International students at Green Bay High School have the following options for accommodation when studying in New Zealand.
Homestay
By far the most popular option is Homestay. Most of our International students live with a host family. Living with a family helps students to learn about the New Zealand way of life, improve their English Language skills and experience a new culture. Students will have their own fully furnished room and the host family will provide three nutritional meals a day. At Green Bay High school we understand the importance of a happy and successful Homestay experience for students. Many of our families have been hosting students for years and most live within walking distance, or a short bus ride from the school. We have a dedicated Homestay Coordinator who carefully and regularly interviews, inspects and Police Vet checks all new Homestay families to ensure that a high standard of student care and well being are maintained.
Designated Caregiver
This can be a close friend or family member that the student’s family has chosen to take care of their child while they are in New Zealand. The parents take full responsibility and accept the decisions made by their DCG about the day to day requirements of the child. Even though the parents have chosen this family, the school will still visit the home and Police background checks will be carried out on the caregiver.
Parents
Some parents accompany their children to New Zealand. If students are living with a parent, the parent has full responsibility for the student outside of school hours.
Travel & Permission
International students may wish to take advantage of opportunities to travel while they are in New Zealand. The school takes its responsibility for students seriously so we have tight travel guidelines. Trips range in price from $220.00 for a weekend trip to Rotorua to $2,000.00 for a full South Island trip for 15 days. Our international staff can discuss travel options with students when they are in New Zealand and help them make the most of their New Zealand experience.
Code of Practice
The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 makes sure that tertiary and international learners enrolled with New Zealand education providers are safe and supported. The Code sets out what education providers must do to ensure the wellbeing and safety of their learners.
Under the provisions of the Code of Practice for the "Pastoral Care of International Students” Green Bay High School has an obligation to ensure that leave is only granted where it can be assured that the student will be supervised by approved adults and will be living in accommodation that meets the appropriate standard. All leave must be applied for at least two weeks in advance and must include signed permission from parents/caregivers and a completed request to travel form. Leave will not be granted where the agent of a student who is acting as a guardian denies permission.
Students should not be applying for leave for personal travel during school time, unless there is a compelling reason to do so. This could include the visit of parents, an event organized through agents or where they are doing so as part of the activities of a host family, or accompanying an approved school trip.
All travel must be through an approved organization or with a homestay family. If leave is taken without approval or when approval has been denied by the school, this will be regarded as a serious breach of discipline and could involve disciplinary procedures. All students must hold comprehensive insurance while they are in NZ. Details regarding Insurance can be found on the enrolment process page.
Green Bay High School works with a number of excellent tour companies who are specialists in taking high school groups on supervised tours around New Zealand.
