What you need to know before your first day

Dear Prospective Student

Welcome to Turning Point Education. We are looking forward to you studying at our school. Below is some information which will be useful to you, before your start date.

On your first day, please be at school on Monday morning at 9:15 and bring pen, paper, and your passport and travel insurance policy for copying. It will be a good idea also to bring some lunch or money to purchase lunch (we have lots of food outlets close to school). If Monday is a public holiday school will start on Tuesday. You will have a Placement Assessment to see at which English language level you will begin your study. After the assessment you will have an orientation with a member of staff, and receive a student handbook which will have the following information in:

• School hours
• School rules and regulations
• Non smoking requirement
• Emergency phone numbers
• Bus transport
• Whom to see if you have problems
• Driving in New Zealand
• New Zealand laws
• Attendance regulations
• Holidays
• New Zealand traffic rules
• Maori words
• Kiwi slang
• Internet and email use
• Students' welfare information
• Health and Safety information
• Grievance procedures
• Learning outcomes for each level
• Accommodation information
• Map of the central city area
• Summary of the Code of Practice
• Terms and Conditions

You will be required to sign a Tuition Contract and promise to inform us if you should change your contact address in Christchurch or in your home country while studying with us. You will also need to advise us of the type of accommodation you are living in and the contact details of someone we can get in touch with easily if there is an Emergency. This will normally be a next of kin in your home country. You will also acknowledge that you have received and will read the contents of your student handbook, and promise to ask us to help you whenever you require assistance or information. If you have a problem that we cannot help you with, we will get you a counsellor who can speak to you in your native language.

Finally and very importantly, please be sure you get the correct visa to study in New Zealand. Please visit the New Zealand Immigration Service website: www.immigration.govt.nz and the New Zealand Education website: www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international for more information. We are bound by the Code of Practice for pastoral care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Please read http://www.minedu.govt.nz.

If you are not in New Zealand, before you leave your county, you will need to obtain full travel and medical insurance covering the period from the time of leaving your house in your home country to the time of return to your house in your country. Even if you are already in New Zealand on a Working, Visitors or Guardian visa you will still need to have full travel and medical insurance for the period you are studying. This is a New Zealand government requirement which all schools must abide by. It is also very wise for you to have this insurance to cover any mishaps that may occur while you are in New Zealand. Please bring proof of this insurance to the school on your first day. If you do not have proof of this on your first day, we can obtain your insurance policy for you, so please be prepared to purchase this. Please also read the Terms and Conditions in our Enrolment Guide.

We look forward to welcoming you to Turning Point Education. We are here to make learning easier and to ensure you have a positive experience at our school.