Extension & Enrichment
Advanced Learning & Enrichment
Supporting Growth Through Curriculum and Enrichment
Hillcrest High School follows Curriculum guidelines for Junior (Years 9-10) and Senior (Years 11-13), and promotes and encourages education beyond.
Extension and enrichment are features of both curriculum and co-curricular programmes at all levels at Hillcrest High School. At Years 9 & 10, students identified as gifted and talented have opportunities to participate in programmes such as JEEP (Junior Extension and Enrichment Programme) and Sports Development.
Advancing Academic Potential: The Junior Enrichment and Extension Program (JEEP)
The Junior Enrichment and Extension Program (JEEP) is a specialized academic initiative designed to provide high-achieving junior school students with an enhanced learning experience. This program offers a rigorous and stimulating curriculum, fostering intellectual curiosity and developing critical skills essential for future academic success.
Program Overview:
JEEP operates during Semester B of Year 9 and Semester A of Year 10. The curriculum encompasses a range of advanced subject areas, including:
- Psychology: Exploring the complexities of human behavior and cognition.
- Investment: Introducing fundamental principles of financial literacy and economic understanding.
- Leadership: Cultivating essential leadership qualities and collaborative skills.
Experiential Learning:
A key component of JEEP is its commitment to experiential learning. The program incorporates a variety of Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) opportunities, including:
- Visits to institutions such as MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology) and the Stardome, providing practical applications of theoretical concepts.
- Engaging activities designed to foster problem-solving and teamwork.
Program Objectives:
- To provide an intellectually challenging environment for high-achieving students.
- To develop advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
- To enhance students’ understanding of diverse subject areas.
- To foster study skills that will benefit the students throughout their education.
- To provide experience that will assist in future leadership roles.
Expected Outcomes:
Students participating in JEEP are expected to:
- Demonstrate enhanced academic performance.
- Develop a deeper understanding of complex concepts.
- Cultivate essential skills for future academic and professional success.
- Many students go on to become leaders in their senior school years.
JEEP is designed to provide a structured and enriching academic experience for students seeking to maximize their potential.
Innovation Academy below
This exciting program is not your average classroom experience. Students get hands-on learning all about the design thinking process. This is a fancy way of saying they learn how to tackle challenges creatively, by empathising with the problem, brainstorming ideas, developing concepts, and then showcase them to the community. Problems are based on real school and community problems such as connections between younger and older students or re-energising the canteen space.
Sounds fun, right? It sure is! The students are not just cooped up in a lecture hall either. They get to meet with inspiring design lecturers and even have a chance to peek behind the curtain of what it’s like to study design at the University of Waikato.
This early exposure to the world of design could spark a lifelong passion. Who knows, maybe these year 9 innovators will be the masterminds behind the next groundbreaking invention or revolutionary product design!
Hillcrest High School Sports Development Programme
The Sports Development Programme (SDP) at Hillcrest High School is designed for students who are passionate about sport and eager to develop their skills, knowledge, and athletic ability. This programme is not about identifying “gifted and talented” athletes, but rather about nurturing students with the drive, commitment, and willingness to improve. Students need to possess a baseline level of physical ability to effectively engage with the learning, as the focus is on sport development and performance progression. Our aim is to provide young athletes with the tools to enhance their performance, build resilience, and develop lifelong habits for success in sport and beyond.
Long-term athlete development models have been explored in the ongoing development and structuring of this course, with frameworks such as that proposed by Dr Istvan Balyi serving as a foundation, adapted to our environment. Annual reviews are conducted to ensure that course content and practices remain relevant, current, and in the best interest of the students.
Through a structured mix of theory, practical skill development, and athletic training, students gain a comprehensive understanding of sport science and performance. The programme fosters teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, and goal setting while offering access to expert coaching, guest speakers, and training opportunities
9SDP is a semester-long course that introduces students to fundamental aspects of athletic development, focusing on motor skill acquisition, movement mechanics, and sport performance. Students will learn through a combination of practical and theoretical lessons, covering topics such as anatomy, motor skill acquisition, and character development in sport.
Key components include:
- Fundamentals of anatomy
- Motor skill acquisition and movement efficiency
- Strength and conditioning principles
- Sport psychology and character development
- Physical performance testing and tracking
- Exposure to different sports and athletic challenges
- Opportunities to learn from guest speakers and industry professionals
- Class trips which may include elite training facilities, university sports centres, and outdoor adventure experiences
10SDP builds on the foundational skills developed in Year 9, offering a more in-depth exploration of sport science, physical training, and athletic performance. This full-year course is designed for students who are committed to improving their athletic ability and understanding the science behind sport.
The programme includes:
- Functional anatomy, exercise physiology & biomechanics
- Sports nutrition and recovery strategies
- Strength and conditioning training
- Physical performance testing and tracking
- Sport psychology, leadership development, and goal setting
- Practical experience in various sports
- Workshops with guest coaches and athletes
- Class trips which may include elite training facilities, university sports centres, and outdoor adventure experiences
Students in both 9SDP and 10SDP will have access to strength and conditioning coaching, industry experts, and unique opportunities to enhance their sporting journey. Previous trips have included visits to the Waikato University Recreation Centre, WINTEC sport science labs, beach volleyball competitions, Grassroots Trust Velodrome, Chiefs Rugby training visit, and adventure-based challenges such as the Hillary Outdoors Get2Go. These trips can vary each year but maintain a focus on performance development, team building, experiential learning and exposure to high-level sporting environments.
This programme is ideal for athletes who are motivated, coachable, and eager to challenge themselves in a supportive and high-expectation environment.
Our groups
- Theatre sports
- Shakespeare Club
- Theatre Visits
- Productions
- Art Club
- Kapa Haka Group
- Concert Band
- Guitar Group
- Orchestra
- Instrument Lessons
- SCAT Jazz Choir
- Vocal Lessons
- Rock Bands
- Future Problem Solving Group
- Debating
- Mooting
- Hanfu Dancing
- Korean Fan Dancing
- Indian Dancing
- Lion Dancing
- Writer’s Group
