CURRICULUM HANDBOOK PREP - YEAR 6 2027
BELLARINE SURF COAST JUNIOR SCHOOL
Welcome to Prep to Year 6 Christian College Geelong provides students with a teaching and learning program that prepares them for the future and supports them to become critical and creative thinkers. All students are encouraged to become active participants in their own educational journey. They are given autonomy to learn and build their voice to direct where that learning might take them. A focus on knowing each child personally and guiding all students to become well-balanced, caring and confident young people, is central to the Christian College Geelong approach. Students at our College are part of exceptional learning programs. Our teaching and learning approach provides strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, together with an unmatched specialist program in six learning areas, which are taught by teachers who are subject specialists. Experiential learning occurs through our Discovery Learning program in Prep and our extensive excursions and school camps. Students at Christian College Geelong gain independence, knowledge and understanding as they join in the vast array of experiences. Developing our students' perspective of our First Nation’s People is woven throughout our students' learning and our classrooms are reflective of children, community, culture, and new experiences. They provide open ended learning areas and materials that inspire creativity, imagination, curiosity, authentic choice and provide intentional provocations to extend skills and learning. Please Note: The information is correct at time of printing and may alter as we continue to develop our teaching and learning programs.
Curriculum Overview At Christian College, we follow the Australian Curriculum from Prep to Year 10, ensuring a comprehensive and consistent approach to education. This curriculum provides a clear framework for what students need to learn at each stage of their development. Our teaching is designed to not only meet the curriculum standards but also to inspire students to grow spiritually, academically and socially, in line with our values. Through a well-rounded, engaging program, we aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need for future success. More information can be found here: Australian Curriculum
Prep to Year 4 Core Curriculum Prep to Year 4 students will experience a broad range of subjects across each of the key learning areas within our program. All subjects in Prep to Year 4 are studied across the full year to allow students to go deep into the content and build their understandings. Prep to Year 4 students will study the following core subjects for the entire year: • • • • •
Christian Education Digital Technologies English Health and Physical Education Interdisciplinary Learning (Civics and Citizenship, Geography, History, Economics and Business and Science)
• • • •
Japanese Mathematics Music and Performing Arts (Dance, Drama and Music, including our unique String Program at Year 2) Visual and Media Art
Year 5 and Year 6 Core Curriculum Year 5 and Year 6 students will experience a broad range of subjects across each of the key learning areas within our program. Some of these are studied for a year and some are studied for one semester only. Year 5 and Year 6 students will study the following core subjects for the entire year: • • • • •
Christian Education Digital Technologies English Health and Physical Education Humanities and Social Sciences (Civics and Citizenship, Geography, History, Economics and Business)
• • • •
Mathematics Music and Performing Arts (Dance, Drama and Music, including our unique Band Program at Year 5) Science Sport
Year 5 and Year 6 students will study the following core subjects for one Semester: •
Design and Technologies (Food Studies, Systems Engineering and Product Design)
• • •
Indonesian Japanese Visual and Media Art
Learning Enhancement Christian College is deeply committed to providing an inclusive and nurturing environment where every child is supported to reach their full potential. We understand that each student is unique, with their own strengths, interests, and learning profile - and our broad offering of subjects is designed to reflect and celebrate that diversity. Our dedicated classroom teachers use a variety of evidence-based teaching strategies and engaging learning experiences to support and challenge students at all levels. Our teachers work closely with students to help them build the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed as confident, independent learners. Each of our campuses is supported by a Learning Support Coordinator and a team of caring Educational Support Officers (ESOs). Together, they work in partnership with students, parents, teachers, campus leaders, and, where appropriate, Allied Health professionals such as speech therapists or psychologists. This team approach ensures that any necessary learning adjustments are thoughtfully planned, implemented, and regularly reviewed. Extension and enrichment opportunities are offered from Year 2, where students engage in small-group sessions that build collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, research, and presentation skills alongside core Literacy and Numeracy lessons. From Year 5 the college provides students with extension and enrichment opportunities to further develop and apply their academic strengths. These include: • • • • • •
Barwon Regional Debating Competition Tournament of Minds Maths Extension and Enrichment program Australian Mathematics Competition Australian Science Competition Premier’s Spelling Bee
• • • • •
Independent Schools Victoria Poetry Competition Christian College Geelong Choir Visual Art Portrait Competition Drama Middle Years Performance Christian College Geelong Art Show
We encourage all students to get involved and take advantage of our growing opportunities to enhance the learning journey, build new skills, and challenge themselves to reach their full potential.
