Junior School - Westbourne

Junior School – Westbourne

The Junior School at Westbourne has been purpose-built to cater for students from the Preparatory level to Year Six. It is located at Truganina in the rapidly growing western suburbs, approximately 20 minutes from the Melbourne CBD. Situated on 48 hectares of land, the School offers landscaped gardens, a lake, an abundance of sporting facilities, as well as a special environmental area.

Whilst the Junior School is completely self-contained, the buildings are situated near the Secondary School, so that students are able to take full advantage of all of the facilities of a modern Preparatory to Year 12 campus.

Dedicated and well qualified teachers in the Junior School at Westbourne encourage students to feel part of a total school community. A stimulating curriculum provides the students with a sound foundation in Literacy, Numeracy and Integrated Studies. The latter curriculum area includes The Humanities (History, Geography and Economics), Science, Technology and Health. Library, LOTE (Japanese) Music, Physical Education and the Visual Arts are taught by specialist teachers.

Each child is encouraged to participate in a range of musical activities and a broad sporting programme, and students are also given every opportunity to develop their creative and artistic skills as part of a well-rounded education. Through such varied experiences, students are able to develop skills, talents and attitudes which set a solid foundation for later educational experiences.

The Junior School at Westbourne offers:

Dynamic, caring and motivated teachers

Small classes (Prep to Year 2: maximum 22 students; Years 3 to 6: maximum 25 students)

High academic standards

A strong focus on fundamental literacy and numeracy skills

Quality resources

Programs to meet the needs of individual students

Specialist programs for all year levels including Library, LOTE (Japanese) Music, Physical Education and the Visual Arts

An extensive sporting program, including an inter-school competition with other leading independent schools

A sequential and developmental Outdoor Education program

Diverse creative and artistic opportunities

Comprehensive transition programs from Kindergarten to Prep and from Primary (Year 6) to Secondary (Year 7)

Outside School Hours Care, including Before and After School Care as well as Holiday Programs

Facilities and Equipment
All classrooms have air conditioning and heating and are laid out and furnished in a manner that maximises the learning environment at each year level.

There are two classes at each Year level from Prep to Year 2 and three classes at each level from Year 3 to 6. The rooms are co-located to allow for the sharing of resources at that particular level. Networked computers are available in each classroom.

Other facilities available at this campus are:

  • State of the art Information Technology Laboratory, allowing all members of the class to access a computer
  • Well resourced Junior School Library
  • Well equipped Junior School Art Room and Music Rooms
  • Access to the Music School for Private Music lessons
  • A unique Earth Education Centre
  • Extensive playground and sports grounds
  • Use of the School Gymnasium
  • State of the art, purpose built Health Centre
  • Access to the School Auditorium and a modern multi-media Lecture Theatre
  • Chapel
  • Uniform shop

Curriculum

The Junior School provides a comprehensive curriculum that offers students a wide range of opportunities to develop their skills and talents and to foster a life-long love of learning. Learning activities are productive and context-based, but staff also aim to make the learning experience fun, through special days (e.g. Grandparents’ Day, Art Day, Japanese Cultural Day), excursions, visiting performers and speakers, parental involvement, etc.

Throughout the Junior School years, there is an emphasis on developing fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, as these are so important in underpinning much of the learning that takes place in students’ secondary education.

There is also a focus on enabling students to acquire the skills and processes of learning and in this regard, thinking and problem-solving skills are given a high priority.

Inquiry-based learning through the Integrated Studies Units helps students to gain a greater appreciation of the world around them and learning opportunities in the specialist areas (i.e. Library, LOTE/Japanese, Music, Physical Education and the Visual Arts) enable students to develop particular talents and passions and to gain a well-rounded education.

Given that children develop at different rates in their learning, various teaching strategies and learning activities are implemented to cater for the individual needs and learning styles of students. Enrichment and extension opportunities are provided for able students. Similarly, additional assistance through the Educational Support Program can be provided to students who are experiencing difficulties, particularly in the literacy area.

