Improving our High Performance (HP) program
Our HP program has been running for 4 years now and we are ready to make some improvements in order to extend its impact. In 2021, we will be affording our incoming year 7 students the opportunity to adjust to the high school environment during their first semester of high school before opening up a top academic class in semester two in each of the core subjects (English, Maths, Science and HSIE). These top classes will continue across the balance of the junior years and every 6 months we will reassess membership of those classes, based on academic achievement and student engagement.
Within the top academic classes, high achieving students will benefit from enhanced learning experiences, both individually and in groups. In years 10 and 11 they will have the chance to undertake professional mentorships under experts in a field of study or work that they are interested in pursuing. These professional mentorships can lead to significant advantage for our students in the next stage of their lives. For a current, real life example of how professional mentorships work, read Ella’s story, made possible because of connections I fostered for her. Ella, currently completing year 12, has recently been accepted to study at the Australian National University on the recommendation of her professional mentor, a young and dynamic Doctor of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Existing processes will remain options for our HP students. HP students will be able to accelerate through some junior syllabuses and undertake some senior courses ahead of their senior years at high school. Senior HP students may wish to take advantage of the Head start early entry project with Southern Cross University. We will also continue to explore other connections to benefit our top academic students both as a cohort and at an individual level. All students at our school deserve the best we can offer them and these are proven ways of helping our most academic and competitive students.
Sandra Rosner