St Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton, NZ - Tihoi Ven Ture School … Info booklet.pdf · St Paul’s Collegiate Tihoi Venture School was opened at the beginning of the first term

St Paul’s Collegiate School Hamiltonwww.stpauls.school.nz

Tihoi VenTure SchoolinformaTion for ParenTS and STudenTS

STATE IN FIDE

2 Tihoi Venture School

Tihoi VenTure SchoolIn this unique and challenging environment, through the medium of community living, a quality academic programme and wide ranging outdoor pursuits, we aim to provide the best possible opportunities to promote the personal and social development of our students.

Information for Parents and Students 3

Welcome To Tihoi VenTure School St Paul’s Collegiate Tihoi Venture School was opened at the beginning of the first term in 1979 following the vision of four men: John Hart, John Mortimer, Michael Shelby and Mike Shaw. Mike Shaw, with his wife Judy, had arrived at St Paul’s in 1970, fresh from Timbertop, the outdoor pursuits’ centre of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. Mike and Judy Shaw were the inaugural Directors of Tihoi, moving to the campus in December 1978.The mill houses became the student’s homes and the mill club rooms the Dining Room. Classrooms, a main kitchen and an ablution facility were added at that time. Between 2000 and 2005 the Venture School was redeveloped. The old houses were replaced with a new version, built in the same position. Although modern, the new houses retain much of the austere nature of the old ones, boys still cook on wood burning stoves, do not have refrigerators and houses contain only the essential furniture. A new dining room complex has been built, high

ropes course, new staff houses and utility storage buildings. Tihoi Venture School is unique to New Zealand education and a feature of St Paul’s Collegiate School that enables students in Year 10 to spend half their year at Tihoi, developing not only outdoor and academic skills, but also accelerating social development through a focus on traditional virtues and a values based programme of honesty, respect, care and understanding.The Venture School is situated on the edge of the Pureora Forest, in close proximity to Lake Taupo, the Central Plateau, rivers and mountains, enabling the wide range of pursuits offered in the outdoor component of the programme. Kayaking, sailing, rock climbing, mountain biking, alpine craft, caving, bush survival, tramping, solo, abseiling and a six day expedition make up the outdoor programme. A high ropes challenge course, was established in 2009 as part of the complex.


The academic programme is based on an experiential learning style, as students are given the opportunity to learn from the environment they live in. Academic standards are maintained in all subjects and modern technology is fully utilised in the teaching programme. Students have the opportunity to begin their NCEA journey at Tihoi, with a range of courses offering some National Achievement Standard assessments where they can gain credits for NCEA level one.Students live in groups of eight, in self-contained houses, and take responsibility for their own housekeeping as well as learning to care and work together with other house

members. The boys are placed in house groups by St Paul’s carefully mixing day boys and boarders, academic classes and compatibilities. Once in these house groups the boys cannot change them. Any arising conflicts are valuable learning experiences and as the social and personal development of the students is one of the aims of the Tihoi Venture School, boys are given formal guidance in solving problems and rising to challenges. Full-time staff live at the centre and work closely with the students to enable them to achieve their goals in a safe yet challenging environment.

Welcome conTinued


The Tihoi Programme The Tihoi programme has four and a half days of classroom education, and two and a half days of outdoor skills and challenges. The academic days are taught to the same standards and curriculum as is taught at the St Paul’s Hamilton campus (they can’t escape homework here either, but they can wear mufti). The students study core subjects English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. A language maintenance course is available. Outdoor education, physical education, health and first aid are also taught. The academic programme is based on an experiential learning style as students are given the opportunity to learn from the environment they live in. Academic standards are strictly maintained in all subjects and modern technology is fully utilised. At Tihoi we believe in offering a wide variety of social education and outdoor

pursuits to ensure there is either challenge or success for each boy in different areas. The Tihoi programme encompasses: • Kayaking – flat water and moving water• Sea kayaking• Abseiling • Rock climbing• Tramping • Caving• Sailing• Mountaineering• Mountain biking• Firearms and range shooting• Survival exercise • A six hour and 44 hour solo• An extended five day expedition in the outdoor

pursuit of student’s choice


general informaTion

TraVel To and from Tihoi Parents are very welcome to transport their sons to and from Tihoi. There are buses organised, at the beginning and end of every break and term holiday, to return boys to and from the Hamilton St Paul’s Collegiate Campus.

communicaTion The Directors send a newsletter to all parents at the end of each session. Included in the newsletter is notification of transport arrangements, information on upcoming events and the intake movements and achievements. Regular communication to all parents by email takes place during term time. If you want to be on the email list it is important that you give your email address to the Directors. The St Paul’s Collegiate School website www.stpauls.school.nz has up to date information available on the boys’ activities as it comes to hand.

communiTy day This is an opportunity for parents to join the Tihoi staff and students and work with their sons to complete projects in the Tihoi area. Several projects are arranged and parents can opt for a particular job. This day is the last day of term one or term three depending on if your son is intake one or two.

