Sub Schools
Senior Sub School
The academic and personal development of students from Year 10 to Year 12 is managed by Senior Sub School. With an emphasis on ‘Achieving Excellence’, our senior students are exemplary role models and promote the College values on a day-to-day basis.
At Year 10 we work on transitioning students from Junior School to Senior School with a focus on responsibility and pathways. Students have the opportunity to study subjects offered in the VCE and VET program, and we offer a range of programs and guest speakers to support students on the journey. In particular, the ‘Shape your Destiny’ program encourages students to set achievable academic and personal goals, whereas connections with local community groups encourage students to be safe and look after their mates. Students are also given able to complete work experience in Year 10, with many connecting with local business to gain an understanding of what skills are needed to be successful in a particular industry.
By Year 11 students choose either a VCE or VCE-VM pathway with the support of the Careers team, and there is an emphasis on academic and personal success in both programs. All our VCE subjects are taught by staff who are competent and able to help students both in and out of school hours, whether this is in the Responsibility Room, Homework Program or in the Common Room. Our VCE-VM students work with staff to plan and deliver school based and community projects, often linking with local primary schools, organisations and industries to complete tasks. Work experiences is also encouraged to Year 11 students, which can be aligned with one or more of their subjects. To support student wellbeing, we offer many programs to educate students, including an informative seminar by Sonya Karrass, “A Whole New World”.
In Year 12, the Senior School team works closely with students to help prepare them for life after school – whether this is further study or employment. For our VCE students, we run our ACES Group, where students work with VCE teachers and guest speaks to ‘Achieve, be Challenged and Excel in Senior School’. These skills are embedded in assemblies, and revisited in both the Homework Program and Responsibility Room, as a way to further equip students to experiences success on their SACs and exams. Other programs such as the “TIS Tour” and “VCE Success Strategies Seminar” help guide our students onto the right pathways. Our VCE-VM students plan larger projects – ranging from camps to the ‘Year 7 Bonding Day’ – which gives students the opportunity to build life skills such as communication and budgeting. We also work closely with the school’s Wellbeing Team, as well as guest speaks to ensure that students maintain a healthy balance between study and leisure.
The Senior Sub School consists of Year Level Managers, Sub School Manager and Sub School Assistant. We work closely in conjunction with the Wellbeing and Careers team to provide the best assistance to our students.
Junior Sub School
Swan Hill College Junior School supports students in Years 7, 8, and 9, and as the first point of contact, nurtures and provides guidance for their learning, development, and wellbeing through these formative years of their secondary education. Each year level has a dedicated Year Level Manager (YLM) who fosters positive behaviour, celebrating achievements, and reinforcing expectations when needed. The Junior School Manager oversees all three levels, leading transitions, implementing Positive Behaviour Support, and sourcing programs to support these year levels. The Assistant Principal (Junior) collaborates with the team and supports with the engagement of these students. A Sub-school Assistant and Education Support member provide additional support.
Students in junior school have a number of camps and activities available to them throughout the 3 years. In Year 7, the students head off to Campaspe Downs for 3 days as a cohort, undertaking team building, collaboration and adventure activities. In Year 8 we have the Snow Camp (four days in Falls Creek, undertaking downhill skiing, cross country skiing and tobogganing). Finally in Year 9, we have a 3 day Melbourne CBD camp where students are exposed to landmarks, public transport and utilising all that the CBD has to offer. Also in Year 9 is our Alpine School for Student Leadership, offering a select group of students an alternate educational setting to explore, experience and develop leadership qualities, which follows an application and interview process.
We are very proud of the diverse opportunities we offer our students in their early secondary education at Swan Hill College. Our literacy program withdraws identified students providing them a smaller setting and an individualised intensive literacy intervention to aid in their learning needs. The reading program in year 7 and 8 develops explicit skills and a deeper understanding of how and why we read, whilst our numeracy pathway programs allow students to learn at their level, while having access to highly qualified staff.
In junior school we offer a range of exciting opportunities to develop student leadership. We utilise PBS leaders, junior captains and sustainability leaders amongst the students to implement these. Students work with fellow students, staff and the community to initiate incentives, run activities or lead a team. We begin transitioning our new year 7’s in early May and from this time on we prepare the students to make their transition to secondary education, through our collaboration with our feeder schools.