Handbook for International Students

Kapiti College 2016

Before you leave home… Please arrange to have a full health and dental checkup. This will enable you to discover any hidden problems and get treatment in familiar surroundings before heading off on your big adventure. It may also save you money. Make sure that you bring clothes suitable for both cold and warm weather. Paraparaumu rarely gets temperatures below 8C in winter, and it rarely gets over 30C in summer. But the weather is very changeable, and you need to be prepared. Your plane flight will land at either Auckland Airport or Christchurch Airport, unless you have a connection from Australia. Make sure that you go through Customs at that airport - don’t check your luggage through to Wellington.

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Welcome! Welcome to New Zealand and to Kapiti College. We hope your stay here will be happy and successful. The advice in this book is to help you. Please read it carefully. If you do not understand something ask for help.

Code of Practice Kapiti College 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. A copy of the Code will be provided in your orientation pack, it is also available from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://www.minedu.govt.nz. This Code is your assurance that you will be looked after well at our school.

We’re Here to Help At Kapiti College there are a number of people who are especially responsible for you. They are: The Director of International Education, Mr Steve Burt. He is in charge of International students at Kapiti College. The ESOL teachers are Mrs Fiona Smythe and Mrs Annelies Kamp. You will see your ESOL teacher nearly every day as part of your timetable. They also have a counselling role. In consultation with the Director, they will set up your academic programme (what subjects you take) and will keep in touch with your teachers. Your ESOL teacher will advise you on how to meet your study and assignment requirements. Your ESOL teacher will also be happy for you to talk to her on any matters that are worrying you, including other students. The homestay co-ordinators are Ms Takayo Bennett, Mrs Leigh Howchow and Mrs Celeste Beale. One of them will meet you at the airport when you first arrive, and will introduce you to the homestay family they have arranged for you. They will take you through an Orientation programme, help you set up a bank account, and arrange insurance. They will also help you with any matters concerning your homestay, visas, outings and holidays. The coordinators can be contacted at any time including in the evening if there is an emergency.

Your host parents. They will take an interest in your schooling, and may be able to help you with some of your school tasks. They will help you if you need to know where to find something in the shops, if you need to go to the doctor, need to catch a bus or train, will care for you if sick, and will help you deal with other out of school matters.

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Orientation The homestay coordinator is responsible for your “orientation” (introduction to life in New Zealand) when you first arrive. Over the first few days she will help you with these matters: Getting from the airport to your homestay Introducing you to your host family Providing a local map to show you the places you need to know right away Opening a bank account and managing your money Organising a comprehensive Insurance policy if you haven’t already done this How to use the shops, including asking for things and paying for them Discuss the 'Guidelines for Behaviour’ in this Handbook Set up a meeting at school so that your English can be tested, and a programme of study worked out for you Getting a school uniform, if you are not a year 13 student What to do in emergency situations including sickness Culture shock and homesickness How to make a complaint She will also explain her role as homestay coordinator and will give you her phone number so that you can ring when you need to.

YOUR HOMESTAY International students must live in a homestay. You are not allowed to live in a flat. Please be guided by these rules. 1. Be part of your host family. Be friendly and join in family activities. They will treat you the same way as you treat them. 2. Respect the home - it is not a hotel. Personal and private property of your family is to be respected. Always ask before you borrow or use anything that does not belong to you. 3. People in New Zealand do not have servants, and they have busy lives. Children here have family jobs to do, like setting the table or washing the dishes. You should help too. 4. Always tell your host family where you are going, and what time you will be home. It is polite to ask permission before you go out. If you must be late, telephone your family to tell them. 5. Tell your family if you will not be home for dinner or lunch.

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6. Ask for permission to invite friends to your house. 7. Always finish your homework. This is important. 8. The more you talk in English, the better your English will be. Talk with your family. You and your family can learn from each other. 9. Try to discuss any concerns with your family whenever they arise. If you do not want to do this, then talk about them to your homestay co-ordinator, or to the Director.

School-Home Communication Our school must have an effective way of communicating with each student’s parents. This includes a postal address. We are able to use native language speakers where this is necessary. We will check telephone numbers and confirm addresses so that they can be used whenever necessary. The school will report to parents on academic progress twice a year. The school will also inform parents by phone, email and/or letter where there are matters of concern.

