LYC

The College provides students with opportunities to develop areas of talent and interest. Year 7 students experience at least four electives, two per semester, including art, drama, food technology and music. From Year 8 students then have the opportunity to choose which electives they will study. Many students also take on a second LOTE, either French or Yiddish, as well as their Hebrew studies.

Programs take into account the nature and experience of each student, recognising that there are different ways of learning and different learning styles. Support and enrichment programs provide opportunities to discover and extend the talents and skills of students in terms of academic, social, physical and spiritual needs.

As well as timetabled Health and Physical Education classes, secondary students have the opportunity to participate in additional sports training and interschool competitions in a wide range of sports. Our Physical and Personal Development (Health) department strongly believes that every child can find a sport that excites and entices them. Our students are encouraged to choose their sporting elective from a diverse list that includes traditional sports as well as surfing, cycle classes, in-line skating, circus skills, self defence, dance and movement.

A compulsory extra curricular activity for students in Years 7-9 is the commitment to community service. All students are expected to give a minimum of 20 hours per semester to a range of organisation or individuals. Some take part in cross-age tutoring, others are involved in fundraisers. Some visit the elderly on a regular basis while others help to form a minyan at one of the homes. The activities are varied and students have an opportunity to give their own time to causes that are linked to the Jewish community in Australia and Israel, as well as the broader Australian community. As the concept of giving becomes part of their lives most students continue their community service in Years 11 and 12 and beyond, on a voluntary basis.

A prominent extra curricular activity is the biennial College musical production. Here students across various year levels work together for a common goal. The friendships that are formed and the memories that are cherished help to cement very close and long lasting ties.

A targeted Life Skills Program
All secondary students participate in a Life Skills Program that aims to address typical teen issues in a safe environment and to provide all students with factual information that will assist them on their personal journey through school and beyond. Students will look at themes from a Secular and Orthodox Jewish perspective and will, as a result of participating in the program, become well informed.

In our technologically evolving world our children are faced with new challenges and risks on a daily basis. They are exposed to mobile phones, the internet and cable television. References to drugs and sex are ever bombarding young lives in film, media and music. The media also play a huge role in often sending messages to teens about body image. Peer pressure can also be a cause of unhappiness and negative self-image.

Personal time management and ways to deal with stress are important skills in adulthood. It is therefore vital that teens are able to master competence in these areas early in their education. Yavneh’s Life Skills Program hopes to help our young students achieve these capabilities.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE LEIBLER YAVNEH COLLEGE CURRICULUM
YEARS 7 – 10

The Curriculum:
• provides a rich educational experience in accordance with the School’s Philosophy together with the Curriculum Standards Frameworks Document.
• equips students for life-long learning in a changing society
• meets the needs of individual students academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually within a safe environment
• incorporates cross-curriculum practices
• implements stimulating and challenging programs
• establishes clearly defined, expected outcomes
• establishes and maintains effective assessment, recording and reporting strategies
• surpasses state and national curriculum and assessment requirements
• is supported by college organisation and work practices
• provides for the pastoral care and welfare of students
• provides opportunities for success
• exemplifies the harmonious integration of Jewish and secular learning and values
• reflects the fact that parents, students and teachers are partners in the education process