High School: Advanced and Continued Studies for Years 11 & 12
Who for?
Class 11 for students turning 17 in that year
Class 12 for students turning 18 or 18 + in that year
Class Guardians in 2010
Class 11 Jane Beatty and Sandra Bain
Class 12 Fiona Passmore and Tony Van Den Driest
Class 11 for students turning 17 in that year
Class 12 for students turning 18 or 18 + in that year
Class Guardians in 2010
Class 11 Jane Beatty and Sandra Bain
Class 12 Fiona Passmore and Tony Van Den Driest
Welcome
Since its inception in 2001, Shearwater has established a successful Senior Studies program of courses and is now crystallising and fine-tuning its offers for senior students.
Students who have attempted the HSC have had great academic success with particularly excellent results in English, Visual Art, Mathematics, Design & Technology and foreign languages.
Course programs have been put into place and streamlined, student preferences identified, the delivery of the correspondence courses is running smoothly, and a precedent of good study patterns, assessment task completion and examination routines have been established.
Despite relatively small numbers in the Senior Studies program, Shearwater has made available a wide range of course options. The teacher/student ratio is very favourable, giving students maximum exposure to our staff.
Those students pursuing a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate, or Major Work Program, have also had marked success, using their projects as portfolios for gaining entry to tertiary study programs.
Shearwater’s Technical and Creative Arts focus
Since commencing the Senior Studies program in 2001, we have closely monitored student elective choices and parent demand. Given our comparatively small numbers, and our natural artistic inclination, we have decided to crystallise our educational focus and specialise in the Technical and Creative Arts. The success of Shearwater’s Wearable Arts performance event, WAVE, has also been a major factor in taking this direction. It has provided a practical focus for creative expression on many of the courses we provide: Visual Art, Visual Design, Dance, Drama, Music, Textiles, Industrial Technology, Multimedia and Photography & Digital Imaging. Central to the event is the new VET Entertainment Industry Course, which is proving popular with the students. Our creative focus is not an alternative program, fearful of academic rigour, but has been designed to allow the greatest possible opportunity for meaningful self-expression and creativity – the basis of any successful holistic education program.
This being said, we have to stress that Shearwater also offers a broad range of Mathematics and Science subjects, from 4 Unit Maths to Physics, Biology, Personal Development Health & Physical Education, to the action based Marine Studies course.
Also available are our successful English teaching courses. English is a mandatory subject (the Standard course is a required minimum in both Years 11 and 12) in all Shearwater programs but we also provide Advanced English as well as Preliminary Extension, Extension I and Extension II, the latter two courses giving students the opportunity for creative literary expression.
Expectations and Commitment in Years 11 and 12
For students remaining at School after Year 10, their continuing studies are voluntary. Attendance at Shearwater requires a serious commitment from each student who wishes to participate in the life of the School. It is expected that students show respect for the School – its directions, directives, guidelines and the members of its community.
In response, the School offers a greater measure of freedom and the responsibilities that accompany it.
Students are encouraged to make positive contributions to the community, in terms of behaviour as well as creative initiates and as role models for younger students.
Mandatory Courses
As well as undertaking a 2-unit course in English, all students will complete the Shearwater Board Endorsed Course (also 2 units) entitled “The Individual and the Global Community”.
When, in 2001, Shearwater embarked on providing Stage 6 courses leading to the attainment of the Higher School Certificate, the time and workload demands of completing the HSC prohibited the completion of the traditional Steiner School Learning Program and we looked for a way to accommodate these needs. We were then informed of the possibility of applying to the Board of Studies to create a Stage 6, 2 Unit Board Endorsed Course. The course was developed and written to specifically meet the developmental needs of the senior students as a completion of Shearwater’s Steiner School Learning Program. The course Philosophy General, The Individual and the Global Community satisfies our commitment to Steiner Education while simultaneously being part of the HSC credential. The course has been taught for the past 4 years and has been received by the students with enthusiasm and interest (for more details see course outline).
Attendance
Students are required to attend school for a minimum of 85% of the minimum UNIT time allocation. Unexplained lateness will be noted as part of the 15% absentee rate. In the event of illness, work may caught up at the discretion of the Teacher.
Homework
In order to successfully complete Stage 6 (Years 11 & 12 – HSC) many assessment tasks will require completion outside of school hours.
To help students organise and manage their studies, the Shearwater High School College has recommended that the following guidelines be implemented.
1. Students will be required to produce their Student Homework diary in every lesson as a matter of course.
2. All assessment tasks and other homework will be entered into the diary as well as completion deadlines.
3. We request that all diaries be read and signed by a parent or Guardian. Any communication can be noted in the diary.
4. These diaries will be checked by the Class Guardian every Friday.
Requirements for course completion
Students are expected to participate in all Class activities and complete the set tasks, to demonstrate effort, motivation and a satisfactory level of skills.