Assessment and Reporting

Assessment is an integral, ongoing and vital aspect of the learning process in the Junior School. It provides students with essential feedback and it informs and directs teachers in terms of planning for future learning activities.

At the beginning of each term, teachers at all levels identify the learning outcomes for each curriculum area in line with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS).

The breadth of assessment practices in the Junior School enables teachers to build up a comprehensive picture of how students are progressing, as well as their individual strengths and weaknesses.

Such practices include:

  • Formal and informal observations
  • Regular and ongoing analysis of reading development
  • Writing tasks assessed against identified VELS standards
  • Weekly spelling tests
  • Skill development in Maths assessed against identified VELS standards
  • Group assessment tasks
  • Oral presentations and written assessment tasks, particularly in the area of Integrated Studies
  • Standardised testing is periodically used to benchmark internal assessment practices
  • National testing (i.e. NAPLAN/UNSW tests) are undertaken annually by students at the relevant levels

Comprehensive written reports are provided to parents at the end of each semester. These reports cover all the key learning areas and detailed, specific rating scales give parents a clear indication of how their child has met the various learning outcomes for each particular curriculum area. A written comment from the class teacher and the relevant specialists accompanies each section of the report.

Throughout the year, Parent-Teacher Interviews also play a crucial role in the feedback cycle. These meetings occur early in Terms 1 and 3. Attendance by parents is compulsory, as the partnership between home and school is seen as vital in maximising each child’s learning potential. With this in mind, meetings between parents and teachers can be arranged at mutually suitable times at any stage during the year.

Performing Arts

In the Junior School, students have an opportunity to perform role plays, etc, in Department and whole school Assemblies.

In Term 3, all students across both campuses are involved in the Performing Arts Festival, which runs over three nights. Before interval, classes at each year level give a performance. After interval, the Year 5 and 6 students present a musical, which they have been rehearsing outside school hours throughout Terms 2 and 3. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the thrill of performing on stage in front of a large audience. The skills that are developed see many of these students progressing onto other dramatic/musical productions in the Senior School.

Languages

In the Junior School, the designated language on offer (i.e. other than English) is Japanese. During the younger years, the emphasis is on developing cultural understandings as well as gaining some of the basic language skills. By Year 6, a number of students have progressed to the point where they can access an accelerated Japanese class in the Senior School.

A very memorable and enjoyable highlight of the annual school calendar is Japanese Cultural Day, where all students are exposed to aspects of the Japanese culture through workshops with visiting experts.

Information Services

Computers are a vital tool for learning in the Junior School. All classrooms have computers and these are networked, as are those in the Junior School Information Technology Laboratory. Students access a wide variety of software programs and relevant Internet sites. Through this exposure, they gain confidence and competence in their keyboard and research skills.

It is commonplace for students to put together PowerPoint presentations, etc, to share what they have learnt with others.

The Junior School Information Technology Laboratory is open at lunchtimes for student use and a group of students who make up the Information Technology Committee assist in running this facility.

All Junior School staff have a laptop and these can be hooked up to an electronic whiteboard, so that the learning taking place is of a more interactive nature.

Extra Curricular

Students in the Junior School have many opportunities to be involved in additional activities such as Music (e.g. choirs, orchestras and ensembles), Sport (e.g. inter-house, inter-school, district, zone, state and national championships in a range of sporting endeavours including major games, swimming, athletics and cross country) and Outdoor Education (e.g. year level camps).

In addition, opportunities exist for Junior School students to be involved in the following pursuits:

  • Chess Club
  • Environmental Committee
  • Junior Council
  • Junior School Mentoring Program
  • Information Technology Committee
  • Inter-School Debating
  • Library Committee
  • Musical Production
  • Recycling and Waste Management Program
  • Social Service Committee
  • Year 6 Weekend Outdoor Education Program (Optional)