Homesickness and Tiredness You will almost certainly find the first weeks or months in New Zealand difficult because of homesickness, and the difficulty of living in a different culture. This could make you feel very tired. Do remember that things will get better and don’t give up. You can talk about your feelings to your ESOL teacher, your homestay coordinator, your host parents, or the Director.

Language You may have been learning English for a number of years and feel that you know quite a lot. You may however find when you arrive, that you recognise very little of what people are saying. Don’t panic! It will take time before your ear gets used to the distinctive New Zealand accent, and the speed at which native speakers speak the language. Also, native speakers of English use a lot of informal (colloquial or slang) language, some of which is distinctive to New Zealand. Your language lessons won’t have prepared you for this. Again, don’t panic! At first you may find it a help to get people to write key words down for you – you’ll probably recognise them then. After a few

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weeks you will find that you can pick up a lot of the words you learned back in your own country. An electronic translator will be very useful, especially at the beginning. But make sure that you are learning the new words you come across so that you don’t need to rely on the translator long-term.

Your Homestay All Kapiti College students live in home stays – we don’t permit students to live in flats by themselves or with friends. Your homestay coordinator has arranged your homestay for you, and you can’t change the arrangements yourself. Homestay families are arranged with care but occasionally they don’t work out. If for any reason you are not happy with your homestay situation you must discuss your problem with the homestay coordinator, or the Director who will help you to settle the concern.

Meals Different families have different mealtime customs. Some will eat their meals at the dining room table; in other homes people will sit in the lounge and eat from their plates on their lap. Always eat the meal with your host family. Do not go into your room to eat. In New Zealand many families do not have breakfast together. Everyone gets their own at a time that suits them. You may have to prepare your own school lunch. If you have to do this, your host parents will show you what to do. Some of our foods may seem strange to you. Give them a try. It is okay to say “no thank you” to something you really don’t like but it will create problems if you do this too often. Part of the process of living in a different country is getting used to different foods. In New Zealand it is considered polite to eat quietly. Do not lift your plate from the table but use the knife, fork or spoon to lift the food to your mouth. Use a family mealtime as a chance to practise your English conversation.

Your Bedroom Your bedroom is your place to sleep and study. You may close the door whenever you like. Do not spend all your time in your bedroom but spend some time with your host family talking to them or watching TV with them. If the family gets a newspaper on a regular basis spend time trying to read it. It will be good for your English, even though you will probably find it very difficult at first. Ask your host family about some of the items you read about.

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Your bed may be different from the kind you are used to in your own country. We sleep between the sheets, which we wash regularly. Blankets or duvets are washed only very occasionally. It is your job to make your bed neatly each morning and to keep your room tidy. If you do not know how to do this ask your host parents Your room will have a heater. Turn it off when you go to bed or go out. If you have an electric blanket never turn it on when you have a pile of clothes or other belongings on it, and switch it off before you go to sleep. NEVER smoke in your bedroom.

Bed Time Most New Zealand families go to bed around 10.00 pm during the week. It is our custom to say 'Good night' to each other. Turn off your electric blanket before you go to sleep. It is not good for you to sleep with an electric blanket turned on. Check that you never leave an electric blanket or heater on when you leave the house.

Many students arrange to have a computer in their bedroom, to help with homework. If you arrange with your hosts to have an extra phone line installed, then you must pay for it. You must also agree to stop using the Internet at a reasonable hour preferably no later than 10.00 pm during the week. Do not view inappropriate material from the Internet. This is not acceptable in host households.

Outings and Activities During the school week, Sunday evenings to Thursday evenings you should not go out. This is your time to do homework and study. On Friday or Saturday night you can go out but you should not be home later than midnight (or earlier if that is what your host parents want). Ask permission from your host parents before going out and let them know where you are going, whom you will be with and when you will be home. If you want to be away from home over night you must have the permission of both the homestay coordinator and your host parents. If you want to go away on holiday with a friend or another family, you need to ask permission from both your homestay parents and the homestay coordinator about this. They will need to check with your own parents that this is OK. If you do go away it is extremely important that you leave an itinerary, and phone numbers with the coordinator. If you stay away without getting permission from your host parents, the consequences will be very serious.

