Transition Programs

Moving from primary to secondary school can be an exciting and challenging time for young people and their parents. Emerald Secondary College aims to ensure a smooth transition from primary to secondary school. An extensive transition program ensures students are given many opportunities to visit the College and participate in a range of activities prior to commencing Year 7

SETTLING INTO THE COLLEGE AS A YEAR 7 STUDENT

 

There are many differences between primary schools and secondary colleges: the number of different subjects, rooms and teachers, the responsibility of taking different books and equipment to specialist classes and integrating with students from other schools.  At Emerald Secondary College we are aware of these new challenges and are organised to make the transition as pleasant as possible.



The Experience Emerald program operates between Emerald Secondary College and Grade 5 and 6 students from the local primary schools.  It provides an opportunity to participate in a range of Year 7 classes. By the time students actually start Year 7, most feel quite at home in their new surroundings.

The Orientation Day in December enables Grade 6 students to experience a normal school day, following a Year 7 timetable. Where possible, students will meet their Home Group Teacher and class teachers for the following year. The night before Orientation Day an Information Evening is held for parents and students.

The Junior School Team works to ensure all new students settle in happily. This team includes the Junior School Manager, the Year 7 Coordinator, the Wellbeing Leader, the Transition Co-ordinator and the Year 7 Home Group Teachers. One of the challenges at secondary college is getting used to having a greater number of teachers. Wherever possible each Year 7 student has their Home Group Teacher as a classroom teacher. Some students may have the same teacher in multiple subjects e.g. English and SOSE or Maths and Science.

The Settling-in Week means Year 7 students are dismissed 5 mins early for recess, lunch and at the end of the day to get to their lockers, the canteen and buses for the first week. Only Year 7 and 12 students attend on the first day of the school year.

The Orientation Camp is held in mid-February. This gives all Year 7 students, their teachers, and the Junior School team, the opportunity to get to know each other by enjoying fun activities aimed at co-operative learning and team building in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Prior to going on camp students and parents can meet the staff informally at the Sausage Sizzle.

The Peer Support Program is designed to provide support between teenagers by applying the student-help-student principle, and gives the opportunity for friendly contact between senior and junior students.  The nature of the program and the interaction between students achieves positive results by helping to develop self-esteem, self-acceptance, confidence, and the ability to make sound decisions.

Peer Mediation provides a process whereby trained senior students assist younger students to resolve conflicts and disputes through mediation and negotiation. Attending a mediation session is a way of recognising the breakdown of communication or the need to resolve issues in a different way. Mediators encourage negotiation between people, but do not dominate or control them. Mediation focuses on the future, not the past or revenge. It is a constructive way of using the conflict to come to an agreement that meets the needs of the parties involved.

The You Can Do It Achievement Program aims to enhance the social, emotional well-being and academic achievement of each individual student. Research shows that successful students have a more positive mindset. The program teaches students to identify negative thinking patterns that may hinder academic progress and emotional well being. The program also aims to give students the skills to develop positive thinking patterns that lead to success.

 

SEAL Program

The Selected Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL) program is aimed at students with high intellectual potential. SEAL provides a higher paced curriculum involving greater analysis of abstract, complex concepts, high level investigative problem solving and creative thinking skills in a more academically challenging environment. The SEAL Program operates differently to the mainstream Year 7 curriculum.
For further information contact: Assistant Principal: Aaron Smith 59 68 5388.

 

An information pack is available for families considering a Year 7 enrolment at Emerald Secondary College. The pack contains our “Starting Secondary School” booklet, copies of our annual School Magazine “Paraweena” and our annual Year 7 Magazine. There is also further information regarding our SEAL program and an outline of school policies.

To obtain a copy of the information pack and or arrange a personal tour of the school please contact Franca Mosca: Transition Co-ordinator 5968 5388