Getting Started with Course Selection

The aim of this website is to provide a guide to students in planning their pathways towards further education, training and employment.

It contains a detailed list of courses to be offered at this school, along with a listing of teachers/personnel who can give you guidance with your course selections.

If you do not know what you want to do in your future, do not worry, that is extremely common. Keep your options broad.

Subject Selection Instructions

This site has a description of all subjects offered at Cashmere High School.

You will also receive a Course Intention sheet. This needs to be signed off by a teacher from each subject area. For streamed subject areas, the teacher will write the course level e.g 101/102/103. Once all subjects have been signed off, you will need to enter this data into the SchoolBridge Course Selection section during 'Subject Selection Week', Wednesday 20 August - Tuesday 26 August. Sheets are then handed back to form teachers who will pass them onto the respective Head of School at the end of this process. 

The following is a step-by-step guide for students and their parents/caregivers:

1) Read through the Studies Guide on SchoolBridge.

2) Take your subject selection sheet to your subject teachers to obtain their signatures and confirm subject levels (101, 102 etc).

3) Choose your subjects via SchoolBridge during Subject Selection Week (Wednesday 20 August to Tuesday 26 August).

4) Your parents/caregivers will need to approve these subjects on SchoolBridge.

Help is available from:

• your parents
• your present subject teachers
• your Head of School
• Guidance Counsellors
• Form Teachers
• Careers Centre staff
• Heads of Faculties and Departments

STEP 1 - What subjects do I enjoy? 

• What subjects do I like doing now?
• What subjects do I think I might enjoy doing next year that I have not studied before?
• What do I do outside of school that I really enjoy e.g. music, helping others, arts, sport? Are there any subjects thatinclude these activities? 

It is important to consider enjoyment because you may experience a greater sense of satisfaction in the work that you do as well as produce a high standard of work because you are interested in it.

STEP 2 - What am I good at? 

• What subjects am I strongest in? Look at your test marks and grades.
• What do other people say I am good at? 

Discuss your ability with your subject teacher - you might have a false idea of how well you are actually doing. Be careful that you do not underestimate your ability.

STEP 3 - What subjects might I need for my future Careers Pathway?

Remember, it's OK if you're unsure what you want to do in future, a lot of people don't know! But its important to do some research.

• Have I talked to Mr Bennett or Mrs Newton in the Careers Centre?
• Have I completed the Career Quest at www.careers.govt.nz?
• Have I worked through some of the Tools on My Mahi? 

Studying a broad range of subjects will keep your career options open. Maths and English are necessary in many careers. You should try to include these if at all possible.

STEP 4 - Am I taking the right NCEA subjects? Am I looking ahead? 

• Are there subjects I need to take at Level 3 that need to have studied at Level 2?
• Will this subject get me my Numeracy and Literacy credits?
• Am I taking enough Approved subjects (at Level 3 only) to ensure I can get my University Entrance?

Additional Resources:

Find out as much information as you can about NCEA courses, the requirements for NCEA at each level, University Entrance requirements, approved subjects, careers, etc. by: www.ncea.govt.nz