Welcome to our exciting Middle School in 2021 - St Andrew's ...
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Welcome to our exciting Middle School in 2021
Heads of School
welcome
Our Middle School
offers a safe and nurturing
environment that
understands the challenges
faced by students in the
first years of high school.
It is during these years that boys and
girls lay the foundations of work habits
St Andrew’s Cathedral experience as a Head of House, Dean of that will underpin academic achievement
Students and Year Coordinator, across in later years. It is also during these years
School is a unique learning three schools. He is experienced with that they entrench the character traits
community in the heart of the International Baccalaureate Middle that will shape their lives in the decades
Years Programme in two schools and to come. Working in partnership with
Sydney’s CBD.
has taught English, History and Legal families, our Middle School is well
We strive to develop the whole child – their Studies. He has been heavily involved equipped to provide the foundational
heart, mind and life. We aim to develop in school camps and the Duke of skills and supportive environment that
Edinburgh Award scheme. enables students to grow and flourish in
their character through our wellbeing
all areas of life.
program which nurtures specific character We invite you to visit our unique
strengths based upon our foundational high-rise school to meet our staff Our dedicated teachers are committed
Christian values. and students and discover many of to creative and flexible learning strategies,
the benefits of learning in the heart which allow for the students’ unique
Within the story of a young person’s
of the city. abilities. Our Middle Years Programme
educational experience, the transition from
learning framework offers international
primary school to secondary school is a
Dr John Collier best-practice methodology for middle
notable turning point. The changes are
Head of St Andrew’s schoolers that ensures they will be
obvious: more teachers, more classrooms,
Cathedral School challenged at every stage of learning.
more subjects, more homework, more peers.
Please take some time to visit our unique
At St Andrew’s Cathedral School, we
Middle School, where you will discover
treasure these middle years of growth.
all the benefits of joining our fabulous
Our Middle School culture recognises learning community.
the distinctiveness of these early and
mid-adolescent years, with students having Mr John Partington
their own specific learning and maturation Head of Middle School
needs at this formative stage. We therefore
aim to build challenge in order to extend
capacity. This is so within our academic,
student wellbeing, Christian Development,
co-curricular, sporting and outdoor
education programs.
Our Head of Middle School, Mr John
Partington, was appointed in 2017.
Previously he was Head of Humanities
and Head of English at Blue Mountains
Grammar School in Wentworth Falls.
Mr Partington has had considerable
SACS - Middle School 2021 | 1
A Middle School
with purpose
We seek to develop the
heart, mind and life of
every student
A restorative culture
that promotes positive
heart
attitudes towards
learning and relationships
with others
mind
A distinct approach
to Middle School
pedagogy that results
in engaged, confident
life
and independent
learners
A purposeful community
that fosters acceptance,
courage and hope
2 | SACS - Middle School 2021
Best practice
learning in
Middle School
SACS is committed to The IB Middle Years Programme
Students commencing Year 7, 8 or 9
best practice learning in undertake the Middle Years Programme
the Middle School years. of the International Baccalaureate, an
internationally recognised framework
We recognise that the representing best practice in junior
academic needs of secondary schools.
students through this The IB MYP is a natural fit for the
St Andrew’s Cathedral School Teaching
stage are varied and and Learning Model which aims to be
different from those in transformative, inclusive, challenging
and character building.
primary education and
The IB MYP is specifically designed for
the final secondary years. students aged 11 to 16 and caters for their
particular learning needs and styles during
this stage of life.
It does not provide content but rather the
framework in which the NSW syllabus is
taught and assessed. It is inclusive in
nature, providing for all students, including
those identified as gifted and talented
and those needing additional support.
SACS - Middle School 2021 | 3
Curriculum:
Years 7 – 9
The curriculum is organised the activity and the stage of development As well as this, there are informal
of the student within the subject. opportunities for parents to discuss their
according to the guidelines child’s progress through conversations
There are a number of additional services
laid down by the NSW with individual class teachers. The Parent
for students with particular needs. They
Education Standards include:
Portal provides most of the information
related to school activities.
