Middle College
The Middle College program aims to provide a challenging, stimulating and supportive environment as young people move into adolescence. From Year 6, the curriculum is expanded to provide students with in-depth experiences in eight key learning areas. Through the Middle College, students shift from a predominantly primary style experience in Year 6, to readiness for effective engagement in Senior College at the end of Year 9.
Relationships are particularly critical to young people in the Middle College years. Vertical pastoral care groups support the growth of strong relationships both within and across year levels, as well as between staff and students. The provision of pastoral care is the responsibility of all stakeholders working in partnership with one another to grow individual strengths and capacities to feel a sense of purpose, belonging and accomplishment both academically, socially and spiritually.
During the Middle College years, engagement in a variety of extracurricular activities is particularly important for the development of self-esteem and a strong sense of belonging, which is critical for success. Participation in a variety of sport cultural and community events engender a strong sense of self worth and the development of a service orientated approach to life.
Middle College Curriculum
Years 6-7: Supporting the Transition
The following characteristics inform a challenging and stimulating Year 6 and 7 curriculum:
Year 6 Principles
- Primary style of learning with students generally located in one classroom, with one teacher for the core lessons of Christian Studies, Mathematics, English, Science, Humanities and Social Science.
- Strong focus on pastoral care with the core class teacher as the first point of contact. Students begin the transition into vertical pastoral care groups in Semester 2.
- Strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
- Integrated use of digital technologies to enhance learning.
- Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning.
- The Pacific Quest program, a forward thinking approach to integrating Arts and Technologies through problem-based experiential learning.
- Learning experiences in Middle College environments including Food and Wellbeing kitchen, Science laboratories and Digital Technologies lab.
- Leadership opportunities in Pacific Action Groups to work alongside the Year 12 Action Group captains in the areas of Cultural, Sport, Student Wellbeing, Spiritualty and Service, Technology, Environmental, and Academic
Year 7 Principles
- Middle schooling strategies applied with students moving between their core classrooms and specialist learning environments.
- Pastoral care provided by two core teachers and linked into vertical care groups.
- Strong focus on literacy and numeracy.
- Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning and levels of independence.
- Integrated use of digital technologies to support learning across all key learning areas.
- The Pacific Quest program, a forward thinking approach to integrating Arts and Technologies through problem-based experiential learning.
The program is based on a weekly program of 35 lessons, each of a 45 minute duration.
Download Middle and Senior College Pathways Curriculum Information
| Year 6 | Year 7 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Christian Studies
|
2
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Christian Studies
|
2
|
|
Mathematics
|
6
|
Mathematics
|
5
|
|
English
|
6
|
English
|
6
|
|
Humanities & Social Science
|
4
|
Humanities & Social Science
|
4
|
|
Science
|
4
|
Science
|
4
|
|
Health & Physical Education
|
3
|
Health & Physical Education
|
3
|
|
Personal Development
|
1
|
Personal Development
|
1
|
|
Band/Classroom Music
|
1
|
Classroom Music
|
1
|
|
Japanese
|
2
|
Japanese
|
2
|
|
Sport
|
2
|
Sport
|
2
|
|
Pacific Quest
|
4
|
Pacific Quest
|
5
|
|
Design & Technologies, including Food & Wellbeing
|
|
Design & Technologies, including Food & Wellbeing
|
|
|
Digital Technologies
|
|
Digital Technologies
|
|
|
Visual Arts
|
|
Visual Arts
|
|
|
Drama
|
|
Drama
|
|
|
Dance
|
|
Dance
|
|
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Media Studies
|
|
Media Studies
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years 8 - 9: Learning to Fly
The latter years of middle schooling are exciting and challenging. A rich curriculum is designed to actively engage and challenge increasingly independent young people to build on prior learnings and strive for personal excellence. The differentiated approach is success orientated and allows for varying levels of performance to be demonstrated and celebrated. Core learnings continue across English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Science, Science, Japanese and Christian Studies. Throughout Year 8, students continue learnings in the Arts and technologies. Students are offered an increased range of subjects, providing them the opportunity to have a more active role in designing their learning journey. Students continue to study a core set of subjects and in addition to this, have the chance to select three elective subjects for each semester. To assist in the transition to senior schooling there is a gradual expansion of the number of teachers each child experiences as they progress from Year 8 to 9.
The following characteristics inform a challenging and stimulating Year 8 and 9 curriculum:
Year 8 Principles
- Middle schooling strategies applied with students moving between their core classrooms and specialist learning environments.
- Strong focus on English and Maths and the separate nature of the disciplines of Science and Humanities and Social Science.
- Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning.
- Philosophical Inquiry introduces students to the process of being curious and thinking together.
- Personal Development program, which examines relationships, decision-making and health related issues.
Year 9 Principles
- Moving from middle schooling strategies to a more senior school focus with separate teachers and classrooms for core lessons.
- Linked into vertical pastoral care groups across Years 6-12, with leadership opportunities in the Junior and Middle College.
- Active and varied styles of learning that challenge students to extend their learning and levels of independence.
- Increased range of specialist subjects offered.
- Rite Journey, a guided journey of self-reflection, making positive choices, relationships, and personal purpose.
The program is based on a weekly program of 35 lessons, each of a 45 minute duration.
