FRENSHAM JUNIOR SCHOOL
FRENSHAM SCHOOLS | GIB GATE CAMPUS
Pre-school to Year 6 Co-education
Where broad experience meets personalised learning
Mittagong NSW Australia
Frensham Junior School is set on 10 acres at the base of Mount Gibraltar.
Welcome to Frensham Junior School
Frensham Junior School is the Southern Highlands' leading academic primary school and preschool. At Frensham Junior School, we offer a broad, values-based education, where strong traditions underpin a forward-thinking approach to education and a focus on developing children’s individual talents.
At Frensham Junior School, boys and girls find their potential and strengths within and beyond the core learning program, with staff fostering the growth of the whole child. Through rich, specialist lessons and extra-curricular activities, students learn to express themselves artistically, creatively, and musically. They learn how to belong to a sporting team and the importance of their own and other's physical and mental wellbeing.
Frensham Junior School offers a unique culture of learning to learn through adventure, belonging, challenge, excellence and service. Our unique Jamieson Program immerses students in critical and ethical thinking, outdoor education, second language acquisition and inquiry learning; encouraging students to think and act with a local and global perspective.
At Frensham Junior School, we place strong value on care and kindness, and encourage daily practice that becomes automatic and deeply engrained in our individual and collective character.
Each child at Frensham Junior School is known and nurtured. Students are recognised for their confidence, cheerfulness, empathy and ability to collaborate. Of course, the best way to experience this is to meet the students. Every day is Open Day at Frensham Junior School, and we invite you to contact us to arrange a tour.
Lucy Gregory Head of Frensham Junior School
A forward-thinking approach to education.
Excellence
Learning to Learn
At Frensham Junior School the unique culture of ‘learning to learn’ through adventure, belonging, challenge, excellence and service, develops students who are curious, collaborative, creative, globally-minded and who know how to learn.
Through engaging and interactive teaching methods, we empower our primary school students to develop essential skills such as self-directed learning, critical thinking and effective study habits, setting a strong foundation for their academic journey.
Differentiated Gifted and Talented Program
A proven specialist in Gifted and Talented Education, Frensham Junior School provides curriculum strategies including:
• Differentiation: modifying the pace, level and content of teaching, learning and assessment
• Acceleration: promoting a student to a level of study beyond their enrolled grade (The Grasshopper Program)
• Curriculum Compacting: assessing a student’s current level of knowledge and focusing on aspects of learning that have not yet been mastered
Personalised Learning
Our highly-qualified teachers design lessons by speaking one-on-one with students about their learning. Every child is treated as an individual who possesses unique gifts and talents that are identified and nurtured.
As experts in data collection and analysis, Frensham Junior School teachers work collaboratively to map students’ strengths and areas for development.
A personalised approach to learning for all students ensures rigorous structures with high learning expectations. This is supported by strong monitoring and intervention within a range of flexible learning environments – promoting the highest outcomes for every child.
Regular curriculum, environmental and structural adjustments, combined with social-emotional supports, ensures each child’s individual educational needs are met.
“Frensham Junior School's greatest attribute is the focus on nurturing individuals. Every child is given the optimum opportunity to succeed because the staff help them learn through leveraging their personal strengths. The School provides a significant sense of community and inclusion, making the children feel safe and important.”
Frensham Junior School Parent
Individual growth.
Jamieson Program
Frensham Schools' Jamieson Program immerses students in inquiry learning, critical and ethical thinking, second language learning, outdoor education and working scientifically, encouraging students to think and act with a local and global perspective.
The Jamieson Program involves students in a world-class outdoor education and personal physical fitness curriculum, a Japanese Language program and in unique cultural exchange.
Cambridge Global Perspectives
Cambridge Primary Global Perspectives® is a transformational program that helps students at every stage of their education. This innovative and stimulating skills-based program places academic study in a practical, real-world context. The program allows our students, from Kindergarten to Year 6, the opportunity to develop transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, research, communication and collaboration that they need to be successful in primary school, into high school, and beyond.
Each semester, Frensham Junior School students study global topics, known as challenges, that are relevant to them and that integrate with other Key Learning Areas.
Curiosity and courage to ask why.
Specialised Learning
Science and Technology
Our Science and Technology program is centred around children's natural curiosity about the world around them. Hands-on scientific inquiry transforms into highlevel scientific method and communication, with students proposing and testing hypotheses. Enhancing our program through the integration of computational thinking, students harness ever-evolving and emergent technologies which informs curriculum development.
Library
The Frensham Junior School Library and ICT Centre is home to many books and resources for both learning and enjoyment. Our Teacher Librarian forms relationships with students to determine their interests, reading preferences and ability. Weekly specialist Library lessons promote exposure to rich literary texts and develop students' research, information and inquiry skills.
I love Science! At Frensham Junior School I have learnt how to find out about things I am really interested in and how to conduct investigations scientifically.
Year 5 student
The unselfish pursuit of excellence.
Physical Education
Physical education is woven into the fabric of Frensham Junior School. We believe it is crucial to the lives and healthy development of students.
The majority of students represent the School in at least one sport and many compete in a number each year – at local, state and national levels. Teams enter Southern Highlands local competitions for Cricket, Basketball, Hockey, Netball, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis and Water Polo.
The School also competes in the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Carnivals for Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics and Gymnastics. Many students go on to represent the School at the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) and All Schools Carnivals.