Timetable Overview Prep to Year 6 students follow a structured timetable consisting of 6 periods per day, with each period lasting 50 minutes. This balanced schedule allows for in-depth learning across a broad range of subjects and is carefully designed to provide a mix of academic, creative, and physical subjects, helping students develop a broad skill set.
Prep to Year 4 Subjects All Year
Number of periods per week
English
10
Christian Education
1
Digital Technology
1
Health and Physical Education
2
Interdisciplinary Learning
3
Japanese
1
Library
1
Mathematics
7
Music and Performing Arts
2
Visual and Media Art
2
Year 5 and Year 6 Subjects All Year
Semester based
Number of periods per week
English
9
Christian Education
1
Digital Technology
1
Health and Physical Education
2
Humanities and Social Sciences
2
Maths
7
Music and Performing Arts
2
Science
1
Sport
2
Design and Technologies
2
Visual and Media Arts
2
Japanese / Indonesian
1
Camp Program 2027 At Christian College, we believe that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our Camp Program is, therefore, an essential part of our students’ educational journey offering opportunities for personal growth, teamwork, and connection in new and exciting environments. We are committed to offering a Camp Program that provides variety, challenge, and meaningful experiences for every student. Each camp forms part of a thoughtfully developed sequence across the year levels, progressively building students’ confidence, independence and capacity to work collaboratively. From experiences that nurture belonging and connection, through to more challenging outdoor adventures that encourage leadership and resilience, our aim is to support students in developing the skills they need to thrive - both at school and beyond. Camps also play a vital role in bringing the curriculum to life, providing real-world contexts that deepen understanding, encourage curiosity, and inspire a love of learning.
Prep: Back Creek Farm Day Camp Connected to the Biological Science unit, this visit to our College’s rural campus in Scotsburn, near Ballarat, provides an opportunity to build on students’ classroom knowledge and learning and incorporates experiential discoveries. The day camp is facilitated by our Back Creek Rural Studies teachers and provides our youngest students with a glimpse of a day in the life of a Year 9 student, visiting the dairy, the market garden, chickens, goats and much more.
Year 1: Araluen Day Camp In Year 1, students participate in a day camp where they can explore the beach, attempt a ropes course and enjoy team building activities. This camp also involves students eating together as they are provided lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in the dining room of the camp. A key transition experience from Prep to Year 2, this camp connects to the Geography unit of exploring natural, managed and constructed features of local places, where our Year 1 students get to experience all three, making links back to what they have learnt in the classroom.
Year 2: Narmbool Overnight Camp Students build on their day camp experiences in Prep and Year 1 to having their first overnight stay in Year 2, which helps to further develop their independence. Narmbool is a camp located just outside of Ballarat and provides students with real-world experiences linked to their Biological and Environmental Studies units. Students will consider the biology of the area including, bird life and insects and explore environmental features and impacts. Narmbool also provides students with a night experience where they are able to observe the night skies linking into their Earth and Space Science unit.
Year 3: Camp Wyuna 2-Night Camp The Year 3 camps program enables students to grow their resilience in undertaking a two-night camp located in Queenscliff. This camp has links to curriculum areas such as World Rivers and Biological Science units and also provides students with opportunities to challenge themselves in activities such as canoeing and camp cooking. In addition to this event being a camp, it also incorporates an excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff which again provides rich, hands-on learning experiences for students linked to their studies.
Year 4: Lake Dewar 2-Night Camp Students in Year 4 continue to build on past experiences to attend a two night adventure at Lake Dewar Discovery Camp located in Myrniong where students have opportunities for paddleboarding, kayaking, zip-lining, geocaching, mountain bike riding and adventure tunnelling. This camp also provides students with many opportunities to focus on team building, resilience, having a growth mindset and extending themselves.
Year 5: Sovereign Hill 2-Night Camp Our Year 5 students will be immersed in history, linking their classroom learning to a hands-on experience in this double excursion and camp in one. They will stay onsite at Sovereign Hill allowing them to benefit from the evening activities creating a truly unique and immersive experience. This camp brings the classroom History unit to life and the students greatly benefit from ‘living out’ key components of what they have studied.
