Middle College

The Middle College program aims to provide a challenging, stimulating and supportive environment as young people move into adolescence. From Year 6, the curriculum is expanded to provide students with in-depth experiences in eight key learning areas. Through the Middle College, students shift from a predominantly primary style experience in Year 6, to readiness for effective engagement in senior schooling at the end of Year 9.

Relationships are particularly critical to young people in the middle years. Vertical pastoral care groups support the growth of strong relationships both within and across year levels as well as between staff and students. Pastoral care groups provide an important support mechanism for young adolescents. Students are expected to be supportive and encouraging of one another and of staff. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of leadership skills with increasing levels of independence encouraged. Pastoral care activities are planned to enable strong relationships between families and the College.

During the middle years, engagement in a variety of extracurricular activities is particularly important for the development of self-esteem and a strong sense of belonging, which is critical for success. Participation in SCISSA team sports competition as well as various cultural and community events engender a strong sense of self worth and the development of a service orientated approach to life.

   

Years 6-7: Supporting the Transition

The following characteristics inform a challenging and stimulating Year 6 and 7 curriculum:

Year 6 Principles

  • Primary style of learning with students generally located in one classroom, with one teacher for the core lessons of Christian Studies, Mathematics, English, Humanities and Social Science and Science.
  • Strong focus on pastoral care with the core class teacher as the primary care giver. Students begin the transition into vertical pastoral care groups in Semsester 2.
  • Strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
  • Integrated use of information technology to enhance learning.
  • Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning.
  • Introduction to experience subjects of Digital Technologies, Design Technology, Food and Wellbeing, Drama and Art by specialist staff.
  • Learning experiences in Middle College environments including Food and Wellbeing kitchen, Science laboratories and Digital Technologies lab.
  • Leadership opportunities in Pacific Action Groups to work alongside the Year 12 Action Group captains in the areas of Cultural, Sport, Student Well-being, Spiritualty and Service, Technology, Environmental, and Academic

Year 7 Principles

  • Middle schooling strategies applied with students having two core teachers and moving between two classrooms for core lessons.
  • Pastoral care provided by two core teachers and linked into vertical care groups.
  • Strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
  • Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning and levels of independence.
  • Integrated use of information technology to support learning across all key learning areas.
  • Consolidation of experience Subjects of Digital Technologies, Design Technology, Food and Wellbeing, Drama and Art.

The program is based on a weekly program of 35 lessons, each of a 45 minute duration.

Year 6

Year 7

Christian Studies

2

Christian Studies

2

Mathematics

6

Mathematics

5

English

6

English

5

Humanities and Social Science

4

Humanities and Social Science

4

Science

4

Science

4

Health and Physical Education

3

Health and Physical Education

3

Personal Development

1

Personal Development

1

Band / Classroom Music

1

Band / Classroom Music

1

Japanese

2

Japanese

2

Sport

2

Sport

2

Experience Subjects

4

Experience Subjects

6

Digital Technologies

Design Technology

Food and Wellbeing

Art

Drama

Digital Technologies

Design Technology

Food and Wellbeing

Art

Drama

Years 8-9: Learning To Fly

The latter years of middle schooling are exciting and challenging. A rich curriculum is designed to actively engage and challenge increasingly independent young people to build on prior learnings and strive for personal excellence. The differentiated approach is success orientated and allows for varying levels of performance to be demonstrated and celebrated. Core learnings continue across English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Science, Science, Japanese and Christian Studies. Throughout Year 8, students continue learnings in Industrial Technology, Information Technology, Food Technology, Enterprise Education, Art and Music. From 2017, Year 9 students will be offered an increased range of subjects, providing them the opportunity to have a more active role in designing their learning journey. Students will continue to study a core set of subjects and in addition to this, will have the chance to select three elective subjects for each semester. These new elective offerings will replace the existing experience subjects. To assist in the transition to senior schooling there is a gradual expansion of the number of teachers each child experiences as they progress from Year 8 to 9.

