Junior School Academic - Prekindergarten to Year 6
About the Junior School's Academic Program
There are three sub-sections of the Junior School:
. Pre-Kindergarten to Year 2 - Early Childhood
. Years 3 and 4 - Middle Childhood
. Years 5 and 6 - Later Childhood
The Junior School inquiry learning programs extend from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 and are delivered through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child, in the classroom and the world outside. Our Junior School curriculum aims to make learning relevant and meaningful to our children. Therefore we adopt a balanced curriculum consisting of traditional disciplines and radioscopic units of inquiry, both of which focus upon the children as learners. Both class and specialist teaching staff work together to support this approach. Subject content may therefore be taught in stand-alone core disciplines or through transdisciplinary units of inquiry.
The Junior School curriculum organisers reflect the PYP domains of:
Language (English and Languages Other than English)
Mathematics
Science and Technology
Personal, Social and Physical Education
Social Sciences
Arts
Godly Play and Religious values Education is addressed through our College Chaplain or class teacher.
The PYP Units of Inquiry form the basics of our inquiry units. Classroom teachers work with specialist staff to deliver units which cover all Science and Technology, Social Science content and some/or much of the content from other domains. Content not covered by the Units of Inquiry are addressed as stand alone curriculum by the class teacher (daily) or specialist teachers in Language Other than English, Physical Education, Visual/Creative Arts and Music.
As in the High School the learning program offers a broad international curriculum that encourages students to realise their potential, manage their own studies, show initiative, make informed choices, accept responsibility and demonstrate respect for others. After completing their studies at the College we are confident our students will have the skills and understandings necessary for them to contribute as informed participants in local and world affairs with ‘truth, compassion and wisdom’.
Extra Curricular Academic Activities
NAPLAN
Years 3 and 5 NAPLAN data and yearly standardised assessment data (SA Spelling, PAT, Burt, SENA, Early Years Literacy) is analysed by the Head of School, Individual Needs Team and class/specialist teachers to identify areas of concern and patterns of performance at a Junior School and individual level. This is done with reference to National Benchmarks, Junior School Benchmarks and individual student data.
The NAPLAN standardised data is also used as a part of identifying student strengths and needs and is used:
. to prepare to meet the needs of incoming students;
. by the Individual Needs Team in developing differentiated educational programs and individual learning plans (ILPs);
. by the Head of School, Assistant Heads of School/Team Leaders when considering class placements;
. in conjunction with Junior School Benchmarks (e.g. year Minimum Reading Levels) when reviewing Junior School Programs.
Stringent privacy policies apply to NAPLAN Data.
Other extra-curricular academic activities include:
. National Competitions
. UNSW Competitions
. Tournament of the Minds.