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The College's Junior School caters for Kindergarten to Year 7. Kindergarten consists of four, half-day sessions per week. The Pre-primary curriculum operates half-days in Term 1, followed by full days for the remaining terms, and offers a breadth of experiences to meet the children's developmental needs - academically, socially and physically.
The Junior School curriculum concentrates on the Religious Education programme, Mathematics and Literacy skills, especially in the early years. Other subjects taught include Indonesian, Physical and Health Education, Music, Art and Craft, Social Sciences, Science and Technology.
The Junior School curriculum is presented within a collaborative and integrated approach to learning where the children work co-operatively together, in small groups, to solve problems and complete tasks.
Students in Years 8 and 9 form the Middle School at the College and undertake an integrated curriculum and some areas of specialisation.
Students in this early adolescent phase of schooling work in an integrated learning environment covering the traditional disciplines of English, Society and Environment, Science, Religious Education, and Physical and Health Education. They work as part of a Learning Team which focuses on students' achievement of a set of outcomes based on knowledge, processes, skills, attitudes and values, with an emphasis on what students know, value, understand, and are able to do. The approach is student-centred and the individual needs of each student form the starting point for all courses of study.
Alongside this integrated approach, students engage in a number of specialist areas which include:
Technology and Design, Information Technology, Art, Music, Consumer Science, Drama, Indonesian, Electronics, Physical Recreation and Outdoor Education, Textiles, Dance. As students progress through the Middle School years they will be given increased opportunity to select part of their course. All students will complete a module of Mathematics and Religious Education as a component of their studies.
Students in Years 10, 11, and 12 form the Senior
School within the College. The curriculum is designed to accommodate the
individual needs and aspirations of the students in the later adolescent phase
of schooling. It aims to provide a learning environment that is challenging,
stimulating and
relevant to students.
Students will achieve the thirteen outcomes mandated by the Curriculum Framework and do this by selecting a Course of Study directed toward an ultimate destination such as university entrance, TAFE access, an apprenticeship, or the workforce.
Students' selection of courses will be guided by their current achievement and their career destination when they complete schooling. In Year 10, their Course of Study will be based on four major directions: the Humanities, Mathematics and Sciences, Physical and Health education, and Vocational Education. As students progress through Senior School, their Course of Study will become increasingly focused and specialised toward an academic or vocational career intention.
Whilst most students will take three years to complete Senior School, the environment will allow students to move more slowly or quickly, as determined by the needs of the individual. Performance review will allow students to re-plot or re-align their courses as they move through these years.
Whilst there will be considerable flexibility in Courses of Study, all students will complete a module of Religious Education and a module of English during their Senior School years.
There will be opportunity for students to engage in specialist vocational courses, through working with external agencies such as TAPE and that provided by work experience.
PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral care in a Catholic College is of paramount importance as we attempt to develop the whole person.
The pastoral care of the secondary school is administered through a vertical House system and this dovetails with a similar arrangement in the junior school. Newly enrolled students are placed in one of six, vertically streamed Houses and they remain in this House for the duration of their time at the College. Staff members are also allocated to a House, which they too will serve while they remain on the staff. While the pastoral care needs of the primary children are met through the full time contact with the class teacher, secondary students meet daily within their House Tutor groups and, during this meeting time, they pray together and are informed of current and on-going aspects of the College.
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Campus Ministry, in collaboration with all departments, serves the mission of Mandurah Catholic College by making visible the religious identity of the institution, and by nurturing the total development of students, faculty and staff. In the context of Catholic education, Campus Ministry offers unique and challenging opportunities through which individuals can deepen their understanding and experience of themselves as humans, and of their faith as Christians. Challenged by a world in need of direction, tolerance and healing, Campus Ministry is committed to fostering an environment of care in our school community. The College Ministry Team hopes to enable individuals to:
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The College Sacred Garden |
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Campus Ministry enriches learning by understanding people's needs, by understanding the mission and goals of the College, and by responding to each area in a pastoral way. The College Ministry Team will endeavour to achieve the above by:
Our aim will be to assist individuals to actively participate and contribute to Mandurah Catholic College's Mission by:
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Father Ian with some students |
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The College Ministry Team envisages that the following will happen:
Campus Ministry is a Catholic presence at Mandurah Catholic College and exists to serve and enrich the lives of students, faculty, staff and the parents.
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The College Pastoral Care Team Members |
| SACRAMENTAL
PREPARATION
Children are prepared for the sacraments of Reconciliation in Year 3, Eucharist in Year 4 and Confirmation in Year 7. Parents are required to present their child(ren) through the parish to commence preparation for a sacrament. The class teacher works with the children in class to prepare the children to receive the sacrament. Parents are required, as part of their commitment, to attend three parent meetings at the Parish Centre. |
| RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION and CELEBRATION
All students from Kindergarten to Year 12 receive Religious Education lessons each week, commensurate with their level of development. The Archdiocesan Religious Education Guidelines are followed in all grades. All children receive this instruction, since we are a Catholic, Christian College. Liturgies and masses (in the Junior School) and masses (Middle and Senior School) are the main forms of regular worship and may be conducted as a class, year group or school. Retreats are also part of the Religious dimension of the College and these are experienced by children in Years 7 and secondary grades.
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| PEER HELPERS
Peer helpers are trained and commissioned in both Junior and Senior School. Their aim is to assist other students to ensure their rights are being protected and to assist in solving any disputes that may arise.
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PEER SUPPORT
PROGRAMME
Students in Year 9 are required to act as a Peer helper for a Junior grade for a lesson a week, for one term, to demonstrate service to others. This is extended in Year 10 when all students are required to participate in community service for a semester.
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APPLICATION PROCESS
Following a request for enrolment to the College, parents are sent an application form. A separate application form is required for each child. The completed form is returned to the College with a non-refundable application fee of $22.00 per family (includes GST). This fee covers administrative expenses and must be paid before applications can be placed on file. Receipt of the form is not an indication that the application has been successful.
ENROLMENT PROCESS
In the year prior to the year of entry, parents to whom a place may be offered will be asked to attend an interview, to which they should bring a recent school report. This correspondence will contain a request for a Priest or Minister reference. Interviews are arranged with students and their parents. When all interviews have been completed, offers of places are made.
Acceptance of these offers is formalised by completion of a Confirmation of Enrolment/ Parents' Authority form, which is returned to the College with the enrolment fee of $75.00 (Middle and Senior School students, only). This amount is credited to the annual fees.
A parent's signature on the Confirmation of Enrolment form is taken as acceptance of school policy, regulations, payment of fees, and parental involvement.
ENROLMENT PRIORITIES -Junior School
When the number of applicants exceeds places available, the following criteria will be used to determine priority of enrolment: [The Principal may vary these priorities in exceptional circumstances.]
| 1 Catholic students from the Parish. |
| 2 Catholic students from outside the Parish. |
| 3 Siblings of non-Catholic students. |
| 4 Non-Catholic students from other Christian denominations. |
| 5 Other non-Catholic students. |
ENROLMENT PRIORITIES - Middle and Senior Schools
When the number of applicants exceeds places available, the following criteria will be used to determine priority of enrolment: [The Principal may vary these priorities in exceptional circumstances.]
| 1 Catholic students from Catholic schools. |
| 2 Catholic students from non-Catholic schools. |
| 3 Siblings of non-Catholic students. |
| 4 Non-Catholic students from Catholic schools. |
| 5 Non-Catholic students from other Christian denominations. |
| 6 Other non-Catholic students. |
