Middle School (Years 7 to 9)
Middle School at St John’s is more than just a transition from Junior to Secondary school. It represents an important stage in their growth and development of students, facing a range of adolescent challenges that are physical, cognitive, social, emotional and moral.
St John’s Middle School program is specifically designed to meet the development needs of students in early adolescence by way of stability and continuity and diversity of challenge through encompassing all the key learning areas of the Australian Curriculum. Students are being prepared for 21st Century skills through inquiry, action and reflection students are developing critical and creative thinking, social, communication, self-management and research skills.
The Middle School at St John’s continues to develop and review its programs and pedagogical practices in order to maximise the academic, spiritual and social development of its students. Education in the 21st Century and beyond is rapidly moving away from the one size fits all model that has prevailed for the last century or more. Here at St John’s, we steadfastly believe that the educational experience of one student does not need to be the same as those around them. Students are individuals and their learning journeys at St John’s should be too.
Moving into the future, St John’s is placing a priority on the individualisation of learning. Operating within the requirements of the QCAA, Australian Curriculum, the provision of QCEs and ATARs and other mandates; our focus is to provide students with the option and flexibility to customise their learning experience. The first stage of this customisation was the introduction of the SOAR program in Mathematics and English which allows students in Years 5 to 10 to work at a modified pace in the subjects in which they demonstrate aptitude.
The next phase of customisation is through the development and introduction of three new elective subjects, tailored to meet the needs of our students in the fields of Medical Science, Engineering and Technology. Commencing in 2022, these new subjects have been developed in-house, in consultation with educational experts, and are cross-curricular in nature; allowing students to begin customising their pathway prior to the beginning of their senior phase of schooling.
A unique offering at St John’s is the yearlong ‘The Rite Journey’ program designed to support the development of self-aware, vital, responsible and resilient young adults. Aimed at Year 9 students, The Rite Journey reinvents the traditional process of a Rite of Passage to assist in transforming the adolescent from dependency to responsibility. The program brings positive cultural change for students as they prepare for senior school and their newfound responsibility.
With a dedicated Head of Middle School and highly qualified teachers who are supportive and cognisant of the unique needs of this age group, St John’s Middle School lays the important foundations for future success in the senior years at the College.
Subjects
Years 7 and 8
Our students study a core of seven subjects:
- English – Language and Literature
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities and Social Science
- Health and Physical Education (HPE)
- Language Acquisition – Mandarin Chinese or German
- Religious and Values Education
In addition to the core subjects, students in Years 7 and 8 will also study six specialist subjects (on a semester or trimester rotation):
- The Arts – Music, Drama, Visual Art
- Food Technology
- Digital Technology
- Design and Engineering Technology
Year 9
Our Year 9 students continue with six of the core subjects (note that Language Acquisition becomes an elective subject from Year 9) and additionally will select three elective subjects:
- Visual Art
- Music
- Drama
- Enterprise
- Physical Education
- Biomedical Science
- Language Acquisition –Mandarin Chinese or German
- Digital Technology
- Engineering
- Design and Engineering Technology
Extension activities are provided through competitions and clubs offered in the STEM Institute.
Contact St John’s Middle School Staff
Head of Middle School | Mr Braydon Giles
E: [email protected]
Discover More of St John’s
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Open Day is the perfect opportunity to hear from our expert and nurturing staff, visit our beautiful grounds and tour our classrooms and facilities where learning comes alive.
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St John’s has established a tradition of forward and innovative thinking in creating the optimum learning environment to support exceptional student achievement. The SOAR program aims to empower and engage motivated, highly able, gifted and talented students.
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Opened in April 2022, the new Middle School Precinct is a vibrant learning and social space for our Middle School students to call their own.
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