Looking after our international students and parents is important to us. We understand that you are entrusting your children into our care and we accept this responsibility and commitment seriously. Our International Student Director works hard to support our students and their families and is the first point of contact for enrolment. Liaising between agents, parents, students, teachers and homestay families, our International Student Director ensures that settling into a new school and community runs as smoothly as possible.
Our very experienced international team provide a complete wrap-around support system throughout the year, ensuring that someone is always on hand to personally assist our international students with any concerns or queries that they may have. A native speaking teacher aide who is fluent in Japanese and Korean is available to assist with any communication issues and our buddy system also helps students integrate and make new friends.
In addition, our International Team conducts pastoral care interviews regularly by meeting with students to chat with them and check that they are happy in their homestay and adjusting to life in New Zealand. Our friendly International Team has an open-door policy that welcomes students to visit the international office at any time during the school day for assistance and advice.
Usually students can call the office number (+64 9 489 4878) or come into the international office at school if they would like help. In an emergency situation, students can call our emergency phone +64 21 065 0785 to get in touch directly with our International Student Director.
At Belmont Intermediate School we have a dedicated ESOL teacher and teacher aides to support our international students. We have an advanced ESOL programme which assists our international students with additional reading, writing, speaking and listening to help our students improve their English skills so that they can easily keep up with their Kiwi classmates. Our programmes utilise online individualised reading, grammar course books, spelling programmes, phonics and small group speaking practise lessons. In addition, we offer English for Academic Purposes (EAP) for our advanced learners.
According to the 2012 Global Peace Index, New Zealand is the second safest place in the world to live (after Iceland). Despite this, when you come to New Zealand to study as an international student, education providers have a responsibility to ensure that you are well informed, safe and properly cared for. In New Zealand we call this ‘pastoral care’. You are entitled to be treated fairly, at all ages and at all levels of education.
To support this, the New Zealand government has developed the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 (the Code). Parents of our international students feel safe knowing New Zealand schools must follow strict rules with regards to international students. Please see below for the Code of Practice in a variety of languages:
Visit the NZQA website for the Code of Practice in other different languages.
