We have four whanau areas; Makomako, Kiwi, Ruru, and Tui, and these whanau areas act as 4 small schools in one large school. They are a space where students receive the bulk of their education in years 7 and 8, apart from specialist subjects that require specific rooms.

As students progress in their years, they move across the school which helps develop more independence. The whanau structure creates a culture, identity and support network for our students, giving them a place where they feel comfortable and confident to explore and learn, while also providing pastoral support so no student slips through the cracks.

When moving from a primary school to a junior high school, students can become overwhelmed with the size, so this structure takes away the stress and nerves of being in a much larger school and gives them a sense of belonging.

Every term we host a Whanau Forum, a meeting (often online in the evening) which parents and caregivers attend (students welcome), covering topics such as cyber security, our vision and values, buses, the AJHS pathway to ASHS, events coming up such as camps, and much more. For the latest (April 2024) Whanau Forum slides please click here.