Junior School Curriculum

JUNIOR SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Curriculum is designed to promote academic excellence and allow students to flourish

The restructuring of our programs is part of the re-development and strategic vision of the school to increase engagement and academic outcomes for students. We believe in engaging and relevant curriculum that sees learning be:

Personalised in nature, providing students an opportunity to set and track personal learning goals and a learning pathway from the very beginning;
Technology rich in the way that students are encouraged to engage in learning experiences that see technological tools transform learning instead of modifying it.
Inquiry and project based, this will be central to the learner experience through both the core and elective based program;
Influenced by Michael Fullan’s “New Pedagogies for Deep Learning” where Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration allow students to flourish;
Formative in nature where assessment is also used as the main form of tracking learning gain and growth;

ENGLISH AND EAL

The English course strives to develop globally aware students, capable of responding creatively and critically to a range of different texts. Students complete a range of tasks, including oral presentations, analytical responses, creative responses and comparative responses to develop these thinking skills.

MATHEMATICS

Students solve problems with fractions, simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions and investigate the links between linear equations and linear graphs. Students deepen their understanding of Statistics and Probability by solving chance problems involving complementary events.

SCIENCE

Students will develop further skills, knowledge and understanding in earth and space, natural disasters, forces, ecology, biodiversity, waste, robotics (designing, building and programming), chemistry, water and myth busting. The main aim of each of the above focus areas is to encourage students to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) into everyday thinking.

HUMANITIES

Students undertake a study of History, Geography, Economics and Business and Civics and Citizenship. In History students learn how societies move from ancient to modern, looking at exploration and colonisation, considering different perspectives of historical events. Students investigate landforms and human settlement patterns in Geography, strengthening their knowledge of the connections between people and place.

Junior School at a glance

Flexibility in the structure of the program will allow students to learn according to their individual learning needs and learning style. An Individual Learning Plan will be developed for each child and this will be reviewed and refined throughout the year. Parents will be provided with a copy of the plan and the suggested strategies to assist the child’s development. Skill development in the areas of literacy and numeracy will be the focus of the program. The needs of the students will be identified by testing, assessment data and teacher professional judgement. Teaching strategies will include explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy skills.

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Students evaluate the benefits of relationships on wellbeing and respecting diversity through commencing the Respectful Relationships Program. They analyse factors that influence emotional responses. They investigate strategies that enhance their own and others’ health, safety and wellbeing. They consolidate and apply movement concepts and strategies to achieve movement and fitness outcomes.

GLOBAL LEARNING

Through a model of Project Based Learning (PBL) students will develop their core entrepreneurial and learner skills in the following areas: Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity, and Problem Solving. Each semester students will be engaged in a core project facilitated by both school and community staff that will see them explore a real world challenge based on a central theme.

BYOD Program and 21st Century Learning

We have enlisted the support of EDUNET Computer Specialists to provide several device options for purchase as part of the Bring your own Device (BYOD) program. All year 7s and 8s are expected to have one of the recommended minimum specification devices for use in the classroom, while students in year 9 – 12 are encouraged to participate in the program. Specific information on the current BYOD program is available from the school office. Families can purchase one of the recommended devices through EDUNET or purchase a device with similar specifications through another commercial outlet.

The college also recently purchased a variety of new school devices to provide students with greater access to technology to support their learning in the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to: new laptops in each significant learning space, update to PC hardware and projection tools, and a further commitment to Compass software for administration, assessment and reporting purposes.