Year Information7 Booklet An information booklet for students and their parents/carers www.hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au
Getting ready for Year 7 in 2023
Kathryn O’Rourke Head of Secondary
We are blessed at Hunter Christian School to be a caring Pre-Kinder to Year 12 learning community. It is our belief that continuity of learning and pastoral care give your child the best start possible to Secondary. Our Secondary community is a supportive, welcoming place where we get to know each of our students as individuals. We aim to give students a greater degree of independence, resilience, social understanding and organisational skills as they journey through to completion of Secondary schooling. We are committed to providing a broad range of opportunities for our students throughout their Secondary schooling. Our desire is to ensure a high quality learning environment at all times. This information guide is designed as a resource for you to be able to refer to in the coming months. We have tried to anticipate what you would like to know so that you feel equipped for this transition season. We are looking forward to having you join us for the next part of the learning adventure.
Dear Parents and Caregivers, I wanted to write to you to let you know what we are doing to help prepare students and parents/caregivers for the start of Year 7.
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For us, education begins with knowing children as individuals, establishing skills for learning, and setting high goals to equip them for life. We aim to partner with families to develop and equip students for life-long success.
Every child is unique, precious and has something to offer this world.
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We are called to learn where each student is at in their academic, spiritual, and personal development. Using this knowledge, we work with students to set high goals, targeting strengths and helping them pursue their Godgiven calling.
Meet with the Head of Secondary
Bounce On Program
If new students wish to have a full day’s experience in combination with their Bounce On Session (half day), they are welcome to arrive at the start of the day to join Year 6. Please notify the Enrolment Officer if you wish to book in for this experience: enrolments@hunterchristian.nsw.edu
Bounce On is a program aimed at transitioning Year 6 students into Year 7. The purpose of the program is to build connections with older students who can help support their transition to High School. This program utilises our current Year 9
Existing Hunter Christian School students will be directed by their teachers to the program while new families will be contacted prior to the program about arrangements.
students will spend time getting to know each other and chatting about what Secondary School is like. As they build a relationship together, the Year 6 students grow more confident about their move into Secondary School, with Year 9 students providing insights through a student lens.
If you have specific questions regarding the transition to High School you may wish to request a meeting with the Head of Secondary. Please contact the Family Engagement Team to arrange an appointment: office@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au
Throughoutstudents.theprogram
The Secondary Experience Day gives students a small snapshot of Secondary School. This
7 One of the strengths of the Secondary School is the way our students of all ages actively look out for each other. To capitalise on this strength, we assign every new Year 7 student with a Year 9 student who can look out for them, answer questions and help orientate them into the Secondary School. Year 9 Connections
involves a range of lessons in different classroom environments, opportunity to move around the school and navigate transition times. This year the date for the experience day is Thursday 17 ArrangementsNovember. for this day will be communicated closer to the scheduled date. Secondary Experience Day 23 August - Bounce On Session + Year 7 Information Night 6 September - Bounce On Session 18 October - Bounce On Session 15 November - Bounce On Session 17 November - Year 7 Experience Day Bounce On Program 2023 Dates
Secondary content, skills and assessment is largely mandated by NESA (NSW Educational Standards Authority). Year 7 Curriculum Secondary Structure Secondary education is based on specialised teachers with specialised rooms, so a student’s day is highly structured around a timetable. A typical day is organised as follows: Period 1 (Physical Education) - commences 8:30am Period PeriodsRecess213 & 4 Recess 2 Periods 5 & 6 PeriodsLunch 7 & 8 - concluding 2:50pm Year 7 Daily Routine NESA Mandated courses for Year 7 • English • Mathematics • Science • History • Geography • PDHPE • Technology • Visual Arts • Music • LOTE other(LanguagesthanEnglish)Japanese Hunter Christian School developed courses for Year 7 • Morning Fitness & Sport Program • INVICTUS wellbeing-(PDHPE) program • Fuel: Academic Enrichment Program (by invitation)
9 Example of a Year 7 timetable
Students often benefit from support tailored to their needs. For students who need assistance to access the curriculum, we cater for their needs in the following ways: • Individualised planning • Additional programs: literacy, numeracy, social/ emotional , extension or challenge. • In-class support These arrangements are planned for on an individual basis. If your child would benefit from additional structure and planning due to a disability or other learning barrier please contact our Inclusive Education Teacher Mrs Hannah Stabler: hannah.stabler@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au Inclusive Education Contact Our Academic Enrichment Program provides high performing students with learning opportunities specific to their unique needs in settings beyond the regular classroom. If your child benefits from extensions beyond standard curriculum please contact our FUEL Extension Teacher Mrs Anna Betterridge: anna.betterridge@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au Entry is by invitation only. Academic Enrichment Program (FUEL) Inclusive Education & FUEL
In Secondary, we utilise the learning management system CANVAS, which is an online platform designed to support and provide feedback on student learning.
