IMPACT PROJECT
Enhancing Student Wellbeing Through Onsite Psychological Support
The Ministry of Education has three educational psychologists working throughout Otago/Southland. Each person has a caseload of 12 students. This is not enough resource for the need in the wider region, let alone Wānaka.
By appointing an educational psychologist the College has been able to respond to behavioural needs in a timely and supportive manner.
Students who had been referred to the Ministry for this type of support could wait anywhere between 6 weeks to 4 months. Having someone onsite means that communication is easy – students have someone they can check in with every day, parents have someone they can call and meet with (rather than wait weeks for the person to be in the area again), and teachers can have regular support as well.
By appointing an educational psychologist the College has been able to respond to behavioural needs in a timely and supportive manner.
Students who had been referred to the Ministry for this type of support could wait anywhere between 6 weeks to 4 months. Having someone onsite means that communication is easy – students have someone they can check in with every day, parents have someone they can call and meet with (rather than wait weeks for the person to be in the area again), and teachers can have regular support as well.
Inclusive Planning
Individual learning and behaviour plans are developed by an expert, are well researched and documented, and involve all voices – the student’s, their parents and teachers.
For the students who need this support, it is about finding a way to support behaviour – identifying triggers, how to regulate, and how to communicate. For parents it is about what support is needed at home, and for teachers what is needed in the classroom.
For the students who need this support, it is about finding a way to support behaviour – identifying triggers, how to regulate, and how to communicate. For parents it is about what support is needed at home, and for teachers what is needed in the classroom.
Tangible Results
For the student, a positive change means positive engagement in education and life at school, and for the students in the class, that their learning is not impacted as it may have been.
More impact projects
The Te Ūkaipō Scholarship
The scholarship offers the opportunity for a student to visit their marae, which might be in any part of New Zealand. Often students at MAC find it hard to connect with their marae (due to the geographic isolation) and this scholarship sets an expectation that the student will connect with their iwi.
Extra Resources & Support
Over the years, donations from MAC Foundation have been used to provide equipment, enhancing facilities.
Revitalising school and community: The Mount Aspiring College Hostel Programme
The Mount Aspiring Hostel Programme is a coveted opportunity for Year 13 students from around New Zealand who aspire to achieve personal growth and development while making the most of all Wānaka offers. The Hostel Programme was initiated in the early 1990s and was the catalyst for the formation of the MAC Foundation. Today, the hostel building and the land on which it sits are owned, funded and maintained by MAC Foundation in perpetuity.
ESOL and Music Room
In support of Mount Aspiring College's commitment to investing in students' success, MAC Foundation funded the construction of a dedicated ESOL room, which later became the Music Room. Following the 2021 redevelopment of Mount Aspiring College, the building is now a residential rental property, providing a sustainable source of income that will continue supporting the Foundation's charitable purpose.
Donations
Since its inception, MAC Foundation has provided annual funding to Mount Aspiring College for various projects, including scholarships, sports equipment, library equipment, and landscaping. Following its reinvigoration in 2022, MAC Foundation intends to build on its financial base to grow donations and increase impact. In 2022, the school received a donation of $85,000 from MAC Foundation.