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It is usual for students to return to their home in the summer holidays. If for any reason you wish to remain in New Zealand, then arrangements must be discussed with the Director. It is good idea to play a sport (eg badminton, table tennis, basketball) or join in with some regular cultural activity (eg choir or band) as this will bring you into contact with groups of New Zealand students and help you make New Zealand friends. There are lots of opportunities available through the school. Ask Mrs Smythe, Mrs Kamp or your homestay coordinator.

Use of the Bathroom New Zealand homes normally have both bathtubs and showers, but adults will usually use the shower in preference to the bath. In most homes the bathroom is very busy in the mornings. Ask your family what is a good time for you to shower. Most homes have a hot water tank, which supplies the heated water for showering, clothes washing, and the dishes. If hot water is run continuously it will be all used up. Do not spend too long in the shower or there will be no hot water left for anyone else. That will not make you very popular with other members of the family! Unlike in many other countries, bathroom floors in New Zealand are not sloped and drained to cope with a lot of water. Pull the shower curtain across or close the shower door to keep the floor dry and stand on the bath mat when you are wet. Do not keep wet towels in your bedroom but hang them in the bathroom. You should supply your own shampoo, soap and other toiletries.

Toilet Males should remember to lift the toilet seat before urinating, and to put it down again when finished. Females should not put menstrual pads down the toilet. Ask your host mother about disposal. You do not need to feel embarrassed asking about such matters.

Laundry Most host families will be happy to wash your clothes for you. Ask them where to put your dirty washing and when to change the sheets on your bed. Do not leave dirty clothes lying around unwashed in your room. Most families will object to this. If you wish to wash some or all of your clothes yourself this will be quite OK. Just ask your host parents how to do this. In New Zealand it is OK to hang all clothes including underwear on the clothesline. Most homes have a clothes drier but many families prefer to dry clothes on the line if the weather is suitable. Check what your host parents think about this.

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Do not hang wet washing in your bedroom. It might damage the carpet or furniture. And do not put wet washing near a heater to dry. This could cause a house fire.

Household Tasks Like many other countries, New Zealand families do not have servants, and all members if the household (including males) are expected to make some contribution to household tasks. If you are asked to help do the dishes or carry out some other responsibility, do it cheerfully. If you do not know how to do it make sure you ask. It is a good idea to ask sometimes if you can do something to help, especially when you can see others are very busy. Your homestay parents will really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Keeping Warm New Zealand houses are not usually centrally heated. If it gets cold most families prefer to put on warm clothes before they turn on a heater. If you feel cold, first make sure you are wearing enough clothes. If you are still cold speak to your host parents. It is important to be warm enough at night. If you are not, ask your host parents for more bedding – if you need more they will be happy to give it to you Electricity is expensive and whilst all host parents will want you to be comfortable they are likely to complain if they think you are wasting power (by keeping your room excessively hot or running the heater when you are not in the room). Please help them to conserve energy.

Telephone Calls If you have a cell phone, remember to keep it turned off when in class. You may use your host family’s phone but you must pay for all calls that are not local. In some homes it won’t cost anything to make calls to Wellington but in other homes it will. Ask your host parents. It is a good idea to ask your host parents before you use the phone, at least until you understand their expectations. Do not be on the phone for too long at any one time, and do not make calls after 9.30 at night without their permission. If you wish to make an international call, ask your host family about the best way to do this. If you call cell phones from the landline it will cost money and you will need to pay for these calls in the same way you pay for international calls. In an emergency eg fire, accident or serious illness, the emergency number in New Zealand is 111. This is the number to ring if you need urgently an ambulance, fire engine or the police. You can ring this number free from any phone. Also if there is an emergency situation, phone the co-ordinator or the Director at any time.

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Family Outings If your family invites you to go on an outing with them it is a good idea to accept. This is a chance to see new places, other parts of New Zealand, make new friends and practise your English. You do not have to say “yes” every time but if you say “no” too often they will get the idea that you don’t like going out with them and may stop asking you.

