The Junior Diploma

The aim of the diploma is to:
• Reward academic learning
• Recognise and celebrate excellence
• Reward positive work habits
• Encourage greater participation and involvement in activities outside the classroom
• Acknowledge students contribution to school life outside the classroom
• Reward students for having good personal organisation skills
• Reward full attendance to school and classes
• Recognise students who wear the correct school uniform
• Provide extrinsic motivation for students to do well in all aspects of their learning at Kamo High School

How it works:
The diploma is broken down into 3 main areas:  academic progress, personal responsibility and citizenship. 
Academic Progress:  Students are awarded points for their attainment in academic assessments in every subject class they are enrolled in.  There are a number of assessment opportunities in each subject each term from which the results will be used to generate overall academic points towards the diploma.  Students will be informed when an assessment is being used for points toward the diploma.
Personal Responsibility:  Students are awarded points for four learning habits including such aspects as:  completion of class work and homework; cooperation in class; bringing the correct equipment to class; and in some cases, punctuality.  (Please note: there may be some changes to this area of the diploma. All students and parents will be informed of any such change). This area carries the greatest weighting of total points over the course of the year.  Students are also awarded points for wearing their uniform correctly and there is a graduated points system linked to attendance included in this area.
Citizenship:  This area incorporates all those activities outside the classroom.  Students are required to actively participate in and contribute to their school community to gain citizenship points. Students will receive a list of possible events and activities early in Term 1 from which they can earn points towards the diploma.  Students much reach a minimum number (50) and there is no ceiling on the amount of points students can earn toward their diploma from this area. 

Gaining the diploma:
• Students will gain points toward the diploma throughout the year.  These will be summarised at the end of each term in the diploma summary sheet.
• To achieve the diploma a minimum of 320 points must be gained by the end of the year. 
• Students can be awarded the Diploma at Bronze, Silver or Gold levels.
• Students who are at risk of not achieving the diploma will be identified and advice and guidance given to them at the start of Term 2, 3 and 4.  Parents will be informed of this.
• Students are acknowledged in assemblies at least twice throughout the year for their progress toward achieving the diploma.  These are usually accompanied by vouchers from a variety of retail outlets.

Informing parents:
• Data from the academic, personal responsibility (including attendance and uniform) and citizenship is gathered at the end of each term and in the first week of the proceeding term.  From this a ‘Points Tally Sheet’ is printed and issued to students.   A printed copy will be available but staff and students can also check progress at any time via the Kamar network. Parents, in consultation with a whanau teacher will also be able to access information at any stage throughout the year.
• There will be regular updates about the diploma in the school newsletters.