Senior School students work within the Victorian Curriculum in the areas of English, Mathematics and Integrated Studies. The English curriculum focuses on the acquisition of knowledge and skills in Reading and Viewing, Writing and Speaking and Listening; whilst the Mathematics curriculum focuses on Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.
English
We use the ‘Write-to Read’ approach to spelling, where students are explicitly taught how the written language works. Students also explore all aspects of English, through programs such as Writer’s Notebook, Literature Circles and Literature Study.
Student writing samples:
(Click to enlarge)
Mathematics
Senior School students partake in SOLO Mathematics – a model of learning which enables students to choose from a variety of hands-on, topic-based activities, according to their individual level of understanding. Students complete many rich, hands-on, open-ended tasks in Mathematics which engage all learners, allow students to show connections between the concepts they have learnt and produce a range of responses.
Integrated Studies
The Integrated Studies curriculum fosters Senior School students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, Drug Education and Design and Technology, with a whole week each term dedicated to ‘Project Week’. During Project Week, Senior School students plan and produce a piece of work that combines their knowledge and skills from multiple areas of the curriculum and demonstrates students’ understanding of the content covered. The week removes boundaries between grades and teachers to enable students to collaborate with peers, and engage in social and practical learning. We have an integrated curriculum with the topic focus changing each term. Some examples of the topics we cover:
Understanding Australia: students understand that history involves change and impacts on people’s lives. They explore the significant events in Australia’s history to help make sense of contemporary Australia.
Natural Disasters: students gain an understanding of which natural disasters can occur in Australia and why. They understand how to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters and the impact they have on humanity.
Immigration: Students have been researching different immigration stories. Through a film and book study the students have learned to understand the reasons why people choose to immigrate to new countries.
Consumerism: students discover that consumers have rights. They become aware of needs and wants, rights and responsibilities and the intentions of a business.
Healthy Decisions: students learn about disabilities and gain a greater understanding of people living with a disability. They also explore the long and short-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption and discuss the implications of certain decisions they may make in the future. Students look at how bodies change physically and emotionally through the lifespan of both males and females.
At the conclusion of each unit, students undertake a week-long project. Students use knowledge gained throughout the unit as well as research skills, design, creativity, technology and team work to produce and present a sophisticated project.
Advanced Presentations Course
Students complete an eight-week public speaking course that is organised by Mrs. Sandra DeGeest, who is an expert in public speaking. Mrs. DeGeest has high expectations for the students and each week introduces new skills that the students can use whilst presenting. The course trains the students in the art of public speaking and gives them confidence to speak in front of large audiences. This program continues to receive fantastic feedback from the students and their families.
Debating
Students complete a seven-week debating course run by Mrs. Sandra DeGeest. They debate various topics against each other, following the same format as a professional debate would. Each week, students receive different roles for the debate, ranging from adjudicators, timers, chairmen and of course, affirmative and negative speakers. Students thoroughly enjoy the experience and their progress from the start to finish of the course is outstanding.
Platoons
This is a weekly two-hour session in which the students rotate between the four Senior School teachers to learn different content. These sessions include Coding, Mathematics in the Garden, Personal Safety and Mindfulness.
Camp
Every second year our Senior School students attend a camp at Beechworth. Before they attend the students have spent a term researching the Victorian Gold Rush and the life of Ned Kelly so it is a very enriching experience. It is a highlight for the students as they enjoy visiting all the places they have studied throughout the term – this includes visiting Woolshed Falls to pan for gold and attending the courthouse to see a reenactment of Ned Kelly’s trial!
Excursions and Incursions
Our school incursions and excursions provide students with the opportunity to gain additional skills. These are organised throughout the year and are linked to the integrated topics the students are studying at the time.
Graduation
Graduation is a very exciting time for our Year Six students. We have a dinner and presentation to celebrate each student’s successful completion of primary school. Our Graduation Ceremony is very special for each of the students and highlights each student’s accomplishments throughout their years at Burwood Heights Primary School. This is indeed a very special time for each of the students and their families.
Student Leadership
When in Grade Six, students are the leaders of the school. All Grade Six students receive either a Monitor or Leadership Position. They have the opportunity to become leaders, where they have specific responsibilities. Some of the main leadership roles are:
The Students Leaders represent Burwood Heights Primary School at different School and Community Events.
The student leaders begin every year with a Leadership Forum where they learn what it means to be a leader and the responsibilities associated with their roles. They participate in role-plays, discuss qualities of being a leader, watch videos of successful world leaders and play team-building games.
The Integrated Studies curriculum fosters Senior School students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, Drug Education and Design and Technology, with a whole week each term dedicated to ‘Project Week’. During Project Week, Senior School students plan and produce a piece of work that combines their knowledge and skills from multiple areas of the curriculum and demonstrates students’ understanding of the content covered. The week removes boundaries between grades and teachers to enable students to collaborate with peers, and engage in social and practical learning.