As the year draws to a close I would like to take the time to reflect back on 2016.

Congratulations to our students of 2016.

Each one of you have achieved success whether that be in your learning goals, your transition goals or your key competency goals. Your efforts, despite the challenges you face with your health, always impress me. Well done!

We recently celebrated those successes and also recognised the last 15 years of the school. To recognise the growth and development we renamed the school the Southern Health School, Te Kura Whaiora Ki Te Tonga.

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The school began in 2000 with 6 sites, 12 teachers and a notional roll of 90. Today we have 10 sites, almost 30 staff, a notional roll of 220 students and we see more than 670 students in a year.

Why have we grown? Are there more students who are too unwell to attend their regular school? Perhaps, but I think it has more to do with the way the school has changed and developed to ensure that “the invisible students”- the students at home, too unwell to attend school- don’t miss out on school.

In 2000 our teachers were hospital based, however over time the average length of stay in hospital reduced to about 2.5 days and hospital classrooms were no longer needed. We still visit and teach on the wards but more of our students are based in the community. So we teach them at home or in libraries or even cafes and in our classrooms which we continue to add across the South Island.

The majority of our students in 2000 had physical health conditions. Today more than half our students have mental health conditions. This year we have added a youth social worker to our team, to support teachers and students as they transition back to regular school.

We have been active in looking for our students, aided by the appointment of a liaison manager, strengthening partnerships with schools, health professionals, the Ministry of Education and other community agencies so our students don’t miss out on school.


We have sought to find innovative ways to deliver individualised learning to students. Transition is always a focus. We encourage and support students to return to school as soon as they are well enough. Our vision for our students is that they are engaged, connected and resilient. That they are engaged in life and learning, connected to others and have the resilience to return to their regular school, further education or employment even when they may still be unwell and that they have hope for the future.

I would like to wish you all a safe and relaxing summer. And whether you are returning to SHS, your regular school, further study or employment I wish you all the best for 2016.

Naku, na
Helen Mantell
Principal