Our distinctive curriculum offerings
Year 8 Transition Program – significant links are pursued with our feeder schools to ensure we have sound knowledge of our future students well before they begin Year 8. Strong research underpins the direction and structure of the program that is based around the learning, social and emotional needs of young people of this age. Each class is therefore characterized by:
Allocation of a home room
2 main teachers teaching them for more than 1 subject in order to come to know their students well as people and as learners. These teachers are supported with allocated planning time each term to meet and discuss ‘who they teach’; ‘what they teach’; and ‘how they teach’
Significant parent inclusion and contact
An aligned curriculum. Deliberate efforts are made to build on primary school learning and link one subject with another in both learning experiences and assessment so students are able to make sense of their learning
Year 8 Music Specialisation Class (8M) - this class is comprised of students who have applied for entry and been recommended by staff at their primary school. Students are exposed to more Music instruction throughout the year and in Semester 2 there is specific emphasis on public performance. (see website link for further information).
Year 10 Taster program – Junior school work as such is completed at the end of Semester 1 Year 10 and students are invited to choose from a range of Senior-type subjects for the next 6 months. Again, research into the learning, social and emotional needs of young people of this age supports the need at this juncture to expand their choice and experience. Evidence shows a real engagement in learning. For those students focussed on moving into fulltime work, work experience opportunities are provided and employment skills highlighted.
Work experience & School Based Traineeships (SATs)– we recognize the dire shortage of tradespeople in our society today and the important learnings that come with the accountabilities of a workplace. 20% of our current Year 10 cohort enjoy work experience with local employers. Our Senior schooling program currently places 109 students in school based traineeships – again, wonderful links with our community. The Queensland average for schools, at 11%, is the highest in the nation. Our school average is 20% which is outstanding. Centenary Heights State High School also had the 6th largest number of SAT commencements in Queensland for 2008.
Senior school Music Excellence Program (ME) caters for students with specific abilities in Music. This subject offers specialisation in performance, composing or musicology. It provides students with a developmental path to a more exacting level of experience in the area of specialisation and leads to the acquisition of significant expertise in the field.
Well supported ESL (English as a Second Language) program – please visit our complete curriculum on our website: http://centheigshs.eq.edu.au
Headstart Program - a partnership with USQ - students in Semester 2 Year 11 and/or Semester 1 Year 12 may choose from a wide variety of subject offerings and study one of these on site at USQ. A pass in the subject counts towards tertiary entry should they wish to study at USQ after Year 12 is finished. Our students have enjoyed great success in this program over the past five years.
Wine Tourism as a subject!! - Centenary Heights is one of the inaugural seven schools in Queensland to be in partnership with the Queensland Wine Industry and the University of Southern Queensland. Students in Year 10 elect to study the making and selling of wine and as such understand the chemistry of wine right through to marketing and cellar door. Partnership with Symphony Wines and Preston Peak Wineries has brought the 'real experience' to our students as has the construction of our own vineyard on site, tended closely by our students.
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