GRADE 6 TO YEAR 7

Information for Parents

North CampusNorthumberland Road

Sunshine North

West Campus (opening mid-2020)Lachlan RoadSunshine West

Telephone: 03 8311 5200   Fax: 03 8311 5209   E-mail: sunshine.co@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: sunshine.vic.edu.au

Facebook: facebook.com/sunshinecollegevic

MESSAGE FROM THE PR INC IPAL

Dear Parent/Guardian, While reading through the following information I encourage you to talk to your son or daughterabout applying for a scholarship to Sunshine College. The Grattan Institute, a well-respected organisation of academics published a report - “Turning aroundSchools: it can be done”, where Sunshine College was highlighted as one of five schools nationally thathad achieved exceptional value added outcomes for students in VCE, Mathematics and Literacy.Sunshine College was also mentioned as a case study in another Grattan Institute’s report - “TargetedTeaching: How better use of data can improve student learning”. Sunshine College was one of threeAustralian schools showcased. The College has been recognised with the award for ‘Outstanding School Advancement’ at theVictorian Education Excellence Awards for its work in Mathematics and won the very prestigiousLindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, a huge honour for the school and a deservingtribute to the hard work of our professional teaching staff. We have Year 8 students studying Year 11 Maths Methods as part of our Accelerated LearningProgram. Our school operates within a culture of Aspiration, Inclusion and Collaboration where ourschool community values Learning, Growth, Relationships and Well-being. Our culture, along with ourcommunity values has supported us being ranked in the top ten percent of Victorian SecondarySchools in regard to student connectedness to school, their peers and teachers and a complementarydocument showing us as an exemplar school in this area was tabled in the Victorian Parliament. Our work in our SunLit program in building student capacity in literacy has been documented by theDepartment of Education so our approach can be shared with other schools in Victoria. Year 7students are tested and placed into one of four strands. Those in the top strand start working onstrategies to help prepare them for year 11 & 12 VCE English. Year 7 students are encouraged to participate in our Performing Arts Evening ‘SHINE’ which is a majorsuccess every year and showcases the talents of our students. When so many other schools visit usand copy what we do it is high praise indeed. The future looks bright. We are building new school facilities in West Sunshine, due to open in July 2020 and recently opened anew purpose built Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics centre in North Sunshine. Thedesign and operation of our new buildings support the most up to date teaching & learning practices. Because we believe that all students can learn, grow and excel in a particular field of endeavour weoffer and encourage students to apply for a scholarship. Parents of current Year 6 students are invitedto submit a preliminary application for a scholarship on the form included within the scholarshipbrochure. We aim with your support to accelerate all our students to reach their full potential. Yours sincerely,Tim BluntCollege Principal

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GRADE 6 TO YEAR 7

On the very first day of the school year we only have our Year 7 students atschool. On that day students have the whole school to themselves where they canfamiliarise themselves with their new environment. Student expectations, studyplanners, homework best practices, lockers and class timetables are issued andfurther tours of the school surroundings occur.Two Homegroup teachers for each Year 7 class. These Homegroup teacherstake the students for most of their subjects and get to know them well.House system. Students are placed in a house where it develops friendships,enhances a sense of belonging, encourages competition and increasesopportunities for success.We have a Year 7 Parents and Friends BBQ within the first few weeks of theschool year to get to know our new parents.Year 7 Camp is organised during Term 1 as we see this is a great opportunity forstudents and teachers to develop and establish a rapport with one another.

Our College works closely and has developed strong relationships with our localprimary schools to ensure students are known, feel comfortable and supportedduring their transition to secondary school. Throughout the year we have Orientation and activity days on which primary studentsvisit the school to become familiar with their new environment. Helping our new Year 7students to feel happy, secure and confident is an absolute priority for our college. Upon arrival at Sunshine College, our youngest students are supported by a variety ofprograms and initiatives including an excellent Peer Support Program involving all Year7 students and specially trained Year 10 students. The Year 7 Pathways and PeerSupport Program is designed around personal development. It reinforces our schoolvalues and develops student self-esteem, resiliency, communication and life skills. Other structures and programs we have to ensure a smooth transition include:

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YEAR 7 SUBJECTS

CORE SUBJECTS

SEMESTER SUBJECTS

Essential knowledge and skills are developed where students are challengedto achieve their full potential. With extra support for students who are having difficulties and enrichment andextension programs for higher achieving students, the Year 7 curriculum is carefullydesigned to fully engage students.

Note: Subjects listed are for 2020. We are currently designing a new curriculum mapwith the likely inclusion of a subject focusing on languages (LOTE) and an additionalperforming arts subject focusing on Drama & Theatre.

