Welcome to our vibrant Junior School in 2019

Head of Junior School, Mrs Rhonda Robson

If you are looking for a primary school

that takes the time to discover exactly

what your child needs in order to thrive,

look no further than St Andrew’s

Cathedral School.

At St Andrew’s, each student is valued

and encouraged to reach their full

potential. Just as each student is an

individual with their own character and

needs, so too their educational growth

is unique. The teachers are high quality,

committed to nurturing and developing

the ability of each student through

carefully planned and innovative

teaching programs.

We have enjoyed outstanding NAPLAN

and ICAS results, being recognised as

the school with the greatest academic

improvement in the region. We also

have a highly reputable outdoor

education program and co-curriculum,

including steller music programs and

sport opportunities.

Please come and visit us, meet our

students and discover our unique

campus and learning environment.

Heads of School welcome

Head of School,

Dr John Collier

St Andrew’s Cathedral School is a

unique learning community in the heart

of Sydney’s CBD. We strive to develop the

whole child – their heart, mind and life.

We develop their character through our

wellbeing program which nurtures

specific character strengths based upon

our foundational Christian values.

Our Junior School offers an incredible

breadth of opportunities, all within a

nurturing culture of care with highly

experienced and specialist teachers.

Our Junior School students utilise

secondary school facilities, including

performance spaces, science laboratories

and outstanding sports facilities.

This, along with specialist teachers in

music, languages, science, sport, drama

and theatresports, art, library, technology

and Christian Development, ensures

students have every opportunity to reach

their potential.

Since the beginning of 2011, Deputy Head

of School K-6 and Head of Junior School,

has been Mrs Rhonda Robson, formerly

Head of Junior School and Deputy

Principal at Broughton Anglican College

in Menangle. Prior to Broughton,

Mrs Robson was the School Counsellor

and Gifted and Talented Coordinator

at St Paul’s Grammar School.

Particularly helpful is her intimate

knowledge of the International

Baccalaureate Primary Years

Programme, which is widely

regarded as international best

practice in primary education, which

she has weaved into the educational

framework of St Andrew’s. Her

people skills and insight based on

her training and experience as a

psychologist, and her extensive track

record in gifted education have set

her up to be a transformative leader.

Mrs Robson has an advanced

understanding of integration of Christian

faith through the whole school and

worked extensively with the Anglican

Education Commission to that very

effect at Broughton Anglican College

and here at St Andrew’s.

Since Mrs Robson’s arrival eight years

ago, the Junior School has more

than doubled in size and is much

in demand. She has transformed

the teaching and learning practices,

successfully improving the levels of

Literacy and Numeracy in particular.

The impact of this strategy is visible

in quality teaching methodologies,

and impressive NAPLAN results.

The Junior School is a happy,

vibrant and thriving part of

St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

SACS - Junior School 2019 | 1

Character strengths sit at the centre of our student wellbeing framework, with all students from Kindergarten through to Year 12 being involved in age-specific wellbeing programs. Our school’s overarching theme is to develop in our students hearts that love, minds that grow and lives that give.

Below are the key attributes of learners at St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

In the light of Christ, we strive for students to have:

• Hearts that love,• Minds that grow and• Lives that give.

HeartMindLife

Grateful

ServantHearted

CaringPrincipled

Courageous

Open

Minded

Knowledgeable

InquiringThinking

Reflective

Persistent

Balanced

Hopeful

Communicative

SelfControlled

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SACS Character Strengths

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Nurturing the individual in community under Christ

The student wellbeing vision statement “Nurturing the individual in community

under Christ” underpins the student wellbeing

structures, programs and relationships at

St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

There is a tradition at the school of staff

caring for the individual students and an

acknowledgement of the need to develop

in the students a strong sense of identity,

resilience and connectedness through all

areas of school life, from the classroom

to the playing fields. The school recognises

that each student is entitled to individual

care and attention and that continuity of

that care throughout the student’s time

at St Andrew’s Cathedral School will help

to achieve this sense of identity, resilience

and connectedness.

Programs include Bounce Back, Visible Wellbeing, Character Strengths and the

Raising Responsibility System.

The Junior School employs two

psychologists who are experienced in

providing advice and support on pastoral

and academic issues affecting students

at the school. The counsellors are able to

provide further advice regarding specialist

help in cases where it is required.

St Andrew’s provides a comprehensive

approach to student wellbeing built on

the premise that young people learn best

when they are healthy, safe and happy.

Resilience and connectedness will increase

the individual’s wellbeing and decrease their

chances of becoming ‘at risk’. The structure

aims to be a holistic, cohesive and systematic

approach to health and student wellbeing

which will be reflected in curriculum,

teaching and learning strategies, school

organisation, policy, culture and service

provision. It will also seek to build

community links and partnerships.

