Wellington College Certificate
The Wellington College Certificate is a two year programme in Years 10 and 11. The certificate recognises Academic Effort + Co-Curricular Participation.
WELLINGTON COLLEGE CERTIFICATE KEY FEATURES AT YEAR 10 AND 11
- Develop learning habits that support their effort in the classroom.
- Participation in the co-curricular offerings of the school, including Physical Activity/Sports and Arts and Culture.
- Record their Community service in the SVA programme.
Research tells us that emotions impact our ability to learn at any given moment. Students learn best when they experience strong social connection and a sense of belonging. This is why getting involved in the wider college experience through co-curricular activities is an important component to success in the classroom.
The development of executive function skills such as cognitive flexibility, working memory, inhibitory control and self-regulation, influences learning across the life course. This needs to be deliberately practiced and our pedagogical principles enables students to do this with support from the teacher.
Motivation influences learning and is influenced by learning. Students experience this through their effort. Effort plays a crucial role in navigating and leveraging these influences on learning. It is the active ingredient that enables students to overcome obstacles, engage with the material, and ultimately achieve their learning objectives.
We have responded carefully to this research in the development of our Year 9 – 11 learning programmes, and from this, the Wellington College Certificate was established.
Our internal student management system records students involvement through the groups their are in. Students will also be able to fill in a Google Form at the end of the year with a contact who can attest to their participation. Students service is logged in the SVA programme which is accessible to the school (as long as they use their school email account to register).
They can go to ‘My Learning Record’ (otherwise known as the Portal), and view their reports. They will have guidance to track their progress during their Check and Reflect activity in Coll Time.
This part of the certificate highlights our aim for students to get involved in the wider offerings of the college in order to expand their community and help develop their whole self. Many students tell us that it is within their co-curricular involvement that they have found their sense of belonging at Wellington College. The competencies, confidence, and social skills developed through involvement in co-curricular activities is not to be underestimated.
Therefore, students should aim to sign up for groups and teams at Wellington College that enable this to happen in their areas of interest.
While we originally considered student involvement in school-based activities, such as the Runathon, Yr 10 Volunteer Day, and House Activities to count towards their certificate, it was decided that co-curricular engagements, by their very nature, should remain separate from mandated activities. The essence of this aspect of the certificate is to encourage students’ proactive engagement in broader college endeavors.
Co-Curricular Domain: Arts and Culture
- Any music groups offered at WC
- Any of the Drama groups or productions on offer at WC
- Any cultural groups including Kapa Haka and Pacific Performance Group
- Any debating and speech making groups or activities such as Ngā Manu Kōrero
- Showing long term commitment to a club, with ongoing and regular attendance.
Co-Curricular Domain: Community and Service (Ideally logged in the SVA (Student Volunteer Army)
- Any volunteering such as at the soup kitchen, charity fundraising etc
- Leadership including student council, Tū Tamatoa, Together as Brothers, or your local community group.
- Hosting visitors to the school, tour guides at events. Welcoming manuhiri at Pōhiri and Mihi Whakatau
- Backstage and technical support
- Lighting, sound, IT support etc
Co-Curricular Domain: Physical Activity
- Any sports teams offered at WC
- Any external sports that are not offered at WC (such as Judo or Fencing)