Download Middle and Senior College Pathways Curriculum Information
| Year 8 - Core Subjects | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Christian Studies
|
2
|
Humanities & Social Science
|
4
|
|
Mathematics
|
5
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Science
|
4
|
|
English
|
5
|
Health & Physical Education
|
3
|
|
Personal Development
|
1
|
Sport
|
2
|
|
Japanese
|
2
|
Philosophical Inquiry
|
1
|
| Year 8 - Elective Subjects | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Arts (select 2)
|
|
Technologies and Enterprise (select 2)
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|
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Art
|
3
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Design Technology
|
3
|
|
Dance
|
3
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Enterprise
|
3
|
|
Drama
|
3
|
Digital Technology
|
3
|
|
Media Studies
|
3
|
Food and Wellbeing
|
3
|
|
Music
|
3
|
STEM
|
3
|
| Year 9 - Core Subjects | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Rite Journey
|
3
|
Humanities & Social Science
|
4
|
|
Mathematics / Mathematics & Extension
|
5
|
Science
|
4
|
|
English
|
5
|
Health & Physical Education
|
3
|
| Year 9 - Elective Subjects Semester 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
LINE 1
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LINE 2
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LINE 3
|
|
ART: Art Beat
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Drama
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Art: Art Beat
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|
Business Economics
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Food & Wellbeing
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Design
|
|
Dance
|
Japanese 1
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Food & Wellbeing
|
|
History
|
Literature
|
Digital Technology
|
|
Digital Technology
|
Manufacturing Studies
|
Media Studies
|
|
Manufacturing Studies
|
Philosophy & Reasoning
|
|
|
STEM 1 Engineering
|
|
|
| Year 9 - Elective Subjects Semester 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
LINE 1
|
LINE 2
|
LINE 3
|
|
Art
|
Drama
|
Art
|
|
Business Economics
|
Food & Wellbeing
|
Design
|
|
History
|
Japanese 1
|
Food & Wellbeing
|
|
Digital Technology
|
Literature
|
Digital Technology
|
|
Japanese 2
|
Manufacturing Studies
|
Media Studies
|
|
Manufacturing Studies
|
Philosophy & Reasoning
|
Music
|
|
STEM 2 Engineering
|
|
STEM 1 Engineering
|
Pacific Quest - Years 6 & 7
Pacific Lutheran College’s innovative Pacific Quest Program is designed to engage Year 6 and 7 students in two specialised learning areas: ArtsQuest and TechQuest. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for students to ignite their creativity, independence and confidence while embodying the College’s core educational philosophy, which is based on the Four Pillars of Learning: Learning to Be, Learning Together, Learning to Learn, and Learning to Know and Do.
ArtsQuest - Express, Create, Inspire
ArtsQuest is a transformative arts program that blends Drama, Dance, Visual Arts and Media Arts into an immersive experience encouraging self-expression, creativity and performance. Through ArtsQuest, students will develop a collaborative performing arts showcase, blending choreography, dance, visual and media arts and contemporary technology such as augmented reality (AR). This integrated approach reflects the Australian Arts Curriculum, which recognises the interconnectedness of art forms and promotes a holistic understanding of the arts as a medium for self-expression.
Tech Quest - Design, Innovate, Thrive
TechQuest is an inquiry-based learning experience, designed to immerse Pacific students in the exciting world of technology, design thinking and innovation. The program integrates Digital Technologies, Design Technologies, Food and Wellbeing Technologies and Engineering Principles and Systems, using contemporary pedagogies. Through TechQuest, students learn to ideate, prototype, refine, and implement solutions to real-world challenges, developing essential design skills alongside intellectual dispositions such as curiosity, perseverance and adaptability.
Co-creating Better Futures
Pacific Lutheran College is continuing to lead the way in providing students with the tools they need to succeed, empowering them to become independent, enterprising and positively future orientated.
By embedding the arts and technologies in student-led inquiry projects, the Pacific Quest Program inspires students to become active participants in their own learning, developing a blend of artistic, technological and intellectual skills. Teams of specialist teachers facilitate, as Middle College students collaborate on their problem-based learning projects in specialised learning environments traditionally reserved for Senior students. The program embodies Pacific Lutheran College’s commitment to fostering students who are not just learners but co-creators in their learning journey.
Year 6 Capital City Tour
Each year our year 6 Cohort embark on a six day historical tour of Australis's Capital City, Canberra. This Outdoor Education experience required a lot of confidence and independence to allow for the students' personal growth. During the tours, students are provided time for quiet reflection and encouraged to create journals. Each year Year 6 students demonstrate an incredible amount of resilience during this lengthy period away from home and grow as both individuals and citizens of this amazing country.
Year 9 Rite Journey
At the end of each year, our Year 9 students attend their Rite Journey Homecoming Ceremony. Rite Journey is the transition from Middle to Senior College. Students reflect on the challenges faced throughout the year which provided them with the opportunity to learn more about themselves and others. Well done Year 9. Teachers and parents provide valuable support to the students throughout this transition period.
Senior College
Continuing the strong academic focus, the Senior years are seen as preparation for life beyond school.
As young adults within the College, Senior students will be encouraged to play a leading role both at school and in the wider community. Increasingly, senior students take on the roles of lead...
Sport at Pacific
Pacific Lutheran College provides excellent sporting opportunities for students. Offering a wide range of sports, Pacific aims to develop fitness, a sense of personal wellbeing, physical prowess and confidence as well as instill a sense of enjoyment, commitment, sportsmanship, courage and resilie...
CoCurricular Opportunities
The College offers a range of co-curricular academic and cultural activities. These include in-school activities through the inter-house Foundation Cup competition and outside of school activities.
Pastoral Care and Wellbeing
As one of the key elements of the College, the distinguishing feature of the Pastoral Care program at Pacific is its basis on Christian principles.
