JOIN US ON OUR YEAR SEVEN JOURNEY AND BEYOND.
Our Mission. St John’s inspires lifelong learning by living faith with the courage to lead self and serve others. “where learning comes alive”
Our Values. Faith We are guided by faith in God, our community and our self. Hope We believe in the power of mindset and attitude. We foster a positive, safe, optimistic and empowering environment. Love We flourish by demonstrating cooperation, encouragement, compassion and joy. Courage We grow by being brave, confident, determined, resilient and putting in the effort. Community We are service-led and do so with respect by nurturing and celebrating relationships and traditions. Justice We stand for inclusivity, equity, acceptance of diversity and are stewards of the environment.
Our Vision. Every learner is empowered to excel and equipped to embrace the challenge of any future. “developing people of good character�
Soaring into 2020 and Beyond. As educators, we are dedicated to providing a nurturing, challenging and rewarding education to enable our students to be active participants in a changing world, even more so, to be the catalysts of positive change. At St John’s we are the custodian of culture and opportunity, challenging young minds to develop confidence to be creative, collaborative and innovate in their thinking. Our students grow a strong sense of self, are agile and responsive to the changing world as they more through careers and into new ones which may not yet exist. Our College way of life is underpinned by our motto - Faith, Service, Courage - derived by us being faith-led in our approach, having a service mindset and being brave in everything we do.
We often hear the phrase, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”. This embodies the importance of the Middle School years.
St John’s Middle School Experience. The journey through adolescence is not about reaching a final destination; rather it’s about experiencing all the opportunities life has to offer. At St John’s we are developing our students to become people of influence who are confident and competent to take on the challenges of our ever-changing world.
Middle School provides the opportunity for students to begin to personalise their own learning journey, a journey that we go on together and see through to Senior School. I look forward with anticipation to welcoming you into our St John’s community.
Middle School at St John’s offers a sense of belonging and ensures students are positively connecting with peers and teachers. It’s about having a strong sense of purpose and an understanding and commitment to the learning pathways which lay before them. It’s about a world-class, innovative and engaging curriculum, and the importance of feeling safe and supported in every classroom while being faced with new and exciting opportunities. Through these challenges and experiences, our Middle School students learn to embody faith, service and courage; qualities that serve as a benchmark for past, present and future students of St John’s.
Braydon Giles Middle School Coordinator
Mrs Maria McIvor Principal
Robern Hinchliffe Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care
Andrew Landroth Deputy Principal - Curriculum and Innovation
Kelly Allgood International Baccalaureate MYP Coordinator
Preparing our Students for an Unknown Future. Middle School at St John’s is more than just a transition from Primary to Secondary, it represents an important stage in the growth and development of students, facing a range of adolescent challenges that are physical, cognitive, social, emotional and moral. St John’s Middle School program is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of students in early adolescence by way of stability and continuity, and diversity of challenge through encompassing all the key learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, students are being prepared with 21st Century skills through the Middle Years Program (MYP). Through inquiry, action and reflection students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attributes to actively participate in our global world.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP). Research shows that students participating in the Middle Years Program: •
build confidence in managing their own learning, connecting the classroom to the larger world.
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thrive in positive school cultures where they are engaged and motivated to excel.
• develop an understanding of global challenges and a commitment to act as responsible citizens. Our teaching and learning is grounded in the Australian Curriculum but not limited by it. We teach the Australian Curriculum through the MYP framework which significantly enhances the learning experiences for our students. The IB MYP focuses on the construction and acquisition of knowledge, followed by reflection, and prepares our students for their journey through Senior School, further education and the workforce by fostering and strengthening their attitudes towards learning, and their ability to develop ideas and concepts across different subject groups. The IB framework not only provides our students with the academic skills they require but also the life skills.
Transition to Middle School. We have a responsibility to ensure students have a smooth transition from Primary to Middle School, to ensure academic engagement and social acceptance, and that the important foundations have been laid as they move into Senior School and beyond. There is no denying that Middle School is challenging. Students and parents are guided through the changes ahead of them through a series of transition initiatives. We invest a lot of time and thought into these transition initiatives for our incoming Year Seven students. Everything is important and purposeful - not only the activities but also how and when they are delivered.
“Our job as teachers, leaders, and parents is not to prepare kids for something; Our job is to help kids prepare themselves for anything� — A. J. Juliani
Opportunities are Endless. Students identified as gifted and talented are individually supported at St John’s through a range of extension activities which are customised to the individual. Extension opportunities are designed in collaboration with the classroom teacher, Head of Department and the gifted and talented specialist staff. Students are also encouraged to participate in mentor-based programs with students from different year levels. Academic enrichment programs allow students to be involved in a range of opportunities such as the Innovation Challenge, Future Problem Solvers, Maths competitions, Bridge Building competition and ICAS.
