Middle School: Class 7 to Year 10
In adolescence, the student develops rational thinking in the face of a rising tide of emotions. The student’s healthy idealism needs to be nurtured and directed, allowing intelligent and sensitive inner feelings and experiences to unfold.
In the Shearwater Middle School, students are encouraged to connect with their studies through artistic activity and worldly experience. Confidence is built through creative expression, and connections with the ‘real’ world beyond the classroom are nurtured. Professionals from the community are encouraged to bring their expertise to the classroom enabling students to experience the specialisation and professional demands of a real-world studio, shop or factory, breaking down the barriers between school and the workplace.
Although the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) regards Class 7 as the beginning of High School, at Shearwater, Class 7 is part of the Primary School. It is seen as a year of transition. The Class Teacher, who has been with the students since Class 1, fulfilling a pastoral and authoritative role, begins a gradual withdrawal, in favour of specialist teachers, including the incoming Class Guardians. This Handbook should be read in conjunction with the Primary School Handbook for families enrolling Class 7 students.
At Shearwater, the Class Guardians guide the same Class group from Year 8 to Year 12. The role of the Class Guardian is both pastoral and educational. Young adolescents need the guidance of worldly, experienced teachers who can answer their concerns with clarity and assurance. Guardians may only teach the class for part of the year. However it is the Guardians’ role to schedule the Class learning program; attend to the students’ individual learning needs and support them with personal difficulties as they arise; organise excursions, camps and field trips; co-ordinate parent liaison; monitor individual students’ progress and coordinate the bi-annual reporting of student progress.
In the Shearwater Middle School, students are encouraged to connect with their studies through artistic activity and worldly experience. Confidence is built through creative expression, and connections with the ‘real’ world beyond the classroom are nurtured. Professionals from the community are encouraged to bring their expertise to the classroom enabling students to experience the specialisation and professional demands of a real-world studio, shop or factory, breaking down the barriers between school and the workplace.
Although the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) regards Class 7 as the beginning of High School, at Shearwater, Class 7 is part of the Primary School. It is seen as a year of transition. The Class Teacher, who has been with the students since Class 1, fulfilling a pastoral and authoritative role, begins a gradual withdrawal, in favour of specialist teachers, including the incoming Class Guardians. This Handbook should be read in conjunction with the Primary School Handbook for families enrolling Class 7 students.
At Shearwater, the Class Guardians guide the same Class group from Year 8 to Year 12. The role of the Class Guardian is both pastoral and educational. Young adolescents need the guidance of worldly, experienced teachers who can answer their concerns with clarity and assurance. Guardians may only teach the class for part of the year. However it is the Guardians’ role to schedule the Class learning program; attend to the students’ individual learning needs and support them with personal difficulties as they arise; organise excursions, camps and field trips; co-ordinate parent liaison; monitor individual students’ progress and coordinate the bi-annual reporting of student progress.