Year 6: Canberra Experience 4-Night Camp The students in Year 6 will head up to Canberra, the nation’s capital, to explore first-hand the workings of our government, democracy, history, and national identity. We are very excited to be able to offer this experience to our young people. They will be able to explore locations such as Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the Australian Institute of Sport, the Royal Australian Mint and the National Gallery of Australia.
As our camps program continues to evolve, we’re excited to expand opportunities for every student to grow, connect, and challenge themselves in meaningful ways. Together, we’re shaping a program that reflects the spirit, curiosity, and resilience of our school community. We’re also pleased to confirm that the cost of all these camps is included in College fees, ensuring every student can take part in these valuable learning experiences.
Important Contacts To learn more about the Prep to Year 6 Curriculum feel free to reach to the contacts below. College Teaching and Learning Leaders Role
Name
Contact
Vice Principal – Teaching and Learning Rick Geall
r.geall@ccg.vic.edu.au
Director of Teaching and Learning 7-12 Drew Oliver
d.oliver@ccg.vic.edu.au
Director of Teaching and Learning P-6 Julie Shutie
j.shutie@ccg.vic.edu.au
Belmont Campus Head of Campus
Ann-Marree Weigl a.weigl@ccg.vic.edu.au
Deputy Head of Campus
Carla Dunlop
c.barnett@ccg.vic.edu.au
Head of Campus
Nicola Morrish
n.morrish@ccg.vic.edu.au
Deputy Head of Campus
Victoria Kent
v.kent@ccg.vic.edu.au
Head of Campus
Natasha Troop
n.troop@ccg.vic.edu.au
Deputy Head of Campus (T & L)
Kathrine Bowyer
k.bowyer@ccg.vic.edu.au
Deputy Head of Campus (Pastoral)
Adam Kennedy
a.kennedy@ccg.vic.edu.au
Head of Campus
Debbie Riddle
de.riddle@ccg.vic.edu.au
Deputy Head of Campus
Georgina Rolls
g.rolls@ccg.vic.edu.au
Bellarine Campus
Highton Campus
Surf Coast Campus
Future Pathways Our students in Year 5 and Year 6 will have great exposure to a wide variety of subjects that will give them the foundations needed to move into Year 7, where they will also have opportunities to choose from a range of electives.
Year 7 Core Curriculum Year 7 students will experience a broad range of subjects across each of the key learning areas within our program. Some of these are studied for a year and some are studied for one semester only. Year 7 students will study the following core subjects for the entire year: • • • • •
Christian Education Digital Technologies English Health and Wellbeing Humanities and Social Sciences (Civics and Citizenship, Geography, History and Economic and Business)
• • •
Mathematics Physical Education Science
Year 7 students will study the following core subjects for one Semester: • •
Indonesian Japanese
• •
Music Visual Art
Year 7 Elective Program In Year 7, the core curriculum is complimented by an elective program that caters to the interests of our learners. Students will be given the opportunity to study two electives per semester, for a total of four for the year. Year 7 students have the opportunity to study: • • • • • • •
Drama Food studies High performance athlete How does your garden grow? Interschool sport * Media Music *
• • • •
Product design – Material (Wood, Metal and Plastics) Product design – Textiles Systems engineering (Robotics/Electronics) Writers’ workshop
* Elective can be chosen to study in both semesters.
Notes
Williams House Kindergarten
Butterfield House Kindergarten
39 Broughton Drive, Belmont 3216
240 Great Ocean Road, Torquay 3228
Tel. 03 5241 3556
Tel. 03 5264 6803
Junior School - Belmont
Middle School - Highton
Senior School - Waurn Ponds
39 Broughton Drive, Belmont 3216
18 Burdekin Drive, Highton 3216
135 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds 3216
Tel. 03 5241 1565
Tel. 03 5241 1899
Tel. 03 5241 1577
Surf Coast Campus
Bellarine Campus
Back Creek Farm
248 Great Ocean Road, Torquay 3228
40 Collins Street, Drysdale 3222
Midland Hwy, Scotsburn
Tel. 03 5244 8799
Tel. 03 5253 2998
Tel. 03 5341 2051
www.christiancollege.vic.edu.au