Alice Springs students prepare for the Senior Years
29 August 2006
Year 9 students and Special Needs students from Alice Springs High School and ANZAC Hill High School will visit Centralian Senior Secondary College in the next few weeks as part of their preparation to move to the dedicated senior college next year.
Employment, Education and Training Department Middle Years Implementation Director Annette Jamieson said the visit was designed to introduce the students to their future learning environment and make the transition as smooth as possible. It follows a visit earlier this month by Year 10 students for the same purpose.
“Centralian Senior Secondary College will open its doors to Year 10 students next year under the Northern Territory Government’s plan to introduce middle schools throughout the Territory.”
The grouping of Year 10 students with students from Years 11 and 12 next year is the first step of the implementation of the Senior Years/Middle Years in the Territory. The secondary education reform is designed to help students improve their NTCE results and provide better pathways to higher education, VET and employment.
The Department of Employment, Education and Training is determined to ensure that the transition occurs as smoothly as possible and continues to work with schools.
Ms Jamieson said we’re focussing on students at all ‘transition points’.
“These include Year 6 students who will move to middle school next year, and students from Anzac Hill (Year 9-10) and Alice Springs High School (Year 9-12) who will make the move to Centralian College.
“Alice Springs school communities will continue to meet regularly to discuss the coordination, communication and support associated with transition.”
Centralian College staff and the new Transition Project Officer have also been working with students to ensure that each individual’s needs are catered for.
Centralian College’s Gateways Program and Alice Springs High School Future Directions students will work together to ensure relationships are developed between students and staff from the two schools in preparation for their merger next year. Student Services and Special Education teachers are also working with students in these programs on the transition.
Meanwhile, Centralian College’s Middle Years building project, estimated to cost $1.3 million, is underway. New facilities include seven classrooms, an information and communication technology learning area and an outdoor recreational area.
