Pedare Middle School

Middle School Years 6-9 MY LEARNING

MY COMMUNITY

MY PEDARE

David Nolan

Head Of Middle School

Welcome to the Middle School (Years 6 – 9) In the Middle School, we aim to provide an atmosphere where the development of relationships between all people involved in each student’s learning is of primary importance, where a love of learning is encouraged through a variety of different experiences. We also aim to provide a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment utilising the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) to guide delivery of the curriculum for all learners.

‘The heart of education is the education of the heart’

The Middle School has two entry points, one at Year 6 and one at Year 8. These entry points are critical moments in the lives of students and families. To accommodate and recognise the importance of these transition points, a specially developed Year 6 Learning Centre and the use of Core Teachers at Year 8 nurture and support students through the social and emotional challenges that come with adolescence.

Our students emerge from the Middle School with the skills and confidence required to tackle the challenges of Senior School.

Our curriculum and pastoral care programmes in the Middle School are at the centre of everything we do for our students. A community where students want to come each day and engage in learning with supportive and dedicated staff who hope to bring the world alive to each individual in their classroom so that the heart can flourish.

An Engaging Experience Pedare’s Middle School Curriculum offers all students the opportunity to engage in learning in a balanced and challenging manner. The structured support helps guide the students as they develop their sense of purpose and self-worth in the world.

T

he staff are committed to keeping alive student’s awe of life’s mystery and wonder and continually look for ways to engage them in a curriculum which offers learning experiences that are real and relevant; where the holistic development of the student is central to what occurs in and outside the classroom each day.

Students in Year 6-9 study: • Language and Literature (English) • Mathematics • Sciences • Individuals and Societies (Humanities) • Christian Life • Language Acquisition (Chinese or German) • Physical and Health Education • The Arts (Music, Drama, Visual Art and Media Arts) • Design (Robotics, Computer Programming, Home Economics, Product Design including use of 3D printers)

As well as the classroom based curriculum, students have opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities including: • Outdoor Education Programme • Community based activities including swimming and athletics • Extra-curricular sporting programme • Music • Enrichment through our THINK! Programme and Debating

An International Education

Programme (IB MYP).

T

he IB MYP aims to help students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self and responsibility in their community.

Teaching and learning in the IB MYP is underpinned by the following concepts: Teaching and learning in context Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and their experience of the world.

Using global contexts, IB MYP students develop an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet through developmentally appropriate explorations of: • identities and relationships • personal and cultural identity • orientations in space and time • scientific and technical innovation • fairness and development • globalisation and sustainability.

Conceptual understanding Concepts are big ideas that have relevance within specific disciplines and across subject areas.

IB MYP students use concepts as a vehicle to inquire into issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance and examine knowledge holistically. The IB MYP prescribes sixteen key interdisciplinary concepts along with related concepts for each discipline.

Approaches to learning A unifying thread throughout all IB MYP subject groups, approaches to learning (ATL) provide the foundation for independent learning and encourage the application of their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Developing and applying these social, thinking, research, communication and self management skills helps students learn how to learn.

“

All these opportunities allow students to make informed decisions about future pathways for study as they move into the senior years of schooling.

“

Engagement and the opportunity to excel in learning is critical during the formative years. One of the inspiring opportunities offered at Pedare is the International Baccalaureate, Middle Years

Service as action, through community service Action and service have always been shared values of the IB community.

Students take action when they apply what they are learning in the classroom and beyond. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service making a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Inclusion and learning diversity in IB MYP As part of the IB MYP curriculum, Pedare addresses differentiation within the written, taught and assessed curriculum.

(source: www.ibo.org/en/programmes/middle-years-programme/curriculum/)

An Education for the 21st century

I

nfluential educator and author, Richard Gerver, opens his book ”Change” with the quote, ‘We are born learners. We arrive in this world with inquiring minds.’ The challenge of teaching in the 21st century is continuing to allow the inquiring minds of our young adolescents to keep developing so they can be successful.

At Pedare Christian College, we acknowledge we are living in fast-changing times where new challenges require innovative thinking.

The 21st century demands a generation of young people with a wide variety of skills and abilities.

We are committed to developing every student’s ability to: • Think creatively to solve problems using whole-brain thinking and creativity on demand.

• Unconsciously and intuitively interpret information and look at reliability, relevance and meaning.

• Think creatively through the use of innovative design.

• Work collaboratively to improve on thinking and solve problems in both the real and virtual world.

• Critically reflect on learning and make adjustments to thinking.

• Use intellect and emotional intelligence to communicate effectively and clearly get their message across.

“

We are born learners. We arrive in this world with inquiring minds.

“

- Richard Gerver -

Our students are digital natives, they have grown up with technology and the access to extraordinary amounts of information. We recognise this as a College through our ‘One to One’ programme which has allowed for the students to integrate technology into their learning in a manner which enriches the whole learning experience. We value teaching our students to learn how to be responsible and ethical users of technology.

The way we communicate also requires students and teachers to rapidly adapt to the new technologies. Using our emotional intelligence and intellect to critically think about how to communicate is an important skill for our learning. The College’s ‘One to One’ programme enables our students to learn the skill of being an effective and responsible communicator.

A collaborative working environment is already a large part of the workforce outside of school.

Helping students to develop a sense of team enables them to bring multiple perspectives and ideas together to solve problems in a creative and innovative manner. The opportunity to learn in a collaborative way is an important part of life in the Middle School.

We encourage students to think critically from multiple perspectives, look for other possibilities and find alternative solutions. More than ever the world requires young people who can apply their creative brain to solve problems, and we see our teaching as a pathway to ignite creative thinking in all learners. The skills we nurture in our students will equip them for life and give them the opportunity to excel in the fast paced environment of our world today.

www.pedarecc.sa.edu.au

MY LEARNING

MY COMMUNITY

MY PEDARE