The Curriculum at Djarragun College

A brief overview

The curriculum at Djarragun College is designed to:

The College offers its students an outstanding education at a national level. This requires specific attention to the individual abilities, talents and needs of every student, to ensure the intellectual, social, moral, emotional and spiritual development of each individual.

Our school has the following curriculum areas:

PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME – Prep to year 7
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMME – Years 8 - 10
SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME - Years 11 and 12
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING – VET AND YEAR 13

PRIMARYSCHOOL PROGRAMME– Prep to year 7

The Primary curriculum at Djarragun College has a focus on collaboratively planned integrated units of work, using the Queensland Studies Authority syllabus as its scope and sequence. This allows the College to meet the requirements of the QSA while meeting the standards, principles and practices set down by the Principal and section coordinator. Djarragun College is thus nationally benchmarked.

The Primary curriculum focuses on the development of the whole child, in the classroom and in the outside world. It offers a framework that meets children’s spiritual, academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural needs. Djarragun College promotes the implementation of best educational practice through a structured inquiry-based learning approach, with a national focus and aims to develop students who are:

Inquirers
Principled
Caring
Open-Minded
Well-balanced
Reflective
Thinkers
Communicators
Risk-takers
Knowledgeable

Six integrated themes provide the framework for the exploration of knowledge. In the process, they develop an understanding of important concepts, acquire essential skills and knowledge, develop particular attitudes and learn to take socially responsible action.

This framework is compatible with those of the QSA as well as the ethos and values of the College.

The Primary Years Programme is designed for students between the ages of 5 and 12 years. It is an integrated programme designed to foster the development of the whole child, not just in the classroom but also through other means of learning, outside the classroom.

THE PRIMARY STUDENT PROFILE

The profile of the Primary student helps teachers to establish goals, plan units of inquiry and assess performance. These attributes and traits help characterise the students as learners. The attributes and traits are that students will be:

INQUIRERSTheir natural curiosity has been nurtured. They have acquired the skills necessary to conduct purposeful, constructive research. They actively enjoy learning, and their love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
THINKERSThey exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to make sound decisions and to solve complex problems.
COMMUNICATORSThey receive and express ideas and information confidently in more than one language, including the language of mathematical symbols.
RISK-TAKERSThey approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety and have the confidence and independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are courageous and articulate in defending those things in which they believe.
KNOWLEDGEABLEThey have spent time at Djarragun College exploring themes which have national and global relevance and importance. In doing so, they have acquired a critical mass of significant knowledge.
PRINCIPLEDThey have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning. They have integrity, honesty and a sense of fairness and justice.
CARINGThey show sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a sense of personal commitment to action and service.
OPEN-MINDEDThey respect the views, values and traditions of other individuals and cultures, and are accustomed to seeking and considering a range of points of view.
WELL-BALANCEDThey understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being.
REFLECTIVEThey give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and analyse their personal strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner.

The Primary Years Programme identifies a body of significant knowledge for all students, in eight principal subject areas:

  • Values Education
  • English Language
  • SOSE
  • Mathematics
  • Science and technology
  • The Arts – visual, performing including music
  • Personal Development, Health & Physical Education
  • Home Economics
  • Languages other than English (LOTE) Japanese is offered to a select group of students who are motivated and showing the academic potential to learn another language.
These eight subject areas align with the QSA, Key Learning Areas (KLAs) and are followed through to the Middle School Programme.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMME – Years 8 - 10

This period, encompassing early puberty and mid-adolescence, is a particularly critical phase of personal and intellectual development and requires a programme that helps students participate actively and responsibly in a changing and increasingly interrelated world. Learning how to learn and how to evaluate information critically is as important as learning facts. Djarragun College offers a programme designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.

Students are offered a framework of academic challenge and life skills appropriate to this stage of adolescence. The three-year programme follows naturally the Primary Programme and is excellent preparation for the more challenging Senior Years Programme. The Middle Years Programme insists on a thorough study of various disciplines but puts the accent on their interrelatedness. All assessment of student work is carried out by teachers using criteria established by the Queensland Studies Authority.

Subjects offered in the Middle School curriculum emphasise a broad liberal education covering English, Mathematics, SOSE, Science and Technology, ICT and Multi Media, Art, Music, Drama, LOTE (Japanese),Values Education, Physical Education, Health and Sport (HPE), Industrial Technology & Design, Bike Mechanics and Home Economics.  We also have a commitment to adventure based programmes such as Outdoor Education and Djarragun College’s uniquely designed “Dare to Achieve” programme especially aimed at young teenage boys. This programme opens the four walls of the classroom to the world. It is an excellent programme offering a wonderful opportunity for the students to explore and be challenged physically, emotionally, socially and in a range of practical skills to work as a team, to show courage, commitment and resourcefulness in outdoor activities.

As with the younger grades, access to Literacy tutors with one to one tuition is available for students.

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SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME - Years 11 and 12

The Senior School programme provides students with a strong foundation for future academic pursuits through a challenging, comprehensive and balanced curriculum. That programme is based upon the Queensland Studies Authority syllabus for senior schooling and offers students a nationally recognized standard of academic excellence.

Beyond the intellectual rigor and high academic expectations that are hallmarks of the Senior School's programme, Djarragun College places great emphasis upon the development of each student as a self-disciplined and critical thinker as well as a compassionate and thoughtful citizen of the world. Our strong extra-curricular programmes as well as a wide range of health and well being programmes are indicative of our commitment to these ideals.

A range of Board, Board-registered and school subjects form the core subjects that are offered to Senior students. These include: English, Mathematics (A, B, C), Multi-strand Science, Business, Health and Physical Education including sport, ICT/Multi Media and Ethics and Society. Students are able to choose a certificate course of their choice from the following accredited certificate courses:

Hospitality, Hairdressing, Multi Media, Information Technology, Sport and Recreation, Engineering, Construction, Automotive (mechanics), Marine and Aquatic Practices, Visual Art, and Music.

As well as the above subjects and certificate courses, students are able to get the following licenses while at Djarragun College:

Blue Card, boat license, radio license, drivers license, First Aid, various heavy machinery licenses such as fork lift, back hoe etc.

Traineeships and Apprenticeships form an important feature of the Vocational programme the College offers with all students having access to school based traineeships in their senior years. In order to prepare students for this world away from the classroom, a strong emphasis is placed on Careers Education and the completion of a Work Readiness certificate.

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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING – VET AND YEAR 13

This post schooling year is offered to those students who wish to either start or complete a certificate course in a vocational area, while at the same time improving their skills in literacy and numeracy. Trade Maths and Functional Literacy programmes support the learning of year 13 students. These students are also eligible for school based traineeships and apprenticeships.