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SMC Refugee Morning Tea |
The Scar Tree |
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The Scar Tree is an important stop
on the Year 7 Richmond
excursion. |
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LITERACY
Literacy is a whole school priority at St Monica’s College.
The Literacy Faculty supports the development of students’ reading,
writing, speaking and listening skills across all subject areas.
At Year 7, up to eight students per homeroom take part in a structured
program, the Middle Years Literacy Intervention Program, instead of English.
This program supports both reading and writing through intensive scaffolding of
texts for students just below the benchmarks in these areas. The course follows
the Standard English curriculum, but also uses key texts from other disciplines
such as science and history.
Specialist Literacy teachers support every Year 8 English class at least one
lesson per week and literacy teachers regularly attend ASH (After School
Homework program) to work with students with low literacy skills.
The literacy focus continues in later years where literacy support is integrated
across the curriculum as part of the College’s whole school approach to
literacy. Working with the literacy
teachers, all faculties develop specific resources, such as models of good
writing, to support the development of literacy competency, including an
understanding of and the ability to use the academic language required for
senior classes.
The faculty has particular responsibility for ESL students, New Arrivals,
Indigenous and Refugee background students.
ESL students at Years 7 to 9 can elect to attend timetabled ESL classes instead
of LOTE. In addition, support is
offered on a 1:1 basis where appropriate. In
Years 10-12, ESL students are timetabled into the same English classes where
possible and receive small group and 1:1 support.
Cultural activities to strengthen the links between school and community are an
important part of our program. |