From St Peter’s Girls’ long tradition of outstanding achievement, the Junior School has continued to build a vibrant and committed community of learners.
On this page:
Primary years: Building a strong foundation for learning
The Junior School spans classes from Reception through to Year 6.
We recognise that these years are important in building a strong learning foundation. Students experience contemporary classroom learning, responsive and personalised pastoral care, a range of specialist teacher programs and an extensive range of co-curricular and extra-curricular options, including a wide range of sports.
Our Junior School programs are based on current learning theory and we approach all teaching and learning through a wide range of flexible and responsive teaching methodologies. We understand and recognise learning styles of our girls and extend, enrich and challenge all students to reach their potential.
Head of Junior School
International Baccalaureate – Primary Years Programme
The Junior School curriculum for all students from Early Learning to Year 6 is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) – Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the new and evolving Australian Curriculum.
In June 2012 the School gained full Authorization to offer the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
All students complete 6 units of inquiry throughout the year and during their learning they are encouraged to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.
Central to the philosophy of the PYP is the principle that purposeful structured inquiry is a powerful vehicle for learning that promotes meaning and understanding, and challenges students to engage with significant ideas. The PYP learning framework is committed to a concept driven curriculum as a means to supporting inquiry learning.
In the PYP, it is also believed that education must extend beyond the intellectual to include not only socially responsible attitudes, but also thoughtful and appropriate action. It is expected that classroom inquiry will lead to responsible action, initiated by the student as a result of the learning process.
St Peter’s Girls’ School offers parents the choice of two intakes per year for our Reception classes. The Mid-Year Reception class, commencing in Term 3 (July), is designed specifically for girls turning five years of age from May through to September.
While public schools have recently moved to provide one entry point for Reception students, St Peter’s Girls will continue to offer the July intake. We believe that girls at this age are ready for school and can make the transition from a play-based learning environment (such as our ELC) and can reap the rewards of extra time at this crucial learning stage.
School readiness within an International Baccalaureate school today extends beyond the intellect and includes a range of transferable skills, including social skills, communication skills, thinking skills, research skills and self-management skills. Students are supported to develop socially responsible attitudes that lead to thoughtful and appropriate action. Students are given many opportunities through their inquiry learning to choose, act and decide on their actions and to make a difference in the world.
The social, emotional and behavioural readiness of the student plays an increasingly important role in learning success. As students enter the school environment they require greater levels of co-operation and teamwork and the ability to work with a wide range of students.
Enrolments are now open for the 2014 Mid-Year Reception class: contact the Director of Admissions, Virginia Miller, on email@example.com.
Join our special tour of the ELC and Junior School on Thursday 8 May at 9:30am. Book today
Why should I start my daughter in Mid-Year Reception?
Many parents debate when to start their daughter in Reception.
The Mid-Year Reception class provides parents with a convenient choice to start their child’s formal schooling in July.
There are many reasons why girls in particular are better suited to starting Reception at five years of age.
Specialist teacher programs for Junior students
Specialist teacher programs enrich and extend the learning programs at all year levels. These programs may be taught as stand-alone programs or planned to link into the year level inquiry units.
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, specialist programs are offered in Visual Art, Library research and literature, Physical Education and Swimming, French, Information Technology and Music.
In Years 3 – 5, specialist programs are offered in Library research, Physical Education and Swimming, Visual Art, Music and Information Technology. This includes a Strings Program for Year 3 students and an Instrumental Music Program for Year 4.
In Year 6 the specialist programs include Library and research, Music, Physical Education and Swimming.
In Years 2 – 4, students may also elect to study Mandarin. In Year 5, students can choose to study regular or intensive Japanese. Year 6 students can then choose between Japanese and Mandarin for an optional specialist lesson, in addition to learning French.
Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular Programs
St Peter’s Girls has an extensive, balanced and comprehensive co-curricular and extra-curricular programme that builds the community life of the School and enriches and extends our curriculum and classroom offerings.
These programs include a range of sporting, musical, cultural, team, performance, physical and creative opportunities beyond the classroom. These programs allow for the development of a broad range of skills, including team work, leadership, organisation, persistence, time management, social skills, self-esteem and a broadening of confidence and skills beyond the classroom.
Co-curricular opportunities include year level camps, inter-school sport, performance and choral opportunities, off campus land-care and tree-planting projects, debating, public speaking, poetry recital competitions and swimming.
Extra-curricular opportunities include those activities that incur a fee each term. These include Junior School dance, drama, gymnastics, individual music, instrumental and voice lessons.
Many opportunities exist for our students to socialise, learn and compete with boys and students from other schools. These include debating, chess, public-speaking, dance, music festival, student leadership days and social events.
A strong focus on pastoral care ensures that all students are well supported as needed. Guidance and structure through year level programs ensure all students receive explicit teaching in the development of confidence, and social and getting-along skills.
We recognise that the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is ever increasing. The wide use of ICT is integrated into student learning and inquiry. Your daughter will have access to computers, laptops and iPads.
St Peter’s Girls provides an out of school hours care (OSHC) service. The service is registered and accredited so that parents can claim the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate if applicable.
A range of topics is studied within each subject and each year group. An overview is provided each year. Alongside the academic curriculum, students are encouraged to participate in sport, music and other Co-Curricular activities.