International Students
INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Michael Park School welcomes International Guest Students provided that we have a place available and that the visiting students have a cooperative and positive attitude, and are willing to comply with our school rules.
There are 2 options for International Students to visit our school:
International students can visit Michael Park School as an Exchange Student or as a Fee-Paying Guest student.
Exchange Students
The purpose of our Exchange Programme is to encourage learning a second language and/or to experience a different culture. Most of our students go on exchange to a country where a foreign language is spoken and in most cases they visit a German-speaking country. However, some of our students go on exchange to learn other languages or they go to an English speaking country for a cultural experience.
The Exchange programme is reciprocal: Students stay at each other’s house and attend each other’s school without paying fees. Students continue to pay school fees at their own school while they are overseas.
The period of exchange is limited to one term or a maximum of three months each way. Students at Michael Park School are encouraged to go on exchange while they are in Class 10 or Class 11. Arrangements for an exchange are usually made while the students are in Class 9.
The number of exchange students varies per year but generally about 6 to 8 Michael Park Students go on exchange each year.
If you would like to participate in our Exchange Programme please send a letter of introduction to our school which we will pass on to interested students.
Once you have found an exchange partner you are required to supply the following documentation:
completed application forms, a copy of your last school report and a teacher’s recommendation letter.
Guest Students
Guest students are welcome to visit Michael Park School for a minimum of one term depending on availability of a place. The school fees are NZ$300 per week and the boarding fees (for accommodation and meals) are NZ$245 per week.
Once your application has been approved we will assist in finding a suitable host family within our school community.
If you are interested to visit Michael Park School as a Fee-Paying Guest Student you are required to supply the following documents:
completed application forms, a copy of your last school report and a teacher’s recommendation letter.
Please note that places for exchange and guest students can not be guaranteed until the application process has been completed and our confirmation letter has been sent. We advise students to not make any travel arrangements or book flights until a place is confirmed.
Some General Points of Information
Our school: We are a small school of about 400 students ranging from Kindergarten to Class 12. Our school is situated about 5 km from the centre of Auckland, the largest city of New Zealand.
School times: From Monday to Friday, school starts at 8.45 in the morning and finishes at 3.25 in the afternoon. There are two breaks: a 20-minute break in the morning after Main Lesson from 10.25 until 10.45am and a 50-minute break for lunch from 1.00 until 1.50pm.
Support for visitors: All classes have a Sponsor Teacher who takes the roll every morning and generally keeps in contact with the class. Furthermore, there is a School Counsellor (Sue Scarrold), two High School Managers (Desmond Pemerika & Colin Lawrence) and an Exchange Programme Coordinator (Hildine Hughes). If visiting students need assistance in any way they can approach any of the above mentioned persons.
Our expectations: Visiting students are expected to be sufficiently fluent in English to be able to follow the content of the lessons. We request that guest students participate fully in all lessons and activities, and do all the work that is required of any other student. Please also note that our school is a no-smoking zone: neither teachers nor students are allowed to smoke anywhere within the school grounds during school hours.
Sightseeing trips: We request that visiting students strictly limit their time away during school time. If you wish to make sightseeing trips we expect that you plan these trips either during weekends or holidays to minimise disruption to the class.
NZ Student Visa: Any overseas student attending school in New Zealand must have a Student Visa. Once you have been accepted as a guest student you will be provided with our letter of confirmation (a so-called “Offer of Place”) needed for your Visa application. It is our experience that it is much easier to obtain a Visa from outside New Zealand and therefore we urge you to ensure that you have a Visa before entering New Zealand.
Student I.D. Card: All students in New Zealand require a Student Identification card in order to receive discounts for public transport, movies, etc. On arrival at Michael Park School please contact Reception to obtain your Student ID card.
Immigration Requirements
Application for a student visa has to be made through your local New Zealand Embassy or Consulate. For this application you will need an ‘offer of placement’ letter from our school which will be send to you when you have been accepted as a student at our school and, in the case of guest students, payment of the school fees have been received. In addition students also need a letter of invitation from their host family.
Before you start your trip you need to arrange medical and travel insurance, a valid return air ticket and provide proof of sufficient funds available for the length of your visit.
School Requirements
Overseas students are subject to all of the school rules and disciplinary procedures and are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times. Serious misconduct or breaches of New Zealand law may result in the student being asked to return home. In such cases the school reserves the right to withdraw its offer of place.
Code of Practice
Michael Park School has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice of the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from our school or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at http://www.minedu.govt.nz.
Health and Travel Insurance: Most students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand unless they are: - a resident or citizen of Australia; - a national of the United Kingdom in New Zealand; or - the holder of a temporary permit that is valid for two years or more. If you do not belong to one of these special categories and you receive medical treatment during your visit, you will be liable for the full costs of that treatment. We strongly recommend that you have insurance that will cover the cost of medical treatment in New Zealand for the duration of your stay in New Zealand. We also strongly recommend that you obtain insurance to cover your travel to and from New Zealand.
Immigration: Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz
To request application forms or further information please contact:
Hildine Hughes
hildineh@michaelpark.school.nz
0064-9-579 3083 ext. 732
