The Middle School covers the learning groups from Year 6 to Year 8.  The individual links provide specific information about the individual learning program for the term as well as a link to 'My Classes'.  To access 'My Classes', you will need a username and login. Here you will find examples of students work, class programs and activities as well as links to relevant sites.

Elective Handbooks for 2010

        Year 7         Year 8

Elective Choice Form 2010                    

Year 6     Year 7     Year 8

Link to My Classes               Link to Specialist Areas

2010 Electives/Course Information for Year 7/8                        2010 Electives/Course Information for Year 6

Digital Media                                                                                    Dance
French Year 7                                                                                  French
French Year 8                                                                                  Japanese
Japanese Year 8                                                                             Woodwork
PE and Health Year 7                                                                      PE and Health
Science Year 8                                                                                 Music
SL@AM Year 7/8
Visual Arts
Metalwork
Dance Festival
Theatrix
Food Connect
Horticulture
                                                                                                                          
Parent Guides - 2010

Term 3- Year 6    Term 3- Year 7     Term 3-  Year 8

Our Goals and Values

Our goals are that every student will:

Excellence in all that we do and expect.
Inclusion of all members of our school community through respect, tolerance and recognition of difference.

As a community school, our focus at Amaroo School is on:

• The development of students as confident and articulate young people able to positively contribute as citizens in the modern world;
• Developing a high quality curriculum incorporating information technology so that students experience challenge and success at all ages and developmental levels;
• Establishing welcoming and inclusive partnerships with parents and the wider community in order that the school develops as an integral component of the Gungahlin community.

What is Middle School?
Our Middle School is a organisational structure designed to meet the educational, social and emotional well being of young people in their early adolescent years. It recognises the unique educational needs of our young people and aims to personalise learning through the use of Personal Learning Plans for all students in our Middle School.

Why Middle School?
Adolescence is a unique developmental time (physical and emotional changes). Young people are searching for who they are and how they relate to the world. As educators we need to design and provide programs and structures which enable students to make connections between the academic curriculum and the world in which they live.

What Does Our Middle School Look Like?

• Home rooms and home room class teachers
• Emphasis on building positive student and teacher relationships (through contact with fewer teachers than in traditional High Schools)
• Smaller class sizes (24—26 students)
• Specialist teachers to provide expertise and support in planning and implementation of disciplines.
• Integrated curriculum
• Opportunities for student leadership

Our Curriculum
Our curriculum uses the ACT Curriculum Frameworks and the Australian National Profiles as its base. There is a strong focus on five strands:

• Literacy and Numeracy
• Critical Thinking and Information Literacy
• Civics and Citizenship
• Health and the Arts
• Environmental Science

An important component of the curriculum is our Integrated Curriculum. These are made up of units which allow our students to gain a deeper understanding of topics and concepts studied, and to come to a better understanding of the connections between subject areas. 

Middle School students participate in a full range of activities. Specialist teachers provide expertise and support in planning and delivering various aspects of each student's learning.

Personal Learning Plans
In 2005 we have been trialling the development of individual Personal Learning Plans with all of our Middle School Students. These plans:

• focus on individual student's learning
• provide structured records of progress, objectives, next steps in learning
• support partnership amongst students, teachers and parents to promote learning and improve achievement
• support informed participation of students in self-evaluation and negotiating personal targets
• support development of ‘independent learning habits', self esteem and personal responsibility
• identify and build student strengths
• take into account prior learning and identified needs when planning future learning and actions.

At this stage the process involves students exploring their strengths and areas in need of development through a computerised questionnaire and associated activities. Goal setting strategies and skills are practised in the classroom before students, parents and a teacher mentor meet for a planning session to set 3 personal goals to be worked on over the coming months. Review meetings with parents and mentors occur each term.

At this stage the process involves students exploring their strengths and areas in need of development through a computerised questionnaire and associated activities. Goal setting strategies and skills are practised in the classroom before students, parents and a teacher mentor meet for a planning session to set 3 personal goals to be worked on over the coming months. Review meetings with parents and mentors occur each term.

Information Technology
The school is well resourced for Information Technology. The school is cabled with fibre optic and has broadband radio access. SmartBoard and ActivBoard technologies (interactive whiteboards) are used extensively within the teaching and learning programs. Students have access to personal computers in the computer lab in the library and stand-alone computers within various areas of the school A laptop trolley is currently being fitted out to give classes access to computers in their learning spaces. Students have access to a wide range of educational software and the internet. Our philosophy is to embed technology into the curriculum so that it becomes a natural and integral part of students' learning experiences.