All Junior School teachers exercise

strong pastoral care and support for

the children in their care. The nurturing

process of guiding, listening and

leading is very important in these years.

Student wellbeing

Bronwyn Wake Wellbeing Coordinator K - 6

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Academic curriculumSt Andrew’s works to the guidelines of

the NSW Board of Studies and is fully

accredited and registered. The school

teaches from a Christian perspective in

accordance with our vision for teaching

and learning. Subjects taught are English,

Mathematics, Science and Technology,

Human Society and its Environment, LOTE

(Mandarin K-6), Christian Development,

Creative Arts, and Personal Development

Health and Physical Education.

City links 2019 – city excursionsAt St Andrew’s we use our unique location

to assist learning through first-hand

experiences of our city environment.

Learning spaces extend beyond the

school’s buildings to organisations and

facilities in the city and include online

learning spaces and outdoor learning

spaces such as St Andrew’s Oval at the

University of Sydney and The Rocks.

We make use of the many educational

facilities close to the school, including

Darling Harbour, the various museums,

libraries and art galleries, with most of

these being ‘no cost’ excursions.

Junior School program

SACS Junior School Learning FrameworkOur mission is to provide quality Christian

education that stands apart from other

schools and other systems. We strive to

be authentic and the best we can be as a

relational Christian community that seeks

to develop the Heart, Mind and Life of our

students and staff in the heart of Sydney.

In the Junior School, we recognise that

effective student learning and wellbeing

are interrelated and that we need to

focus upon promoting each student’s

engagement in their own wellbeing and

their own learning process, making both

visible. Teachers construct teaching and

learning opportunities that are purpose

driven, based on clear evidence of student

progress, to devise a clear understanding of

what will work best for improving student

accomplishment.

The framework draws on the best of the

school culture and current educational

research, promoting best practice by

encapsulating the best of explicit teaching,

inquiry-based learning, cognitive science,

all combined with the aim of achieving

mastery teaching practices and fostering

deep learning.

The framework acknowledges the

importance of surface learning moving

to deep learning and then transferring

that learning to practical contexts. As the

learner gains automaticity and fluency

of the essential skills, then learning

becomes more student-led and less

explicit in nature.

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Specialised LearningAs a Christian school we have a

responsibility to recognise a wide range of

student abilities, and to provide challenging

educational experiences for all students,

helping them to achieve their God-given

potential. This includes students of high

academic potential, or gifted and talented

students, along with those who need

additional support..

Specialised Learning in the Junior School

is led by the Primary Coordinator,

Mrs Cathy Danger and supported by

a team of teachers and aides.

It is the role of Specialised Learning to

work closely with teachers, students, parents

and outside professionals to cater for the

individual needs of students. We also work

closely with our school psychologists.

Services provided by the Specialised

Learning team in the Junior School

may include:

• In-class support

• Diagnostic assessment

• The development of Individual Learning

Plans and the creation of Student

Learning Profiles

• 1:1 or small group academic

organisational support where appropriate

• Parent information sessions

• Professional development sessions to

enhance teacher skills and understanding

• Assistance with the modification of

curriculum and assessment

• Transition programs

• Collaborative planning with teachers,

students, parents and outside

professionals.

• Determining appropriate adjustments

for students with a disability

• Collection of data to access

Commonwealth funding (NCCDSWD)

Gifted educationAt SACS, we endeavour to meet student

needs through the process of differentiated

instruction. Gifted and talented students

are recognised as having unique educational

needs and need to be catered for in order

that their learning outcomes are optimised.

Developmentally appropriate programs

for gifted and talented students incorporate

a combination of grouping strategies,

enrichment, counselling interventions

and acceleration.

Each year a Parent Information Evening

is held, outlining the school’s policy

and procedures and directions in

gifted education.

Chapel and Christian DevelopmentChapel is a weekly event attended by

all students. It provides a communal

expression of the school’s Christian basis

and commitment, and goes hand-in-hand

with the Christian Development course.

The Christian Development course aims

to introduce students to the Christian

faith as it is revealed in The Bible and

provides them with the opportunity to

engage in healthy discussion on both its

theory and practice. Chapel sees students

participating as they provide the music,

lead the singing, read The Bible, offer prayer,

and occasionally speak of their own

experience of the Christian life.

In addition to weekly Chapel services,

the chaplaincy team coordinates a range

of voluntary lunchtime groups for Bible

study, prayer, fun and encouragement.

