For Senior Unit Notes and News, visit the Bellaire School News Blog
Welcome to the Senior School Page!
In our unit we have 144 students divided into five classes. Their teachers are Abbey Howard (Team Leader), Claire Brushfield, Rick Kayler-Thomson, Kandice Bell, Alexandra Waycott, Sarah Jeffreys and Mel O'Meara. Virginnia Gilham works as a Curriculum Coach with the Senior Learning Unit. This involves working with the unit to support them with their planning and classroom teaching. Leah Woods, Bronwyn Nice and Maree Konieczka provide support for special needs programs across the Unit.
In the Senior Learning Unit we seek to provide our students with a supportive but challenging finish to their time at primary school as well as enabling smooth transition to the secondary school of their choice. Through flexible grouping and targeted teaching we aim to capitalise on the strengths of the individual students and build learning partnerships. Students are actively involved in goal setting to progress their learning. Particular emphasis is placed on developing responsibility through being organised and persistent in working towards achieving their goals. Our students are expected to be confident in dealing with challenges yet also resilient when problems occur. Overall we promote a strong group identity that is reliant on all students and teachers getting along in a harmonious manner.
Students in the Senior Learning Unit are also given the opportunity to take on leadership roles. These include School, House and Sporting Team Captains, membership of the Junior School Council, Assembly Leaders, Aussie of The Month and regular play ground mentoring and monitoring roles. Senior Learning Unit students are also involved in a number of outreach programs including kinder visits and other community activities. The annual school camp is seen as another great opportunity for students to develop confidence in their abilities and to build relationships that extend beyond the normal school curriculum.
The Senior Learning Unit curriculum includes all of the traditional subject areas including Literacy, Numeracy, Deep Knowledge and the You Can Do It Program. In addition special interest areas including Preparation For Puberty, Debating and the Geelong College Challenge are included in the program. In 2009 the Deep Knowledge units covered include, 'What's It Doing To Me?', 'Who Rules?', 'H to Oh' and 'My Passport to Indonesia'.
The students also participate in specialist classes which include Art, Library, Computer Lab, Physical Education, Music, Drama and French (L.O.T.E).