Cathedral College WangarattaA school of The Anglican Schools Commission (Inc.)

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College Life

It is a privilege to be entrusted with the care and nurturing of other people’s children, and to help our community’s young people approach futures marked by aspiration, excellence and doing good in the world.

Cathedral College Wangaratta has developed a proud tradition of aspiration for student success in its short history, and a worthy reputation as a fine regional centre of learning. Many students travel significant distances to attend the school, demonstrating a commitment to their studies and devel-opment that is met by that of the school’s staff. A broad offering of subjects, electives, co-curricular activities and opportunities to experience the world beyond our region ensures a “liberal” education that will suit those looking for engagement. Proudly Anglican, we work with our school families to ensure our students are exposed to a system of values that they can draw on in their daily lives and into the future. Here, students can expect to discover, belong and achieve as they join our learning community.

At Cathedral we seek to reveal talent, broaden experience and develop the whole child. Opportuni-ty and responsibility serve to ensure our students are busy and focussed on their full time occupation, that of a learner.

We invite school families and visitors to come and see our unique environment in action.

Mr Adrian Farrer

“The College aims to provide a supportive, holistic environment in which each child is able to dis-cover aspirations for themselves, feel connected and belong to our community, and achieve ex-cellence in anything they choose to do.”

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. At Cathedral College Wangaratta we believe we can offer the opportunity for a lifelong connection to the school and a continuity of care from Prep to Year Twelve. • We are small enough to care for each individual student and large enough to offer a broad

range of academic subjects, sporting opportunities and cultural experiences.

• We have highly qualified, talented and dedicated teachers who engage their students and sup-port their growth as confident individuals.

• We have a critical mass of new, technology-rich, highly functional buildings that enhance the teaching and learning process for all of our students and teachers.

• Our vertically structured House system, from Prep to Year Twelve, delivers pastoral care in small groups allowing strong bonds to form amongst students and staff alongside academia.

• Whilst we are an Anglican School, we are open entry and committed to welcoming all who wish to join us, irrespective of religious background or cultural beliefs.

• We focus on building character in a nurturing and supportive environment, challenging our stu-dents to participate, experience and lead with wisdom and compassion.

• We offer many opportunities for students to extend themselves in areas of Leadership and Service, encouraging them to make a difference to their School and wider community.

• We have an active College Community in which parents and friends are involved in many as-pects of school life.

“We provide our students with the important skills to make informed choices and the self belief to be bold in their aspirations.”

Discover Learning

We pride ourselves on achievement of enhanced academic outcomes and personal best perfor-mance, through our broad, well balanced and comprehensive curriculum. Opportunities for dif-ferentiated learning pathways are supported, with a strong emphasis on core subjects in conjunction with a wide range of elective subjects to suit indi-vidual interests. Engaging and authentic teach-ing and learning practices which integrate various learning technologies, prepare our students for life beyond school. Our teachers believe in supporting and encourag-ing each student to recognise and foster their indi-vidual strengths, providing opportunities in and out of the classroom to question, explore choices, pur-sue knowledge and develop a sense of self. From Prep to Year Twelve, our students are nurtured and educated as individuals in all areas of their learning: academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

Great importance is placed on building positive partnerships with parents and families in recognition of the fact that this relationship can have a profound effect on a student’s learning. Staff monitor each student’s progress and continuous feedback is given to the student. The school provides learning support as well as tutorials in key learning areas that respond to individual learning needs, allowing stu-dents to easily access assistance when required. Individual Learning Plans provide effective planning and scaffolding of educational experiences in a collaborative framework that caters for students with wide ranging gifts, talents and interests. The rich environment provides students an ability to assess their own strengths in order to support their development as learners; emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing will help them establish and maintain healthy and satisfying lives.

Discover BelongingStudents and teachers at Cathedral College Wangaratta all belong to one of six Houses: Buffalo, Cobbler, Feather-top, Hotham, Stirling and Warby. Each House has members from Prep to Year Twelve, making them the ideal forums for cross age learning, leadership opportunities, group working skills, the building of self esteem, and engendering House spirit throughout the school. Younger students can see what lies ahead in later year levels and be mentored by friends in other year groups. Because of our vertical House system, a greater sense of House identity develops, where-by older students look out for younger ones, underpinning the ‘family concept’ and developing a community culture.

All Houses have a Head of House, House Tutors, Senior, Mid-dle and Junior Captains. The emphasis in their leadership is on care and responsibility, not power and privilege; in serving others, students gain their own rewards. Leadership opportu-nities are, of course, not limited to those with Captains’ roles.

During the year there are major House events at which the students compete against the other Houses. These are usu-ally the Swimming Sports, House Music, Cross Country and the Athletic Sports Carnival with House points awarded to each team based on participation and results. Fundrais-ing, Working Bees, House Assemblies and services are also a considerable part of belonging to a House. By participat-ing in House challenges, students have the opportunity to belong to a team that plays fairly and strives to do its best.

“The House System engenders an environment of care and support from senior students leading to enduring and close relationships amongst fellow House members, ensuring that all House members truly belong to the group.”

Discover ChallengeCathedral College Wangaratta believes in much more than just academic learning. Our Outdoor Education program is designed to encourage, challenge and en-gage students in experiential and adventure based learning. Along with practical outdoor skills, our expedi-tions allow students to develop leadership, self-discipline and teamwork skills.

Hiking and paddling, riding and climbing are just a few of the specific outdoor disciplines students are exposed to. Winter ski trips take advantage of our close proximity to the best snowfields in Australia and offer opportunity for whole family participation.

“Emphasis is not just on individual success; cooperative endeavour, tolerance and friendship are sig-nificant values that can lead to a greater sense of community and belonging.”

Participation in sport is an important aspect of a stu-dent’s life at Cathedral College Wangaratta with Physical Education classes undertaken at all Year lev-els. It provides the opportunity to improve physical fit-ness and coordination and develop good sportsman-ship. Students are encouraged to participate at all times to the best of their ability with integrity. Students are expected to participate in sports through-out the year with teams being represented in football, netball, cross country, soccer, cricket, hockey, tennis, swimming, basketball, volleyball, equestrian events, badminton, athletics and table tennis.

As well as Inter-school sport, students participate in House sport throughout the year. While participation and commitment to their House is the primary aim, competition for the coveted ‘House Shield’ is fierce amongst all six houses.

Discover the Junior School

From Prep to Year Five, the Junior School at Cathedral College Wangaratta offers a broad, balanced curriculum with a strong emphasis on developing and supporting each child to maximise their abili-ties. The teaching staff is enthusiastic, caring and focused on the development of the whole child, en-couraging students to grow into confident and happy individuals who become responsible members of the school community and beyond. Strategies to promote independence, collaboration, adapt-ability, resilience, creativity, optimism and responsibility are embedded in the curriculum. In essence, the well-being of every child is important to all members of staff.

Underpinning this inclusive environment is the strong sense of belonging and cooperation that exists both in the classroom and in the playground. From their very first day, Cathedral College Wangaratta students belong to a thriving community that supports each child in providing their best effort and striving to become a better person. House activities, Assemblies, Chapel services, musical experienc-es and sports carnivals all contribute in a meaningful way to this feeling. An atmosphere such as this is of critical importance in creating a harmonious and cohesive environment which translates to a culture of learning that is essential in the classroom.

Homeroom teachers are responsible for English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, History, Geog-raphy and Health. The curriculum is designed to ensure significant focus is applied to the learning of basic literacy and numeracy skills for all students. To deepen understanding, higher order thinking skills and concepts are integrated through the comprehensive, student-based approach to teaching and learning. This focus is geared to stimulate and encourage inquiring minds, nurture natural curiosity, and develop critical thinking skills. Students participate in a focused Art, Music and Library program to further develop their artistic and creative talents. German and Indonesian are the LOTE (Languages other Than English) offerings, with an emphasis on enjoyment, participation and the acquisition of basic vocabulary skills. An appreciation of both cultures is fostered with learning in both subjects occurring until Year Six, when students elect to focus upon only one LOTE subject.

And yet, learning in the Junior School is not restricted to the classrooms. We have wonderful outdoor facilties and grounds that allow us to engage with the environment as well as connecting with our Middle and Senior School students.

I extend an invitation to all families to attend the many events and activities that run throughout the school calendar year. The success of any school or education is the result of a collaborative approach between students, parents, teachers and the wider school community focusing on the holistic devel-opment of the student. We work very hard to achieve this.

I look forward to working with each and every student and their families, as we continue to support our children in their steps along the educational journey.

Mr Greg Newbold Head of Junior School

The Junior School engenders an atmosphere of care and support from Senior School students and a close and consistent connection with all staff from both the Mid-dle and Senior Schools. Cathe-dral College Wangaratta creates a collaborative framework that we strive to nurture and cherish.

Discover the Middle SchoolAn exciting time, the transition from Junior to Middle School, which comprises of Year Six through to Year Eight students, is smooth and somewhat natural to an external observer. Our Middle School students, staff and parents clearly form our Middle School community and involve themselves in dis-cussions, programs and events that increase their understanding of the importance of this stage of schooling.

From our experience, a successful Middle School aims to achieve and focus on a number of key fac-tors. A Middle School program needs to recognise and cater for the significant and rapid changes that often occur in both boys and girls during this time. With this in mind, it is our belief that a clear pastoral system of care must be established where respectful relationships between staff and students is a fo-cus. It is also vital that academic programs are based on mastering the fundamental skills in each core subject area. In addition, it is a time to allow students to explore possibilities through elective academ-ic programs that offer a broad range of skills and learning, before they need to begin thinking about specialising and following a pathway to a chosen course or career. Certainly, this is a time where stu-dents should be challenged with clear personal and academic goals created.

