Stage 3
Years 5 and 6 students continue to learn to exercise their independence, both as learners and leaders, in preparation for their transition to the Secondary Years. Teachers assume the role of facilitators who aim to evoke in students a higher level of independent cognitive function. We train students to take responsible 'risks' with their learning in order to achieve set goals
In Years 5 and 6, students develop the ability to take greater responsibility for their learning. They continue to put into practice the skills grown from Kindergarten to Year 4 and use these skills to take positive actions for their learning, communicate effectively with others, ask challenging questions and seek appropriate answers. Students in Years 5 and 6 continue to develop their independence in their learning, working on stretching their strengths and building on areas of weakness, while being entirely supported by staff. They are encouraged to use this greater level of independence to develop their leadership skills further, and to embrace the understanding that taking risks is needed to improve in skills and understanding.
All students at the College learn from the curriculum as mandated by the NSW Education Standards Authority, which includes six Key Learning Areas for a well-rounded education. The six areas include Mathematics, English, Science, Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE: History and Geography), Creative Arts, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE). All of these Key Learning Areas are taught through a biblical world view, alongside the College鈥檚 Building Learning Power framework to develop learning skills or dispositions and the content to be learnt.
Students in Years 6 are encouraged to undertake specific leadership portfolios, including Captains and Vice Captains, House Captains, Sustainability, Community, Technology and Christian Ministry. The Primary Years鈥� leadership team attends external leadership workshops to equip them to lead confidently as they focus on their respective portfolios. They鈥痬eet鈥痙uring the year to plan and coordinate student-led initiatives. Students in Year 5 can apply for these leadership portfolios at the end of Year 5. Students sit for an interview for positions for the following year.
Bathurst Goldfields and Canberra鈥�- The camps in Years 5 and 6 add a strong academic focus to the outdoor and travel skills developed in the Years 3 and 4 camps. These camps reinforce concepts taught in academic units on the Gold Rush and Australian Government. They provide hands-on, life experiences to assist in understanding unfamiliar situations and complex concepts in each student鈥檚 learning journey, and further develop positive relationships with their peers.
We understand that starting Year 7 is exciting and can be a little scary. Our Year 6 students approach Year 7 with confidence because we teach them the necessary skills for success. Throughout Year 6, students are given explicit guidance and instruction in preparation for secondary schooling expectations. They are gradually introduced to the Secondary Years through two formal orientation days and those attending Year 6 at the College, through other whole College events.