About Social Studies Faculty
The Faculty of Social Studies offers a wide range of subjects that provide an excellent foundation for students wanting to study a humanities-related course or degree at the tertiary level. For example, History combined with Economics and Geography can be very useful when studying law. Combination of Accounting, Economics and Business Studies is essential for students who are considering studying Bachelor of Commerce.
The Faculty also offers vocational pathway subjects such as Financial Education/Money Smart and Business Studies.These pathways let students see how learning and achievement is valued in a workplace. For example, all Year 12 and Year 13 business studies students are taking part in YES Enterprise National Competition. As part the competition, the students complete five different business challenges throughout the year earning valuable NCEA credits with each challenge they complete. The competition is well regarded by business and employers nationwide.
Senior level student options include ACE Accounting/Economics Foundation, Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, Financial Literacy/Money Smart, Geography and History
Junior level student options include Business Studies, Social Studies and ACE Accounting/Economics Foundation
Accounting
Throughout the year, Accounting students have opportunity to participate in a number of events organised by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. These events provide a great opportunity for our students to ask questions and get insight into the future of accounting studies. Students also hear about future trends in Accounting such as the importance of developing technology skills. This will enable them to make more informed decisions about their tertiary study and future career options.
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Business Studies
Social Science Faculty provides several exciting opportunities to our students to extend their business skills. Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) is a programme that encourages innovation and provides foundation business skills for the next generation of business leaders. Year 12 and 13 business studies students create their own unique product or service, form a YES business at the start of the school year, and take it to market. Throughout the year, they attend events that mirror the process start-up businesses go through – including developing business and marketing plans, receiving guidance and mentoring from business people, and presenting their ideas to a live audience at the Dragon’s Den events.
BP Business Challenge, now in its second year, is another programme run by the YES Scheme. The three-day event is offered to Year 11 business studies students and it is run by experienced external facilitators who challenge our students to come up with original business ideas. On the final day of the event, the students presented their ideas to the panel of judges.
Year 10 and 11 business studies students also have their chance to showcase their essential skills of marketing and product sourcing at the market days held on various days throughout the year at the school grounds.
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Geography
Geography is the study of places and the relationships between people and their environments. Geographers examine how human culture interacts with the natural environment and the way that locations and places can have an impact on people. Geography students have opportunity to visit the Waihi Gold Mine in the small town of Waihi on Coromandel Peninsula as part of the internal assessment research process. It is a very entertaining experience as students are taken on a tour around the entire site as well as being able to observe each stage of the mining process. Students learn about not only the gold mine and its features but also about the community of Waihi and its contribution to the sustainability of the gold mine. They also learn about the types of gold and silver the gold mine produces and its restoration plans for the future.
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History
This course enables students to further develop their historical skills in the analysis of historical events through research, understanding and examining sources and structured essay writing.Skills acquired through this course can be very useful when studying law at the tertiary level.
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“What you think can determine what you can achieve! So think big to achieve great things!” Dr. Vivencio Ballano