Emotional and physical health and happiness.
Music
Music is deeply integrated into life at Frensham Junior School, with every child having the opportunity to explore music through performance, composition and listening activities. With a strong history of producing exemplary musical performers, our students graduate with regular playing and singing experience having performed at many events. At least 1.5 hours every week is dedicated to the Music Program –increasing if a student is learning an instrument or playing in the school orchestra.
Visual Arts
Frensham Junior School sees Visual Arts as a powerful way for students to express their rich imaginings and personality. Students use all their faculties – from creativity to problem solving – in art making, art appreciation and craft creation. They also have the opportunity to see their work formally exhibited.
Japanese
Japanese language and culture are taught to all year groups. Students learn vocabulary and phrases for daily communication as well as Japanese literature, celebrations and traditions.
The language program has greater significance because of our strong connection with our sister school, Hokuriku Gakuin Elementary School, in Kanazawa, Japan which has been in place for over three decades. Students Skype with Gakuin students to practise speaking Japanese. Through this process, students' language learning has meaning and brokers understanding and respect.
Extra-Curricular
Children at Frensham Junior School have a broad and rich experience in their school day. Additionally, we offer a full range of Extra-Curricular Activities, which encourages students to explore new areas, find new passions and develop new skills.
These activities change according to student interest and availability of tutors. They include Art, Ceramics, Cooking, Coding, Debating, Dance, Drama, Gymnastics, Public Speaking, Robocup, Robotics, Sewing, Summer Craft, Tennis, Theatre Sports, Tournament of Minds, Toy Shops, Winter Craft, Woodwork and Yoga.
Private Music Tuition is available during the school day in a wide range of instruments: Cello, Flute, Piano, Violin (Suzuki method for these instruments is applicable for younger students), Clarinet, Drums, Guitar, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Viola and Voice.
Outdoor Education
Frensham Junior School students from Preschool to Year 6 are involved in a sequential Outdoor Education program including bush skills, bush craft, orienteering, cooking and outdoor challenges.
Every year, students in Years 1 and 2 participate in an Outdoor Education Day at the Outdoor Education Group’s (OEG) facility, Wombaroo. Students in Years 3 and 4 undertake an Outdoor Adventure Day, introducing and building upon skills in orienteering, outdoor cooking, abseiling and mountain biking. Students in Years 5 and 6 participate in a three-day Outdoor Education Camp, and are immersed in challenging activities such as canoeing, high ropes, abseiling, flying fox, caving ladders, mountain biking, orienteering, outdoor cooking and environmental activities.
Character Education
In a highly-connected world of increasing possibilities, we provide an education that inspires students to take up the challenge of the Founder of Frensham Schools, Winifred West – In Love Serve One Another – demonstrating the skills and willingness to make a positive difference in the world.
Leadership
At Frensham Junior School, we believe all students should be given the opportunity to lead and all Year 6 students take on monitor roles. Areas of responsibility include Music, Preschool, Library, Environment and Land for Wildlife, Visual Arts, Digital Technologies and outdoor activities.
The Peer Support Program, led by Year 6 students, provides important learning in teamwork, time management and interpersonal relationships whilst also teaching students about management and service. The student leadership program is delivered by the Year 6 classroom teacher and Head of Frensham Junior School, with the support of all staff. The Program is monitored closely to ensure the students follow our Positive Peer Relations Policy.
Year 6 are supported to have the courage to consider their contribution to the community through their leadership roles, displaying initiative in influencing others in positive ways and proposing new ideas to bring about positive change. Year 6 leaders have many opportunities to build sound communication skills, by leading assemblies, thanking special guests, coordinating peer support groups of mixed ages and delivering speeches.
Through all of these experiences, our leaders learn that while leading can be challenging, with enthusiasm, teamwork, a positive outlook and resilience, great things are possible and leaders of the future are created.
Buddy Program
Servant Leadership is encouraged at every level, with Year 6 students paired up with a Kindergarten buddy at the start of each year. The older students act as mentors for the Kindergarten children, which helps to enhance the caring, supportive School environment at Frensham Junior School.
Gib Gate Preschool
At Gib Gate Preschool, we are dedicated to providing young children with a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Play – both inside and outside – is a key part of learning in the Preschool program. Gib Gate Preschool is based on the world’s best-practice Reggio Emilia philosophy. Founded in Italy, this innovative approach to early childhood education values every child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge.
Children bring to Preschool a deep curiosity and potential. It is this innate curiosity that drives them to understand the world and discover their place within it. At Gib Gate Preschool, we believe that children are capable of constructing their own learning and forming an understanding of themselves and their place in the world through interactions with others. We believe children are effective communicators and that adults act as mentors and guides – promoting, documenting, sharing and reflecting on children’s thinking.
Children, staff and parents collaborate on investigations based on the student’s interests. This learning community creates a supportive space to reinforce the importance of learning as a part of life.
Additionally, our Preschool students have the opportunity to participate in specialist lessons such as Library, Music, Physical Education, and school events like the annual Junior Musical. These enriching experiences broaden their horizons, ensuring that Gib Gate Preschool children receive the best possible start in life.
The journey to excellence starts here.
“The right Preschool sets children up for success in Kindergarten and beyond.”
Preschool
teacher
“Each
Winifred West, 1945
