Social Sciences

STAFF

Kathy Grey - HOF
Monique Barber 
Gavin Frost
Aleisha Grey
Kerry Pile 
Pani Kerehoma (Careers Adviser/HOS Transition)

 WELCOME TO THE SOCIAL SCIENCES FACULTY 

The Social Sciences is the only curriculum area that specifically focuses on the study of consequences of human interpretations of their world; the nature and consequences of human actions in the past and present; and the implications of these for the future. The role of the Social Sciences is to provide teaching and learning situations that enable students to develop the knowledge, understandings and skills that enable them to function effectively as members of increasingly diverse social, cultural and economic communities. With highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers the Social Sciences Faculty at Horowhenua College encourages students to learn the most that they can and achieve at a high standard.

 YEARS 9 & 10

Social Studies is a compulsory subject at Years 9 and 10.

• Social Studies develops in students an understanding about different societies and how they can effectively participate within them.
• Each unit of work in Social Studies relates to:
  • How people in different cultures, times and environments think, feel, and act
  • How they organise their way of life, interact with others, and initiate or respond to change.
• Current issues and events are studied. We want the students to gain an understanding and curiosity of the world around them.
• Students will develop the skills of:
  • Finding out about society (Inquiry)
  • Understanding people’s values (Values Exploration)
  • Making decisions about social issues (Social Decision Making)

 YEARS 11 - 12

• In the senior school students have a wide range of subjects to take up depending on career path and interest.
• History, Social Studies and Geography offer a balance of internal and external Achievement and Unit Standards.
• Tourism, Gateways & Transition offers internal Unit Standards.
• Each student will be issued with an assessment statement detailing the dates and types of assessment at the start of the year.

 Gateway offers structured workplace learning opportunities to senior students. The Gateway programme is about students completing a work placement and having their learning in the workplace assessed against Unit and/or Achievement  Standards on the National Qualifications Framework.

• The workplace learning is a formalised learning arrangement set in an actual workplace, with clear understanding about the knowledge and skills to be attained and the assessment of unit standards.
• Students who are accepted into the Gateway programme will continue to study conventional school subjects, sitting Achievement Standards or Unit Standards towards their National Certificate in Education (NCEA).
• While students are at work they will be visited by either the Gateway Co-ordinator or the Gateway Assistant to monitor their progress.
• Prior to the student starting their work placement an individual plan will be drawn up with consultation between the student, the employer and the school specifying the expectations in terms of behaviour, attendance and outcomes.

Geography is about people, places and discovery. This course is aimed at developing an understanding of the world around us, how we experience it, and how we modify it. Geography as a discipline has developed into a subject that offers the following:

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  It alerts us to our environment
• It helps students make informed judgments on vital issues
• It increases our understanding of local, national and international geographic issues
• It appeals to students who have an interest in finding out what causes our surroundings to be as they are
• It teaches a wide range of skills useful in later life.

The main aim of Geography is to help students study natural environments such as forests, rivers and land forms and the environments that people create (eg towns, farmlands and factories). Geography also aims to help students see how people's activities affect natural environments and how natural events (eg volcanoes, floods, cyclones) affect people. The study of Geography will help students develop the skills needed to think about problems and the abilities needed to take effective actions in our democratic society.

 History offers an understanding of human activities in the past, this enables students to understand their heritage and that of their community, society and nation. Students will:

• Investigate how individuals influence History.
• Understand the relationship between cause and effect in human affairs
• Examine the heritage of other societies.
• Come to appreciate the values and attitudes of other people while clarifying their own.

The study of History enhances skills of observation, research, reasoned debate and communication. Students acquire skills that will benefit them in any endeavour they pursue. They will learn how to:

• Develop clear, critical thinking
• Collect information
• Recognise differing points of view
• Detect bias and propaganda

Senior Social Studies will help students to understand the world they live in and provide them with the skills and knowledge to play their part in a changing society as informed, confident and responsible citizens.

• Social Studies will focus on current issues in society and how it affects everyone in the world.
• New Zealand needs its young people to be challenged to think clearly and critically about New Zealand society and about the countries and regions that have significance for New Zealand.
• Social Studies provides opportunities for students to explore and understand an increasingly diverse local, national and global society.
• Students will learn about how people in different cultures, times and places think, feel and act.

Tourism

Tourism is one of New Zealand's largest export industries.

Tourism is a major employer and supports one in ten jobs in New Zealand in a wide variety of jobs and skill levels, with over 105,000 full-time equivalent jobs provided directly through tourism

Source - http://www.tianz.org.nz/Industry-Facts/Key-Facts--Figures.asp:

In Tourism, students learn:

•  Knowledge and skills required by the tourism and travel industry as the basis for further training in the industry.
• Knowledge of world geography and tourism destinations within New Zealand and the world.
• To communicate and demonstrate knowledge on the diversity of New Zealand as a destination and the wide variety of experiences and services available to visitors.
• The significance of the New Zealand tourism industry.
• The economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism on society and the environment.

Students will develop a range of skills including: communication, written and verbal, mathematics, and information technology in the context of the tourism and travel industry. Students complete unit standards from the industry set by Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation.

Transition provides a bridge between school and the workplace. It helps prepare  students for entry into the workforce. Topics covered include

• Employment and Job Seeking Skills 
• Practical Life skills
• Interview techniques
• Study skills
• Communication skills
• First Aid