JUNIOR SCHOOL

Thank you for considering our Junior School for your child. Your family will be welcomed into our inclusive and supportive community.

Community is a big focus in our Junior School. Your child and your family will have many opportunities to make real connections at Woodcroft College.

A major focus of our Junior School is to develop positive self-esteem, helping your child to feel confident about who they are, and to encourage them in their ability to take on the challenges of new learning in a caring and nurturing environment. Our future focused programs and state of the art facilities equip our students to be active and engaged citizens.

From their first day in Junior School, your child will be encouraged to ask questions, reflect on their learning, explore and research, and to take action through the IB Primary Years Program (PYP).

Our Junior School is committed to laying a solid foundation to support your child in their learning throughout their educational journey from Reception to Year 12.

Please take the time to read more about the learning and experiences your child will have in our Junior School.

You can book into one of our regular tours which will help you to make the important decision of choosing the right school for your family.

Nick Smith
Head of Junior School

OVERVIEW OF JUNIOR SCHOOOL

IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAM

The Primary Years Program (PYP) is designed for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years. The program aims to nurture and develop young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

The PYP is a curriculum framework that emphasises agency in three areas:

• the learner
• teaching and learning
• the learning community

It allows Woodcroft College to use the content of the Australian Curriculum to develop all three areas. Our students experience learning between, across and beyond traditional curriculum areas.

The PYP is how we teach. It highlights that conceptual understanding goes beyond specific curriculum areas and places the learner at the centre of the learning process by valuing them as active citizens in a global community.

rECEPTION TO YEAR 2

Reception to Year 2 students learn through inquiry to develop skills and understanding across the curriculum. They develop attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

Parents can share their child’s learning journey through regular Seesaw communication and Learning Conversations with teachers twice a year.

• Buddy classes where relationships are fostered between older and younger students.
• Coding using school iPads.
• Leadership opportunities with the Student Representative Council (Year 1 to Year 5 students).
• Specialist teachers in Visual Arts, Drama, PE, Music, Digital Technology and Japanese.
• LINC teachers and Education Support Officers (ESO) support learning in collaboration with classroom teachers.
• Year 1 and Year 2 students exposed to developmental sports clinics aimed at developing a sound base of skills.
• Activities outside of the classroom including the swimming program, Sports Day and Book Week.

Year 3 to Year 6

Students in Year 3 to Year 6 develop understanding, skills and knowledge through Units of Inquiry. They develop Global Citizenship skills through the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) culminating in an IB Exhibition in Year 6.

Parents can share their child’s learning journey through regular Seesaw communication and Learning Conversations with teachers twice a year.

• Bring your own device program to support students becoming responsible and skilled digital citizens.
• Leadership opportunities with the Student Representative Council and Year 6 Leadership Program.
• Specialist teachers in Visual Arts, PE, Music, Digital Technology and Japanese.
• LINC teachers and Education Support Officers (ESO) support learning in collaboration with classroom teachers.
• Concerts, performances and assemblies to encourage students to take on new challenges and build important communication and presentation skills.
• Music tuition is available from Year 3 and all Year 5 students participate in the school’s Band Program.
• Students are introduced to the Outdoor Education program from Year 3 onwards with an overnight sleepover building up to two nights away from home in Year 5 and Year 6.
• Year 3 students are introduced to the sports program, before representing the College in external competitions in Year 4 to Year 6.
• Range of extra-curricular opportunities to broaden interests and develop new skills, these include performing arts and clubs and activities.
• Activities outside of the classroom include the aquatics program, Sports Day and Book Week.