The Mandarin programThe Mandarin program aims to enable

students to develop communication

skills, focus on languages as systems

and gain insights into the relationship

between language and culture, leading

to lifelong personal, educational and

vocational benefits.

Junior School program

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Music St Andrew’s started out more than

130 years ago as a choir school and has

carried on that tradition, with the learning

of music being very much a part of general

school activities. Many students take private

instruction with one or more of the

numerous quality vocal or instrumental

tutors employed by the school

Approximately 3/4 of Junior School

students learn an instrument.

Additionally, each student who is learning

privately is encouraged to participate in

an ensemble. These activities are designed

to supplement and extend the work that

is covered in private lessons and also to

provide performance opportunities at

various concerts that are arranged during

the year, including our annual Showcase

concert at Sydney Town Hall.

Outdoor educationThe school owns and operates Kirrikee,

an Outdoor Education Centre in the

Southern Highlands south-west of Sydney.

Students from Years 3-6 attend an

Outdoor Education Program once each

year. The Outdoor Education program is an

important component of the curriculum,

helping students to challenge themselves

mentally and physically and to build strong,

lasting friendships.

The focus in the primary ages is to have

fun and give these young students a taste

of the Australian bush with time away

from the normal comforts and security of

home, together with some small outdoor

recreation skill development.

The camp is run by the school’s own

Outdoor Education Staff.

SportSt Andrew’s has a sport program for

students from Kindergarten to Year 6 that

focuses on a different sport each term.

Sports included are Auskick, gymnastics,

tennis, AFL, touch football, football,

netball, Tee-ball, cricket, volleyball and

athletics. The program aims to build on

skills developed in previous years, utilising

various facilities in the school and city for

both summer and winter sports.

We are also a part of ASISSA (an inter-

school sporting association) for students

in Years 3 to 6 and compete against other

schools throughout the various sporting

seasons of the year commencing in Term 2.

Students will either walk to a venue or

travel by transport provided (usually bus).

There is an optional interschool Saturday

sport program available from Year 5 in

rugby, netball and basketball.

There are a number of carnivals held

throughout the year. All students (Years 3-6)

are expected to participate at the School

Swimming and Athletics Carnivals as part

of the school sports program. There are

opportunities for students to represent St

Andrew’s at ASISSA Carnivals and at NSW

Combined Independent School level.

Co-curricular educationAt the beginning of each term, students

are invited to enrol in one of more of the

many extra curricular activities offered.

Along with the various music ensembles,

these activities include: philosophy club,

homework club, minecraft, maths club,

fitness fundamentals, chess club, book

club, code camp, Theatresports, Chinese

Eisteddfod, Christian fellowship and a

variety of training afternoons for students

involved in Saturday sport competitions

Online canteenThe school canteen, located on Level 9

of St Andrew’s House, uses QuickCliq,

an online ordering system that offers a

fast and intuitive way to order healthy meal

options that are delivered to classrooms

at recess and lunch.

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Learning technologyTechnology is an important part of the

learning experience at St Andrew’s in all

years. We aim for learning technologies to

be used authentically and appropriately to

enrich, enhance and extend learning. In the

Junior School, only students in Years 5 and

6 are required to bring their own device to

school. iPads are the device of choice, and

allow consistency and growth across the

Junior School into the Middle School.

Child progress reportsThe task of educating young people is

shared between the home, the school

and the individual student. For this reason,

the provision of clear communication

channels is vital.

Parents are kept informed about their

child’s progress through end of semester

reports and parent-teacher interviews.

We also encourage parents and teachers

to make direct contact with one another

through phone calls, emails and meetings

as needed.

Detailed information about your child’s

class and activities are available on the

Junior School Portal.

Before and after school care and vacation careOur before school and after school care

and vacation care is run on-site by Camp

Australia, a nationally operated and fully

approved provider of after-school care

which offers ongoing professional training,

supervision and quality resources.

Before School Care operates each

morning from 6.30am and After School

Care operates each afternoon from 3.10pm

until 6pm in the rooftop classroom and is

available to all Junior School students.

School uniformThe St Andrew’s School Uniform includes

winter and summer options and a separate

sport uniform for sport and PE. Students

are expected to abide by the uniform code

and wear their uniform with pride while

travelling to school and while at school.

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St Andrew’s:

St Andrew’s Cathedral School is a coeducational K-12 Anglican school, located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

St Andrew’s Cathedral School Sydney Square, Sydney NSW 2000 ABN 34 429 367 893

phone +61 2 9286 9500 fax +61 2 9286 9550 email info@sacs.nsw.edu.au

CRICOS Registration: The Council of St Andrew’s Cathedral School 02276M

www.sacs.nsw.edu.au