JUNIOR YEARS
The Hamilton and Alexandra College is a co-educational day and boarding school located in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. We are extremely proud of our strong history and traditional values and equally proud of our outstanding facilities and innovative educational programs.
JUNIOR YEARS CURRICULUM ( PREP - YEAR 6)
The Junior Years curriculum is designed to build a strong base for life-long, future learning. The emphasis of the classroom program is to ensure a solid foundation through the development of competencies in the areas of literacy and numeracy. Students are regularly monitored to ensure the provision of appropriate extension, enrichment and support within their learning.
An appreciation of tradition, culture, self-expression, personal identity and communication is fostered through the specialist program. Specialist subjects, beyond the classroom program, are delivered by teachers with expertise in their area of the curriculum.
There is a shared responsibility between classroom teachers and specialist teachers for developing notions of literacy, numeracy, ICT capability, digital technologies, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical behaviour and inter-cultural understanding.
Student Learning Services staff support the learning of individuals with identified and externally assessed learning difficulties.
Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning through goal setting and self-assessment. The development of a home learning routine is an expectation for all students. Tasks are regularly set for students, in order for them to develop the personal organisation and work habits required as they progress through their schooling. We place a strong emphasis on the vital three-way relationship between students-parents-teachers in the learning process.
Positive Education philosophies are embedded into our programs, through classroom interventions designed to establish: growth mindsets, mindfulness for engagement, signature strengths, increased resilience and positive emotion - supporting students to flourish in their learning.
OUR LEARNING PHILOSOPHY IS TO PROMOTE:
A supportive, rigorous, challenging and productive learning environment
Independence, interdependence, engagement and self motivation from the learner
Deep levels of critical thinking and application, along with creative thinking for innovation
Differentiation of students’ learning needs, which may include varying backgrounds, learning readiness, perspectives and developing interests
Assessment as an integral part of the teaching and learning design cycle to ensure application of relevant skills, knowledge and understanding
Learning programs designed to equip students with communication and collaboration skills required for the 21st Century and to ensure students are globally connected and prepared for future learning, citizenship and work.
