Berkley Normal Middle School

At Berkley Normal Middle School our purpose is to provide a caring, supportive and challenging environment that employs instructional strategies to nurture the development of a healthy community of learners.

We provide a 3 year programme of education.
* An extensive range of curriculum experiences, is designed to meet the specific needs of the emerging adolescent.
* We focus on the person and develop programmes around the needs, level of development and potential each individual exhibits.
* Our approach is designed to enhance the transition between primary and secondary schooling.
* In the middle - we make a difference.

Berkley offers a strong focus on student leaning. Our environment is created in order to meet the unique needs of emerging adolescents. We address these needs in the following ways.
* A strong home room system where students spend most of their day with one teacher.
* Specialist teaching in Technology (Materials and Food), the Arts (Drama, Music and Visual Art), Physical Education and Information Technology.
* Students being asked to compete against themselves rather than against their class mates.
* Regular goal setting and reporting to parents culminating in a full written report at the end for the year.
* Provision of a safe, positive learning environment.
* Learner centered programmes that build upon the learning level and pace unique to each individual.
* Classes are carefully constructed to match students with students and students with teachers.
* Expanded education outside the classroom experiences such as our Aongatete camping programme, New Horizons adventures and OPC at Tongariro National Park.
* Frequent access to computers to support learning and achievement.
*Each classroom equipped with interactive whiteboards as a tool for teaching and learning.

Our middle school programme will aim to satisfy the intellectual, social, physical and emotional needs of young adolescents. Through the delivery of a balanced curriculum, we foster these basic skills, attitudes and values:

* highly developed literacy and numeracy skills
* an ability to think critically and creatively
* a capacity to adapt to change
* self motivation with independence of thought and action
* a sense of personal and social responsibility
* respect for other people
* an openness to life long learning
* the courage to set high standards
* confidence in oneself to take up the challenge

International students:

At Berkley we are proud of the opportunities we provide for our international students.

We offer a safe and positive learning environment. Our focus is on high quality learning and high achievement. All international students have the opportunity to work in our specialised ESOL unit.
More information can be found on our school website.