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About Junior School

The Junior School provides a nurturing and caring environment in which children develop socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

The Overnewton Anglican Community College Junior School caters for students in Prep to Year 4 through a sequential approach to learning.  The expert Junior School educators foster students’ intellectual and emotional development with a differentiated, varied and extensive educational program. 

The Junior School recognises the importance of Literacy, Numeracy and inquiry learning in these vital early years.  The Victorian Essential Learning Standards are applied and lay the foundation of future learning. 

The Junior School endeavours to create a love of learning, the skills of independence and initiative to carry them through life and become truly educated people.

 

The Junior School structure and organization

The link between home and school is an extremely important part of life at Overnewton.  The Junior School community involves parents, students and teachers working together in partnership to ensure each child reaches their full potential. 

The Junior School classroom teachers specialise in the needs of young children from Prep to Year 4.  They not only look for academic achievement in the students, but also for opportunities to encourage and support the children to go out and make a genuine difference in the world.

Keilor Campus has four classes at each year level and Taylors Lakes Campus has three classes at each year level. 

The teachers at Overnewton College are skilled in catering for students’ individual needs and provide differentiated programs at all year levels.  Students are supported and extended in a variety of ways within the classroom.  Literacy and Numeracy are recognised as one of the key foundations of learning and at each year level the class teacher provides intensive and explicit  instruction.  The College also provides a Reading Recovery Program for eligible students in Year 1. 

The College employs qualified Special Education teachers to formally assess student progress and to provide advice, guidance and instruction in relation to individual needs.  These teachers work collaboratively with the class teacher and parents in developing and implementing a complementary educational program for students. 

A Gifted Education Coordinator in the Junior School supports the identification and tracking of highly able students.  The coordinator works in conjunction with the class teacher to provide a differentiated program of enrichment and extension for talented, highly able and gifted students.

Classroom assistance is an important part of the Junior School.  It is popular with parents who wish to be involved in their children’s education whilst at the same time fulfilling their 18 Hour Family Contribution.  Parents assist in such programs as Reading, Literacy activities, Art, Mathematics, Science, PMP and Physical Education. 

Students are involved in Chapel services and assemblies which are central to Junior School life and parents are welcome to attend.

 

In the Junior School we recognise the importance of developing the whole child. The You Can Do It Program presents an approach to help students achieve to the best of their ability and experience positive social and emotional well being. 

The Program is based on five foundations:

• Confidence

• Persistence

• Organisation

• Getting along

• Emotional resilience

 The students’ lessons are supported by a whole school approach to wellbeing whereby all staff are trained and provide a consistent approach to reinforce and build social and emotional skills.

Student wellbeing is an integral part of the College with School Counsellors located at both Keilor Campus and Taylors Lakes Campus.  School Counsellors are primarily concerned with the health and wellbeing of students who may need additional support at any given time and form part of the Student Services department along with the College nurses. 

 

Leadership is encouraged at all levels within the College.  Each Junior School has a monitor system where students are given various responsibilities, teaching them the beginning elements of future leadership. 

At Year 4, two Junior School Captains and two Vice Captains are elected.  These students write applications for the position, present to their peers and teachers and take part in an interview process.  The successful applicants become a central part of the Junior School and are involved in many formal occasions as well as leading their peers by role modelling at school events and in daily school life. 

There are also eight House Captains elected, each representing one of the four College Houses.   These children lead the House events including the values program initiated at a House level.

Year 4 students have the opportunity to become Chapel Captains where they assist at weekly Chapel sessions, as well as at any special prayer service.  

 

For more information on Junior School at Overnewton see the Junior School Handbook.

 

 

 

(Last update February 10, 2012)