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Form of workParkdale Secondary College is a zoned school located in the southern suburbs of Melbourne. It has a reputation as being community focused and providing students with a safe, engaging and supportive learning environment where success for each student is paramount. Parkdale Secondary College provides a dynamic and stimulating learning journey. Each student is challenged to grow, develop their potential, become an active learner and be an effective and caring member of the wider community.
The College vision, structure and programs are reflected in the Parkdale Building Block Framework; the Parkdale Principles -¿5Ps¿ - guide student expectations and learning: Punctuality, Preparation, Purpose, Participation and Probity. The College¿s Teaching and Learning framework is shaped by the Melbourne Declaration and enacts the DET and ACARA requirements.
Parkdale provides a diverse range of curriculum. Programs have grown over the past 5 years with the curricular and co-curricular offerings providing students more opportunities and options.
The Junior School ¿ Year 7 and 8 - exposes students to a breadth of curriculum. There is a focus on student connectedness, relationships, and collaboration. A small number of teachers work with the one tutor group for 2 years. Year 9 is the transition year with students undertaking discipline based units, four days of each week with the CONNECT program operating each Wednesday.
In Year 10, students begin their pathways program within the senior vertical timetable. Three distinct pathway programs operate in the senior school ¿ Year 10/VCE, VCE + VET, Applied Learning/ VCAL/VET. These programs are complemented by the Year 10 Learning Journeys program focusing on pathways, resilience and student connectedness and the VCE program including SACs, study approaches and pathways planning.
Students can also access the enhanced learning programs that are outside the traditional curriculum: the Arts Enhanced Program (AEP) in music and dance; the Elite Sports Program (ESP)¿ AFL, soccer, basketball, netball, triathlon, and golf; the Writing Is Necessary Program (WIN) and the Science, Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) with the themes of Dissections, Formula 1, Robotics and environmental investigations. The growth in these enhancement programs has been in response to student demand for high level program engagement.
A comprehensive Wellbeing Program based on authentic relationships with tutors and teachers is supported by a Wellbeing Team including a qualified Psychologist, counsellor and Wellbeing Officers.
The College has strong links at the local, national and international level. We want our students to develop a global perspective. Parkdale Secondary College has developed the Parkdale Community Precinct. This precinct includes indoor sporting facilities, theatre and performing arts areas, Children¿s Hub, external playing fields and car parks. A governance model has evolved through the cooperation of the partners ¿ the City of Kingston, Mordialloc Community Centre and Parkdale Secondary College, with the model now a blueprint for other schools and local governments. The precinct caters for many thousands of community members each week.
The educational vision has been complemented by the upgrade of physical space to allow 21st century pedagogy. The College has largely been rebuilt since 2010. Stage 1 was completed in 2010 with Stage 2 of the program completed in 2013: three new Gyms; Visual Arts Centre with 8 rooms; Performing Arts Centre with a 350-seat Auditorium; 2 Music Classrooms; 3 Tuition Rooms; a Green Room and a Foyer. The new Senior School Centre was completed in May 2014 and the Children¿s and Family Intergenerational Hub was completed in August 2014.
The focus of improving student outcomes has always been central to the College vision. The use of data to inform College Council, staff, parents and students on the progress of the College, Year Level cohorts, classes and individual students is regularly undertaken. Teachers reviewing their practice underpins professional learning, Curriculum workshops and the review process. The move to a common instructional model ¿ CDT- has led to a focus on consistency in curriculum development and implementation and the development of differentiated formative and summative assessment. This continues to be a central focus of the College¿s teaching and learning processes.
