Upper Primary
seniors
Years 5 & 6
In Year 5 and 6 we aim to develop inquisitive and motivated learners who forever wonder, explore, discover and grow as valued children of a patient, gracious and faithful God.
Developing inquisitive kids
In Upper Primary, we learn to ponder the wonders of creation, placing importance on asking “Why?” at every opportunity. As we think about our thinking, we research possible explanations to our questions and develop inquiry skills through rich learning tasks. We value and celebrate first-hand experience as a highly effective conduit for learning. The learning and development at this level include:
- Experiential learning through excursions to Sovereign Hill and Canberra
- 1:1 student chromebooks with online collaboration
- Digital media production through film-making and game creation
- Sphero Sparks to improve their coding skills during technology lessons
- Leadership program starting with Buddies and opportunities for House and School Captaincy
- Secondary school transition program
To begin, Year 5 embark on the time-travel adventure of a lifetime, as we become ‘ragged’ students from the 1850s gold rush in a 3-day camp at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat.
We venture underground, pan for gold, attend school with Ma’am, learn trades from blacksmithing to needlework, and get to experience the Eureka Stockade firsthand. The year continues with exciting visits to Scienceworks Planetarium, Melbourne Zoo and incursions to the Science Lab in the secondary school.
Upon entering Year 5, students are paired up with students from the Early Learning Centre as part of the Buddy program. Buddies spend time together once a week, making crafts, reading, playing sports, and learning together.
Upper primary embraces the Digital Technologies curriculum and have 1:1 iPad devices that support and extend learning in all areas with programs that enable effective online differentiation. Year 5 students learn about coding and use their devices to design and create their own games and interactive experiences. We also continue to build up our Media Room to inspire creative filming and directing of videos in any learning area.
We endeavour to Seek and Find God’s fingerprint in creation - from the vast expanse of the universe through to the intricacies of the atomic level. In all that we explore and learn, we appreciate our capacity to make a difference in our smaller community and as global citizens.
A wide range of activities and learning
This year, the Year 5 & 6 classes were excited to join the secondary school students for the first time in the annual Edinburgh College Swimming Carnival, and later on in the Athletics Carnival.
The sports program offers Hoop Time participation in SEISS Interschool Cross Country competition and Soccer Tournaments. Preparations for these events involve training, led by Year 10 student coaches.
Learning about government and democracy involves experiential learning in a week-long trip to Canberra, with our two sister schools. The Year 6 class experience an informative and fun filled visit the Parliament House, National Archives, Australian Institute of Sport, Government House, War Memorial, Questacon. Local learning opportunities involve trips to the Melbourne Immigration Museum, IMAX theatre, and science learning in the secondary school Science Lab. Later in the year, we design and manufacture products to sell at the Kids 4 Causes Market Day, which is always a highlight.
Our personal development continues as we build leadership skills through a service focus buddy program with Prep students, we lead the Circuit Sports Challenge whole school fundraiser, and take the House and School captains to National Young Leaders Day in the city.
As Year 6 transition into secondary school, we spend time orienting ourselves around the campus, learn to read and use timetables from the central Locker Bay points, and learn about safe places throughout Term 4. We also hear experiences from prior students and learn to manage the excitement and expectations of our secondary school careers.
