Why a Learning Centre?
At the Learning Centre, we provide tutoring for children who are experiencing difficulty in the area of literacy and/or maths. We also provide 1:1 assistance in the classroom if a student is unable to access the curriculum, or make progress without teacher aide support.
One of the benefits of the tutoring programme is that the child can receive extra assistance during school hours and the Learning Needs teacher/tutor can work in with the class teacher, as well as being available to discuss the child's progress with the parents at school.
The Learning Centre is managed by Mrs Jeanette Starrenburg, who, with the assistance of a tutor - Mrs Gay Jones, works with children in the Junior, Middle and Secondary School. Mrs Starrenburg assesses the students and plans their programmes with the tutor. She also liaises with outside agencies if they are involved in the child's learning e.g. Psychologists, Speech Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Social Workers etc.
The tutoring programme run at The Learning Centre is both structured and hands on. We aim to make our time with the children as enjoyable as we can. We use board games and computer based educational games, plus a variety of interesting worksheets, along with reading practice and instruction in phonics. Together, these practices prove to be really beneficial in helping children progress in literacy. Maths tuition also involves games and hands on learning.
Programmes for the Gifted and Talented
Mathematics Extension
Programmes include a weekly maths class run by Mr Richardson, who has been working with selected children from Years 5 to 8. Children work in small groups, with a view of giving them group and individual experience, so that in time, they are confident about tackling the Casio Mathex Problem Solving Challenge, which is held at the ASB stadium in Term 3 each year for Year 7 and 8 students.Science Extension
Science Extension Days are one of the initiatives that have been provided for the Junior School students. (Years 1-3) These days are taken by Sue Breen from Small Poppies. The activities are very hands on and educational. The children and parent helpers alike, thoroughly enjoy the day.Art Extension
Our art teacher, Tina Butler, has provided instruction for a small group of students who the teachers recognized as having talent in art. Tina extended these children in print making and painting, using gesso, on a small canvas. The children all benefited from this experience.
Card Making
Mrs Debbie Airey, has made her services available to work with a group of children, extending them in the art of card making. This has proved to be a very popular avtivity.
Geography Extension
Our Geography teacher, Mrs Karen Finn, took a group of four Senior students, who study geography, to compete against 24 other schools in an Auckland-wide Geography Quiz. It was Hebron's first time to enter a team in this event. Johanna and Anthony from Year 13 and Leah and Abhijit from Year 12 represented Hebron extremely well, finishing 6th overall, just one point short of 3rd = and a place in the final. The Geography Quiz is an annual event testing student's general geographic knowledge of the world; knowledge of geographic concepts and skills; ability to recognise country flags, silhouettes and geographic features; and ability to think outside the square by modelling a geographic concept with a playdough.
Writing & Reading Extension
Our librarian, Mrs Lois Huston, has been very proactive in providing opportunities for our budding young writers to be inspired and have opportunities to improve their language skills.
