Curriculum

A sound foundation in literacy and numeracy

The girls receive a rounded education with a focus on high quality programmes in numeracy and literacy.  Literacy skills are reinforced across all programmes and learning support is provided for those who need extra help/extension but the skills and knowledge required in these areas are still taught explicitly, especially in the junior school.  These are the basics and are very important for future learning.

Although we are proud of our past, we aim to prepare students for the future.  We use a cross curricular model so learning is not delivered in isolated boxes but is linked to real life contexts, making it more relevant for the girls.  For example a study of water may include learning from the health, science and social science curriculum. These units may be taught using the inquiry method or may be teacher directed.  We encourage students to take increasing responsibility for their own learning.  Our focus is on developing higher order thinking, problem solving, creative thinking, and communication and information skills as well as relationship skills through the use of cooperative teaching strategies.

The girls have literacy, numeracy and theme (science, social science, health, technology) in their homeroom.  Specialist teachers take each class for dance, speech/drama, music, art, Christian Education and physical education.  The specialist programme generally operates in the afternoons.  The senior students have regular foreign language lessons and years 5 – 8 have Food and Material Technology lessons.

Academic Challenges

Programmes are geared to individual needs.  Extension opportunities are provided to challenge the more able.

Examples include: maths and science badges, participation in the University Maths Problem Challenge, speech and dance exams, science fair, the Creative Southland speech competition, the Southland story telling competition, being part of a team for Smac maths and  Kids Lit quiz.

Cultural

We encourage participation.  Most of the senior girls are in the choir which performs for the community.  During her eight years at St John’s a student will learn how to play three instruments as part of the weekly music programme.  As well she will participate in weekly school singing.  Each alternate year, the school puts on a production to show case the girls’ talents.  In alternate years, each class prepares a play for a school drama festival.

As part of the weekly speech/drama programme, Years 3 – 8 undertake an oral assessment examination.   A professional dance teacher takes the girls for a weekly dance lesson.  As part of this programme, the year 3 – 8 girls sit a dance examination and prepare for the school aerobics competition prior to the Southland aerobics competition.

The girls are exposed to many different styles of art while at St John’s.  All girls achieve success in their art.  The Arts are an important venue for self expression and for developing the imagination.

Sport

Everyone is expected to participate.  St John’s girls are renowned for their fitness and sporting prowess.

They participate in many extra curricular sports.

Sport is timetabled on Monday from 1.45pm until 3pm.  Each year the girls have swimming/athletics for a term, a term of school based sport and a term of sport at outside venues, using expert coaches who take them for many different sports and activities.

These vary from year to year but may include:

Years 1/2: Sensory Awareness, Jump Jam, folk dancing, rippa rugby, zumba

Years 3/4: BMX, football, miniball, netball, hockey, gymnastics

Years 5/6: Table tennis, squash, badminton, golf, touch, basketball, volleyball

Years 7/8: Rock climbing, lawn bowls, wheel chair basketball, cycling (at the velodrome), canoe polo,  ropes course, team building

 

The fourth term is a two year health rotation covering different topics at the various levels.  These may include:

Years 1/2: Personal Hygiene including dental health, Fire Safety,

Years 3: Dog Safety, Water and Beach Safety, Food and Nutrition,

Years 4/5: Friendships, including anti bullying strategies, Cycle Safety, Anatomy

Years 6: Pubertal Change

Years 7/8: Self Defence, First Aid, Drug and Alcohol, Anatomy

Outdoor Education

Years 6 – 8 have an annual camp.

Year 6 have an adventure camp at Camp Columba where they try new things and move outside their comfort zone in a controlled environment.

Year 7 have a cultural camp in Dunedin. They visit many of the tourist attractions such as the albatross colony, Ovelston and the Art Gallery.

Year 8 attend a camp at Deep Cove.