Our students are living in an online world and going into workplaces founded in digital technologies. It is essential that we develop student digital literacy and thinking skills throughout their schooling.
The school provided device is inclusive of a range of software; Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Jacplus e-textbook and internet protection. Support and maintenance aimed at facilitating the learning needs of each student is available onsite each day.
Early in Term 1, students will undertake training on digital organisation, digital learning tools, appropriate and inappropriate usage and cybersafety. Digital Equipment and Induction Digital Learning
All HCS teachers utilise digital methods, blended with a broad range of mixed mode strategies.
13 Invictus is a wellbeing program that runs through Year 7-10. It has four elements - Network, Mastery, Journey and Serve. Year 7 focus on Network which focuses on students understanding of topics such as; emotional intelligence, resilience, communication skills, mentors and learned Thisoptimism.program connects to learning in the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) course and Christian Studies. Your child’s INVICTUS Teacher is your main “go to” person for your child’s overall wellbeing, personal organisation and adjustment to Year 7. They can also assist you when you need to contact a specialist teacher for any reason. INVICTUS At Hunter Christian School we provide counselling support to our students on a case by case basis. If you feel that your child would benefit from this kind of support please contact the Wellbeing Coordinator Nathan Collyer: nathan.collyer@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au Counselling Student Wellbeing
• Building Community: Students can build up strong friendships and trust in each other as early as possible to a degree not possible through the school setting alone. A deep sense of camaraderie, community and belonging has a strong influence on student success in learning.
• Essential Life Skills: Independence, resilience, conflict resolution and troubleshooting are explicitly taught through camps and challenging outdoor learning experiences beyond familiar settings. Research has shown that the increasing drive to “protect” children can lead to greater vulnerability due to reduced opportunities to grow from challenges and camps are a strategy to address this. We strongly encourage parents to start preparing their children now for this adventure.
Year 7 Camp
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Camps are exciting, fun and valuable learning opportunities that take place early in Term One. There are two main benefits of the Year 7 Camp to your child:
for parents and carers?
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Questions & Answers
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Students can use the canteen in any break. be done the school Qkr! person at the canteen. When use is the first point of contact
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the canteen? For any everyday questions and concerns please contact your child’s INVICTUS Teacher. For more serious wellbeing matters please contact Mr Nathan Collyer. If you wish to contact a teacher via email, the address format is firstname.surname@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au or phone our Family Engagement Team to assist in connecting with staff: 02 4967 2111 Who
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Secondary school starts at 8:30am and finishes at 2:50pm. time Secondary start and finish?
Students may bring phones to school but are not permitted to use them without teacher permission (this also means contacting parents). Students are to leave their phones in their school bags and can access them at the end of the day. What is the school’s mobile phone policy?
Students will also receive assessment tasks as part of their learning. These will be issued by individual teachers, through CANVAS and a Term planning calendar is available to assist in scheduling assessment task. What is the homework expectation?
Homework is given according to the subject requirements and will differ from one night to the next. The actual amount of time required on any given night may vary greatly across the course of the term.
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Students can use the library to borrow books during any break, and for a quiet space during lunch. When can students use the library?
Classes are carefully constructed with input from Stage 3 teachers, specialist staff and the Head of Secondary. How are classes made up? Classes are reviewed each year to determine if changes need to occur. Input from staff and academic data is used to determine the most appropriate mix of students. Will students stay in the same class throughout high school?
Students are provided with a device that they are responsible for charging, keeping in working order and bringing to school each day. Do students need a device? Contact the school office; Phone: 02 4967 2111 Email: office@hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au How do I contact my child during the day?
19 Although the opportunities may differ from year-toyear, there are nonetheless lots of ways to volunteer for Secondary parents. Such as; • Hosting students on work placements • Sharing a specialised skill or knowledge • Sports coaching • Driving mini buses to events • Mentoring or Tutoring • Event implementation e.g. Cooking BBQ’s Please let the office know if you are keen to volunteer in any way so you can be placed in contact with the correct Secondary staff members. Volunteering Join our school community We have an internal Facebook group available for parents and carers who have children currently enrolled in the school. It’s a space for informal communication with one Youanother.can join this group via our main Facebook page under the ‘Groups’ tab. Internal Facebook group facebook.com/hunterchristianschoolhunterchristianschool
www.hunterchristian.nsw.edu.au Cnr Bull & Kerr Streets Mayfield NSW 2304 | 4967 2111