English Maths SUNLIT Science History HPE Pathways 5 5 4 3 3 3 1

Art

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Technology

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Foods

3

Music

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OUR BUILD INGS AND FAC IL IT IES

Sunshine College will soon be opening a new ‘state of the art’ Years 7-12coeducational school in Lachlan Road, West Sunshine, and last year openedour new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) facilities atthe Northumberland Road campus. You can find more photos of our new facilities on the Sunshine College Facebookpage: facebook.com/sunshinecollegevic

North campus STEM building The Hive (Library) at the West Campus

New buildings (left), and an outdoorarea (below) at the new West Campus

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CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS

Camps are seen as an integral part of the Sunshine College curriculum as theyenable students to explore, extend and enrich their learning and their socialskill development, in a non-school setting. Our college camps are designed to engage students, build confidence and to buildrelationships with peers and teachers. The Sunshine College values of learning,growth, wellbeing and relationships are further reflected within our school camps.Camps may have a cultural, environmental or outdoor emphasis and are animportant aspect of the educational programs offered at our school. In Year 7, students attend Camp Sunnystones.In Years 9 & 10, students attend camp on the Gold Coast, QLD Our College also has a sister school, Shiaying Junior High School in Tainan, Taiwan,which students will have the opportunity to visit in future years. Along with camps, we also run many excursions throughout the year. Excursionsare linked to the curriculum and provide opportunities not available in theclassroom setting.

Year 7 students learning archery at Camp Sunnystones

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OUR CULTURE AND VALUES

OUR VALUES ARE

OUR CULTURE IS

As a school community we take pride in Creating Futures through a caringenvironment that enhances academic learning, personal growth and wellbeing forall students and staff.

GROWTH LEARNING RELATIONSHIPS WELLBEING

ASPIRATIONAL

We believe all students canlearn and that all students

can meet with success.

This will be achieved whenwe demand the best of oneanother as teachers and as

facilitators of learning.

INCLUSIVE

We respect and welcomediversity.

We believe that everyone

has an importantcontribution to make to the

school in creating aneffective teaching andlearning community.

COLLABORATIVE

We believe that working as amember of a team

offers clear direction andsupport to challenges faced

and in the celebrationof successes.

We believe it is of primaryimportance to consistently

foster an environment wherestudents learn from and help

one another. We believeworking together is a powerfulstrategy in improving teaching

and learning.6

OUR RESULTS

The Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence inEducation recognises a school whose contribution hasbeen judged to be the most outstanding to Victoriangovernment school education.

Our SunLit and MathsFutures programs havedrastically improved SunshineCollege's results in literacy andnumeracy by focusing on individual student learningbased at their level. See our website for moreinformation on our SunLit andMaths Futures programs.

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2 0 2 1 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Community ScholarshipsThese General Entry Scholarships are available to students who have demonstratedan outstanding work ethic at primary level, have been supportive of fellow studentsand have fully participated in the life of their school. Academic Excellence ScholarshipsThese are available to those students with an exemplary academic record who havedemonstrated outstanding aptitude and achievement in Mathematics and English,together with a strong performance in general studies. Specialist ScholarshipsSpecialist Scholarships are available to students who have demonstrated anoutstanding work ethic and application at primary level and who are stronglyfocused on achievement in a particular area of expertise. Leadership ScholarshipsThese are available to students with a solid academic record who havedemonstrated leadership skills and potential in a variety of settings that includeparticipation in school and community activities.

Sunshine College Scholarships are available to responsible young peopleprepared to strive for their personal best at secondary level and who willbecome a credit to their families and the College. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of an interview, involving the applicant and aparent, held at the College together with additional information provided by thestudent’s current school. Students are not required to sit for an entry exam.

Applications close Friday 12th June 2020

See scholarship brochure or our website (underEnrolments) for the application form.

Students can apply for more than one class of scholarship.

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UNIFORM

It is compulsory for all students to wear the complete uniform whilst at theCollege, travelling to and from the College and when attending Collegefunctions unless directed otherwise.

Sunshine College Blazer (Year 11 - 12)Sunshine College skirt or dressSunshine College long grey uniform trousers orgrey uniform shorts with white or black socksV- neck navy pullover with Sunshine College logoSunshine College shirt (long or short sleeve)Black polished leather regulation school shoes

PE Uniform

School PE polo shirt with logoSchool PE shortsSchool PE tracksuitSports shoes

Optional items

Sunshine College blazer (Year 7 - 10)Sunshine College wet weather jacketSunshine College scarfSunshine College tie

The official Sunshine College uniform

All uniform items are available for purchase from our uniform suppliers:

Uniform shop at the Senior CampusGraham Street, Sunshine Mondays from 3:00pm to 4:00pmThursdays from 2:00pm to 3.30pm

Double C Jeanery2 Aviation Road, LavertonPh: 9369 4307 (open 7 days) Online store:dcsuniforms.com.au/sunshine-secondary-college/

Our full uniform policy isavailable on our website

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INFORMAT ION EVENINGS

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North CampusNorthumberland Road

Sunshine North

West Campus (opening mid-2020)Lachlan RoadSunshine West

Telephone: 03 8311 5200   Fax: 03 8311 5209   E-mail: sunshine.co@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: sunshine.vic.edu.au

Facebook: facebook.com/sunshinecollegevic