Transition from Primary to High School
Links between the primary schools and Clifton State High School are important to us. This is evidenced in a Transition Program, where the high school collaborates closely with the feeder primary schools.
Each year, students from the Clifton Cluster of schools are invited to familiarize themselves with the high school, its practices, procedures and activities. Primary students and family members are invited to our Open Day and Showcase on Wednesday, 23 August. Later, Year 6 students are invited to attend our Transition Day on Wednesday, 6 December where they will work in the Year 7 Classrooms and participate in a transition program that helps build relationships with other incoming students and 2024 Year 7 Teachers.
Junior Secondary at Clifton State High School
Our experienced teachers and Administration team contine to work towards the six guiding principles of Junior Secondary.
- Distinct Identity
- Quality Teaching
- Student Wellbeing
- Parent & Community Involvement
- Leadership
- Local decision-making
In Junior Secondary, we aim to provide a supportive environment which is focused on learner interests and needs and where students are encouraged and challenged to excel.
Subjects
All subjects are planned and co-ordinated by experienced specialist teachers to enhance literacy, numeracy and ICT opportunities.
The Australian Curriculum subjects of English, Maths, Science and History form a strong basis for success in preparation for Senior Subjects. In 2024, Clifton State High School will start the implementation of version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum.
In Year 7 and 8, students will complete foundation units for the subjects:
- The Arts (Visual Art and Music)
- Agricultural Studies
- Technology and Design (Digital Technologies; Food & Fibre Technologies; and Materials & Technologies Specialisation)
Students are given opportunities to specialise in particular electives from Year 9 before considering opportunities for careers in Year 10.
Pastoral Care Program
A weekly Pastoral Care Program is implemented at Clifton SHS to support our students to be Healthy, Confident and Resilient young people. Throughout the year students will participate in a variety of learning experiences that give students the tools to become lifelong learners, who can respond positively to their changing world, utilising cognitive, social and emotional skills for the successful pursuit of their personal goals.
Our annual Pastoral Care Program includes:
Study Skills
Road Safety Awareness
Cultural Awareness and Celebration (Harmony Week)
Good Mental Health Practices
Respectful Relationships Programs (includes respect for self and others, cultural understanding & gender equity)
Extra Curricular
Students are also given access to many extra-curricular programs, including: the Instrumental Music Program, a Sports Specialization Program, cultural activities (eg, NAIDOC Week and Harmony Week) and interesting and educational excursions to the local and wider Darling Downs areas and beyond.
Homework
Homework is set for most subjects, on a weekly basis. Our teachers understand that living in a rural community means that there is travel time for extra-curricular commitments and often tasks to do living on a rural property. The weekly homework plan assist students to complete tasks around these other commitments.
Students are required to submit homework tasks, and homework is to be recorded in their school diary at the end of each lesson. Parents are encouraged to read over school work for the day and discuss learning with their student. This period of review and reflection, at the end of a day’s learning, is essential for knowledge to be internalised.
We have the belief that there are 3 Types of Homework:
1. Set Homework – this is given during a lesson. It is expected to be completed by the due date. This will be checked by the teacher, and forms part of the “Effort” grade on Report Cards.
2. Revision – this is where students revisit the lesson from earlier in the day, read over notes, then briefly record what has been learnt (a summary sentence). This could also include making revision notes and recording key vocabulary (these would be used to study for an exam.)
3. Assessment Preparation – Students are issued with a Student Assessment Planner early in the term (parents can request a copy of this by contacting HOD-Junior Curriculum, Mrs Rebekah Turkington rturk5@eq.edu.au). Students should record Check Dates and Due Dates on a Personal Calendar. Some assessment will be exams, so revision and study for an exam will be required; some assessment will be Assignment work. For upcoming Assignments, students can commence planning, research and preparing an overview of the task. This will allow time for review, editing and reflection before the due date.
Parents are encouraged to discuss these 3 Types of Homework with students, reminding them that if they say “I’ve got no homework,” that Set Homework is only ONE aspect of the homework process.
A guide to the amount of time to spend on homework and study is as follows:
Year 7 – 45 minutes, including reading, at least 4 nights per week + (where needed) an hour on the weekend.
Year 8 and 9 – 1 hour, at least 4 nights per week + (where needed) an hour on the weekend.