Subject choices made at this stage begin the journey along alternative career pathways. Midway through Year 9, advice from our Careers Counsellor assists families and students to make subject and career choices as they move into the senior years of schooling.

The following characteristics inform a challenging and stimulating Year 8 and 9 curriculum:

Year 8 Principles

  • Middle schooling strategies applied with students having two core teachers and movement between two classrooms for the core lessons of English, Humanities and Social Science, Mathematics, Science and Christian Studies.
  • Linked into vertical pastoral care groups across Years 6-12, with leadership opportunities in the Junior College.
  • Strong focus on English and Maths and the separate nature of the disciplines of Science and Humanities and Social Science.
  • Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning.
  • Introduction to specialist areas of Enterprise, Digital Technology, Design Technology, Food and Wellbeing, Music, Drama and Art by specialist staff.
  • Personal Development program, which examines relationships, decision-making and health related issues.

Year 9 Principles

  • Moving from middle schooling strategies to a more senior school focus with separate teachers and classrooms for core lessons.
  • Linked into vertical pastoral care groups across Years 6-12, with leadership opportunities in the Junior and Middle College.
  • Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning and levels of independence.
  • Increased range of specialist subjects offered.
  • Rite Journey, a guided journey of self-reflection, making positive choices, relationships, and personal purpose.

The program is based on a weekly program of 35 lessons, each of a 45 minute duration.

Year 8 – Core Subjects

Christian Studies

2

Humanities and Social Science

4

Mathematics

5

Science

4

English

5

Health and Physical Education

3

Personal Development

1

Sport

2

Japanese

2

Philosophical Inquiry

1

 

Year 8 – Elective Subjects

The Arts (select two)   Technologies and Enterprise (select two)  

Art

3

Design Technology

3

Dance

3

Enterprise

3

Drama

3

Digital Technology

3

Media Studies

3

Food and Wellbeing

3

Music

3

STEM 3

 

Year 9 – Core Subjects

The Rite Journey

3

Humanities and Social Science

4

Mathematics / Mathematics and Extension

5

Science

4

English

5

Health and Physical Education

3

 

Year 9 – Elective Subjects – Semester 1

Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

ART: Art Beat

Drama

Art: Art Beat

Business Economics

Food and Wellbeing

Design

Dance

Japanese 1

Food and Wellbeing

History

Literature - Not the Same Old Story!

Digital Technology

Digital Technology

Manufacturing Studies

Media Studies

Manufacturing Studies

Philosophy and Reasoning

 

>STEM 1 Engineering

   

 

Year 9 – Elective Subjects – Semester 2

Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

ART: Art as Sequential

Drama

Art: Art as Sequential

Business Economics

Food and Wellbeing

Design

History

Japanese 1

Food and Wellbeing

Digital Technology

Literature - Strange Things Indeed!

Digital Technology

Japanese 2

Manufacturing Studies

Media Studies

Manufacturing Studies

Philosophy and Reasoning

Music

STEM 2 Engineering

 

STEM 1 Engineering

Bring Your Own Device

The College Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program requires Year 6-9 students to access a personal device. This program aims to support students in their learning and enhance their educational experience at the College. Using their own device, students will use the College’s wireless network in their classes to access our digital learning programs and resources. There are different device specifications which are dependent on the student's year level. Please click here for device specifications for the 2024 curricular year.

Devices cannot be purchased outright through the College. However, the College does offer a device leasing program where student devices can be leased from the College over a 3 year agreement. The leasing program payments are processed through the student fees each Term. On completion of the lease, the device becomes the property of the leasing family. The terms of the College's 2024 Student Device Lease Program can be found here. If families wish to directly purchase their own device that meets College hardware device requirements, please see your preferred retailer or order a device online from a manufacturer.

The College is currently accepting new device lease program entries for 2024.

For BYO device setup and on-campus WiFi connection procedures please click here.