The GEIS Way

Powerful Learning

Our aim at GEIS is to equip all students with the skills they require to become lifelong learners in the 21st Century. In all curriculum areas, we aim to make learning powerful for students by providing them with experiences that are meaningful and challenging. While at GEIS, students will be involved in inquiry learning, where they develop skills in generating their own questions, and locating and analysing information. Values education and higher order thinking skills are emphasised and infused into all subjects.

Vision and Values

• To equip students with the skills needed for life-long learning.
• To foster a love of learning by providing challenging, authentic learning experiences.
• To encourage students to strive for excellence.
• To assist students to become risk-takers and accept and embrace change.
• To provide a positive, safe and caring environment.
• To teach and model the GEIS values.
• To be a learning community and encourage and foster community support and involvement.

Educational Values                           Virtue Values

Independence                                            Responsibility

Collaboration                                             Excellence

Creativity                                                   Honesty

Risk-Taking                                               Integrity

Thinking                                                    Respect

Challenge                                                  Tolerance

Class Organisation

The school is divided into four MiniSchools with an Assistant Principal esponsible for each team. Students are placed in home rooms with a class teacher. Four Independent Learning classes (two Year 7 and two Year 8) classes are provided for selected students who would benefit from extension work.

Semi-Specialisation

Within each MiniSchool, teachers also specialise in a subject in which they have a particular strength. These subjects are typically Physical Education, Maori, and a second language. GEIS has been involved in a Ministry of Education initiative to support the teaching of second languages at the intermediate school level. This initiative is in response to the growing awareness that learning other languages contributes to the cognitive, intellectual and social development of students. A number of teachers at GEIS have received professional development in second language teaching and we are now able to offer all students the opportunity to learn Spanish, German, Japanese or French as well as Te Reo Maori.

Specialist Subjects

All students take part in Hard Materials Technology, Design Technology, Food Technology, Soft Materials, Visual Art, Dramatic Arts, Sound Arts (Music) and Video Production. All Year 7 and Year 8 students take each subject for 8 lessons.

Enrichment Programmes

Students have the opportunity to take part in programmes designed to cater for their special abilities. These include: Maori and Pacific Island Groups, Choir, Orchestra, Hip Hop, Cheerleading; external Mathematics, Writing, Science, English and Computing Examinations; Mathex, Science Fair, Short Story Writing Competition, Debating and Speech competitions; Art Exhibitions, Telelvision Production, Musical Productions, Talent Quests, Music Festivals, Performing Arts Festivals and Cultural Festivals.

After School Enrichment Programmes

GEIS offers a comprehensive After School Enrichment Programme that caters for about 250 students each term. Students from GEIS participate in the courses which are fun, challenging and exciting. Courses range from art to sport, ICT to technology and english to mathematics. All needs are catered for throughout the year by caring, experienced and skilled tutors.

Navigators

The Navigators Programme is an educational initiative set up by Glen Eden Intermediate School, to focus on Maori and Pacific Island student achievement, although all students have the opportunity to join this group. By providing tutoring and mentoring, this is having a positive impact on these students' study skills, goal setting and self-esteem.

Environmental Education

GEIS is an Enviroschool, having achieved a Silver Award for environmental initiatives implemented by staff and students. The school aims to promote sustainable practices such as Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, and has established an organic garden. Projects in and around our school and community include worm farming, composting, a shade house for native seedlings, painted drains, stream studies and GLOBE.

Student Council

Two students are selected to represent each class on our Student Council. We see this as an opportunity for students to take part in democratic decision-making, and the development of their leadership. Each year the Student Council attend the Young Leaders Day and listen to well known celebrities talk about leadership and making a difference. Students then discuss how this information can be used to create an action plan to benefit GEIS.

Sports Academy

Students are given the opportunity to participate and compete at their own level, in nearly any sport from athletics to water polo. Teams take part in the Waitakere and Auckland competitions. Inter-class and syndicate competitions are held at lunchtimes, where participation and enjoyment are the key elements. Every student is involved in Fitness and Physical Education programmes.

Progressive Learning Centre

We have a full time Special Needs Coordinator, who oversees our Progressive Learning Centre programmes and attends to the pastoral care of all students across the school. We have developed programmes over the last few years, which help children cope with a variety of situations that cannot be adequately covered in the classroom. A visiting Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour, supports our staff by carrying out in-depth analysis of students' needs, and designing individual programmes to suit each situation.

Outdoor Education

Staff plan a developmental Outdoor Education programme, with the belief that these experiences enhance self-esteem. Students are involved in an outdoor education camp experience during their two years at GEIS. These camps will be held in 2011.

In 2007 some of our students and staff travelled to Korea and China and 2008 groups headed off to Japan and Korea.

Each year Mr Hewetson and other staff take a group of intrepid travellers on a week long tramp somewhere in New Zealand. 2010 saw a group walk the beautiful Routeburn track in the South Island. Other destinations GEIS have visited include the Abel Tasman Track,  and Stewart Island.

Information and Communication Technology

Glen Eden Intermediate School is well resourced in this area and is a recognised leader by the Ministry of Education in this field, with highly skilled teachers and up-to-date equipment. As well as having at least two computers per classroom, which students use to assist in their class work, students participate in ICT classes in our ICT suite and our state of the art Video Conference Suite. All computers are connected through a comprehensive school-wide network. Students have their own personal username and password, which allows them access to email, the Internet and a range of communication resources, upon signing an acceptable user policy.