Unsatisfactory Achievement
Students as well as their parents or guardians will be notified in writing if they are in danger of not completing the minimum course requirements which could lead to a N (non completion of a course) result. Sufficient time will be given for the student to correct the problem and to satisfactorily complete the course.
If a N result is given for a Preliminary Course, the student will be unable to sit for that HSC subject until it has been satisfactorily repeated.
Students who have attempted the HSC have had great academic success with particularly excellent results in English, Visual Art, Mathematics, Design & Technology and foreign languages.
Course programs have been put into place and streamlined, student preferences identified, the delivery of the correspondence courses is running smoothly, and a precedent of good study patterns, assessment task completion and examination routines have been established.
Despite relatively small numbers in the Senior Studies program, Shearwater has made available a wide range of course options. The teacher/student ratio is very favourable, giving students maximum exposure to our staff.
Those students pursuing a Shearwater Senior Studies Certificate, or Major Work Program, have also had marked success, using their projects as portfolios for gaining entry to tertiary study programs.
Shearwater’s Technical and Creative Arts focus
Since commencing the Senior Studies program in 2001, we have closely monitored student elective choices and parent demand. Given our comparatively small numbers, and our natural artistic inclination, we have decided to crystallise our educational focus and specialise in the Technical and Creative Arts. The success of Shearwater’s Wearable Arts performance event, WAVE, has also been a major factor in taking this direction. It has provided a practical focus for creative expression on many of the courses we provide: Visual Art, Visual Design, Dance, Drama, Music, Textiles, Industrial Technology, Multimedia and Photography & Digital Imaging. Central to the event is the new VET Entertainment Industry Course, which is proving popular with the students. Our creative focus is not an alternative program, fearful of academic rigour, but has been designed to allow the greatest possible opportunity for meaningful self-expression and creativity – the basis of any successful holistic education program.
This being said, we have to stress that Shearwater also offers a broad range of Mathematics and Science subjects, from 4 Unit Maths to Physics, Biology, Personal Development Health & Physical Education, to the action based Marine Studies course.
Also available are our successful English teaching courses. English is a mandatory subject (the Standard course is a required minimum in both Years 11 and 12) in all Shearwater programs but we also provide Advanced English as well as Preliminary Extension, Extension I and Extension II, the latter two courses giving students the opportunity for creative literary expression.
Expectations and Commitment in Years 11 and 12
For students remaining at School after Year 10, their continuing studies are voluntary. Attendance at Shearwater requires a serious commitment from each student who wishes to participate in the life of the School. It is expected that students show respect for the School – its directions, directives, guidelines and the members of its community.
In response, the School offers a greater measure of freedom and the responsibilities that accompany it.
Students are encouraged to make positive contributions to the community, in terms of behaviour as well as creative initiates and as role models for younger students.
Mandatory Courses
As well as undertaking a 2-unit course in English, all students will complete the Shearwater Board Endorsed Course (also 2 units) entitled “The Individual and the Global Community”.
When, in 2001, Shearwater embarked on providing Stage 6 courses leading to the attainment of the Higher School Certificate, the time and workload demands of completing the HSC prohibited the completion of the traditional Steiner School Learning Program and we looked for a way to accommodate these needs. We were then informed of the possibility of applying to the Board of Studies to create a Stage 6, 2 Unit Board Endorsed Course. The course was developed and written to specifically meet the developmental needs of the senior students as a completion of Shearwater’s Steiner School Learning Program. The course Philosophy General, The Individual and the Global Community satisfies our commitment to Steiner Education while simultaneously being part of the HSC credential. The course has been taught for the past 4 years and has been received by the students with enthusiasm and interest (for more details see course outline).
Attendance
Students are required to attend school for a minimum of 85% of the minimum UNIT time allocation. Unexplained lateness will be noted as part of the 15% absentee rate. In the event of illness, work may caught up at the discretion of the Teacher.
Homework
In order to successfully complete Stage 6 (Years 11 & 12 – HSC) many assessment tasks will require completion outside of school hours.
To help students organise and manage their studies, the Shearwater High School College has recommended that the following guidelines be implemented.
1. Students will be required to produce their Student Homework diary in every lesson as a matter of course.
2. All assessment tasks and other homework will be entered into the diary as well as completion deadlines.
3. We request that all diaries be read and signed by a parent or Guardian. Any communication can be noted in the diary.
4. These diaries will be checked by the Class Guardian every Friday.
Requirements for course completion
Students are expected to participate in all Class activities and complete the set tasks, to demonstrate effort, motivation and a satisfactory level of skills.
Unsatisfactory Achievement
Students as well as their parents or guardians will be notified in writing if they are in danger of not completing the minimum course requirements which could lead to a N (non completion of a course) result. Sufficient time will be given for the student to correct the problem and to satisfactorily complete the course.
If a N result is given for a Preliminary Course, the student will be unable to sit for that HSC subject until it has been satisfactorily repeated.
