Middle School

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".

- Nelson Mandela

2018 Middle School Preparation

It's an exciting time in the Middle School, as students start to think about and prepare for their new 2018 classes.  In particular, our incoming students - Yr 4 Diamonds - have been working with Mr McLean and the Head of Middle School, Mr Williams, in preparation for joining the Middle School in a few weeks, at rollover. Last week they had meetings with Mr Williams to learn about how the Middle School works, and they asked lots of important questions. This week they completed a 'Scavenger Hunt' to familiarise themselves with new classrooms, and they also had a cooking lesson with Mrs Taylor, our hospitality teacher. Next week, some of the current Year 5 Middle School students will be visiting Year 4 for a 'Q & A' session, and to share their experiences of when they started Middle School last year.

But it's not just Year 4 getting ready for Middle School in 2018.  In the past 2 weeks, all students who will be in Middle School in 2018 have completed a series of online surveys to help organise their classes. Students were surveyed about their preferred learning style (active, cooperative or reflective), and asked to nominate which of their friends they would like to be in classes with next year.  They have also completed their Middle School Elective preferences, and with our expanded elective offerings in 2018 most students got to choose from among nine different elective classes on offer! In 2018, all students in Years 5, 6 and 7 will study two different electives - ranging from Cooking, Agriculture, Dance & Drama, Survival Skills, Art, Photography, Human Movement, STEM Challenges and Japanese.  Year 8 students will select one elective from the list, to be studied alongside the mandatory foreign language subject that all students in Year 7 or 8 have to complete. At Uralla Central School, our language to study in Year 8 is Japanese.

Middle School teachers and staff are also busy getting ready for the new year of learning, as we strive to continually improve the Middle School model at Uralla Central School.  In 2018 we will maintain our very effective 'Homeroom Model', which sees all Middle School students paired up with just two core teachers for half of their learning.  Each student will have one STEM teacher for all Mathematics and Science lessons, and one Humanities teacher for all English, History and Geography lessons.  These two teachers work closely with their Middle School homeroom class every day, to develop a really good understanding of each child's needs, interests and personality. In 2018 we are also integrating all of the core subjects into cross-curricular units of study, to help ensure that our students are kept engaged with learning, and that they can see the links between different subjects and to the real world around them.

More information about the Middle School and what's on offer in 2018 can be obtained by contacting Mr Dan Williams, Head of Middle School, at Uralla Central School.

"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts