

Hamilton's Fraser High School is a co-educational school with a roll of approximately 1600 students. Starting the year there will be around 30 international students who are all in homestay accommodation. These students are primarily from Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea and Brazil. We will also have exchange students from countries such as Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, Thailand and USA. You will meet students from many countries here. Be friendly and you will make friends!

Student Support

The Director of International Students is responsible for enrolments, planning your academic programme, and making contact with parents and agents. The Head of the International Centre, Ms Jo Smith, will also support you in your academic programme, or if you have any concerns. The Homestay Coordinator supports our international students in their homestay.

International Centre

All ESOL classes and support services are based in our purpose-built International Student Centre, which has three classrooms, two offices and a kitchen. Our English language teachers are highly-qualified and experienced. They teach a range of English language programmes aimed at helping students to succeed in their mainstream programmes. Each classroom has computers for student research and to email home.

The ‘Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students’

Hamilton's Fraser High 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 this institution or the New Zealand Ministry of Education website

Note that some translations of the Code of Practice can be found at the bottom of this Ministry of Education webpage.

Orientation to life in New Zealand

Routines at school and in your homestay will be different to at home. The Director and Dean of International Students and the Homestay Manager are available to assist you. To help you settle into a New Zealand home, when you arrive we will discuss our homestay booklet which is for you and your homestay parents. Your ESOL teachers will discuss the teaching/learning process in New Zealand classrooms and other aspects of living in New Zealand. You will find your fellow classmates are also helpful. They have developed an information book for you to read.

For more information on adjusting to life in New Zealand go to: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/ click on ‘International Education’ then click on ‘For International Students and Parents’. The ‘Guide to Living and Studying in New Zealand’ in this section is very useful.

Subjects & Reports

During your first few days at school you will sit a number of English tests (grammar, vocabulary, writing etc). We will use the results of these to assist in your class placement and ensure you will be studying at the level appropriate for you. Sometimes this means you might do a subject at either a higher or lower level than you initially enrolled in. It is also possible to do different subjects at different levels eg Maths at Year 12 and Accounting at Year 11.

International students who study at senior level (Years 11-13) will be in classes where the programme is based on the New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Even if you are not formally enrolled in NCEA, you are expected to sit all tests and assessments, do all homework and to work hard to overcome any language difficulties you may have.

If you are having serious difficulty with a subject, we encourage you to talk to your teacher but please also come and discuss it with the Director or Head of International Centre. In some cases we can change your class, at other times you may just need to take a little more time to adjust to the level of your class.

You will get school reports at the end of Term 1, Term 2 and Term 4, and in addition, at the end of your enrolment you will get a report from the Director of International Students, which is based on your classroom teacher reports. Reports comment on your attendance, academic progress / achievement, and your attitude both in the class and in the wider life of the school.

School Expectations

Studying in another country and living in a different culture is a great opportunity, but of course it has its challenges. We do all we can to support our international students to ensure they have a successful experience. However we expect all students to attend school regularly, be at school and in classes on time, attempt all work, display a good attitude and obey all the rules of the school, especially to do with respect for teachers and other students. Our school rules are that boys must be clean shaven, and unusual hair styles and colours, piercing of body and face, and tattoos are not permitted.

It is also very important for international students to comply with homestay guidelines and rules (see Homestay Booklet and Homestay Agreement).

When standards are not met students are given help by the International Centre teachers, by the Homestay Coordinator, and by the Director of International Students. Our aim is to assist you to make a successful transition to your new family and school. In serious cases, and where problems continue, international students are subject to the same disciplinary actions that apply to all students in the school.

Decisions and recommendations are always made on "What is best for the safety and overall educational and social well-being of the student?"

What do you do if you have a problem?

If there is something about school or homestay that you don’t understand or are not happy about, it is important that you talk to some-one about it. Sometimes it is a good idea to put it in writing if you can. You might wish to discuss the concern first with a class teacher or teachers in the International Centre, or if it is a homestay matter then with the Homestay Coordinator.

If the problem is not solved or if the teacher recommends it, then you can talk to the Director of International Students. . If the Director cannot help or the problem is not solved you can discuss it with the Head of the International Centre, and finally the Principal. If the matter is very serious, you or your parents have the right to refer it to the International Education Appeal Authority (see Code of Practice summary).

However, remember we are here to help you!

International Centre staff will do all we can to make your stay successful and enjoyable. We really look forward to meeting you on your first day at Hamilton's Fraser High School.

Alex Davis
Director of International Students
Hamilton's Fraser High School
PO Box 15121, Dinsdale, Hamilton 3243
NEW ZEALAND

Email:  a.davis@fraser.school.nz