Student Support

Deans

Deans are the immediate link between school and home. Each dean follows students through five years at Onehunga High School, taking responsibility for both the progress and welfare of each student.

The Deans for 2024 are: 

Y9 Dean -   Ms Sarah Wang       swang@ohs.school.nz

Y10 Dean - Ms Sarah Cotton     scotton@ohs.school.nz

Y11 Dean - Ms Sofia Kaur          skaur@ohs.school.nz

Y12 Dean - Mr Jeff McKay         jmckay@ohs.school.nz

Y13 Dean - Ms Terouru Huri      thuri@ohs.school.nz

Guidance

The members of our Guidance Team are trained and experienced counsellors who are available to all students.

Peer Support Programme

The role of the Peer Support Programme is to smooth the transition of Year 9 students to high school. Around thirty Year 13 students are trained by the Guidance department to take on this leadership role to provide support for our Year 9 students. The Peer Support leaders meet the Year 9 students and along with their Kaitiaki, spend time during their first week at school helping to orient and make easier their first few days at high school. For the rest of Term One, Peer Support leaders spend Tuesday and Thursday Kaitiaki time leading activities to build relationships, strengthen communication skills and provide practical transition support. 

Health

Onehunga High School has three registered nurses. At Year 9 all students are offered a full health assessment carried out by the nurses. A doctor and physiotherapist are also available for the students.

Careers

At Onehunga High School, the Careers team supports students to research options and make informed choices to plan for their future careers and tertiary study. Students receive ongoing guidance from their teachers, deans, kaitiaki, and the careers advisor throughout their time at OHS. The Careers Advisor, Mrs Kristin Shaw, is available to meet with any student to discuss their interests, school subject selection and potential career pathways. Students and their whānau are welcome to email her on kshaw@onelearn.nz to book an appointment. 

Students in Years 9 -13 undertake a Careers module with their kaitiaki, ‘Navigating Your Career’, where they are introduced to the key tools for career exploration. This career development programme is designed to raise awareness and aspirations, and connect the relevance of learning at school to the world of work. The programme provides the opportunity for students to examine their individual strengths and interests and to research careers of potential interest to them. Senior students also cover CV writing, interview skills, the future of work, the New Zealand qualifications framework and tertiary qualifications and pathways.

In Year 13, all students are offered individualised careers counselling and invited to presentations from a range of employers and the major New Zealand universities and polytechnics. There is also a weekly programme of guest speakers and trips to tertiary institutions and local businesses.  Information about the weekly ‘Careers Insights’ seminars and visits to employers will be shared on the Yr 13 Google classroom page. Students are also supported in preparing high quality CV’s, applying for jobs, writing applications for tertiary courses and tertiary accommodation or any other aspect of their future planning. 

Students are also invited to taste employment and training opportunities through the Gateway Programme in Y12 and Y13. As well as working towards unit standards from the National Qualification Framework (NZQA), students will also learn practical industry skills and gain industry knowledge relevant to their field of interest.  Students and their whānau are able to email Maree Forsyth on mforsyth@onelearn.nz to discuss potential Gateway opportunities.