YEAR 9 – MAIN BLOCK

New entrants into Year 9 live upstairs in East Wing of Main Block, in rooms of either four or two boarders. Every boarder has her own lockable wardrobe, under bed drawers, a reading light, a towel rail and shelves for personal items eg an alarm clock and photos from home. Boarders share spaces in both Years 9 and 10 as this encourages tolerance and appreciation of others. Boarders come to Nga Tawa from diverse backgrounds.
In Term One each year, boarding staff assign boarders to their rooms. After the first term boarders may request to be placed in a room with a friend or friends and all requests are carefully considered. Placement in rooms depends on the physical and emotional needs of boarders as well as their social groupings. Supervised prep for Year 9 is in the classroom block every week Monday to Thursday, between 6.30pm-8.15pm, followed by supper in the dining room. Bed time for Year 9 is at 9.15pm. They have a well appointed common room with Sky TV and a DVD player, however, this is only used for about 30 minutes in the evenings, Monday to Thursday.
All laundry in Main Block is either completed in the school laundry (for small items) or it is sent down to the Marton Laundry (sheets, towels, pillowcases etc).

YEAR 10 –MAIN BLOCK

Year 10 boarders live upstairs in West Wing of Main Block in rooms of either four or two boarders. The same facilities are in these rooms, as for Year 9 above. Bedtimes get gradually later with each year level. Supervised prep for Year 10 is in the classroom block every week Monday to Thursday, between 6.30-8.15pm, followed by supper in the dining room. In Year 10, bed time is at 9.30pm. Year 10 has a well appointed common room with Sky TV and a DVD player and they use this between 8.45 and 9.30pm and at weekends.
All laundry in Main Block is either completed in the school laundry (for small items) or it is sent down to the Marton Laundry (sheets, towels, pillowcases etc).

YEAR 11 – MAIN BLOCK AND MARSHALL HOUSE

Year 11 accommodation is divided between Main Block and Marshall House. Main Block rooms are two bed rooms whereas Marshall House is made up of single rooms. In addition to the above facilities, Year 11 rooms include desks, as prep is completed in bed rooms with boarding staff supervision. Prep runs from 6.30pm- 8.30pm Monday to Thursday with prep set at weekends and completed in the boarder’s own time. Year 11 bed time is 9.45pm. Year 11 in Main Block have their own common room and kitchen facilities, used every evening after prep has been completed and at weekends.
All laundry in Main Block is either completed in the school laundry (for small items) or it is sent down to the Marton Laundry (sheets, towels, pillowcases etc). Marshall House has a laundry and adjacent drying room, used by seniors. They do most if not all of their washing themselves.

YEAR 12 - MARSHALL HOUSE

Boarders in Year 12 live in single rooms with similar facilities to junior rooms, except with larger wardrobes and desks. They study in their rooms and their bed time is 10pm, although there is more flexibility in the senior school if academic deadlines demand it. A well appointed common room with kitchen facilities is used in the evenings after prep and at weekends.
Year 12 boarders, as seniors, have more freedom during the week to leave school and they have greater use of their cars and cell phones than junior boarders. A high trust model exists with a focus on semi independence in senior years, in preparation for life beyond school.

YEAR 13 – COTTAGES

Nga Tawa’s Year 13 cottages offer the opportunity for boarders to experience semi-independent living. Located in the centre of the school campus, they offer a secure environment, yet boarders can make their own breakfasts Monday to Friday (with supplies from the school dining room) and, if they choose to, they make most meals at weekends. Greater flexibility exists around bed times and movement in and out of school, although there are still curfews that must be adhered to for their safety and wellbeing.
Each cottage sleeps six boarders. Each boarder has her own room which opens out onto a common living area. A fully equipped kitchen, two toilets, two showers, washing facilities and outdoor clothesline that mirrors a flatting situation, preparing boarders for life beyond school. Nga Tawa graduates often tell us that it was their Cottages year that really helped them accept more responsibility for themselves and integrate more successfully into university and tertiary responsibilities.