the seymour middle school adventur

our middle school

xplore xperiment nterprise

mpower

the seymour middle school adventur

xplore xperiment nterprise

mpower

The Middle School years are a formative experience for young women as they build on their foundation of learning and begin to expand their horizons.

In Years 6-9, Seymour girls begin to turn the confidence they’ve built through their early education into a relentless thirst for knowledge; an endless search for answers through creative questioning and problem solving.

This search is not constrained by traditional boundaries. Instead, we encourage a pathway, an adventure, that can be unique for every girl.

The Seymour Middle School Adventure applies an individual learning philosophy to every year level.

Explore. Experiment. Enterprise. Empower.

These are the values that will guide your girl’s Middle School Adventure at Seymour.

seymour college • middle school

Year 6: ExploreThe Adventure starts with Explore. As our Year 6 girls are new to the Middle School campus, they are encouraged to explore both the traditions of Seymour College and our contemporary curriculum.

Explore Learning introduces two ‘super subjects’: STEM and GEM. These comprehensive subjects integrate traditional learning with 21st century challenge-based learning. Every student has the opportunity to apply the skills

they are developing to real word problems, and to incorporate their own interests and passions into their studies.

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – teaches critical skills in numeracy and science and applies them to large-scale, relevant projects. GEM – Global Studies (Humanities), English (and Drama) and Media Studies – explores the humanities subjects, developing essential literacy skills, creativity and critical analysis.

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This integrated learning approach encourages every girl to explore the challenges presented by a modern world, and begins to prepare them for both their Senior Schooling and their future beyond Seymour.

Explore Wellbeing recognises the need for girls, at this critical age, to develop a confident sense of self and others. Our SOJ (Strength, Optimism, Justice) program for Year 6s includes mentoring from Year 9 buddies, and development of a strong Clan identity.

Explore LearningRange of integrated curriculum including STEM, Humanities, The Arts and Languages.

Explore Wellbeing:Sense of self and relationships with others.

Explore Service:Service at Glenrose Court.

Exploration Week

strength • optimism • justice

seymour college • middle school

Year 7: ExperimentOur Experiment framework for Year 7s encourages girls to think more critically and creatively, to ask questions and then design ways to find answers.

Experiment Learning continues the subjects of STEM and GEM, which teach students to apply new ideas and thinking as they test hypotheses, experiment with new skills and solve real world problems. Reflective thinking encourages them to develop an understanding of why and how they have come to their conclusion.

Through these experiences each girl transforms into a ‘Historical Woman’ in our Wax Dummies Exhibition: a major project which teaches girls about possible career pathways in a broad range of industries, including science and mathematics. Modern technology is integrated into learning to support these subjects and the entire Middle School curriculum.

Year 7s are introduced to creative industries through subjects such as Drama and Music, and all students learn both French and Chinese, ensuring experimentation in not only new languages, but new cultures.

Our Year 7 Wellbeing program addresses growth and development, social media safety, and developing positive relationships. Students are introduced to a range of strategies to manage stress and negative emotions, and to work towards a happier, more productive life at this crucial developmental stage.

Outdoor Education camps support the development of confident, adventurous girls by encouraging them to accept new challenges, strengthen friendships and meet personal goals. Our Year 7s participate in two camps, allowing them even more opportunity to experiment with new skills and develop new passions.

xplore xperiment nterprise

mpower

strength • optimism • justice

Experiment Learning:STEM, GEM, Music, Language.

Experiment Wellbeing:Respectful Relationships (including online)

Experiment Service:Advocacy and Environment

STEM Week

Year 8: EnterpriseThe adventure becomes very real for our Year 8 girls, as the Enterprise Framework authenticates learning, wellbeing and service programs with real audiences.

Our Year 8s enterprise in that they consider real problems, ideate solutions, create prototypes and ultimately test their solutions with authentic audiences. Developing an understanding of the influences of the media, environment and world market transforms our girls into savvy entrepreneurs, better able to navigate a new world.

Technology is a critical part of this learning process. Throughout the year, girls rotate through innovative subjects such as Digital Design, Coding, Robotics, Food & Nutrition and Engineering. These subjects integrate core skills they have learned in more traditional subjects, and provide them with broader knowledge that will be valued well into their future, and will translate into a range of different industries.

Our Year 8 SOJ program encourages the girls to become confident advocates and change agents in their world, and to recognise themselves as young leaders. As they are managing larger learning projects, wellbeing

is focused on developing critical self-management skills including organisation and study habits.

Strong, healthy relationships are an important focus for Year 8 girls. We provide many learning opportunities, including a relationship building camp, to support the girls in managing friendships and developing relationships with peers and adults. Our SOJ curriculum focuses on social media interaction, cyber safety and healthy behaviours ensuring that the girls are much better equipped to navigate their adolescence and online presence.

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Enterprise Learning:Coding, Robotics, Food, Engineering, Digital Media.

Enterprise Wellbeing:Future skills and understanding of social media.

Enterprise Service:Take action, use enterprising skills to create a better world.

Futures Week

seymour college • middle school

Year 9: EmpowerThe adventure culminates in our Empower Framework for Year 9 girls. Leadership is a central focus for the girls in their final year of Middle School, and every girl is given the opportunity to become a confident ambassador for their peers.

Empower Learning provides a rigorous curriculum that encourages girls to make choices and investigate some exciting new areas, including Medical Science, Psychology & Philosophy, Film & Media, and Business, Economics & Law.

These subjects are designed to empower girls to move outside traditional learning and to face real world industries and challenges. Such a varied subject offering allows students to experience many different areas before moving into senior school and potential future study.

Empower Wellbeing incorporates the Rite Journey, a program which empowers students to step from their childhood into the start of adulthood, celebrates this significant time of life and provides a structure based in mentoring and challenging the girls.

Outdoor Education provides further opportunities for individual growth through physical and mental challenges.

The Empower year concludes with an exhibition of ‘STIR’ – Seymour Thinkers In Residence – where students really ‘STIR’ things up as they propose solutions to significant global and local issues.

Each girl graduates from our Middle School empowered to take on Senior School and the world. They have developed the skills and mindset needed to approach their senior years, and are young women of strength, optimism and justice.

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Empower Learning:Broad range of electives including Medical Science and Philosophy.

Empower Wellbeing:The Rite Journey.

Empower Service:STIR - Seymour Thinkers In Residence.

Empower Week

strength • optimism • justice

Seymour CollegeThe Middle School Adventure

546 Portrush Road, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064Phone +61 8 8303 9000 Facsimile +61 8 8303 9010

© 2017 Seymour College (formerly Presbyterian Girls’ College)CRICOS Provider Code: 00628G