Northside
Northside
At Northside Christian College, we recognise that the middle years of education are an important stage in adolescent growth and development. With the aim to see our students engaged, resilient and successful, we look to support them as they endeavour to thrive and grow into the young people God has designed them to be.
We have brought together a team of enthusiastic and dedicated teachers who model and put into practice their personal faith in God. They are themselves, active life-long learners, who have demonstrated a passionate understanding towards this age group.
Effectively addressing students’ needs with a cohesive and collaborative Middle School team, the students are further supported by the Student Welfare Officer, Chaplain, Special Needs Coordinator and the exciting INSPiRE program which develops and extends the gifts and talents of our students.
In developing a sense of belonging within the Middle School Community, students are encouraged to be courageous and collaborative in their learning, setting goals and personal achievements, being independent, self-regulated learners who are able to create an interdependent approach to real life tasks. A balanced life and positive sense of emotional wellbeing are also something we actively strive to.
We endeavour to set firm and clear boundaries through our focus on the 4 R’s: Rigour, Respect, Relationships and Responsibility. The core College values permeate throughout our relevant and challenging curriculum as we create a solid foundation in preparation for the senior secondary phase of education. The Middle School provides the continuity between Primary and Senior Secondary and we consider it vital to build partnerships with our families as we embark on this journey together.
Northside Christian College is implementing the Australian Curriculum in the Middle School. The Australian Curriculum sets out the core knowledge, understanding, skills and general capabilities important for all Australian students.
In Years 7 – 9, a broad curriculum base of academic disciplines is designed to build deep knowledge and delay narrowing of options for as long as possible. A rich variety of core subjects caters for a range of student needs and talents.
The curriculum in Years 7 – 9 contains a foundational range of subjects that each student undertakes as they prepare for success in education, work and living a Christian life. Creativity is encouraged through specialist subjects such as Digital Technologies, LOTE (Mandarin), Food Technology, Performing Arts, Textiles and Visual Arts.
The transition from Primary School to Middle School can be a challenging and overwhelming prospect for students. We are actively attempting to minimise negative attitudes towards this shift in environments by transitioning our students during the second half of Year 6.
Some of the ways that Northside tries to ease the transition are:
At the start of each school year Northside Christian College holds a dinner for Year 7 students and their parents. This evening is a wonderful opportunity for parents, teachers and students to meet together and share a meal. Guest speakers provide further support for families as they begin to navigate, often for the first time, the transition from primary to high school and the emerging needs of early adolescents.
Northside is dedicated to always improving our ‘places and spaces’ to create the best learning environment for our students.
The beginning of the 2016 school year saw the transformation of our old Middle School building into a light, bright, dynamic open learning centre. Our new Middle School Learning Centre has three learning studios and a variety of different learning spaces, uniquely designed to work with growing bodies and different learning styles of each of early adolescents.
Boasting whiteboard tables, lounges and ottomans for collaborative work, adaptable furniture configurations that support both group and individual learning as well as the needs of a varied and engaged curriculum. We have developed a collection of different learning spaces that encourage students to take ownership and recognise their preferred learning needs and environment. This new learning centre has been created to provide a safe and productive work place.
Our Middle School staff office and work space is made entirely of windows and has aptly been named ‘The Fishbowl’. This allows our staff to be more available to our students while transparently modelling their own learning and work ethic.
Year 9 at Northside is our students’ Year of Challenge. We want our students to be deeply engaged with learning and motivated to explore, discover and grow – academically, socially, physically and spiritually. The Challenge program has been designed to develop students in all of these areas. Curriculum is linked to activities outside the classroom and students’ in-class learning is strengthened by their Challenge experiences. Year 9s face the challenge of moving from childhood to young adulthood and dealing with their studies and their relationships in a more adult manner. It is also a time when many students find the restrictions of normal classroom life very difficult. We extend and support them through this time by engaging them in a series of challenges beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
The Year 9 students take part in a special camps program during their last year of Middle School. These activities lead to a growth in self-esteem; new knowledge about themselves and their class-mates, and a greater confidence in their ability to deal with new and challenging experiences. The program also gives opportunities for achievement and leadership to students who’s giftings are in areas outside of a conventional classroom.
If you have any further questions about our Middle School program or transition into Secondary School, please feel free to contact the College Office at ncc@ncc.vic.edu.au to arrange an appointment.
Northside Christian College
31 McLeans Rd, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia
Phone: 03 9467 2499
ncc@ncc.vic.edu.au