Years 7-9

Years 7-9

The transition to Secondary School provides opportunities for students to build on their learning from primary school and to further explore their own unique interest areas. Our school’s approach integrates both Western and Aboriginal ways of teaching and learning and prioritises personal, spiritual and academic growth.

In Years 7-9, our students deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills in English, Murrinhpatha, Mathematics, Science and the Arts, in line with the Australian Curriculum (V9). The curriculum is designed to equip students for senior secondary schooling, including employment pathways. Students have a non-local classroom teacher who delivers the majority of the curriculum, along with the support of a Murrinhpatha speaking assistant teacher and go to specialist teachers for Murrinhpatha, Religious Education, Sport and Technologies in the Trade Training Centre.

Developing English literacy skills is a key priority in Years 7-9. Teaching teams support students’ learning with an understanding of the challenges presented to Aboriginal students with English as an Additional Language/ Dialect in the development of Standard Australian English literacy.

Murrinhpatha classes further develop literacy skills and cultural knowledge. Our local teaching team have developed theme based units that embed the development of literacy skills from the Northern Territory Indigenous Languages and Cultures Curriculum (Band 4) and related units from the V9 Australian Curriculum.

The Religious Education program is taught in Murrinhpatha to deepen students’ knowledge of the Catholic Faith. The students attend regular school masses and there is an emphasis on preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Students in Years 7-9 have a range of opportunities to travel both to local trips ‘on country’, and interstate for various programs such as the Michael Long Centre in Darwin, interschool footy trips with neighbouring communities and the Power Cup in South Australia.

A dedicated cultural program involves storytelling, dance, art and craft workshops. Wellbeing is a key focus of our program and students and staff participate in a weekly wellbeing afternoon.