Geraldine High School 

New Zealand

Geraldine High School is one of Canterbury's leading co-educational secondary schools located in the attractive township of Geraldine just 1.5 hours drive south of Christchurch New Zealand. We offer all the advantages and opportunities of a city high school in a pleasant, friendly, safe and spacious rural environment.

Geraldine High School is a modern, multi-course, co-educational state secondary school catering for local and international students from years 7 to 13. Our international student programme welcomes students from overseas and gives them the ability to attend school and learn English in New Zealand. We believe strongly in academic excellence and achievement for all our students, and are very proud of our tradition of outstanding academic results within the New Zealand education system. These fine results are matched by our superb facilities, a diverse range of courses including our widely celebrated year 12 and 13 outdoor education courses, and sporting and cultural programmes which foster the highest levels of achievement, involvement and enjoyment. Our highly qualified, friendly and dedicated staff are second to none.

As a medium sized school of 520 students we have the resources to offer a full range of courses and also get to know each student individually so that maximum support is given to help every student achieve their very best. The social climate here is a very warm, personal and friendly one, with mutual respect a strong characteristic of staff-student relationships. Geraldine High School is described by the New Zealand schools education review office as a "school with a history of successful student achievement" where their reviewers observed "positive relationships between students and teachers" and "students are well prepared for a life after school.

Enrolments

We welcome the enrolment of international students and have recently had students from Japan, Germany, Korea, Belgium, Hong Kong, Spain, Thailand, and Denmark. Our international programme gives overseas students the ability to attend school and learn English in New Zealand, while attaining a quality education. We offer a traditional high school education in combination with ESOL, as opposed to a solely language-based curriculum. The number of students in the international programme is kept deliberately small (less than 20 students in total) so that each student receives individual attention and is able to make friends with fellow "kiwi" students easily.

Courses

Please see the Curriculum pages for courses that are available to all students, including international students at Geraldine High School. In addition to the normal range of courses we also offer ESOL (also known as ESL or English as a Second Language) classes taught by a fully qualified ESOL teacher to international students who may need additional help learning the English language here in New Zealand.

Accommodation and Welfare

International students live in homestay accommodation with carefully chosen New Zealand families selected by our homestay co-coordinator. Students here value the opportunity to learn English quickly with a New Zealand family and also enjoy the way they are integrated into sporting and cultural activities outside of school hours. Our Director and Homestay Coordinator assists and supports international students at school and at home to make sure their educational and welfare needs are met throughout their stay here.

ESOL

In addition to the normal range of courses we also offer ESOL (also known as ESL or English as a Second Language) classes taught by a fully qualified ESOL teacher to international students who may need additional help learning the English language here in New Zealand.

English Language Requirements and Assistance

• Students are tested on arrival and placed in classes suitable to their level of English. Offers of place at a particular year level are conditional -subject to assessment of the student's English competency. 
• For senior academic courses, students must satisfy the Geraldine High School English language requirements.  Students must be sufficiently proficient in English to undertake their proposed course of study.
• Students may be required to attend a language school until their level of English is proficient enough to undertake their proposed course of study.
• Students may be required to attend further ESOL classes rather than attend mainstream classes.
• An orientation programme at the beginning of the year introduces students to the school and community life of Geraldine. 
• International students receive extra tuition in ESOL for 4 hours per week and are accessed at NCEA levels 1 and 2.
• A senior ESOL litteracy course opperates for year 12 and 13 students to assist them in meeting literacy requirements for New Zealand university entrance. An opportunity to sit the IELTS examination is also offered at this level.
• Further help is available if the student's English level requires it.

About Geraldine

Take a friendly, tranquil New Zealand rural town, add a healthy portion of artistic and creative energy, a generous sprinkling of stunning natural beauty and a dash of NZ early settler history, and you’ve got Geraldine. Noted for it's peaceful and friendly village atmosphere, Geraldine is located just 1.5 hours south of Christchurch on the main highway to Mt Cook and Queenstown – click here for a downloadable location map for Geraldine.

The town (population approx. 2500) has a compact commercial centre that serves the needs of a thriving tourism industry and a highly productive farming region. Nestled at the foot of rolling downlands, Geraldine boasts a unique combination of shopping and residential areas together with remnants of native forest, parks and recreational areas.

Art and craft galleries, cafes and restaurants are dotted throughout the town and nearby surrounds. Local gourmet food outlets include a chocolatier, cheesemaker and Barker’s fine fruit products. Geraldine has a growing reputation as a home to talented people and innovative businesses, and for the variety and quality of its attractions and activities.

CONTACT

McKenzie Street,
Geraldine, 8751
New Zealand

Mrs Jude Romans

Phone: +64 3 693 0017
Fax: +64 3 693 0020

Email: esol@geraldinehs.school.nz

Website: www.geraldinehs.school.nz

CONTACT McKenzie Street, Geraldine, 8751 New Zealand Mrs Jude Romans Phone: +64 3 693 0017 Fax: +64 3 693 0020 Email: esol@geraldinehs.school.nz Website: www.geraldinehs.school.nz