PaSToral care The mission statement of Tihoi focuses on promoting the personal growth of the students in a supportive environment. We take pride in the care and guidance we offer your son. Each house has a tutor and mentor and the Directors have an open door policy for students with concerns. The daily clinic is another avenue your son can use to talk to staff in confidence. The St Paul’s chaplain visits Tihoi regularly as a further support system. Tihoi works toward creating a bully free environment.


medical All Tihoi staff hold first aid certificates, and there is a daily clinic for ill and injured students. Any boys needing more than basic aid are referred to the Taupo Medical Centre. If students are presently on any medication (e.g. Ventolin) they should arrive with enough spares to cover the session. These are held in the first aid clinic. Personal medical kits are held in the clinic as well, so staff are aware of students taking medication. The clinic holds stocks of plasters, panadol etc. All students must have a current tetanus vaccination (this is usually given at 11 years).A comprehensive medical form must be completed well before each student arrives.

rePorTS During his stay your son will be assessed on social interaction development, fitness, outdoor skills and academic work. Regular reports on his progress will be sent to you. There is an opportunity to discuss these at the beginning of each session. You may contact us anytime to discuss progress, problems or enquiries. At the end of his stay a full report is forwarded, and a certificate is presented to all students celebrating participation, and completion of the ‘Tihoi Experience’.


Where are We? ST Paul’S School ShoP (Trading aS greaT oakS Trading comPany) Staff in the School Shop know how daunting it is to make sure your son is well equipped and has everything he needs. They have therefore committed themselves to providing you with a one-stop option to shopping, with service, knowledge and products that are recommended by Tihoi instructors for Tihoi students, after decades of experience.Shop staff have a comprehensive understanding of what products are acceptable for use at Tihoi, and are more than happy to answer any of your queries. Please feel free to come and visit, browse through the products and have any questions answered. “The School ShoP iS a SubSidiary of ST Paul’S collegiaTe and all ProfiTS are reTurned To The School”

general informaTion conTinued

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cloThing liSTS It is essential that Tihoi Venture School students have enough suitable clothing for the 18 week experience. You will find the clothing list in the St Paul’s School Shop booklet (Great Oaks Trading Co.). NOTE • All clothes and personal items must be clearly

named. • Most laundry is done once a week at St Paul’s

Collegiate School, but boys wash some of their own outdoor clothing.

• Tihoi is cold all year and has high rainfall especially in winter and boys spend much time outside in all weathers. Good quality clothing is essential. Robust rather than trendy is recommended. The school shop is well aware of the needs of the students at Tihoi and the product they stock is tried and tested in our rugged environment.

• Tie-together tags on socks are tremendous for retrieving ‘pairs’.

• Sheets, pillowslips and mattress protectors are provided.

• In the unlikely event that a pack supplied by the School Shop requires repair, a courtesy pack is available at Tihoi until the product is returned or replaced.


SafeTy Tihoi Venture School operates within a strict code of practice. The policies for each outdoor pursuit, and safety within the centre, conform to national guidelines. Naturally, many of the outdoor pursuits’ staff and students participate in, have inherent risks. We undergo ongoing risk assessment, adherence to industry standards, staff training and a comprehensive safety management scheme to minimise these risks whilst maximising the challenge and potential outcomes for the students. The Tihoi programme, safety management systems, staffing competencies and policies are annually audited by Outdoors Mark, a nationally accredited outdoor audit agency. For more information you can visit the Outdoors Mark website www.outdoorsnz.org.nz

STaff All full time staff reside at the centre and are trained in both academic education and outdoor pursuits education. Staff are selected on their ability to work closely with students, enabling the boys to achieve their goals in safe and positive surroundings, while challenging and assisting them to extend their limits. Teaching staff have a tertiary qualification along with the necessary teaching qualifications. To be in charge in the outdoors the standard of skill required has to be equivalent to the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors qualifications.



duke of edinburgh aWard Students are encouraged to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. The objectives and benefits of the scheme are most laudable, and the programme ties in well with the philosophy of St Paul’s Collegiate School and the Tihoi Venture School.

equiTy Policy Tihoi is a challenging and often testing environment for the students. It is important therefore that no one student should be advantaged over any other. Parent visits, phone calls, pocket money and food parcels are strictly monitored.

conTacT numberS – Postal address: Tihoi Venture School, RD 1, Mangakino 3492Office: 07 372 8416Fax: 07 372 8417Directors phone home: 07 372 8411 Chris mobile: 027 454 1133 Cyn mobile: 0272971880 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] at Tihoi, it is not usual that students can be contacted by phone, however parents can discuss issues with staff, and they can deliver urgent messages. Students cannot receive direct faxes or email, however if parents are overseas they can send either of these to the staff in-box and they will be distributed to the student. Please email these to Cyn at [email protected]


conTacT WiTh home Letter writing is an essential component of the Tihoi programme. Being away from home can be quite an intense experience and we insist the boys write home weekly. Please contact us if you do not get a letter in the early part of each week. Replies from Mum or Dad, siblings, grandparents, or even the cat, are eagerly awaited, so please support them by writing back. Parents’ visits are discouraged. For some students the leap to self-reliance takes a while, and even if your son is not in this category, visiting him may set other boys back. Consult with the Directors if there is urgent need to visit.

