Our Middle Schooling Philosophy
At Chisholm Catholic College we
understand EDUCATION. We acknowledge that the Middle School (Years
7 – 9) is the most dynamic and vital time in the development of students. We know that our adolescents are currently
going through a time of change, not only in their lives, but also in an
increasingly complex world.
Our Middle School will not only
support student growth and development, but ensure organisation and
implementation of high level curriculum.
Our Middle School curriculum has been developed to ensure the engagement
of the learner by looking at real world issues that have a direct impact upon
their lives. Adolescence is where
attitudes, values and habits are formed and can impact greatly on future
schooling and career choices as well as life in general.
Chisholm Catholic College is
especially focused upon active engagement in our classrooms by increasing the hands-on
learning; collaborating with one another and placing greater emphasis on higher
order thinking skills. Our team of teachers are committed to making sure that
this is one of our main priorities whilst working with our young adolescent
learners.
WE
BELIEVE that every student can learn, we believe that an engaging
curriculum is the best pastoral care. WE BELIEVE that each student learns
differently and at a unique rate of attainment of knowledge skills and
concepts. WE BELIEVE teachers are best informed about their learning through
feedback, that students’ progress in their Zone of Proximal Development through
feedback and that improvement in outcomes is best facilitated through
engagement, connections and acting on feedback.
This means that we will reflect on the ultimate purpose of each
unit of work, and whether this has directly influenced or contributed to
student growth, development and achievement.
Teachers will plan collaboratively for LEARNING, taking each student where he/she needs to go NEXT, rather than planning for TEACHING.
Middle School Subjects
Curriculum Year 7:
Year 7 students will experience one Elective subject per term to provide them with a broach education. Students may undertake subjects they did not do in primary school.
In choosing subjects, we encourage students to either pursue their interests or strengths. A prominent message in later year levels is - Choose subjects that you are interested in, choose subjects that you are good at and choose subjects that may be required for future study, therefore, students are now asked to Specialise in their choice of elective subjects.
Curriculum Year 8:
Specialisations are courses for you to focus on specific skills, interests and abilities within Key Learning Areas and are designed for you to deepen your learning with a subject area and across the curriculum. Specialisations may assist with future pathways and subject pre-requisites.
Year 8 Specialisations are a term-based course of study and students need to choose at least one from The Arts and one from the Technologies courses.
Please see here for Year 8 subject offerings in 2025.
Curriculum Year 9
Please see Year 9 Subject Handbook 2025 for detailed information for each subject.