Senior Campus Special Programs
Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading (USSR)
Challenge Program
Resource Programs
Learning Assistance Program
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
Learning Centre
Study Centre
Unicorn Program
PC Central
Work Experience
Road Ready
Uninterrupted Sustained Silent Reading (USSR)
For the first 30 minutes of every day on the senior campus, regardless of the subject, all students read silently from books or other reading matter they have selected themselves.
USSR is an important literacy strategy. Through USSR we encourage pleasure in reading and active engagement with text-based material.
During USSR (9:00 to 9:30 each morning) some Year 6, 7 and 8 students who need practice and encouragement in reading are paired with Year 9 and 10 students. The program benefits everyone involved.
Challenge Program
Caroline Chisholm School caters for able students through the flexibility and responsiveness of the Work Required Unit and our Advanced classes in some learning areas in the senior part of the school.
Our Challenge Program recognises students who need stretching beyond these bounds, offers them identified Challenge classes in English, Mathematics and Science and promotes a range of additional extra-curricular opportunities and enrichment programs.
This does not necessarily entail a greater volume of work, but it does imply a strong emphasis on higher order thinking skills. The pedagogy features problem-based learning, with the student as active learner, researcher, reflective learner and presenter.
The Challenge program also encompasses Sports Dynamics classes for talented athletes.
Resource Programs
Resource teachers in each subschool offer a range of programs designed to assist students experiencing difficulty or having special needs.
Learning Assistance Program
The Learning Assistance Program is designed to help students who are experiencing difficulties with literacy, numeracy, organisational skills and/or homework tasks in any curriculum area.
The Learning Assistance Program offers smaller literacy and numeracy classes. Additionally, resource teachers may assist students in other classes or alternatively withdraw small groups of students for short periods to meet individual needs. Apart from improving students’ skills, the program places strong emphasis on developing positive attitudes to learning, self-esteem and personal responsibility.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
The ESL Teacher supports students from non-English speaking backgrounds in the classroom and provides expertise in language acquisition and development. The teacher helps students to become integrated into the social environment of the school community.
The program uses many different strategies to assist these students. They may receive assistance within the mainstream class; they may be withdrawn from class for a period of time; they may receive individual attention. Strategies are tailored to the individual needs of students.
Learning Centre
The Learning Centre is a program for students identified by the Department of Education as having significant learning difficulties. At Caroline Chisholm School the Learning Centre works on an integration basis. Other than special smaller classes in literacy and numeracy, Learning Centre students are placed in mainstream classes but are supported in these classes by Special Education teachers. In practice these teachers work in conjunction with class teachers to provide specialist assistance and programs for students who have special needs or specific learning difficulties. They also work directly with the students in some classes. A Special Education Assistant also gives support to these students with the classroom setting.
Study Centre
This facility offers opportunities for small groups of students to receive specialist help. It is open to any student from any class. There are IT facilities for students to use, and help for students who are having difficulty with their class work or assignment work.
Unicorn Program
The Unicorn Program offers special support for a small number of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These students receive special support in mainstream classes. Entry to this program is by Department of Education placement.
PC Central
The Pastoral Care team are located in PC Central located at the eastern end of the car par, at the back of the Technology area. The Pastoral Care Team consists of the Pastoral Care Officer - Amanda Murtagh, Youth Support Worker - Kylie Smith, Chaplin - Vivian Biancardi and Defence Transistion Mentor - Kirsty Russell.
Work Experience
Caroline Chisholm School - Senior conducts a comprehensive Work Experience Program of one week’s duration for some Year 9 and all Year 10 students. The Careers Advisor gives the students the necessary preparation and the information about available Work Experience positions. While at Work Experience students are encouraged to keep a log of their day-to-day activities. This information is shared with other students during a debriefing session.
Further placements are possible for students who propose to leave school at the end of Year 9 and Year 10 students who do not intend to proceed to college.
Where possible, placements are sought with local community employers.
Road Ready
During Year 10 students undertake a one-week Road Ready course. The Department of Urban Services requires successful completion of the course and the examination at the end before it will issue a Learner Driver’s Permit