The importance of the Middle School years should not be underestimated, nor should the impact that teachers have during this critical time.
A St John’s Education. A St John’s education is an exciting and stimulating journey where students learn in a respectful, fun environment and benefit from three core elements of learning and development: curriculum, co-curriculum and wellbeing. Our Year Seven students study a core of seven subjects: • English – Language and Literature • Mathematics • Science • Social Science – Individuals and Societies • Health and Physical Education • Language Acquisition – Mandarin Chinese or German • Religious and Values Education
In addition, there is the opportunity to study specialist subjects on a semester or trimester rotation: • The Arts – Music, Drama, Visual Art • Design – Food Technologies, Digital Technologies • Design and Engineering Technology At St John’s we pride ourselves on the breadth and quality of our extra and cocurricular programs in the cultural and sporting arenas. From instrumental and vocal music to the performing arts, interschool sports and outdoor camps, there is something for everyone. We ensure that all our students are offered a holistic, balanced education.
Student Wellbeing. The Middle School years can be challenging when it comes to relationships and the importance of belonging. Research tells us that these years can be the most influential when it comes to students asking the question “Who am I?” Creating a positive culture and ensuring the individual wellbeing of our students is something we take very seriously. It’s part of the St John’s Way, where everyone is responsible for upholding our College values and striving to achieve a respectful,
inclusive and joyful College community. Pastoral care is an integral part of daily College life. It is something we focus on, have developed structures and processes around, and is led by our Deputy Principal – Pastoral Care, our College Counsellor and our College Chaplain. All students at St John’s are allocated to one of four houses where they are provided with support and develop a sense of community and belonging through sporting, cultural and community activities.
There is much we can do as a school to promote resilience in our students that will contribute to better outcomes academically, socially and emotionally.
The house system generates interconnectedness across all year levels, encouraging the formation of rolemodelling, mentoring, friendships and fostering both a strong house identity as well as strengthening whole College spirit. All secondary students attend a short home group lesson each day. These classes are vertical groupings which include students in all three Middle School years or all three Senior School years from the same house. Students stay in their home group
with the same teacher throughout their middle and senior schooling. It is here that students develop the confidence and leadership skills to be future leaders in their community. Intentionally, Year Seven students spend the early part of their first year in a Year Seven only home group until they are ready for integration into the vertical system. By doing this we are encouraging independence within a supportive environment.
Artist’s Impression
A Bespoke Year Seven Precinct. Scheduled for completion in 2021, the new Year Seven precinct will create a vibrant environment of visually stimulating and practical spaces that students can identify with, personalise, and call their own. With this opportunity to re-envisage teaching and learning in Year Seven, the new precinct will incorporate purposeful and meaningful learning and gathering spaces allowing the students to have a sense of physical belonging as they start their journey at Secondary School.
Withdrawal pods in each classroom offer a retreat away from the main area for students to work and study. Writable wall spaces, flexible classrooms and furniture, and outdoor learning and gathering spaces have been created in an intentional and effective way to ensure students are actively engaged and achieving to their potential. These positive and productive connections contribute to the overall learning community which is integral to the success of the students on their Middle School journey. Take a Virtual Tour of the Precinct Artist’s Impression
WATCH NOW
Helpful Tips for Parents. Year Seven is an important milestone but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming for students or for parents. By setting up good habits early, and working together to find a routine that works, the transition from Primary to Secondary School can be a smooth and enjoyable experience. Students in Year Seven need to grasp new skills and engage in new study practices. These responsibilities require a new level of organisation, preparation and dedication. Helping your child develop good study habits is essential to giving them the best opportunity for future success. Here’s some tips for how you can help your child get ready for Secondary School: • • • • • •
Develop a routine Help them get organised & set goals Involve them in decision making Take an interest in their homework Develop a relationship with the school Encourage their participation in extra-curricular activities
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St John’s Anglican College PO Box 4078 Forest Lake QLD 4078 ABN 14 060 936 576 CRICOS Provider #01406C
stjohnsanglicancollege.com.au
Find out more about your Year Seven journey at St John’s LEARN MORE
Every care has been taken to ensure the information in this booklet is correct at the time of publication. The producers accept no responsibility for any errors, omissions or changes leading to such information being incorrect. This booklet provides general information only and may be subject to change at any time without notice.
