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Form of workOUR COLLEGE
Eaglehawk Secondary College (ESC) is a Year 7 - 10 college, which focuses on the needs of students in preparation for senior school pathways, further study and the workforce. Students from the college progress on to undertake the VCE or equivalent at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, with which ESC have a very strong partnership as a member of the Bendigo Education Plan cluster schools.
The college has a student population of 570 students drawn from Eaglehawk, Bendigo and the adjacent rural areas, with projected growth to 700. The college was completely rebuilt in 2012 with outstanding facilities including four Learning Communities; Design and Technology building; Performing Arts Centre; Library; Food Technology areas; Gymnasium; a purpose-built Innovation Learning Centre for STEAM and an onsite reengagement facility that hosts the college¿s Connect Program.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
A wide range of teaching and learning strategies are employed by teachers to actively involve students in their learning and respond to the different skills, abilities, and interests of all students.
The major features of ESC are:
· A well-balanced curriculum that has breadth, depth, engagement, and challenge.
· Personalised learning opportunities that increase agency and voice in learning.
· Literacy and Numeracy programs catering for personalised learning.
· Applied and practical learning experiences with VCE and VET opportunities utilising industry standard facilities and equipment.
· 1:1 Netbook Program.
· Programs to support Indigenous students.
· Tutor supported program for Karen students.
· Opportunities for students to thrive in our onsitere engagement program ¿Connect¿ that support students who are at risk, therefore enabling them to remain connected to educational opportunities and the school community.
· A Teacher Advisor Program committed to the learning, wellbeing, and engagement of students.
ICT
ESC maximises learning technologies through the 1:1 Netbook Program. Parents are kept informed of their child¿s learning and attendance via COMPASS platform. Every student in the College is resourced with a netbook computer and connected on-line for their learning and assessment.
RESPONSIVE & INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM
A wide range of teaching and learning strategies are employed to actively involve students in their learning and respond to the different skills, abilities, and interests of all students.
Curriculum initiatives include:
· E-Learning across the curriculum
· Pathways opportunities which include Work Experience and Head Start
· VET and VCE provision at Year 10.
· High needs transition program for at risk students Year 6 moving to Year 7
· Year 10 transition program to Bendigo Senior Secondary College
· Breadth of subject and elective offerings across the curriculum across years 7-10
· Courses are designed and aligned with Victorian Curriculum in the areas of English, Mathematics, Humanities, Arts, Science, LOTE, Design and Technology and Health and Physical Education.
· Opportunities to undertake specialist programs as part of the BEP cluster secondary schools initiative including the Athletic Development Program and STEAM
· RACV Energy Breakthrough, Bendigo Instrumental Music Program (BIMP) and Marrung Performing Arts Program
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Parents obtain regular feedback about student progress and competencies through:
· Ready to Learn conferences and Parent / Teacher / Student interviews at the start of each semester.
· Progressive student assessment and reporting information available through COMPASS for each units of work. The college is reporting using online technologies.
· End of semester reports on Victorian Curriculum progress via COMPASS
· Course Counselling for subject selection for years 8 ¿ 10.
COLLEGE FACILITIES
Our school has been built to cater for a long-term enrolment of 800 students. The school is designed on principles that have created modern school buildings capable of supporting a wide variety of new teaching and learning approaches.
The school design allows for:
· Personalised learning for every student.
· Curriculum that has breadth, depth, engagement and challenge.
· Applied and practical learning experiences.
· Each student having a Teacher Advisor for student wellbeing, mentoring and academic support.
· Indoor-outdoor connections for learning. For example the GROW program and 3556 Magazine.
· Student leadership opportunities. Student Executive Leadership Team (SELT)
· Partnership programs with La Trobe University, Bendigo.
· College Production.
SUPPORTING ALL STUDENTS
The facilities have a capacity to provide for a vast curriculum program including STEAM and Project Based Learning programs. The setting supports students to build effective relationships with their teachers and their fellow students.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Learning Communities accommodate up to 200 students. The community setting caters for their core curriculum classes and provides the base for their management and welfare as a group. Small teams of teachers provide home group (Teacher Advisor - TA) tutoring to small groups of students in each Learning Community, which will help develop a culture of high expectations, underpinned by a commitment to effort and hard work by all.
The flexible learning spaces, and network cabling, support the extensive use of Information Communication Technologies. The design of the neighbourhoods allow effective supervision of all students in the group and includes social spaces where personal relationships are formed.
Learning communities also include:
· Studio classrooms for up to 25 students.
· Interview spaces that can also be used as a workspace for three or four students.
· Breakout spaces where a range of teaching and learning activities can occur.
· Specialist Arts / Science studios and a link to specialist areas for Design and Technology Studies, Health and Physical Education and Performing Arts.