Middle schooling is a dynamic time in a student’s lives and equally beneficial and rewarding for those teachers who specialise in this area, as students are establishing their strengths and passions. It is a time for enquiry and growth, whereby their minds have access to new topics, new questions and new ideas. Our community and culture will continue to grow as we continue to strengthen relationships, value lifelong learning, promote a common goal and ask a common question: are you presenting the best version of yourself?

Young people in the middle years of their schooling are moving through one of life’s most com-plex times and our Middle School reflects and acknowledges the challenging and ever changing world in which they live.

Middle School students should be exposed to: leadership opportunities and training, careers knowledge and conversations, the importance of being an active community member, the importance of having an un-derstanding of international issues and what it means to be a global citizen. Ultimately, we are aiming to produce well-rounded stu-dents who feel valued and challenged and who are ready to enter the Senior School by the time they finish their Year Eight program.

Mrs Brigid PerkinsHead of Middle School

Discover the Senior SchoolThe Senior School, from Year Nine to Year Twelve, continues to build upon partnerships in education between teachers, parents and students where everyone is valued and respected as a contributor. Developing new, and consolidating existing capabilities in learning across the curriculum, equips students to make informed choices about their future.

The focus in Senior School is to ensure that all students are well-prepared for their final years of school and beyond. This is achieved by working with each student individually and guiding them through the important choices that are made in this phase of schooling.

We pride ourselves on achievement of enhanced academic outcomes and personal best perfor-mance, through our broad, well balanced and comprehensive curriculum. Opportunities for differ-entiated learning pathways are supported, with a strong emphasis on core subjects in conjunction with a wide range of elective subjects to suit individual interests. Engaging and authentic teaching and learning practices which integrate various learning technologies, prepare our students for life beyond school. Academic integrity and rigour reinforce the College’s philosophy for promoting a culture where learning and scholastic extension are highly regarded. Examinations, common assess-ment tasks and tests are an integral part of the curriculum.

Cathedral College Wangaratta has always instilled in its students a strong sense of service and lead-ership. It is a founding principle of the school and there are many opportunities for students wishing to take on a leadership role. House Captains, School Captains and other important positions across the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, enable students to undertake responsibilities with commitment, respect and enthusiasm in a formal capacity.

These roles help build confidence and compassion with students aspiring to benefit those around them through fundraising, sporting carnivals, music, House and whole school events. There are many practical occasions each day for students to engage with the human-centric abilities, such as em-pathy, connection and leadership as well as harnessing their enthusiasm and energy to contribute on a local, national and global platform.

As Head of Senior School, I invite all families to support, encourage and continue to cultivate habits and attitudes that are positive, productive and beneficial for life. We celebrate and nurture the individual at the same time as we respect and value the community in which we work, study and play in each day. We want all our students to face difficulty and uncertainty calmly, confidently and creatively, and develop as effective learners prepared to take intellectual risks in order to develop their understand-ing of the world around them.

Mr Keith WillettHead of Senior School

Cathedral College Wanga-ratta has always instilled in its students a strong sense of service and leadership. It is a founding principle of the school and there are many opportunities for students wishing to take on a leader-ship role.

Further, there are countless opportunities for students to lead in an informal capacity. Our Year Nine students recently led our Year Two students in Physical Education lessons equipping the little ones not just with physical skills, but interpersonal skills and strengths such as thoughtfulness, generosity, kind-ness and the ability to work as a team member. This invaluable connection with each other results in very tangible and valuable links that exist from Prep to Year Twelve. Our Year Twos were able to learn from the senior students, whilst the Year Nines realised the example they needed to set as leaders.

Discover the IndividualCathedral College Wangaratta is much more than a school of academic excellence. A diverse range of Music, Drama, Dance, Art and public speaking provide opportunities for students to shine.

The Annual School Musical productions are a dynamic tribute to the expertise and devotion to the Performing Arts. Acting, singing, playing in orchestras, backstage support and set design, engages students in the creative process and is a source of great pride for the whole school community. The House Music Festival involves the entire student body in performance. Camps, debating, choir, Sci-ence and Mathematics Talent Quests, Community Service amongst others, extend students’ positive contributions to their school.

The creative nature of Visual Arts offers students a variety of media in which they can express diverse interpretations of life and its experiences. Students from Prep to Year Twelve immerse themselves in the artistic program and are guided by our talented Art staff to appreciate the creative process. An extensive range of mediums such as painting, printing, sculptural constructions, ceramics, woodwork, metalwork and interactive digital media are offered at the College.

344 Wangaratta-Whitfield RoadPO BOX 1086

Wangaratta VIC 3676Telephone: 03 5722 2144

Email: office@cathedralcollege.vic.edu.au

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