Opportunities for our Tamariki

We would love to share with you just some of the ways St Joseph’s supports your child to be the best they can be.

 
 

SCIENCE FAIR

Science Fair is a biennial event that allows students to learn about the scientific process of: questioning, hypothesising, researching, and presenting and provides opportunities for children to question the physical world around them.

MATHIX

An annual inter-school competition for our finest mathematicians!

LIT QUIZ

The Kids’ Lit Quiz is an annual literature competition for children aged 10 to 13. The Lit Quiz competition provides students who are avid readers with an opportunity to compete against schools in the Top of the South. We have reached the National Competition stage, twice. 

STEAM DAYS

Throughout the year, key dates  are set  for our 10 -11-year-olds to create, craft, and build a range of products based on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Students grow capability and enjoyment in these important curriculum areas. 

SHOWQUEST

All students in Years 3-4 participate in the annual stage-based performance at The Theatre Royal that follows the elements of

Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Culture and Technology. 

EXTENSION ART

In term 4 each year, a group of older students are selected to attend The Suter Art Gallery for a series of extension lessons to further develop their passion for art. 

MATARIKI

Another important date in our school-wide calendar, Matariki is a wonderful opportunity for staff, students and whānau to come together for a star-spangled evening of kai, waiata, and lantern walks. 

HOUSE MUSIC

House Captains organise and run the rehearsals and competition in front of judges, to lead their houses (Chanel, Barbier, Macillop and Francis) to victory. 

SINGING ASSEMBLIES

Seniors help select new hymns, waiata and fun songs for the whole school to enjoy learning in the spirit of togetherness. 

SCHOOL BAND

Students from years  4 - 8  audition to play songs as part of a band. They learn skills on their instrument, new songs, and collaborate to create awesome music, which they perform on  stage in front of an audience during the school year. 

NELSON MASK PARADE

This is a fun school-wide event for the school when every second year, we all contribute to the Nelson Arts Festival, where students, with teacher guidance, create their own interpretation of the big theme and together showcase our arts to the Nelson community.

SUTER ART GALLERY EXPERIENCES

Each term, classes visit the gallery for a 90-minute guided lesson with the Arts Education Teacher. They are introduced to the latest exhibitions and enjoy some hands-on experiences in the art room onsite.

 NELSON MUSEUM VISITS

Each term, classes visit the local museum to see the exhibitions, and programmes are designed to incorporate a number of experiences to suit our tamariki's different learning styles.

KAPA HAKA

Guided by teachers and our two Rangatahi (Māori student leaders), most St Joseph's students choose to participate in our weekly Kapa Haka time, and our Extension Kapa Haka group has opportunities to perform at various events throughout the year.

TIKANGA

Learning and understanding Māori tikanga is important to us at St Joseph's. Students are taught appropriate tikanga for a range of situations and experiences. 

SCHOOL COUNSELLORSSix Counsellors are elected by their Intermediate peers each term, and meet with the Principal each week to discuss new ideas and ways in which school life can be enriched. CHRISTIAN SERVICE LEADERSThese students provide valuable support to our Director of Religious Studies (DRS) and learn how to organise assemblies, liturgies and masses.MāORI STUDENT LEADERSEach year, the role of Kaitiaki is gifted to two Year 7 students who have shown commitment to and have been actively involved in growing our Māori identity and a positive mauri ora  in our kura. Our Kaitiaki have important roles during mihi whakatau/powhiri, school wide celebrations such as Matariki, they are leaders in Kapa Haka and are able to initiate and put into action ideas to further develop our school learning.HOUSE LEADERSEach house is represented by two Intermediate students who are voted in by their House members. House Leaders are in charge of organising House Music, Cross Country and Swimming Events.  PUMP TRACK MONITORSSeniors who are keen cyclists can volunteer for Bike Shed Maintenance, which involves helping younger students with biking skills on our school pump track and maintaining our large fleet of school bikes. ROAD PATROLOur older students are trained to supervise busy road crossings at our school, they walk students from their cars and learn life-long road safety skills.BREAKFAST CLUB VOLUNTEERSStudents in Year 5 and above can volunteer to support our Breakfast Club, and help to make and serve kai, clean up and play board games  with younger students to give them a positive start to their school day. 

SCHOOL COUNSELLORS

Six Counsellors are elected by their Intermediate peers each term, and meet with the Principal each week to discuss new ideas and ways in which school life can be enriched. 

CHRISTIAN SERVICE LEADERS

These students provide valuable support to our Director of Religious Studies (DRS) and learn how to organise assemblies, liturgies and masses.

MāORI STUDENT LEADERS

Each year, the role of Kaitiaki is gifted to two Year 7 students who have shown commitment to and have been actively involved in growing our Māori identity and a positive mauri ora  in our kura. Our Kaitiaki have important roles during mihi whakatau/powhiri, school wide celebrations such as Matariki, they are leaders in Kapa Haka and are able to initiate and put into action ideas to further develop our school learning.

HOUSE LEADERS

Each house is represented by two Intermediate students who are voted in by their House members. House Leaders are in charge of organising House Music, Cross Country and Swimming Events.  

PUMP TRACK MONITORS

Seniors who are keen cyclists can volunteer for Bike Shed Maintenance, which involves helping younger students with biking skills on our school pump track and maintaining our large fleet of school bikes. 

ROAD PATROL

Our older students are trained to supervise busy road crossings at our school, they walk students from their cars and learn life-long road safety skills.

BREAKFAST CLUB VOLUNTEERS

Students in Year 5 and above can volunteer to support our Breakfast Club, and help to make and serve kai, clean up and play board games  with younger students to give them a positive start to their school day. 

HOUSE SWIMMING COMPETITION

Our fiercely competitive years 5-8, students train hard in term one for this event, and our winners represent the school at the interschool swimming competition. 


HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY

An exciting day for the whole school at Branford park; students train hard, get muddy and cheer each other on. 


SUMMER TOURNAMENT/ WINTER TOURNAMENT WITH LOCAL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

Summer and winter tournaments are Nissa sports events. summer tournament is a participation tournament that all students enter and the winter tournament is a competitive two-day event. 


CAMPS 

We provide opportunities for our students to compete against the very best in the district in swimming, athletics, cross country, tennis and skiing.

INTER-SCHOOL SPORTS COMPETITIONS

WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO COMPETE AGAINST THE VERY BEST IN THE DISTRICT IN SWIMMING, ATHLETICS, CROSS COUNTRY, TENNIS AND SKIING.

UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO NATIONAL PROBLEM SOLVING COMPETITION

Our top mathematicians complete five 30-minute problem sets which encompass all strands in maths and problem solving areas. 

NELSON MATHICS COMPETITION

Each year, two teams are entered (one year 7 and one year 8) and compete against other local intermediate schools in a time based problem solving event.

STEAM PROGRAMME (at NIS)

Students are encouraged and supported to use their creativity and develop practical skills to design and create technological outcomes, which expand human possibilities, address needs and realise new opportunities. The four rotations this year are Steam, Hard tech, Food teach and soft materials.

INTERMEDIATE BAND

Students with talent in music audition to become a member of the Intermediate band, which  participates in the Rockshop Bandquest, Rockfest (a celebration of Nelson Primary and Intermediate school bands) and to perform for our school events.

 
 

“There are many extension opportunities available for our kids not only in traditional areas of academia, sports and science, but in individual areas of interest such as languages, design and leadership. This really helps to prepare them for college and beyond.”

- James Cameron