Living Costs Because homestay money is paid in advance, it is not necessary for parents to send their son or daughter to New Zealand with large amounts of extra money. In fact, it is not a good idea to do this. Students do need money to pay for: Uniform NZ$350-$550, Stationery NZ$80-$100, also a graphics calculator (for senior mathematics subjects) may be purchased approximately NZ$85, Insurance NZ$580, IELTS exams NZ$250, NCEA exams will cost $383.30. Stationery can be ordered on line (via Kapiti College web site) once students have selected subjects. Visa/Permit renewal charges NZ$270 for immigration you will need to undergo a medical each year (12 months). The cost of this is approximately $500.00 in addition to the visa fee of $270. This is not reimbursed by insurance Medical bills NZ$60-$90 for a visit to the doctor, which is reimbursed by insurance Telephone calls, personal toiletries, local transport, movies, books, magazines, snack foods, eating out with friends. Clothing. Any major transport within New Zealand. It is suggested that NZ$60 - $120 per week is plenty to cover normal “running expenses”. Some parents like to send this in instalments, and this is a good idea. It is suggested that when students face major costs not included above (such as airfares home or the purchase of a computer) that additional money be sent over specifically for this purpose. Parents should not give their son/daughter money for a car. They are not permitted to have one whilst at Kapiti College. For international students, having too much money is usually more of a problem than too little.

Students are not to lend money to other students, nor are they to borrow. Doing this will put you in breach of the terms of your visa and could result in you being sent home. Any money issues should be brought to the attention of your home stay Coordinator.

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Immigration Our Coordinator will ensure that your visa requirements are in order. If you are from a country where you are entitled to enter New Zealand without a visa, it will be important to organise a study visa as soon as you arrive. Your coordinator does this with you.

Banking When you first arrive the coordinator will assist you in setting up a bank account. This is important as it makes managing your money much easier. It also saves you money should you have any insurance claims, refunds from school, or need to provide Immigration with evidence of financial support. It does not you anything to open a bank account.

Insurance You must be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy while in New Zealand. You will see this billed on your invoice. As soon as your fees are paid the coordinator arranges your insurance policy to cover the period up to and including the day you leave home until the day after you return home.

Foreign Currency Some students arrive in New Zealand with large amounts of foreign currency (US dollars, Japanese Yen, Euro dollars or £ Sterling). None of these currencies can be used in New Zealand without first changing them into New Zealand dollars. There are two safe options for looking after such money: Change the foreign currency into New Zealand dollars and put the money in an interest earning term deposit account in a bank. If you wish to take it back home at a later stage it can easily be reconverted to foreign currency. Keep the foreign currency in a safe deposit envelope at a bank, or in the school safe. It is very unwise to keep large sums of money not in a bank, or to give large sums to another person to look after. The ONLY safe place for large sums of money is in a government-registered bank.

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School School here will be very different from in your home country. In your first day or two at Kapiti College your English will be tested, and you will be told about your school programme and how it is organised. The following advice should help make the settling in process easier.

Academic Programme Unless you arrive in New Zealand with very good English you will find your academic programme difficult for the first six to 12 months, even if you were a very successful student in your own country. It is very important not to get depressed, and not to give up. If you keep on working hard through this difficult first six months or year your English will improve considerably and the study will get easier.

Tertiary Goals Most International students want to go on to study at a Polytechnic, or University, when they complete year 13. Your ESOL teacher will help you to prepare for the IELTS Test that is essential for acceptance into a tertiary Institution. You can also get advice from the Careers Advisor, or from the Director.

Attendance Students are required to attend school every day unless prevented by sickness. If you have been away you need to bring a note written by your host parent and give it to your form teacher on your first day back. If your absence is going to be for more than two days, then the school office should be informed.

Uniform Year 13 students may wear mufti (tidy casual clothes) but all other students are required to wear full school uniform. The homestay co-ordinator will tell you how to buy a school uniform. Students over the age of 18years, those in a full Year 13 programme or on a short-term programme may also wear mufti.

Homework and Study Students should expect to spend at least two or three hours each weekday evening on homework or study. Most international students will need to spend considerably more than this.

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Some students benefit from extra Tutoring, to help them adjust to learning in New Zealand. The Director will help you with this.

