The strong culture for success in the Junior School is reflected in the “Have a Go” attitude adopted by students and encouraged by teachers. Students are challenged to do their best at every opportunity. Teachers structure all activities to allow for individual levels of attainment and progress.

The core academic priorities of English, Mathematics and Inquiry Studies are presented in a manner that celebrates understanding, exploration, skill development and fosters areas of personal interest and attitudes.

In the area of English, we have extensively expanded our reading materials to include high interest texts and a wide range of text types to engage students and encourage improved reading habits. Vocabulary, reading rates and oral presentation have improved across the Year levels as a result. The Junior School has also implemented the Accelerated Reading Program which challenges students through an on line quiz to focus on their comprehension of the printed material.

The profile of Mathematics has been raised during the past few years by way of extensions beyond the regular classroom program. Activities, including Problem of the Month, Maths Competitions, Maths Olympiad, Maths Problem Solving Day and Chess Club, have complemented the real life, hands on and formal aspects of study.

In Inquiry Studies, our approach presents students with foundation learning in a planned topic and then allows students to explore this knowledge further in ways that interest them. Teachers plan these units of Inquiry using tools such as Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and Bloom’s Taxonomy, developing assessment tasks and extension activities and questions. Inquiry Studies uses this exploratory approach to curriculum areas that include Science, Technology, Civics and Citizenship, Information Technology, Health and Personal Development.

The “You Can Do It”, (YCDI) program assists students with skill development in the areas of Resilience, Getting Along with Others, Persistence, Confidence and Organization. The YCDI program is designed for primary aged students and is presented in Years 7 – 9 as Habits of the Mind. These programs assist students to accept responsibility for their own learning. With the skills and attitudes developed in these programs, students will enjoy greater success and more efficient use of their time.