Years 5/6 Honours Class

MR FERGUS TREVETHAN

Years 5/6T Honours Class

The boys in the senior honours program have been under the ‘academic pump’ again this year. The benefit of the Honours program is that 24 boys work productively and efficiently during standard curriculum so they can move on to more complex extension tasks. These tasks are designed to challenge them to broaden their knowledge base within the Key Learning Areas. Our learning environment thrives on challenging and supporting these boys to pursue their aspirations and unique abilities. The Honours class works to empower the boys to take risks, think creatively and develop independent thinking in the pursuit of excellence.

In 2015 the students had the opportunity to explore their own learning journey through a personal interest assignment, utilising planning and inquiry skills learnt throughout the year to drive and develop fascinating projects. They were also part of an Independent Schools Queensland research project that has seen them exposed to a wide variety of writing strategies that were used to complement our writing program here at Prep. The results were outstanding, with an average 20% increase in writing outcomes for boys who were involved in the experimental writing group.

The boys had the privilege of attending the Somerset Literature Festival, AB Paterson Speaking Finals, The Gold Coast library, the GPS Academic Day of Excellence and the Brisbane Writers Festival. We visited Q1 for a Geography excursion and attended the Eureka Gold Rush Experience. All these sessions were attended with enthusiasm and boys returned to school with a renewed desire to immerse themselves in the education process.

The highlight of the year was certainly the Canberra trip for the Year 6 boys, and for the Year 5s, their trip to the PCYC Bornhoffen Outdoor Education

Centre. We had a busy year with our strongest showing yet in the Master of Prep Spelling Test and the University of New South Wales academic competitions. Moreover, the twoyear history program the honours students completed came to a fitting conclusion with the students looking into early colonial life and the lead-up to Federation.

As a teacher, I believe my purpose is to prepare these boys to be well-rounded citizens. A personal highlight for myself has been the growth and development of these boys into strong independent learners, boys who take responsibility for their learning both in the classroom and at home. It’s wonderful to have a classroom full of organised, highly motivated and determined students who are working towards being wellbalanced, contributing members of our society. Well done, boys.

YEARS 5/6T HONOURS CLASS

SEATED ROW: M. OTTO, O. NOSTDAL, L. FREE, K. GEMERI, Z. CRAIN, F. CORSER, O. DURHAM, J. MORRIS, L. HARDY SECOND ROW: L. LANE, M. SONG, B. STEWART, S. WALKINSHAW, P. SOPHIOS, L. CHABERT, A. WIESE, B. PALMER THIRD ROW: V. WU, E. STANICH, N. MCKENZIE, G. COLLINS, D. SELBY, W. JACKSON, H. ALOYSIUS TEACHER: MR F. TREVETHAN