Standards of Behaviour The same values apply in homestay as in the school. Only persons over the age of 18 years may consume ALCOHOL. If you enter a bar underage, your Visa may be cancelled. It is very likely that any student involved in serious misconduct such as drug taking would be expelled from the school, and sent back to the home country, without any refund of fees. Kapiti College expects you to be polite, honest, and fair to others. If you have any concerns, or think that a person is being unkind to you, you must tell one of the staff. Most worries are easy to solve, once they are known. Friendships Students are not to form a romantic relationship. Try to have friendships with many students. Do not limit your friendships to members of your own culture and language group. Try not to be shy and try to make friendships with other students by talking to them at the beginning or end of a class. You can talk about the weather, or ask questions about what you don’t understand - perhaps the school notices. Joining in school activities like music or sport is a good way to make friends. Kiwi students sometimes feel awkward about speaking to someone when communication is difficult. You will need to make it clear that you want to talk with them in spite of the difficulty. If you back away they will tend to leave you alone. At least when you are around Kiwi students you should try speaking in English to friends of your own language group. They won't mind if you make mistakes, and will not feel that you are trying to exclude them.

Problems with Others If you think that another student has said or done something unkind to you, do not act aggressively. It is not acceptable to get into a fight, and if you do so you could create real problems for yourself and possibly for other International students. If someone does act in an unkind way it is likely to be because they are ignorant. Tell

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your form teacher, your ESOL teacher, or the Director of International students. They will know what to do.

Smoking Cigarette smoking is very bad for your health. Unlike most other countries, smoking is forbidden in many public places in New Zealand including shopping malls, movie theatres, restaurants, buses and trains. It is illegal to purchase cigarettes if you are under 18. Smoking is forbidden at school, on the way to and from school, and at any schoolrelated activity. Do not smoke in any home without asking permission.

Personal Possessions Some people are dishonest and if you leave things around will take them. Look after your things, including at school. Name any clothing that you may be taking off at school – like jackets, jerseys. Never leave money or valuable items in unattended bags or unlocked lockers. The co-ordinator will arrange to keep your passport, air tickets and foreign currency in the safe provided for this purpose at school talk to your coordinator about this if you are unsure.

Cultural Differences New Zealanders think it is polite to look at people when they are talking to them, so do not look away or at the floor when someone is talking to you. New Zealanders often touch each other to show concern or affection. If someone pats your arm or your shoulder this is just to show that they care about you. In New Zealand women and men have more equality than in some other countries. Remember to treat women with respect, including your host mother.

Cars International students are not permitted to own a car while they are at Kapiti College, nor are they to drive a car or get driver’s licence whilst at Kapiti College. Never travel in another person’s car unless that person has a full licence. Always use a seatbelt when you are a passenger in a car in both the front and back seats.

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Transport When you ride a bicycle always wear a cycle helmet. This is required by law. Do not ride on the footpath. When you park your bike always leave it secure with a chain and padlock. Some students will need to use public transport to get to and from school. Trains go regularly from Paraparaumu to Wellington. There is a bus service around the area and to and from the station. You will have a student ID card that gives you cheaper fares on the trains and buses. Timetables will be provided in your orientation pack. Ask your host family about how to use these public transport services. If Kapiti College is too far away for you to walk to, your host family will advise you on the best way to get there. Do not hitchhike in New Zealand. This can be dangerous.

Risk-taking Activities Students must obtain the permission of their natural parents before taking part in activities that are considered hazardous. Common examples are bungy jumping, private plane rides, parachuting, paragliding, black and white water rafting, scuba diving, pot holing and caving, mountaineering. If in doubt, obtain your parents consent.

Regulations It should be noted that school regulations apply to students not only during the regular school day but in each of these circumstances also: On the way to and from school At any school-sponsored activity or function On school property at any time. Among school regulations are the following: Smoking is forbidden. It follows that cigarettes, tobacco, matches, or lighters are therefore not to be brought to school. Possessing or using alcohol or illegal drugs will make a pupil liable for immediate suspension, without any guarantee of reinstatement

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Pupils are permitted to leave the grounds at lunchtime solely for the purpose of going to their own home for lunch, in which case a pass is to be requested. (Year 13 students are exempted from this rule.) No one has the right to abuse school property. Students who cause damage either intentionally or by gross carelessness or stupidity, or as a result of disregarding instructions, will be required to pay for the necessary repair or replacement of what is damaged. Bullying (intimidation) and harassment (including sexual harassment) whether verbal or physical, is a serious matter. No one has the right to make someone else’s life a misery. All pupils must share the responsibility for keeping classrooms, corridors and grounds clean. This may include rostered duties for the classrooms and for the buildings. The following items are also forbidden at school: all knives (including craft knives and pocket knives) and any kind of weapon: bottles of correction fluid (such as “Twink”), and chewing gum or bubble gum.

