Geraldine High School
SIMON COLEMAN, PRINCIPAL
GERALDINE HIGH SCHOOL IS A
thriving multi-cultural, co-educational school set on a picturesque campus in the bustling town of Geraldine.
Catering to students from Year 7 through to 13, Geraldine High School has all the benefits of a city school in a rural environment, which means our students have a full curriculum, comparable to any city school, with the added bonus of being able to fully embrace our rural surrounds and close proximity to the mountains and rivers through our varied teaching and learning programmes.
Our curriculum, coupled with our inclusive school culture, provides an environment for learning which allows all of our students to succeed in whatever they put their minds to. As a school we are continuously striving to expand our students’ future opportunities by presenting as many and varied options as possible all within a safe and supportive school environment.
This year’s school theme is ‘Tu maia, tu kaha’ which means to stand tall, be strong, and supports our focus to develop lifelong learners who successfully contribute, participate and interact with others. It is also a timely theme given the disruptions our students, especially our senior students, have experienced over recent years, and the necessary resilience and confidence they have had to develop to negotiate unexpected change.
Geraldine High School has a team of amazing educators from a diverse range of teaching backgrounds and experience. This allows us to create a breadth of innovative learning experiences for our students that include academic, vocational, social and the outdoors.
Our team is looking to the future and designing curriculum change which prepares our students for a rapidly changing world. We aim for our students to be critical thinkers, have a growth mindset, receive and give effective feedback and be effective communicators, which are all qualities that research has shown employers are looking for when recruiting new workers.
Geraldine High School is at the heart of our community and we have a long history of forging strong connections with our district. Much of our teaching and learning takes full advantage of our fantastic natural environment, our supportive community and the strong and positive relationships we have established with those involved in a variety of outdoor pursuits, agriculture, business and community organisations.
Our school remains a popular choice for many families and our burgeoning roll reflects the growth of our town. We invite you to see for yourself – I would be delighted to show you around our school.
GERALDINE HIGH SCHOOL IS A
school with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere, a place for all students to be offered equal opportunities. This creates an atmosphere where pupils can feel supported to step outside of their comfort zone, and as a result grow as individuals.
We both started Geraldine High School in Year 7 and have fond memories of the exciting experiences and aspects of school life that were on offer to us throughout our time here. After the challenges we have faced due to Covid over the last few years, we are well equipped to come up with alternative ways to overcome limitations and adversity.
Our whakataukī for this year is
‘Tu maia, Tu kaha’ which means stand tall, be strong. We will endeavour to weave it through all aspects of school life and encourage students to have a courageous and steadfast approach to challenges that may arise throughout the school year. To us it also highlights the importance of having pride in yourself, as in order to know where you are heading, you need to understand where you stand and where you come from.
Geraldine High School has offered us the support, encouragement and opportunities to be able to strive to reach our goals. We have been involved in many aspects of school life, both academically and in other areas such as sports, outdoor education and Gateway. All of these experiences have taught us the values of perseverance, ambition, and the fundamentals of working in a team environment.
‘Geraldine High School has offered us the support, encouragement and opportunities to be able to strive to reach our goals.’