Curriculum

Our Middle School curriculum offers a broad and diverse range of academic subjects and practical experiences that prepare girls for Senior College (Years 10, 11 and 12). We aim to stimulate them intellectually, to help each girl achieve her personal best, and to give her a lifelong love of learning.

In Middle School, it is important for girls to explore their individual interests and to study subjects that they enjoy and that challenge their learning. Their experience and achievements in the Middle School will help them make sound decisions when selecting HSC subjects in Years 11 and 12 and in their tertiary studies. Early career guidance in the form of Careers Expos helps Middle School girls see the importance of keeping breadth and academic rigour in their program of study.

Years 7 and 8

Girls in Years 7 and 8 follow a compulsory curriculum, largely determined by Board of Studies requirements. Girls must satisfactorily complete the following subjects for a School Certificate to be awarded: English, Mathematics, Science, Human Society and its Environment (HSIE), Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE).

Board requirements in Languages other than English (LOTE), Visual Arts, Music and Technology must also be met.

However, in line with its aim to provide "a learning environment with the highest academic standards" which is "progressive and innovative in the provision of educational opportunities for its girls", Wenona provides some special extensions and enhancements.

Girls study Asian (Chinese and Japanese) and European (French and German) languages.

As well, there is a unique "connected curriculum" for Year 8. This is made up of units of guided inquiry that involve student learning teams, problem solving, integrated tasks and experiential learning.

Year 9

Wenona has a broad elective program. Subjects available provide for the range of interests and individual talents of Year 9 students.

Wenona offers these elective subjects to Years 9 and 10 (subject to interest):

• Chinese
• Commerce
• Drama
• Elective History
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Music
• Photographic and Digital Media
• Physical Activities and Sports Studies (PASS)
• Psychology
• Textiles Technology
• Visual Arts

Connected Curriculum

In 2008 Wenona made a commitment to the formation and ongoing development of a Middle School which would serve the needs of all students in Years 7, 8 and 9.  In 2009, Wenona aims to continue the success of this venture with the implementation of the Connected Curriculum Program for Year 8. This academically rigorous integrated learning program will provide students with opportunities to engage with and make sense of big curriculum ideas in learning communities, to problem solve and, importantly, to act thoughtfully on their new understandings.

These learning experiences will be driven by the students in consultation with their guiding teachers and will meet curriculum and syllabus requirements mandated by the NSW Board of Studies in a range of subject areas. With their guiding teachers, Year 8 will be taking advantage of our urban location, they will be out of the classroom and applying their learning to authentic situations in an effort to develop talent, value the significance of their learning and celebrate creativity thinking and endeavour.  As expected of Wenona, this form of teaching and learning is at the forefront of best practise in the education of students in Middle School.

Curriculum integration has a successful and well documented history in both Australian and International educational institutions. This form of learning reaches across and beyond traditional subject boundaries. Organizing themes for the year have been drawn from students’ global and personal concerns and life experiences. This allows students to question and engage in real-life issues and promotes collaboration between students and teachers. Learning is no longer segregated into subject areas or a collection of facts. Students use skills from all disciplines to research personal and global concerns. Broad access to knowledge is provided to all students through learning that is worthwhile, relevant, and allows students of all backgrounds and abilities to contribute. Numerous schools across Australia have embraced this educational theory in order to meet the needs of middle school students in an ever changing and global learning community

The Connected Curriculum learning program for 2009 has been thoroughly researched and planned by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated teachers from a range of subject areas. In 2008 a team of teachers including Ms Lindsay Bosch, Head of Middle School, Mr Mark Staker, Director of Studies and myself visited schools in Melbourne which have successfully implemented this form of integrated learning. Following this a Planning Day was held in order to review the research, student input and finally devise a plane for 2009. I am confident that the resulting integrated learning program is both academically rigorous and relevant to the academic, global and personal concerns of your daughter.

The practical format of the program involves a team of teachers from a range of subject areas working collaboratively with Year 8 students each Tuesday afternoon during periods 4 and 5.  Each week will be vastly different from the last as students and teachers explore the driving curricular themes for that particular module. Many external learning experiences have been planned including site studies in local bushland, visits to museums and heritage centres as well as guided activities with specialists in a range of fields. As well as this we have planned guest speakers, lectures and workshops which will take place at school. Both students and teachers will be using emerging forms of teaching and learning including video conferencing, blogging with global pen pals and recording their continual learning experiences in digital portfolios. There will also be opportunities for parents to visit the school to experience this learning program with the students. This is an exciting time for Year 8 2009, I look forward to working with your daughter in what I am positive will be a rewarding learning experience.

Ms Amy Van Arkkels
Co-ordinator of Connected Curriculum

Wenona's second language emphasis

Wenona emphasises the value of a second language. We recognise that life is enriched by culture and in an increasingly multilingual global community, the ability to communicate in another language is highly valued by tertiary institutions and employers who engage with overseas markets. Consequently:

• Year 7 study both an Asian language (Chinese or Japanese) for one semester and a European language (French or German) for the other semester
• Year 8 may choose one of these four languages to complete their mandatory language study.
• Year 9 girls may continue with their Year 8 language or, if applicable, change to another language.
• Girls may also study two languages in Years 9 and 10.
• At the end of Year 10, girls can choose a ‘continuers' language for the Higher School Certificate if they have successfully completed that language for the School Certificate.

As well as the languages Wenona offers, girls are supported to study other languages through the Open High School or the Saturday School of Community Languages.

Technology

Wenona is committed to providing an innovative ICT program that utilises technology to enhance teaching and learning.

Each girl in the Middle School is supplied with a laptop computer. These computers let students and staff enter a new world of curriculum possibilities, allowing authentic and enriched engagement in learning and teaching through online learning approaches, online chats and resources, and access to information, teachers and peers beyond the school's physical boundaries.

Student thinking, student participation and student interaction are much more accountable in the digitally equipped classroom. Laptop computers are customised to facilitate the exploration of key learning areas, resulting in more personalised learning.

This personalisation means that teachers and students communicate with each other electronically. Students can be asked to cast a vote, express an opinion, answer a question, respond to a survey, or participate in a lively real-time, online class discussion.

Wenona's laptop program is supported by a campus-wide wireless network. Through wireless connectivity, girls can use the network – in a classroom, in the garden, in a student common room, in their Boarding House - wherever and whenever they need it.

Laptop users have seamless access to the Internet, the Wenona Portal and other network software. Wireless connectivity lets our girls work collaboratively and share information quickly and easily with one another, with their teachers and with those beyond Wenona.