Junior Campus Special Programs

Sports Leaders

Approximately 18 Year 5 students are selected each year to undergo training as Sports Leaders . These students take groups of young students at lunchtime for cooperative games.

Doing Things Together Days

The school has a focus on courtesy, caring and cooperation and these qualities are emphasised on DTT days where students participate in groups in a variety of activities.

E.S.L. (English as a Second Language)

This school ensures that all staff accept responsibility for ESL learners in conjunction with the specialist teacher. ESL students have equitable access and participation within the culturally inclusive curriculum. The specialist teacher assists students to develop their English for effective learning across the curriculum and full participation in the wider community. Progress is monitored and advice and support provided for mainstream teachers. Wherever possible, teaching is done in the mainstream class in cooperation with the class teacher.

Information Skills

It is vital that all students learn the skills of independent study. Students are taught the skills of accessing, using and applying information. This will be an ongoing process throughout the seven years of primary schooling and is integral to all curriculum areas. Students attend the Resource Centre each week.

Information Literacy

The role of the library resource centre program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.

One of the prime roles of the teacher/librarian, working as an instructional partner with classroom teachers, is to develop an Information Literacy program across all curriculum areas and suitable for all year levels.

Information Literacy is a resource-based approach to learning, which assists students develop the skills necessary for gaining access to information, acquiring knowledge and understandings, and for using resources for personal growth. It is seen as an integral part of the school curriculum as the ability to access and use information effectively is necessary for success in school, work and personal life.

Information Literacy skills develop the capacity of students to recognise and define their information needs, to know how and where to find information from a range of sources, and how to select, organise and communicate or present it to others.

Information Literacy is taught as an information problem-solving process, made up of a number of steps, namely:

defining information needs
locating information from a range of sources
critically analysing and selecting relevant information
recording, managing and organizing information
presenting information appropriate to the purpose
reflecting on the learning and determining further need

Working through the Information Literacy process, students are given experience in developing skills such as identifying information needs and possible information sources, listing keywords and concepts, summarising and note taking, and crating an original product, which uses a presentation format appropriate for the purpose and audience.

As part of the process, students are given the opportunity to access and present information in a range of different formats—from print resources, such as books and magazines, through to electronic media, such as CD-ROMs and the Internet.

Information and Communication Technology

The main goals of the ICT program at Caroline Chisholm are:

to improve the skills base of the whole school community.
to develop understanding and knowledge of computers and their use.
to increase access to and participation in the use of IT hardware by all the school community.
to promote the use of the networks in the school.
to promote IT as a learning tool.
to maximise the use of the school's IT resources.

Students at Caroline Chisholm School will be given the opportunity to develop skills in using computers to reinforce skills taught in the classroom. They will use their skills to publish their own writing and have access to facilities such as the Internet and CD Rom for researching topics and communicating with a wide range of people around the world. Students will be encouraged to discuss their work with their parents and their work will be available for parents to see. Students are not permitted to bring any software to school that has not been approved by the IT committee.

Caroline Chisholm School - Junior has developed an ICT Continuum document that is a sequential program of ICT skills from Kindergarten to Year 5.

The Information Literacy Process, Information Communication Technologies and the Key Competencies are incorporated in this program. Each skill builds on what is already learnt or taught, and scaffolds the learning in a logical and consistent manner.

Students and teachers are provided with a clearly defined framework within which to teach and assess ICT skills.

Mediator Program- KEWL KIDS (Kids Empowered With Leadership)

The Chisholm Playground Mediator Program came into being in 1993 as a result of the School Review. Students, teachers and parents expressed concern about children not feeling safe on the playground. To address this concern students, staff and parents agreed to utilise the Giralang Primary Playground Mediator Program.

Aim

To develop a system of playground management which will place the responsibility for playground mediation upon the students.

Objectives

To provide students with mediation and conflict resolution skills and a practical forum in which to exercise this knowledge;
To develop better ways of managing the playground by diverting some time spent by teachers in the playground into preparing students for playground mediation;
To further enhance Caroline Chisholm School's Student Management Program.

Outdoor Education

Caroline Chisholm School has an Outdoor Education program and actively supports experiential learning outside the classroom. Camps of 1, 2 and 3 days at a range of venues are used to provide variety and depth in a program aimed at extending student's skills in co-operation, environment study and bushcraft.

Protective Behaviours

This program provides students with strategies to cope with difficult or frightening situations which make them feel insecure. This program runs every two years. The key elements are "Everyone has the right to feel safe" and "Nothing is so bad you can't talk about it.”

Support Services

The school has several staff members who provide additional and expert support services. These include the School Counsellor, the Learning Assistance Teacher and the English-as-a-Second Language Teacher. Allocation of these staff members is based on enrolments and identified needs. In addition, teachers are supported by an Office Manager (responsible for administration of school finances), a Caretaker (responsible for janitorial duties) and School Assistants (who help students and teachers in the delivery of learning programs).

Sporting Opportunities

Each year students are able to participate in a broad range of inter school sporting activities in addition to the normal PE program including: Rugby, Basketball, Netball, Soccer, Volleyball, Athletics, Swimming, Cross Country

Other Student Programs and Events

Rostrum Public Speaking
Year 5 & 6 Band Program
Choir
Nankama Drumming Group
Australian Schools Maths & Science Competitions
Tournament of Minds
Chess Club & Competitions
Wakikirri
Market Day
Buddy Classes
Children’s Book Week Events
Book Fairs
Scholastic Book Club
End of Year Carols Night & BBQ
Whole School Dance, theatre and other performances
Principal’s Lunches
Principal’s Awards
Excursions and Camps
Resource Centre Monitors
Year 5 Yearbook production
Year 5 Farewell Assembly and Dinner
Sports Clinics and Carnivals