Authority (NESA). The • Specialised Learning for support
International Baccalaureate and extension activities
Middle Years Program (MYP) • Gifted and Talented Education programs
Technology
framework sits over these • Special interest programs in the classroom
guidelines and is also shaped • After school support for targeted students All students in Years 7 to 9 are allocated a
• SACSAchieve homework support Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Personal Learning
by our SACS Learning Model. Device, providing great opportunities for
enhancing and enriching learning inside the
Our aim is that learning will be Chapel and Christian classroom and beyond. Each day students
transformative, inclusive, challenging are required to bring their charged device
and character building, with students
Development to school, in a protective case.
engaged and growing every day. Chapel services are held weekly, providing
The school provides access to a number
a communal expression of the school’s
The courses at SACS fall within of services including Office365 for access,
Anglican foundation. The Christian
the Key Learning Areas: storage, collaboration and sharing of files
Development course, taught in the
• Christian Development and folders, along with mail and other
classroom, introduces students to the
• English associated services. The Technology
Christian faith and provides them with the
Acceptable Use Policy is contained in the
• Mathematics opportunity to engage in healthy
Enrolment contract and will be printed in
• Science discussion on both its theory and practice.
the Student Diaries.
• Technology/Design
• Human Society and Progress reporting Specialised
Its Environment Sciences
• Languages Other Than English
St Andrew’s Cathedral School has four Learning K-12
formal methods of reporting on student
progress. They are: It is the role of the Specialised Learning
• Creative and Performing Arts
Team to work closely with teachers, students,
• Personal Development, • Interim reports, issued towards the end parents and outside professionals to cater
Health and Physical Education of Terms 1 and 3. They provide a general for the individual needs of students. The
Elective subjects are studied from Year 9. overview of how students are performing. team also works closely with the Head of
They cover aspects such as participation, Careers and Pathways and our school
The teaching programs aim to foster a organisational skills, group work, psychologists.
passion for learning that will stay with our independent learning, presentation of
work, and behaviour. This collaborative approach ensures
students throughout their lifetime. They communication and sharing where parents
aim to develop in individuals an • School reports, issued at the end and professionals work together, supporting
understanding of themselves as valued of Terms 2 and 4. They provide a each other to provide a learning environment
children of God, with personal gifts to be comprehensive summary of student that is differentiated and accessible.
nurtured, developed and engaged with, progress for Semester 1 and
Semester 2 respectively. Services provided by Specialised Learning
in such a way that the students are well
in the Middle School may include:
prepared for life, able to enjoy it and able • Parent/teacher interviews occur
to contribute effectively to our school and annually for Middle School students, • In-class support
the wider community. Our city location is usually in Term 1 or 2. • SacsAchieve – after school homework
a significant asset in our planning and and study support
• Weekly Parent Digest, emailed to
development of learning opportunities. • Diagnostic screening
students and their parents every Friday
afternoon. This gives a brief summary of • The development of Individual
Student progress is regularly monitored
student progress, awards and events. Adjustment Plans
using a variety of strategies appropriate to
4 | SACS - Middle School 2021
• Targeted intervention programs, • Collaborative planning with teachers,
eg. Literacy students and parents to meet the
• Support for students identified as unique learning needs of gifted and
twice exceptional talented students
• Parent information sessions • Social-emotional programs and
interventions, geared towards
• Professional development sessions to
the specific needs of gifted and
enhance teacher skills and understanding
talented students
• Assistance with the modification of
• Academic competitions and Olympiads
curriculum, assessment and exams
across all multiple subject areas
• Learning transition programs
• A variety of clubs to develop student
• Collaborative planning with talents, including Robotics, Science and
teachers, students, parents and outside Philosophy Club
professionals
• Participation in the Da Vinci Decathlon
• Determining appropriate adjustments for and Gateway8 competitions.
students with a disability
• Project Catalyst, our in-house peer
• Collection of data to access mentorship program
commonwealth funding (NCCD)
Middle School
Gifted Education in the
Study Centre
Middle School
The Study Centre is an optional study
Academic excellence, challenge, program offered after school three
opportunity and choice, in an environment afternoons a week at an additional cost. It
which supports the holistic intellectual and helps students who are hampered by poor
socio-emotional development of each organisational skills and poor study habits
gifted and talented learner – this is what to develop a consistent approach to study.
our Gifted Education program in Years Attention to these issues in a small group
7–9 aspires to achieve. environment that is multi-disciplinary in
Our Extension classes in Years 7 – 9 in core focus helps to overcome these problems.
subjects and advanced classes in others, Staff assist in the delivery of the program,
together with cluster grouping, extension providing advice on appropriate methods
and enrichment aims to support the of response to tasks, advising on research
intellectual needs of our gifted and talented techniques and the appropriate use of
students. In addition, subject and year technology to present work.
group acceleration is another option for
our highly gifted students.
