The Class 12 project is of key importance for the students in their last year of schooling. The students choose their own projects based on something they are passionate about and do all the work independently and outside school hours. The project is about the young person gaining self-empowerment – growing both outwardly and inwardly as a result of the challenges they inevitably meet on this year long journey. They are require to do something practical and complement this with research, which is written up in a formal document – with the option of completing the written component to Level 4 of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
The Class 12 projects chosen by students have been as diverse and interesting as the individual students and have included film making, story writing, photography, animation, circus performance, guitar making, composing and performing music, helping young people, personal development, equine therapy, learning Tango, running a marathon, building skis, designing soccer gloves, performing comedy, volunteering to assist refugee settlement, learning and choreographing ballet, street dancing, participating in extreme sports, producing electronic music, ….. the list goes on!
Versatile and creative thinking comes into being when the intellect is stimulated and we step outside our comfort zone in a way that can guide our inner selves to inspiration. Learning new skills, researching a wide variety of topics and encountering unexpected challenges helps our horizons to expand and our imagination to soar.
The Class 12 Projects are a genuine preparation for life, with several major components: the practical exploration of a topic, the theoretical research and written thesis, plus crucial visual and spoken presentation skills; all of which demand intellectual rigor and hours of dedication. This journey is supported by the Class 12 sponsors, project supervisors, project experts, whānau and friends.
Some projects are more practical in nature, such as constructing a specialised vehicle or a musical instrument, learning a new form of dance or martial art, or exploring an alternative lifestyle. Craft focused projects could be learning about cuisine, sculpture, fashion, or film. Students might also look at more academic topics, such as coding and entrepreneurship; they might study a new language or scientific theory. The opportunities are endless.
The Class 12 students showcase their array of talent, capability, determination and resilience when they present their work to an audience. They share their journey visually through displays, and verbally in the shape of a formal speech. It is a journey through which the Class 12 students foster a sense of belonging to the wider world.