The Middle Years
Throughout Middle School (Years 6 to 9), students at Helena College are encouraged to become independent learners who gradually take responsibility for their choices and actions. They are encouraged to respect each other and given the opportunity to develop the necessary social and emotional skills within a caring and inclusive environment.
Year 6 is our main intake year at our Glen Forrest Campus, and the beginning of Middle School, which also includes Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9. For all learning experiences, our professional and passionate staff work hard to ensure high quality, challenging programs are designed to stimulate and extend each student.
Our Year 9 students emerge from their Middle School journey as independent learners who are able to set their own goals and challenge themselves in everything they do. They have become resilient young people ready to face the rigours of Years 10, 11 and 12.
— Tim Hayward, Head of Year 9
All students take the following core subjects from Year 6 until they make their WACE course selections for Years 11 and 12. In addition to the core subjects, students undertake a variety of courses in Years 6 to 8 before being able to choose their electives in Year 9 and 10. The Western Australian Curriculum determines what the students learn and the Helena College Teaching and Learning Framework determines how they learn.
The Western Australian Curriculum covers the following learning areas:
- English
- Health & Physical Education
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Science
- Technologies
- The Arts
The core learning areas of Maths, English, Science and Humanities & Social Sciences are sometimes referred to as the MESH subjects, and are done at every year level in Middle School (Years 6 to 9) and in Year 10 (Upper School).
In Year 6 and 7, students do one semester (two terms) of each of Drama, Food Technology, Innovation, Media and Film, Music, and Visual Art. In Year 8, the semester rotations are Design Engineering, Drama, Food Technology, Media and Film, Music and Visual Art.
In Year 9, students may choose three electives but must have at least one Arts and one Technology subject. Electives choices may vary from year to year. All Year 9s also do Outdoor Education for one semester, which culminates in a three-day hike. Please head to our Upper School page for information on the Year 10 curriculum and electives.
In Years 7 to 9, all learning areas are taught by specialist teachers, and have access to the full range of facilities at the Glen Forrest Campus, which include science laboratories, well-equipped food technology kitchens, design and engineering workshops, media studio, gymnasium and more.
Pastoral care underpins all relationships within the Middle School. The homeroom in which each student will be placed is carefully chosen to best suit their individual needs. Friendships are forged through these daily gatherings and are further enhanced through our highly regarded Camps Program. Each year level participates in a camp that is specifically designed to meet the needs of their year group and links back to the classroom. For all learning experiences, our professional and passionate staff work hard to ensure high quality, challenging programmes are designed to stimulate and extend each student.
Electives
Senior School students are fortunate to have a wide range of courses to enjoy at Helena College, all based on the Western Australian Curriculum..
In Years 6, 7 and 8 the the core curriculum covers Maths, English, Science and Humanities & Social Sciences (sometimes referred to as MESH subjects). In Year 6, the MESH subjects are taught by the Homeroom teacher, and by subject specialists in Years 7 and 8. All Years 6 to 8 students are given an introduction to some of the specialist programs through semester-based courses in areas such as Drama, Food Technology, Media, Music and Visual Arts. Other learning areas may include Digital Innovation, Health Education, Information Services (Library), Languages and Physical Education studies.
In Years 9 and 10, students are able to choose to expand on what they enjoyed in Years 6 to 8, by choosing one of the many electives on offer in 2024:
In Year 10, students are supported through the decision-making process to help them choose a pathway that suits their post-school ambitions.For Years 11 and 12 students, course selection is focused on the requirements of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), and students can choose to follow a General or an ATAR pathway at Helena College.
We have put together some articles that may be of interest to families when considering subject selection for the final two years of school:
Class Times
| Monday to Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|
|
Homeroom/Assembly
|
8.40 - 8.55am
|
8.40 - 9.10am
|
|
Period 1
|
8.55 - 9.40am
|
9.10 - 9.55am
|
|
Period 2
|
9.40 - 10.25am
|
9.55 - 10.40am
|
|
Recess
|
10.25 - 10.45am
|
10.40 - 11am
|
|
Period 3
|
10.45 - 11.30am
|
11 - 11.40am
|
|
Period 4
|
11.30am - 12.15pm
|
11.40am - 12.20pm
|
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Period 5
|
12.15 - 1pm
|
12.20 - 1pm
|
|
Lunch
|
1 - 1.45pm
|
1 - 1.45pm
|
|
Period 6
|
1.45 - 2.30pm
|
1.45 - 2.30pm
|
|
Period 7
|
2.30 - 3.15pm
|
2.30 - 3.15pm
|