Gifted Education programs and
opportunities in the Middle School include:
• Gifted identification and assessment
• The development of a Gifted Education
Profile (GEP) for highly gifted students
• Transition programs developed
specifically for gifted students
• Academic coaching and interventions
for gifted students who are Twice
Exceptional, underachieving or EAL/D
SACS - Middle School 202! | 5
In the light of Christ, Character strengths sit at the
centre of our student wellbeing
we strive for students
framework, with all students from
to have: Kindergarten through to Year 12
• Hearts that love, being involved in age-specific
wellbeing programs. Our school’s
• Minds that grow and overarching theme is to develop
• Lives that give. 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.
Grateful
Servant Open
Courageous Hearted Minded
Reflective Knowledgeable
Principled Caring
Heart
Mind
Thinking Inquiring
Life
Self
Controlled
Persistent
Communicative
Balanced
Hopeful
6 | SACS - Middle School 2021Student
wellbeing
One of our school’s The House system
values is that we In addition to Year-based Tutor groups,
students at St Andrew’s belong to a House,
“strive to grow whole enabling students to participate in and
people (spiritually, contribute to a comprehensive range of
activities. Students are awarded House
intellectually, physically, points for both participation and success
in creative expression in the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals,
and in wisdom)”. Inter-House Debating, SACS Factor (talent
competition), the Big City Bake-off and
Our commitment to nurturing students in Gala Day. Points go towards the Dean Pitt
the Middle School is built on the premise Shield, which is awarded to the winning
that young people learn best when they House at the annual Evening of Celebration
are healthy, safe and happy. Resilience, and Prize-giving at the end of the year.
identity and connectedness will increase
an individual’s wellbeing. Our aim is to be
individual, cohesive and systematic in Counselling
approach. This is reflected in curriculum, The Middle School Counsellors are
teaching and learning strategies, school based in St Andrew’s House and are
organisation, policy and service provision. registered psychologists who are
experienced in supporting the needs of
Middle School teenagers. They work as part of the team
of counsellors who provide advice and
Tutor groups support on pastoral and academic issues
Each student in the school is a member of a affecting the wellbeing of students.
small pastoral and academic support group,
led by a member of the teaching staff. In
the Middle School, the Tutor is the primary
carer, working in partnership with the Year
Coordinator and the Director of Learning.
The pastoral period from 12noon to 12.30pm
daily is used for whole school assemblies,
Middle School assemblies, chapels, year
meetings and tutorials.
The tutorial program incorporates wellbeing,
study skills, social and community education,
leadership and wellbeing activities. These
sessions are age-appropriate and tailored
for the experience and knowledge of the
students at their various levels of development.
Classroom teachers, Tutors, Year Coordinators,
Heads of Divisions and the Chaplaincy team
monitor and track the academic progress
and wellbeing of each student. This ensures
that the students are known and cared for
throughout the school.
SACS - Middle School 2021 | 7Co-curricular Our vast range of
co-curricular
activities develop a
activities range of skills and
build friendships and
personal confidence.
All students are encouraged school on one weekday afternoon and staff, covering a wide range of vocal,
participate in Saturday games. string, wind, brass, keyboard and percussion
to participate in co-curricular instruments. Individual and group lessons
The school has its own state-of-the art
activities to help develop a strength and conditioning facility,
are offered weekly during term time.
variety of skills, build basketball courts, a professional dance Each student who is learning privately
studio and several outdoor recreation is encouraged to participate in Music
personal confidence and
areas. Most training and competition for Ensembles. These ensembles are graded so
foster friendships within the team sports occurs at nearby facilities at that each student can be placed into a group
school community. Sydney University and Wentworth Park. appropriate to their level of proficiency.
These activities are designed to supplement
In addition to our sporting program,
Co-curricular activities include students can get involved in any of the
and extend the work that is covered in
private lessons and also to provide
sport; music ensembles following co-curricular activities:
performance opportunities at various
and choirs; creative arts and • Dance concerts that are arranged during the year.
drama activities; debating • Drama There are many performance
and public speaking; and • Music opportunities provided by the school:
overseas trips and camps. • Chapel • Public lunch-time concerts in the
Cathedral on Mondays
• ‘Cru Groups’ and Christian Camps
• Performances at every assembly
Sport • Outdoor Education
• Weekly Maestros concerts on
The school believes that young people • Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
Thursdays after school
who are physically fit and enthusiastically
challenged in a fun and safe sporting Dance • Soirées presented by instrumental and
environment perform better academically. singing teachers once a year
Middle School students are able to select
Sport and co-curricular activities are dance as an elective subject in Years 8, 9 • Showcase Concert held annually
designed to be inclusive, with activities and 10. There are also opportunities • Performances (gigs) around the
offered to any student at any level of ability. for students to learn dance after school. city for charities and business functions
The enjoyment and support gained through
team participation, improved physical • End of year Evening of Celebration and
fitness, skills for dealing with success
Drama Prize-giving and special award
and failure, as well as the ability to interact A variety of drama groups and ensembles assemblies
within various social environments, are all operate throughout the year. Regular • School events such as Christmas carols etc.
