General Information for International Students

Homestay Arrangements

We work very hard to ensure that our Homestay Providers are carefully selected, with the student’s best interests at heart.

Students have their own private room, with desk and heating facilities.  Personal clothes washing is done by the host mother, unless students prefer to do their own.  Students will be expected to keep their room tidy, and may be required to help with basic household chores, such as washing the dishes.

Homestay parents are encouraged to regard their student as part of their own family.  They will provide transport around Levin to sporting or cultural activities. The Code of Practice requires that Homestay parents are aware of the student’s whereabouts at all times.

Students will be expected to join the family at meal times, and let their host parents know where they are, whom they are with, and what time they are returning home each day.

On arrival in New Zealand, either the homestay parents or the Homestay Manager will be happy to meet the student at Wellington or Palmerston North Airport.

Support Services

The Dean of International Students, is responsible for the students’ wellbeing at College and will assist with subject choices.

The Homestay Manager is responsible for arranging homestay families.  Should any conflict arise with the homestay family the Homestay Manager will be available to help sort it out.  The Homestay Manager is also available to talk to parents in the home country.

The normal school personnel of Guidance Counsellor, Year Level Dean and individual class tutors will be responsible for monitoring progress and providing advice and guidance.  An interpreter can be arranged if necessary to help with translation.

Our desire is that every student will find that their time at Horowhenua College is happy and comfortable as well as educational, and we will do our best to make this so.

Attendance

International Students in the subject classes
The College staff check on first period absences for all students at the College. If caregivers have not advised the College of the student’s absence there will automatically be a phone call home to check the pupil is legitimately absent.  For subsequent periods there is a daily print out of period by period absences which is provided for year level tutors to check the next day. The College procedure is for tutors to follow up all unexplained  absences which are not covered by communications from caregivers.

A weekly print out of absences is reviewed by the year level Deans and discussed with the tutor teacher.

The Dean of International Students also monitors attendance.

Prolonged absences will be followed up by the Deans / Senior Administration and parents and the Ministry of Education will be notified.

THE CODE OF PRACTICE
Horowhenua College has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international

Immigration
 "Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz

Eligibility for Health Services
Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.moh.govt.nz

Accident Insurance
The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at http://www.acc.co.nz

Medical and Travel Insurance
International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. This can be arranged by the College if requested.

Fees (Refer to 'Summary of Fees 2009' on the 'Introduction' page)
The tuition fee for 2009 until June 2011 is $NZ11,500 (including GST) for a full year. It is expected that this will be paid annually at the beginning of each school year, or on the anniversary of the student’s enrolment.

Refund of Fees
Refunds of fees will only be made where special circumstances such as significant health problems or extreme family circumstances necessitate the student’s return to his or her own country. The College has a Fee Refund Policy which is included in this brochure. All international student fees are protected by being held in a Trust Account in case a refund is required. A copy of the Fee Refund Policy is included in this information pack.

The Board of Trustees guarantee that expenditure of course fees remain in proportion to the proportion of the course delivered. The Board guarantees to refund fees in proportion to any part of a course it is unable to continue to deliver.

(Updated 25/05/09)