English

Unit Title: A Banner Bold; Life on the gold fields

Unit Overview: This unit provides a study of colonial Australia in the 1800s. Students will read and explore the story of Rosa Aarons and her experiences on the Sovereign Hill goldfields in Ballarat. They will learn about what life was like for different groups in the colonial period. Through the study of the novel, “A Banner Bold”,  they will examine significant events and people, political developments, social structures and settlement patterns to continue their development of comprehension and understanding of texts.

Students will be engaged in a range of written tasks using a range of subject specific language to convey meaning of historical events. Students will respond creatively and critically demonstrating their knowledge of life on the goldfields.

Science

Unit Title: Solar Timekeepers

Unit Overview: Not only is space travel and exploration intriguing, Earths place in space highlights our exceptional ability to sustain life. The focus of this unit is for students to explore the solar system, astronomy and planetary science. This unit provides students with opportunities to develop their scientific knowledge of planets and the solar system, to use problem solving and research skills to evaluate information, and to use digital technologies to investigate and present information and their findings.

PDHPE

Unit Title: Keeping Myself Safe and Netball / Basketball

Unit Overview: In this unit students examine key factors that contribute to keeping safe and healthy and identify behaviours that impact on wellbeing. They assess the safety of situations in water, road, fire and sun to identify appropriate responses and develop personal safety plans. Students have an opportunity to practise a range of personal safety strategies and recognise the effect that individuals decisions have on self and others. In the practical component of the course students are given the opportunity to develop their communication skills and knowledge relating to team play, cooperation and structured games through a Game Sense approach to Net/ Court Games. The Game Sense approach promotes the development of critical thinking in physical activity. Students will participate in a range of activities to develop their skills in the sports of Netball and Basketball throughout the unit.

Course requirements:

• Hat and drink bottle for all PE Lessons

Pastoral (Social and Emotional Wellbeing) Learning Time

Executive Functioning and Self Management Skills 

Executive functioning and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.

Self-management is our ability to manage our behaviours, thoughts, and emotions in a conscious and productive way. Self-management means you understand your personal responsibility in different aspects of your life, and you do what you need to fulfil that responsibility.

Students will learn how to better organise their daily schedules with the use of diaries, term planners and ongoing management of their emails and Google Drive.

Resilience - Focus resilience in game-like situations

Within our program, we emphasise fostering resilience through engaging games that promote teamwork and collaboration. Cultivating emotional literacy is key to navigating both playground and classroom dynamics. Emotional literacy, defined as the ability to understand and manage emotions, is essential for building empathy and responding effectively to others.

Through various games and activities, students learn to cope with challenges and setbacks without becoming overwhelmed by anger or sadness. Instead, they develop problem-solving skills and a resilient mindset that enables them to bounce back from disappointments. Through guided lessons, students learn to recognize their emotions, make thoughtful choices, and take ownership of their actions. This process not only strengthens their emotional intelligence but also fosters a sense of maturity and self-awareness.

Better Buddies with Kindergarten

Better Buddies helps students entering their first year of primary school to feel safe, valued and connected to the school community.  The school pairs new primary school students with an older buddy.

Better Buddies is designed to help reduce bullying and create friendly and caring school environments.  The program builds strong relationships and research shows children benefit immensely from such peer support initiatives- with younger students feeling safe and cared for and older students feeling valued and respected. 

This program will see sessions occur throughout the year in Terms 2, 3 and 4. 

Deep Pedagogies 

This unit is designed to cultivate the holistic development of students by integrating deep pedagogies that encompass collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication, citizenship, character, and catholicity. Through collaborative activities, students learn the importance of teamwork and cooperation, while honing their critical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning. Creativity is fostered through arts and project-based activities, and effective communication is emphasized through various forms of expression.

Moreover, the unit promotes social responsibility and global citizenship, instilling values of empathy and compassion through service-learning projects and discussions on social justice. Rooted in the Catholic tradition, the unit integrates faith and spirituality into the educational experience, fostering a sense of moral purpose and spiritual identity. Additionally, opportunities for interaction with kindergarten buddies and well-being initiatives such as mindfulness exercises further nurture students' emotional well-being, ensuring a comprehensive approach to their growth and development.