News
21 January 2025
The Middle School (Years 5 to 8) is a vibrant and active community. It is a learning journey that begins at Year 5 to harness a culture of high performance, and where learning how to learn is at the heart of each experience.
Our Middle School is embedded in the Senior Campus and offers a myriad of co-curricular opportunities for students to explore their talents, interests, and stretch their comfort zone. These activities add breadth to the academic journey, build self-esteem and allow friendships to be formed in the process. When Fintona girls leave the Middle School, they have a stronger sense of self efficacy and self awareness, and are ready for the new challenges that await in the Senior School.
These years are ones of exciting change and transition with new friends to make, new grounds to explore, and new challenges to take on.
An engaging curriculum
The Middle School academic program focuses on developing the whole student, emphasising skills and knowledge to best prepare our students for a vibrant world. We believe that all learning is a consequence of thinking and strive to make learning an active part of each lesson as the students grapple with new content and develop skills. The students are supported to make meaning of what they are learning, engage in collaboration, critical and creative thinking and use feedback to move their learning forward. We equip the students with strong organisational skills, starting in Year 5, and foster a growth mindset so that our students embrace their strengths and reflect of their areas of development.
The Year 5 academic program follows a more traditional primary years’ model with a single teacher for English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities. Art, Drama, Music, Physical Education, French, Library and Digital Design are run by specialists. Complementing our academic programs are the Year 5 and 6 Orchestra, Science Talent Search and the Elizabeth M Butt Speaking Competition.
In Year 6, our students are introduced to a hybrid education model, which provides them with the opportunity to learn from subject-specific teachers. While they continue to have a dedicated tutor teacher who specialises in either English or Mathematics and Humanities, students also move around the campus move and learn with specialist teachers. We believe this approach allows students to engage in deeper learning while developing their independence and organisational skills. Gradually, our students become better prepared to manage multiple teachers, subjects, classrooms, and expectations in a supportive setting. This grounding aptly prepares them for Year 7 and beyond. The Year 6 academic program includes English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Drama, Art, Music, Physical Education and French.
By Year 7, our students are exposed to a full array of subjects with specialised teaching staff. In Years 7 and 8 the academic program includes English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Drama, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Digital Design. They also choose 2 out of 3 language options, which include French, Japanese and Latin.
Co-curriculum
Meaningful learning occurs beyond the traditional classrooms of Middle School. During these years, girls are encouraged to join in music ensembles and choirs, build confidence through debating and public speaking, and participate in a wide range of community service programs.
Music at Fintona is stimulating and supportive. Here, students learn to play instruments, sing, compose, develop critical listening skills and explore the artistry of music.
As well as classes and private music tuition, students can join in ensembles with several opportunities to perform during the year.
For us, sport is about more than developing skills; it’s about developing friendships and team spirit.
In Years 5 and 6, all students compete against local independent schools, <em>as part of a compulsory Tuesday afterschool sport program</em>. They take part in team sports, including basketball, soccer, hockey, teeball and netball.
Students in Years 7 to 12 compete <em>in an opt in program</em>, as part of the Girls Sport Victoria (GSV) inter-school sport competition.
House sporting competitions and before and after-school training provide more opportunities for students to join in a wide range of team and individual sports.
We want our girls to speak with confidence. Middle School students have many opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to develop their public speaking and debating skills.
All Middle and Senior School students participate in the Elizabeth M. Butt Public Speaking Competition. Students in Years 7 and 8 also can participate in the DAV Junior Secondary Program, a friendly inter-school debating competition.
We encourage our girls to pursue their passions. The breadth of clubs and special interest groups allows everyone to learn new skills, build new hobbies and mentor other students.
The interests and passions of Fintona students drive the variety of clubs available. Middle School girls take part in Green Team, STEM Club, Chess, Art, Cooking, Gardening, and more.
Middle School camps take students – safely – beyond their comfort zone.
In Year 5, girls spend four days in Gippsland, then in Year 6, they take part in a three-day beach experience, which includes studying marine life and learning to surf. Year 7 girls participate in a Central Australian trip where they are immersed in Indigenous culture, and in Year 8, they travel to Toolangi for a five-day camp together in the bush.
Stepping onto the stage helps students develop their creative capacity, learn about their own identity, and build self-awareness and self-confidence.
As well as Drama and Theatre in the classroom, all students from Years 5 to 12 take part in the House Drama competition. From Year 7, students can also join in the annual school play, both on-stage and behind the scenes in technical support, set creation, costumes and makeup.
Students are placed in one of six houses from Years 5 to 12. The house system offers an engaging variety of sporting and cultural activities that builds a healthy competitive spirit and supportive environment. The activities range from drama and music to swimming, athletics, cross country and the Summer Carnival with various team sports.
Justine Hamilton, Head of Middle school
‘I fundamentally believe every girl has untapped potential, hidden grit and determination, and every girl can achieve her personal best when she is truly driven to do so. I want to create an environment where we truly embrace each student for who they are. Where we celebrate their skills and talents and embrace their areas of growth.’
