Download - Research and - Abbotsleigh
Each Junior School girl benefits from our:■ State of the art learning spaces ■ Small class sizes and collaborative
teaching ■ Warm Christian environment,
emphasising Academic Care■ Challengebychoiceopportunities thatbuildresilienceand independence ■ Appreciationofculturaldiversity■ Climateofdiscoveryandinquiry
based learning■ Differentiatedcurriculumtailoredfor
individuallearningneeds
OUR CURRICULUM
Our differentiated programsResearch and external professional learningensuresourteachershaveabroad range of strategies and practices tomeetthelearningneedsofallourstudents.Specifictrainingandemphasis isgiventogiftededucation.
Allstudentsareindividuallyassessedtoensurewehaveafullpictureoftheirlevelsof achievement and potential
tolearn.Suchaclearpictureofthestudent’sneedsenablestheteacherto facilitate learning programs that are challenging,extendingandrewardingforeachgirl.Particularattentionisgiventoensuringthatcriticalandcreative thinking, problem solving and researchskillsaredeveloped.Studentsareencouragedtobecomeresponsible,successfullearnerswhoseektomakesenseof,andacontributionto,theworldinwhichwelive.
Working alongside classroom teachers, the Literacy specialistsandteachers’assistants give special attention to learning needs, challenging girls to reachfornewhorizonsandopportunitiestoexcel.
OurMathematics specialist workswithgirlsandclassroomteacherstoengenderaloveofmathematics.Throughanarrativeapproachandtheteaching of mathematical concepts, the girls develop strong problem solving skillsandapassionforinquiry.
Our Science program OurspecialistScienceTeacherdeliversarigorousandexcitingprogrambasedon experiments and observation from
Kindergarten.Thegirlsdevelopscientificmethodandthinking,butmoreimportantly,confidenceandenjoymentinscientificpursuit.Lessonstakeplaceinourdedicatedscienceroom.
Information technologyReadyaccesstotechnologyisprevalentthroughouttheJuniorSchool.OurskilledITIntegratorsworktosupportteachersandenhancelearningopportunitiesintheclassroom.Girlsroutinelyuseavarietyofdigitalmediatointeract,exhibitandsharetheirlearning.OurTeacherLibrariansspecialiseindevelopingeach girl’sinformationliteracyandresearchskills.
Our Languages programGirlsbeginFrenchfromTransition.Lessonsoccurregularlythroughouttheweekforallgirls,emphasisingoralcommunicationandthefunofworkingtogether.InYears5and6girlstakeonthenewchallengeoflearningChinese(Mandarin).BienniallywetakeastudentandparenttourtoChinatoenhanceculturalunderstandingandtovisitoursisterschoolinBeijing.
Our Music programMusicspecialiststeachthegirlsthroughouttheweektodeveloptheirinnatemusicalityandanappreciationoftheperformingarts.
AllgirlssinginachoirandinYear2,theybeginastringinstrumentandstarttoplayinensembles.ThisisfurtheredinYear3whenabroadinstrumentalprogramisimplemented.OtherinstrumentsareintroducedgraduallyandgirlsmaybeintheConcertBand,Orchestraoranynumberofsmallerensembles.TheBandandOrchestraenjoymanyperformanceopportunities.GirlsalsotaketurnsperformingsolosorsmallgroupitemsinassemblyeachFriday.
Musiclessonsandensemblerehearsalsareheldwithin theheritagebuildingofPooleHouse.
Our PDHPE and sports programPDHPEspecialistsemphasisethegrossmotorskillsintheearlyyears.InPrimary,attentionisgiventodevelopinggamesskills.ThisensuresgirlsarewellpreparedforentrytotheoptionalcompetitiveSaturdaysportsprogramfromYear4.Gymnastics,swimming,athleticsanddanceareenjoyedbyeachclassthroughouttheyear.
TheJuniorSchoolcampusfeaturesalargeoval,twotenniscourtsandaheatedswimmingpool.
Our Art programKindergartentoYear6girlsenjoyArtlessonswithourspecialistArtTeacherinthepurposebuiltartcentre.Eachyeargirlsengagewithabroadvarietyofmediaincludingpaint,textiles,CAD,ceramics,photographyandprintmaking.ArtappreciationisenhancedbyregularvisitstotheGraceCossingtonSmithGallerylocatedontheSeniorSchoolCampus.
SustainabilityTogrowourgirls’awarenessoftheenvironmentandtheirrole in its maintenance, a strong program of environmental sustainabilityisembedded.RegularvisitstotheAbbotsleighCentreforEnvironmentalEducation(ACEE)areundertaken.
Service-LearningTomakevisibleourcommitmenttoChristianpractices,servicelearningprojectsareembeddedintocorecurriculuminallyeargroups.Weactivelyencourageourgirlstoseethemselvesaspowerfulagentsforchange.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the class sizes?TransitionandKindergartenhave20girlsineachclass.
InYears1and2,thereare22girlsineachclass.InYears3-6,thereare25studentsineachclass.
Are classes streamed?NotfromTransitiontoYear4,whereabilitygroupingoccurswithintheclassroom.
InYears5and6,therearetwogradedclassesandtwoenrichmentclasses.
What are the entry points?Transition,Kindergarten,Year1,Year3andYear5.
Will my daughter automatically proceed to the Senior School?AllourJuniorSchoolgirlsautomaticallymovetoplacesinourSeniorSchool.
Is there After School Care?Yes,from3pmuntil6.30pmeachday.Thisfacilityissupervisedbyexperiencededucatorswhoensureawarmandwelcomingenvironment,providinghomeworkandfunactivitysessions.Vacationcareprogramsareofferedthroughouttheyearduringschoolholidays.
Is sport compulsory?All girls are expected to participate, according to the season, in swimming,crosscountryandathletics.
TheoptionoftakingupcompetitivesportbeginsinYear4.Optionsincludebasketball,hockey,kangacricket,teeball,minkey,modball,netball,soccer,softball,tennisandtouchfootball.
Year3girlscanparticipateinfriendlysportoptions.
Will my daughter be able to buy nutritious food at the tuckshop?Yes.OurtuckshopoperatesundertheguidelinesoftheHealthyKidsAssociation.Thisfacilityisopeneachschooldaywithordersmadeonline.
What is offered in the cocurricular program?Art,ChessandComputerclubs,CrusadersinPrimaryandMiniCruinInfants,daVinciDecathlon,debatinginYear4,5and6,ICTLaboratory,K’nexClub,LegoRobotics,MathsGames,ScienceClub,ServiceGroup,TempusandTournamentofMinds.ActivityintheperformingartsisgreatlyvaluedandwellsupportedatAbbotsleigh.Therearemanyopportunitieseachyearforgirlstoparticipateinanextensivearrayofclassesincludingdrama,dance,ceramics,tennisandswimming.TheStudentRepresentativeCouncilandEnvironmentClubmeetregularlytoprovideleadershipopportunitiesanddevelopresponsiblecitizenshipandsustainablepractices.
What scholarships are there for Junior School students?ThereareseveralscholarshipstenableinourSeniorSchoolforwhichYear5girlsareeligibletoapply.
Can I become involved in the Abbotsleigh community?TheparentcommunityatAbbotsleighisactive,welcoming andsupportive.TheAbbotsleighParents’Associationandothersupportgroupsmeetregularly.Manysocialopportunitiesarecreatedforparentstoknoweachotherwell.Fundraisingisactiveandthereisastrongtraditionofphilanthropywithintheparent body.
Research and external professional learning ensures our teachers have a broad range of strategies and practices to meet the diverse learning needs of all our students.
Junior School |TransitiontoYear6