Middle School

Middle school students at Yarrambat are engaged in a variety of activities designed to captivate, challenge, and motivate. Across seven grades, we implement an integrated and differentiated program aimed at stimulating creativity and curiosity while reinforcing essential literacy, numeracy, and personal development skills aligned with the Victorian Curriculum standards. Grade 3/4 students are encouraged to take increasing responsibility for their learning, striving to develop a range of strategies and goals to facilitate their success and monitor their individual progress. As students’ progress toward becoming independent learners, they are urged to cultivate good study habits and organisational skills. The middle school learning environment features flexible spaces tailored to accommodate diverse learning styles, enabling each student to perform to the best of their ability. Families can see examples of student learning through their Seesaw account.

ENGLISH

English consists of three components: Reading and Viewing, Writing, and Speaking and Listening.

In Reading, students engage in small group activities during both instructional and independent sessions, covering a variety of literature genres, including fiction and non-fiction. Across all seven classes, we implement the STARS Reading Comprehension program. This program explicitly teaches 12 individual reading comprehension strategies, guiding students through differentiated texts and comprehension questions to enhance their skills at their own pace. Our focus remains on developing fluent and expressive reading, along with strong comprehension of the material.

Middle School students learn the structure of various text types through VCOP and Big Write lessons. They are encouraged to approach their writing with a focus on vocabulary, connectives, openers, and punctuation (VCOP). Whole-class instruction addresses all stages of the writing process, from planning to completing a draft, proofreading, editing for sense, and addressing spelling and grammar. Drafts may be revised and published for specific audiences, either by hand or digitally. Grade 4 students also eagerly work toward earning their pen license.

Speaking and Listening skills are emphasised in English, with daily opportunities for children to develop these skills while listening to both teachers and peers. Termly presentations to the class promote using a confident voice, organising thoughts, and speaking publicly.

MATHEMATICS

The Middle School Mathematics program encompasses the Victorian Curriculum's mathematical strands: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Our staff collaboratively design activities that relate to real-life situations, revolving around engaging topics and current events. Units of work integrate multiple strands and utilise hands-on materials whenever possible.

Open-ended tasks and ongoing projects are central to our students' learning experience, offering various entry and exit points depending on individual abilities. Our lessons feature a combination of whole-class instruction, small group teacher-directed learning, and independent work.

To cater to diverse learning needs and provide an engaging environment, we incorporate Mathletics and various iPad applications into the program.

INQUIRY & DISCOVERY LEARNING

Inquiry Learning is integral to all areas of the curriculum. Students develop skills such as problem recognition and definition, observation, information organisation, and drawing conclusions. Additionally, we aim to share our knowledge with the local community and initiate social actions.

Discovery is an inquiry-based, student-centred learning program focused on the students' passions. The inquiry approach allows students to work on a project or idea they are passionate about in class time. Discovery encourages and fosters the students’ sense of curiosity, ownership and empowerment over their learning, both in and out of the classroom. This is facilitated by the classroom teachers and not led by them, asking questions such as Why? Or How can we make this happen? We also know that when you are following your passion that this contributes to your own mental health as you become engrossed in what you are doing and you love your learning. The collaborative approach to Discovery also means children may connect and work with other students in their area or across the school that have a common interest to them. Fostering these collaborative relationships is important in building their confidence and ability to work with others effectively.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The Personal Development Program at Yarrambat Primary School is highly valued, offering children the opportunity to foster personal and social development through guidance from The Resilience Project. The Middle School Personal Development program is designed to cultivate healthy, positive, and resilient individuals, aligning with our school values.

The Resilience Project equips students with practical strategies to build resilience, manage stress, and cultivate positive mental health. By focusing on gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness, students develop stronger social and emotional skills, enabling them to navigate challenges more effectively and thrive in both academic and personal spheres. The program not only enhances students' well-being but also fosters a supportive school community where empathy and kindness are celebrated.

Students participate in weekly sessions of The Resilience Project, where they further develop social skills such as conflict resolution, building respectful relationships, and rejecting bullying behaviours. Additionally, in Term 3, Life Education visits to complement the program.

SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Students participate in a variety of Specialist programs, including Performing Arts, LOTE (Italian), Physical Education, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). Each program is taught by dedicated Specialist teachers who lead hour-long sessions with the students on a weekly basis.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Students have access to laptops and iPads during class time. Each Middle School class is equipped with a class set of laptops and a number of iPads. Additionally, every Middle School classroom is furnished with a TV, utilised daily to engage students and support their learning. Middle School teachers integrate digital technologies into all aspects of their curriculum planning.

LIBRARY

Students will have the opportunity to borrow books from the school library regularly. We encourage students to bring a library bag or pocket to ensure that these resources can be enjoyed by many other students in the future.

CAMP

Middle School students attend a three-day camp in fourth term, where they enjoy a variety of outdoor activities and have the opportunity to develop new friendships. School camps provide students with valuable experiences beyond the classroom, fostering personal growth, resilience, and teamwork skills. Through outdoor activities and team-building exercises, students learn to overcome challenges, build confidence, and develop a sense of independence. These experiences not only enhance their social and emotional well-being but also complement their academic learning by providing real-life applications of skills and knowledge. All Middle School teachers are available to discuss the camp at a pre-arranged, mutually convenient time.