Middle Years (Grade 5 to Year 8)

In Middle Years we are committed to building a strong and vibrant learning community - providing opportunity for all our students to become educated, confident young adults.

All students are placed into four caring and supportive Homesteads on enrolment, where Homegroup teachers know and teach their children for up to two years. They are:

• O’Neill Susie O’Neill – Swimmer
• Chisholm Caroline Chisholm – Progressive Humanitarian
• Clarke Graeme Clarke – Cochlear Implant Pioneer
• Namatjira Albert Namatjira – Aboriginal Artist

Assemblies

• Homestead Assemblies are held two to three times a term
• Transition Assembly (Grade 4 to 5 & Year 8 to 9) is held in Term 4
• Middle Years Assemblies are held Term 1, Term 2 (2) & Term 3, hosted by each Homestead

Curriculum

Narre Warren South College’s curriculum is divided into eight (8) key learning areas: The Arts, English, LOTE (Indonesian), Health and Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Technology.

We have also been selected as a College to implement the Success for Boys Program, a Federal Government initiative. It seeks to imbed strategies of best practice within teachers to facilitate a curriculum that is seen to be worthwhile and meaningful to male students.

In Middle Years we encourage our students to take advantage of the many innovative programs and opportunities as they progress through grade 5 to year 8.

These programs include excursions, lunch time clubs, school productions, a student leadership program and the following:

Open nights Arts Festival

Your child will be challenged to interact with artwork, explore our state of the art technology and science facilities.

Human Powered Vehicle (HPV)

Students in Year 5, 6, 7 and 8 have the opportunity to join the Narre Warren South P-12 HPV racing team, known as “The Dragons”. Each Saturday morning, training and construction of the vehicles takes place in D Block, at the College, from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. The riders train on a regular basis to ensure they are fit and well prepared to participate in races that include Obstacle Courses, Sprint Races and Endurance events that vary from 6 hours to 24 hours in length.

The emphasis of the program is on maximum student participation with the support of family members.

Interactive Whiteboards and Laptop Computers

Transition Program

We provide structured and ongoing support to our in-coming students through peer support and mediation seek to ensure that each child’s transition is as seamless as possible

Gifted and Talented Program

Successful and Extensive Sports Program

Over the last few years the College has had a number of successes with teams competing in Zone and State finals in Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country, Tennis, Football, Baseball and Softball. Involvement in these teams is open to any students in the College to train for, supervised by our experienced staff.

The P.E. Program also gives our students the opportunity to take part in a number of activities outside the College, including aerobics, indoor soccer, golf, swimming and ten pin bowling and of course, our soccer and cricket competitions.

After school classes in mathematics and literacy with intervention programs

Musical Instrumental Tuition

 

The College has free lessons for grade 7-10 within class times [rotating times] for Guitar, Drums and Percussion, Piano-Keyboards, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Saxophone and Flute with the possible introduction of violin tuition commencing in 2008.

Our College Values are

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Excellence
• Integrity

All students are expected to be a tolerant member of the College community. This helps to foster responsible attitudes and behaviour and positive relationships that will encourage a cooperative approach to learning.

We know that students come to school to be with friends, have fun and learn about different things. This is made a lot easier where there is a positive relationship between students, teachers and parents.

A number of people are available to help students in our friendly, supportive sub-school. The class teachers, homegroup teacher and Homestead Leaders provide day-to-day support, whilst the student welfare co-ordinators are available and have excellent programs to help students deal with a variety of other issues.

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is the preferred mode of student management at Narre Warren South P – 12 College. Restorative Justice was first introduced in Australian schools in the 1990’s and it represents a philosophy that acknowledges that when someone does harm, it affects the person(s) they hurt, the community and them.

Restorative Practices are underpinned by a set of values which include: Empowerment, Honesty, Engagement, Voluntarism, Healing, Restoration, Personal Accountability, Inclusiveness, Collaboration and Problem Solving.

Restorative Practices

• Involve the development and enhancement of relationships in schools
• Teach conflict resolution and other problem solving skills
• Involve classroom management practices that are less punitive and more democratic and supportive
• Encourage students to learn from their mistakes reconcile and resolve problems with others.

Restorative Language

• Can you tell me what happened?
• What were you thinking about at the time?
• What have you thought about since?
• Who has been affected by what happened?
• How do you think they have been affected?
• What can be done to repair the harm?

Antibullying Policy

The learning community at Narre Warren South P-12 College has the right to a safe and caring environment that promotes learning, personal growth and self esteem. Middle Years is committed to providing all students with a healthy and safe teaching and learning environment free from bullying. This includes the many forms of bullying such as physical, verbal, victimization, sexual, exclusion, racial and electronic.

Through ongoing lessons, professional development, workshops and programs we equip students with strategies to deal with bullying, inform them of their rights and responsibilities and equip parents with strategies to help their children. Counselling will be provided for perpetrators, victims and parents as deemed necessary.

Extensive Camp Program

The College’s Camping/Adventure activity program enables students to further their learning and social skills development. Camps may have a cultural, environmental, outdoor, transition or specialist emphasis (ie, Music, Sport, LOTE) and are an important aspect of the educational programs offered at our school. Over the Middle Years (Years 5-9) one camp is offered at each CSF level. The camps reflect the curriculum offered in the Middle Years and the learning needs of the Middle Years students.

Our Grade 5 students are offered a three day camp in term 4 to Allambee which is located in the Strzelecki Ranges. Activities include orienteering, low level ropes course, flying fox, archery and billycarts.

Grade 6 students are offered a three day urban based camp run by Melbourne Discovery. Students will participate in visiting the Eureka Tower, Science Works, Federation Square, Melbourne Museum, Queen Victoria Market and an MCG Tour.

Our Year 7 orientation camp at Charnwood in Swanpool is held at the beginning of the school year to ease the transition of Year 7 students from external feeder primary schools. The students will be involved in fun and highly structured activities. This is a great opportunity for all students to get to know each other, (both current and new), and for all students to get to know their homegroup teacher.

Year 8 students are bi-annually offered a 9 day Central Australia tour in term 3. The tour includes visits to Alice Springs, Uluru, the Olgas and the mining town of Coober Pedy amongst others.