Middle School

As students progress through their English language and literature studies, they engage with and explore an increasing range and sophistication of literary and informational texts and works of literature extending across genres, cultures and historical periods. These texts will also provide models for students to develop the competencies to communicate appropriately and effectively in an increasing range of social, cultural and academic contexts, and for an increasing variety of audiences and purposes.

Learning science involves more than simply learning technical terminology. With inquiry at the core, the sciences framework guides students to independently and collaboratively investigate issues through research, observation and experimentation. Our sciences curriculum explores the connections between science and everyday life. Scientific inquiry also fosters critical and creative thinking about research and design, as well as the identification of assumptions and alternative explanations, through experiments and inquiry.

Individuals and societies encourages learners to respect and understand the world around them and equips them with the necessary skills to inquire into historical, contemporary, geographical, political, social, economic, religious, technological and cultural factors that have an impact on individuals, societies and environments. The approach to individuals and societies includes a strong focus on inquiry and investigation. Students collect, describe and analyse data used in studies of societies; test hypotheses; and learn how to interpret increasingly complex information, including original source material. This focus on real-world examples, research and analysis is an essential aspect of the subject.

Our program values the process of creating, performing and presenting artwork, and gives students opportunities to function as artists and to develop as learners. Students learn to use the arts to convey feelings, experiences and ideas about the world, and in doing so they acquire and develop techniques and creative skills. They learn the value of reflection and evaluation as a means of developing their ideas, their skills and their work.

Design challenges all students to apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve design problems; encourages students to explore the role of design in both historical and contemporary contexts; and raises students’ awareness of their responsibilities when making design decisions and taking action. Design requires the use of the design cycle as a tool, which provides the methodology used to structure the inquiry and analysis of problems, the development of feasible solutions, the creation of solutions, and the testing and evaluation of the solution. Our design programme enables students to develop not only practical skills but also strategies for creative and critical thinking. Our program expects all students to become actively involved in, and to focus on, the whole design process rather than on the final product/solution.

PHE aims to empower students to understand and appreciate the value of being physically active and develop the motivation for making healthy life choices. To this end, our physical and health education course fosters the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to a student’s balanced and healthy lifestyle. Students engaged in physical and health education will explore a variety of concepts that help foster an awareness of physical development and health perspectives, empowering them to make informed decisions and promoting positive social interaction.

Our program structures additional language learning in phases so that the complexity and range of language profiles that students bring to their classroom is acknowledged and fostered. Japanese Language acquisition aims to develop a respect for, and understanding of, other languages and cultures, and is equally designed to equip the student with a skills base to facilitate further language learning. As students progress they will move to Japanese language and literature studies, and will engage with and explore an increasing range and sophistication of literary and informational texts and works of literature extending across genres, cultures and historical periods. This is based on the local national curriculum of Japan (Kokugo).

In music, students will have the opportunity to select a woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument to study in a group setting. Students will learn the foundations of playing an instrument and continue to develop their musicianship. The class will inquire into the ideas that music is a creative process as well as an activity, that music is an intrinsic component of personal and cultural expression, and that music is an enjoyable hands-on activity that requires the development of skills.