What people say about Stars

Year 9 Students

"Stars has helped me in lots of ways.  When I first started at high school, I wasn't confident to face school challenges.  Stars taught me communication, risk taking, having fun and teamwork."

Year 9 student, ASDAH

"I learnt, with the help of my great Peer Mentors, to write goals for myself.  It gives me a purpose or something to achieve, which is needed in life."

Year 9 student, ASDAH

"Stars really helped me to get over being shy and embarrassed all the time....Even if I am new, I know I can join a team and make friends much more easily, which really helps when you come from a small place like Pakotai.

Year 9, Northland College

 Peer Mentors (Year 12 and 13 students)

"I have become a more confident leader and have grown in my ability to relate with others, especially those of a younger age group.  I also enjoyed that I was able to encourage young people to live up to who they could be and the best they can."

Year 13 student, Bishop Viard College

"I am now more willing to take charge of a group and guide them in decisions while still allowing them the room to think of solutions for themselves."

Year 13 student, ASDAH

“Our students need lots of stimulation, patience and respect. When morale's good, the work is easy. The Peer Mentor meetings are important for keeping our class sessions tight and identifying where we need to improve. Working with the year 9 teachers has given us great tips that really work and keep the students calm and engaged. For me, Stars means extended whanau and building long-lasting bonds with peers, elders and juniors”

Year 12, Northland College

School Staff

"For most of the mentors this role is a natural extension of their existing family responsibilities, particularly when it comes to looking after teina(younger siblings) who are new to college this year. As a result, they have learnt to inspire large groups of younger students and have welcomed the increased responsibilities such as facilitating opportunities for the teina to achieve educational outcomes whilst having fun."

Northland College

 Principals

"In 2007 Wainuiomata High School's NCEA Level 1 results show us to be above the national average, with 64% of our Year Level achieving Level 1, something we are very proud of as a decile 4 school.  Our NCEA University Entrance results also rose from 18% to 40%.  There are similar jumps in improvement for NCEA Level 2 and 3.  It is always hard to say with any certainty that a particular programme is responsible for large scale change within a school.  However, I feel that clearly Stars has had a major part to play in these positive changes within a school.  Our students are continually growing in self-belief, they are more determined to succeed and more confident individuals.

Principal, Wainuiomata High School

“The Stars programme fits well with the new directions that the Ministry is taking with key competencies and it has become an integral part of our school’s culture and curriculum. It is not regarded as an ‘add on’ by staff or students.”