JUNIOR SECONDARY UPDATE In 2015, we will be welcoming both Year 8 and Year 7 students into our school. During the next two weeks we will be holding parent forums, as we did last year. The purpose of these forums is to talk about our plans and to work with parents on ensuring we are making the transition into secondary school a safe, smooth and happy one. Fliers will be delivered to all primary schools notifying parents and carers of the times of these forums. YEAR 7 LITERACY AND NUMERACY Students in Year 7 will have a Literacy and Numeracy block each day in home rooms with a Connect teacher. We chose the word Connect because of the important role this teacher has in connecting our students to the secondary school setting. The Connect teacher will also teach their class for at least another subject. This means that students will have a Connect teacher who will see them for at least three lessons out of five each day. This is one of the ways we are ensuring that your student feels safe and supported in their move to secondary school. The parents/carer’s first point of contact will be the Connect teacher, similar to the primary school setting where parents and carers are able to contact the class teacher on a regular basis. YEAR 7 AND 8 CURRICULUM Our aim is to make sure our curriculum meets the needs of Year 7 students and already our teachers have been curriculum planning with current primary school teachers of Year 7. While we must ensure we are meeting the time requirements and recommendations of the core curriculum: English, Maths, Science, History and Geography, Health and Physical Education and Language, we realise that one of the important aspects of secondary school is that students like to have a choice of subjects and access to specialist rooms such as laboratories, kitchens, workshops, music and art rooms. Therefore we have organised our timetable so that both Year 7 and Year 8 students are able to choose elective subjects. Students will be able to choose from a range of offerings including: Home Economics, Manual Arts- Wood, Metal, Plastics and Graphics, Marine Practices, Aerospace Studies, Music, Dance, Drama, Art and Business and Digital Design. Another way we support the Year 7 and 8 transitions to secondary school is with our dedicated Dean of Junior Secondary, Sharyn Morris. Sharyn’s most important role is to support students. She also supports Connect teachers. Sharyn also coordinate’s student programs, lunchtime activities, Year 7 and Year 8 camps, Parent Information Evenings and Forums, Student Leadership activities and the Junior Secondary Student Council. THE ARTS Students in Year 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to become a member of our “Arts Excellence” program. Students will be invited to join our very talented choir who travel to perform in “Creative Generations” each year, take part in “Master Art” classes, develop their dramatic skills in our musicals or be a part of our dance program. MATHS AND SCIENCE Students in Year 7 and 8 will have the opportunity to take part in our Robotics club, attend astronomy evenings and take part in maths, physics, biology and chemistry projects and competitions all as part of the maths and science programs. These opportunities provide students with the development of valuable skills in readiness for their senior secondary years. ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT Our Gem program is an academic enrichment program, designed to challenge and enrich high achieving students. Students may be selected to join the English, Maths, Science and/or History Gem classes. SPORT ACADEMY PROGRAM In 2014, Maryborough SHS offered a new initiative to engage Year 8 students through a unique sport focussed learning program, The Sport Academy program. This Sport Academy program has been designed to enhance and cultivate a young athletes sporting talent and equip them with the necessary skills to succeed both in the classroom and on the sporting field. From 2015, the program will be offered over a three year period through Years 7 to 9. This three year program will benefit the students through a sense of connectedness, consistency, challenge and commitment. Students in all classes will be required to maintain a high standard of work, attendance, sportsmanship and representation of Maryborough at all sporting events. TECHNOLOGY All students in Years 7 to 9 will have the opportunity to take part in our take home mini ipad program. These devices have electronic text books on them so that students can access the texts at home. Here is what our new Year 8 students said when asked; “What do you like about secondary school?” “The science laboratories and the experiments; the different subjects; being able to move to other subjects; the canteen is open every day; meeting new friends; the camp and end of term rewards trips; the ipad’s and teachers helping us to learn.” Thanks to Max, Alicia, Arizona, Payton, Jacinta, Dallas, Joel and Alexia for their feedback about Year 8 this year. Maryborough State High School is a centre for secondary education that is focussed on student success. If you would like your child to join a secondary school where teachers work together in partnership with parents; where our engaging curriculum and dedicated staff have created a teaching and learning environment where each student will not only be supported to achieve but are also expected to be responsible and respectful. Contact the office on 41209333 to make an appointment.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 00:18:19 +0000
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