Junior School

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