positive attributes gained through participation performances take place in our own Black
Classroom Music can be selected as an
in the sporting and co-curricular programs Box Theatre and Upper Chapter House
elective subject in Years 8, 9 and 10.
the school offers. Performing Arts space. Theatresports is a very
popular co-curricular activity and coaching Opportunities are also available
The school participates in the Independent
and training is provided outside of normal to attend international music and drama
Sporting Association (ISA) secondary schools
classes, with regular competitions each year. tours, and a musical or major drama
competition and offers more than a dozen
production takes place in professional
competitive sport options (see the list of Drama can be selected as an elective
venues in alternate years.
co-curricular activities on page 9). Many of subject in Years 8, 9 and 10.
our students represent the school in the
ISA competition, which provides pathways Outdoor Education
to NSW All Schools and Australian teams.
Music
Our comprehensive outdoor education
Summer sport involvement at St Andrew’s Music can be experienced in the classroom,
programs are an important feature of a
is optional. Participating in a winter sport in ensembles and through individual tuition
St Andrew’s education and something for
or activity in Terms 2 and 3 is compulsory on an instrument or voice.
which the school is well known. The
for Years 7 to 11 students. Students are The Music Department engages a large camps are compulsory, with every child
expected to attend training sessions after number of visiting instrumental teaching participating in the Year group program
8 | SACS - Middle School 2021The following Middle
School co-curricular
activities are offered
between Years 7 and 10. Camps in Years 7 Summer activities (Terms 1 and 4) Winter activities (Terms 2 and 3)
and 8 are based on and around the school’s
outdoor education property, Kirrikee, Basketball (boys and girls) Athletics (boys and girls)
located in the Southern Highlands.
Cricket (boys) Dance (boys and girls)
SACS outdoor education seeks to bring
about a reconnection with our natural Dance (boys and girls) Cross country running (boys and girls)
world. This is particularly relevant to
SACS students in their unique urban Debating (boys and girls) Cross country skiing (boys and girls)
educational environment. While providing
students with the opportunity to explore Fencing (boys and girls) Interschool Skiing
some amazing places, the students also
Maker Space (boys and girls) Fit for Life (boys and girls)
experience being challenged beyond
what they thought they could manage.
Mountain Biking (boys and girls) Fencing (boys and girls)
They have the opportunity to experience
and demonstrate leadership skills. Rugby 7s (boys and girls) Football (girls and boys)
Our program provides a wide range of
diverse age-appropriate experiences in Softball (girls) Hockey (girls)
the outdoors, with each year’s experiences
Squash (boys and girls) Club Hockey (boys and girls)
leading to more challenging ones in
subsequent years. Years 7 and 8 attend Summer Hockey (boys and girls) Netball (girls)
five-day programs in Term 1.
Term 4 only
An optional Year 8 program involves a Rugby (boys)
four-day hike on the Yuraygir Coastal Swimming (boys and girls)
Squash (boys and girls)
Walk, as well as the Gold Coast theme
parks, Learn to Surf and Australia Zoo. Tennis (boys and girls)
Tennis (boys and girls)
Year 8 students can choose which Theatresports (boys and girls)
camp they wish to attend. Water Polo (boys and girls)
Touch Football (boys and girls)
In Year 9, SACS offers two different Winter Basketball (boys and girls)
camps, including a unique snow program,
Ultimate Frisbee (boys and girls)
where students spend five days camping Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (boys and girls)
in the snow, learning how to build Water Polo (boys and girls)
igloos, snow caves and being taught Debating (boys and girls)
cross-country skiing. The other option
is a canoe trip along the Murray River. Year 8 and Year 9
Middle School Drama
Ensemble (boys and girls)
Duke of Edinburgh
Award Scheme Year 7 Drama Club (boys and girls)
Students from Year 8 are encouraged Girls in Tech (girls)
to join in this program, which involves
learning skills, developing interests, Maker Space (boys and girls)
undertaking service and the planning/
undertaking of expeditions. Robotics (boys and girls)
The program culminates in the Gold Theatresports (boys and girls)
Award, which is highly recognised
within employment as an outstanding
achievement in its own right.
SACS - Middle School 2021 | 9St Andrew’s Cathedral School: 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 email info@sacs.nsw.edu.au CRICOS Registration: The Council of St Andrew’s Cathedral School 02276M www.sacs.nsw.edu.au
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