The Middle School
The middle years of schooling (Years 7 to 9) are the foundation years of your child's secondary education. At Holy Trinity Lutheran College, our school programs aim to provide supported learning, promote acceptance and belonging and encourage personal development among students.
We strive to develop deep and rich learning with relevant skills that enable each child to reach their full academic potential in the intellectual, cultural, social and spiritual dimensions of life.
Our school in Horsham provides a progressive and innovative education that is responsive and appropriate to the developmental needs of young adolescents. Students enjoy their own learning centre with designated learning spaces, complemented with smaller class sizes and learning opportunities relevant to a student’s personal developmental level. We are committed to developing a culture of learning in an environment that is safe and allows students to explore, discuss and seek answers.
As part of our mission we endeavour to nurture a child’s God-given potential and develop lifelong learners and effective global citizens.
The Curriculum
As students make the transition to secondary school in Horsham, the Middle School curriculum exposes students to a wider range of subjects than encountered in the Junior School. Along with core subjects, students study a range of specialist subjects in Year 7 and Year 8 to allow them to explore their academic strengths and interests. In Year 9, students take more control of their learning journey as they elect the subjects they wish to focus on prior to embarking on their chosen pathway in the Senior School.
Core subjects (Year 7 to 9)
- Christian Studies
- English
- Health and Physical Education
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Science
Specialist subjects (Year 7 and 9)
- 3D Printing and Modeling
- Art
- Food Technology
- Mandarin (Chinese)
- Media
- Music
- Programming and Coding
- Project Based Learning
- Robotics
- Sport and Recreation
- STEM & Digital Technology
- Textiles
- Woodwork
Elective subjects (Year 9)
- Art
- Business Studies
- Chinese
- Christian Living
- Debating
- Drama
- English Literature
- Food Technology
- Media Studies
- Music
- Product Design and Technology
- Psychology
- Science
- Sport and Recreation
- Textiles
- Visual Communication
Pastoral Care
Developing a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of your child is central to our learning philosophy at Holy Trinity. At all times we aim to genuinely understand the world that our adolescents are experiencing and help them navigate this world with compassion and empathy. It is often a confusing time. That is why we are committed to developing real and purposeful connections with both you and your child during this journey, through:
- pastoral care
- homeroom teachers and coordinators
- the Wellbeing Team
- worship.
Each student has a homeroom teacher who is the primary point of contact between home and school. Students will meet daily in their home room classes. Each week, time has been allocated specifically to Pastoral Care lessons, during which time a range of relevant pastoral issues will be addressed to support students through a smooth academic journey. An outline of what is covered at each level can be found in the following table:
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
|
Sensability Program: Sense of belonging and purpose
|
Adolescent Gender Program: Shine - Adolescent girls, Strength - Adolescent boys
|
The Rite Journey (Boys and girls program): Rites of Passage for Teenagers
|
|
Cybersafety
|
Cybersafety
|
Cybersafety
|
|
Careers: Helping students prepare a resume and portfolio
|
Careers: Helping students prepare a resume and portfolio
|
Careers: Helping students prepare for job interviews
|
Student Leadership
Students are provided with many different opportunities to practice servant leadership during their time at the College. Servant leadership moves away from traditional, hierarchical systems of leadership. Rather, our leaders accept the need to serve the College community by contributing ideas, actions and the modelling of expectations and guidance. We want every student to strive to be a servant leader and will provide opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills and demonstrate service.
Middle School Ambassadors
The Middle School Ambassadors are required to perform a variety of duties including:
- giving prospective parents and students a tour of our leading Horsham school
- greeting members of the College community at the front gate
- attend community events as representatives of the school
- appear in promotional material
- speak at College events and occasions.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
The SRC is made up of students from each year level across the college with executive positions held by Middle School students. The group meets on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of matters and forthcoming social events organised in support of identified charities. The SRC provides students with the opportunity to become involved in formal discussion, decision making and organisation.
Middle School Captains
The Middle School Captains are elected by the student body and act as representatives for the students and the school. There are two captains and two vice-captains who:
- serve on the Student Representative Council
- attend commemorative services
- perform roles at special ceremonies
- speak on behalf of the school
- liaise with the Head of Middle School and Principal on a regular basis.