Co-Curricular Activities
Amaroo School offers a range of co-curricular activities throughout the year. Middle School students have had the opportunity to be involved in:

• Band (woodwind, brass and percussion, conducted by MusiCorp) and Guitar Group
• Productions
• Dance Festival
• Sporting teams and Carnivals
• Camps and excursions
• Amaroo Student Council
• Academic competitions
• Pl@y program
• Peer reading and buddy programs

Our Building
Our building is designed to provide ideal learning and teaching spaces for children and staff. Learning areas are spacious and bright. Particular attention has been paid to acoustics to minimise noise. xxThe building has also been designed to incorporate sustainable energy principles and features:

• North facing orientation of the teaching block to minimise summer heat and maximise winter sun;
• Underground water tanks to capture rainwater. This is used to flush toilets and water courtyards and gardens;
• In-floor heating and internal masonry walls to provide thermal mass;
• A computerised building management system (BMS) which controls window operation. This regulates the daytime ventilation and night-time cooling of the buildings.
• Solar technology to heat water and generate electricity in the senior school.
• Large classrooms to cater for individual, group and whole class activities
• Special purpose spaces for Visual and Performing Arts, Science, Sport and Technology.

Book Packs
Our school has formed a partnership with Jacaranda Education to provide book packs for students. These contain all the essential items that students need for the beginning of the school year. You can order the packs in Term 4. They are delivered to the school for collection by parents or you can arrange for home delivery.

Student Management and Pastoral Care
Our policy is based upon our respect for the student as an individual and is designed to enable students to learn to solve their own problems. Students learn they are able to make choices and that there are consequences flowing from all choices. They learn, that in addition to their rights, they also have responsibilities to others. Students who choose behaviour which infringes upon the rights of others will be given assistance by staff (often in consultation with parents) in the development of more effective behaviour.

Student Safety Program
Our school's safety program depends on our knowledge that your child is sick or will be absent for some reason. In the event of you child's absence, we ask that you contact the front office (62052808) as soon as possible after 8.30am. Each teacher marks the class roll at the beginning of each school day. Names of students with unexplained absences are noted and referred to the front office. Parents are then contacted. This program enables the school to be aware of any missing student as soon as possible. If the school is informed no inquiry is made.

Parents are advised that even though you have contacted the school, by law a written and signed note explaining the absence is still required.

School Counsellor
We have the services of a school counsellor three days per week The counsellor is responsible for assisting in identifying special educational needs of students. She is also available to support students and families in times of need.

Parent Involvement
We greatly value and support your involvement in the life of the school. There are many ways in which you can become involved in the education of your child. For example:

School Uniform
The school has a uniform policy that has been developed by our P&C. The uniform meets the guidelines of SunSmart policies and is designed to be attractive and comfortable. The school colours are red and blue.

Boys

• Plain navy blue trousers or shorts. These can be cargo style but without logos. No jeans. Can also include Micro Fibre or fleecy track pants for winter.
• Plain navy blue or red Polo shirts, short sleeve - white with stripe
• Hat navy bucket with red trim
• Shoes - full black shoe or sports shoe.
• Sport - White t-shirt, blue shorts, sports shoes

Girls

• Plain navy blue hipster bootlegs / track pants or plain navy blue trousers or shorts. These can be cargo style but without logos. No jeans.
• Blue tartan skirt
• Plain white or red Polo shirts long, or short sleeve - navy with stripe
• Short or long white socks or navy tights
• Hat navy bucket with red trim
• Shoes—full black shoe or sports shoe.
• Sport - White t-shirt, blue shorts, sports shoes

Unisex

• Navy with red insert polar fleece jumper Only available from School Uniform Shop or McDonald's School Wear, Jamison
• Navy microfibre track pants

Colour coded scarves and beanies allowed as long as beanies are worn under a wide brimmed hat as we are a SunSmart school.

Most of these items are available at regular stores except the tartan skirt, piped shirt and navy/red polar fleece jumper . These are available at McDonald's School Wear Jamison. Orders may also be placed with our Amaroo Uniform Shop. Order forms are available at the shop or the front office. Enquires can be made to Deb or Libby at the school.

All clothing should be named.

Allergy Friendly School
At the last P&C Meeting for 2003 it was decided that Amaroo School will be an allergy friendly school. This is to provide protection for children who have severe allergic reactions to nuts and nut products. Our canteen menu aims to be 'nut free' and parents are asked to provide nut free food for their child's morning tea and lunch. This includes Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches.

We look forward to having your child at Amaroo School in 2007

A wise teacher makes learning a joy.
(Proverb)