PockeT money The boys receive a small allowance on expeditions, which Tihoi disburses. Please do not give your son money to bring to Tihoi.

oPen day During the course the boys host an Open Day where they will demonstrate to you some of the skills they have acquired, and their academic progress. Family and friends are welcome. This is held on a Saturday morning of the second mid term break. The students leave for the break at 1.00pm.

ParenT TramP This is a weekend tramp where parents are invited to join us. It is great fun and organised to meet the various capabilities of most parents. Requirements for this tramp are given well in advance of the trip. We encourage you to come along and experience part of what your son has been experiencing for the past weeks.



ParcelS and mail Parcels can be mailed or put on the St Paul’s Collegiate School minibus departing at 8.30am most Tuesdays. Rural mail is delivered daily to the school and letters go straight to the boys. Parcels go through ‘Tihoi Customs’ to check for illicit goodies when the boys open them. If you need to courier parcels please use “Courier Post”, as other couriers do not deliver to the Tihoi site. Food supplied by the school is nutritionally adequate and ample in quantity. Be assured the boys are well fed. Conditions at Tihoi may seem austere, but this is purposely done to enhance the challenge of the experience. Birthdays are an exception and a cake to share with their house ‘makes the day’.

ThingS To bring Please NAME everything you bring down to Tihoi.

WaTch and alarm clockWe have no bells here. The boys learn to take responsibility for their own time management. A cheap waterproof wristwatch with a stopwatch function is required.

School bookSYes, we will be using these… and often!! As well as calculator, pens, protractor, pencils, compass, coloured pencils, blu-tack, and glu-stick. These can be bought through your accounts from the Tihoi Stationery Store, or you can arrive with them ready to start your academic studies.


cameraSThere are many opportunities for great photos, and photos are an excellent way to record your stay here. Your best Minolta may be a bit fragile, but most cameras survive Tihoi. Tihoi staff take a lot of photos and a disc of with these photos from Tihoi and your son’s journeys is available to purchase at the end of the intake.

PoSTerS, coaT hangerS and guiTarS We welcome these. The house will become your home with time so it’s fine to bring such things to make your stay here more relaxed and familiar.

bed linen Tihoi supplies sheets, pillowcases (washed weekly) and mattress protectors, so you do not need to bring your own. However you should bring your duvet and cover, pillow and extra blanket.

do noT bring Any item prohibited by St Paul’s Collegiate School rules, including: Cigarettes, drugs, pornography, alcohol, pocket knives, sheath knives, money, confectionery, aerosols including aerosol deodorants, cellphones, electronic games, USB equipment with ports, walkmans, i-pods, headphones, laptops, items that do not fit our equity policy and sheets and pillowcases. Stereos and video cameras may be negotiated later in the session.



STudenT commenTS

homeThe one thing that really got to me when I began Tihoi, was the way all the instructors referred to the place as “home”. Coming “home” after a tramp or a field trip was a phrase I couldn’t understand. But slowly I came to realise what the instructors meant. Home is somewhere you can go back to at the end of the day, knowing that it will still be standing, and as I left it. Tihoi became home for all of us in one way or another over the eighteen weeks that we have been here. Polly’s House will remain strong in my memory, mostly because I’ve seen every nook and cranny (and cleaned most of them!). Yet another quote from Mark Cooke: “Everyone wants to peel their own banana”. Tihoi gives you the chance to peel your own banana of life. – matthew macfarlane

caVing Thinking about Waitomo Caves made me really nervous. All I could think of was all the negatives. The biggest fear for me was getting stuck, or getting lost. Throughout my time caving, it did not turn out that bad. I didn’t do the Hippo but I successfully did the chimney. Caving would have been great for me if I just thought of the positives. – mitchell gardiner

SurViVal After conversation failed between my group I lay in my bivvy grimly trying to sleep. I glared into nothing, praying the rain wouldn’t come and that this cold, depressing and never ending darkness would soon be over. Survival really took its time, one night that seemed like years, when the morning finally came I was happily greeted with the most succulent ham salad sandwich I’ve ever had. – James howie

alPine Climbing the slopes of Mt Ruapehu was the outdoor pursuit that I had been looking forward to and it proved to be both fun and challenging. It snowed the entire weekend which made ascending the mountain even more difficult and no one really felt the need to talk, and once we reached the alpine club hut we were exhausted. – Tom davidson

St Paul’s Collegiate - Tihoi Venture School, RD1, Mangakino 3492, New Zealand Phone: 07 372 8416 | Fax: 07 372 8417 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.stpauls.school.nz

St Paul’s Collegiate School Hamilton

STATE IN FIDE

Documents

St Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton, NZ - Tihoi Ven Ture School … Info booklet.pdf · St Paul’s Collegiate Tihoi Venture School was opened at the beginning of the first term