our college: junior

Learning and Curriculum

We know that academic success in later years depends on a solid foundation. Learning in a loving, caring environment with a well-balanced and culturally enriched program gives our students the best possible start. Our curriculum is broad, exciting, innovative, and holistic, and we give a distinct focus to each of the academic, social, cultural, sporting, and spiritual aspects of your child’s development.

The international baccalaureate pyp

ICT 21st century LEARNING

innovAtive learning spaces

Focus on Fundamentals

Key focuses include building strong literacy and numeracy skills, allowing opportunities for students to think and express themselves creatively, encouraging collaborative and team-based activities, developing critical thinking skills and providing opportunities for authentic problem solving.

 

The use of ICT is embedded into daily activities and programmes. We aim to ensure that all children are able to build a solid foundation in key learning areas while developing the necessary self-esteem and confidence to reach their potential. Learning is done at a carefully planned and manageable pace that fully prepares them to gently transition into the Middle Years.

Passionate Teachers

Our motivated and dedicated Junior Years teachers:

Deliver a balanced learning experience that focuses on building strong foundations in literacy and numeracy, as well as on building students inquiry skills, so that students have the building blocks for life-long learning.

Plan age appropriate, engaging learning activities in a safe, supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to achieve their best.

Plan collaboratively in and across year levels, using regular assessment to inform their teaching and learning program and to differentiate learning activities which allows each student to succeed at their own level.

Engage in regular individual and whole-school professional development to maintain consistent, current high level teaching practice.

Maintain a learning environment which reflects and teaches Christian values, enhances students’ physical and emotional well-being and in which positive interpersonal relationships are promoted.

Actively involve parents in the teaching and learning partnership.

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PYP

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework designed for students aged 3 to 12. It prepares students for the intellectual challenges of further education and their future careers, focusing on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.

Students benefit from this program by:

Being encouraged to think independently and drive their own learning

Becoming more culturally aware, through the development of a second language

Being able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.

ICT: 21ST CENTURY LEARNING

Learning technologies that engage students in ways not previously possible are a vital part of education and these tools should be integrated into all aspects of the curriculum rather than being treated as a separate learning area. Technology at Trinity is fully integrated within the curriculum, creating an interactive, cooperative and media-rich classroom environment.

 

Prep to Year 3:
Students in Prep to Year 3 use an iPad (provided by the college) for enhanced learning.

 

Year 4 and 5:
Students in Years 4 and 5 use a personal laptop.

INNOVATIVE LEARNING SPACES

Our classrooms have been designed so as to provide our students with a more flexible learning environment – one which provides every child with the best possible learning outcomes.

 

Typically, the students do not have their own desks, rather they have a wide range of classroom furniture which includes bean bags, desks, chairs, wobble chairs, cushions, lounge suites, high tables and other creative seating options. This immediately eliminates the need for students to have one single desk where he/she puts belongings. A student belongs to the classroom and goes to the area best suited to his/her accomplishing the required learning.

 A formal handwriting task will therefore be done at a formal desk and chair, but a research task which has a student talking to a group of people about the question to be answered may be worked on at a high table or on a mat where a group can sit comfortably together. The options will be set up collaboratively by the students and the teachers as they develop their learning intent.

 

Our teachers work together to generate learning experiences that stimulate the students’ thinking and develops their independence as young learners, and they are excited at how our students are thriving within this flexible learning environment.