Got a complaint? If you have a complaint about school or your homestay you should follow this procedure: If your complaint concerns a particular teacher or subject, talk to the teacher concerned if you feel you can do this. If your complaint concerns your homestay situation, talk to the homestay coordinator. Discuss it with your ESOL teacher and ask her for help in solving it. Discuss it with the Director of International Students, who has overall responsibility for your welfare. Ask for an appointment to see the Principal if your complaint has still not been dealt with satisfactorily, or if it is about one of the above staff. If you still feel that your complaint has not been heard, understood or actioned, write a letter to the chairperson of the Kapiti College Board of Trustees, Box 2003, Raumati Beach. If none of the above steps work, write to the International Educational Appeal Authority (IEAA) and tell them what your complaint is. The address is: IEAA, C/Ministry of Education, Box 1666, Wellington New Zealand. If you want to bring a friend with you to any meeting (for support or to help with translation) you can do this. Also, you can ask that the school arrange for an interpreter to be present. Your safety and welfare is our priority.

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONTRACT All students and their parents must agree to the following requirements. 1. Attend at least 90% of the course, and be on time. 2. Agree to co-operate with staff and to accept the authority and rules of the school, as for all other students. 3. Stay in the homestay provided by Kapiti College, and agree to the code of conduct as set out in the Homestay booklets. 4. Inform Kapiti College of any sickness, disability, or behavioural problems prior to enrolment. 5. Not to take extra time away from school, except with the prior approval of the Director of International students. 6. Obtain comprehensive Insurance, to cover the whole period of time in NZ. 7. Meet conditions of the N Z Immigration Service student visa requirements. 8. Inform Kapiti College of any change in address of their parents. 9. Remain at Kapiti College for the duration of their Visa, except by approval of the Director. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the contract being revoked, at which time the student would no longer be able to attend Kapiti College, and may well have their Visa revoked by the NZIS.

REFUND PROCEDURES Refunds Policy 

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Refunds will only be made when the school receives written authority from a parent. And a refund will only be paid into the account that the parent nominates. Students who obtain a visa for purposes of studying at Kapiti College but who then do not start classes, or who attend school for no more than five days  will receive a refund of tuition fees paid less a penalty of 10%  will be refunded all homestay money less a penalty of one or two week’s board, depending on how much work has been done by the homestay coordinator.

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Students who withdraw from Kapiti College within 20 school days of starting will be refunded 65% of their tuition fee and all homestay money remaining, less a penalty of two weeks board. Students who withdraw from Kapiti College after 20 school days because of unspecified circumstances will not receive any refund of tuition fees. However, if they leave because of an accident or serious illness, they may receive a refund of tuition fees and homestay fees less a penalty of two week's board. When students complete their course any homestay money remaining in their account will automatically be refunded, unless there are unsettled debts to the homestay family, in which case these will be paid first. If there is a refund due to a student at the end of the year or at the end of their course, and it is more than $500, the money must be paid to an account of the parent's choosing. If a parent asks for money to be transferred from their child's college account to another bank account, and it is more than $500, the parent must communicate this instruction by telephone directly to the Principal or to the Director of International Education.

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Important Telephone Numbers Director of International Students Mr Steve Burt School

04 902 5121

Mobile

027 229 2512

Home

04 902 1833

Email

[email protected]

Homestay Coordinators Celeste Beale Mobile

027 352 7374

Home

04 904 9854

Email

[email protected]

Takayo Bennett Mobile

029 902 0296

Home

04 902 0296

Email

[email protected] [email protected]

Leigh Howchow Mobile

027 462 9230

Home

06 362 6744

Email

[email protected]

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