The Road Autumn 2020

The Damascus College Diverse Learning Team
ESTEEM – Year 8
A practical hands-on learning environment covering scientific,
mathematical and technological knowledge, allowing the
application of skills in project/scenario-based learning activities.
This develops Higher Order Thinking Skills, including the transfer of
learning, problem solving and critical thinking skills. This program
runs over 15 periods in a 10-day cycle in Semester 1 and 18 periods
in a 10-day cycle in Semester 2.
Units can include:
CLIL – Year 10
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an
internationally recognised approach to teaching both a language
and subject content at the same time; for example, teaching
chemistry content using French as the medium of instruction.
Students electing CLIL will study a language (French or Indonesian)
and apply that learning to their elected Humanities class in their
chosen foreign language.
• Thunderstorms Asthma
• Robotics
• Kite Design
• X & Y marks the Spot
• Amusement park ride of the future
Focused Pathways – Year 10
Year 10 is a critical year for students to design their three year
pathway to their future career. This program enables students to
acquire specialist in-depth knowledge and skills during Year 10 in
specific learning areas of interest before committing to decisions
about their Senior School education for Year 11 and 12.
Students can choose a subject elective within the core strands of
English, Mathematics, PE/Health, Science and Humanities.
Hands on Learning Program (HoLP)
– Year 10
This Hands on Learning Program (HoLP) focuses on learning by
doing that caters to the different ways young people learn, helping to
build confidence and capacity, leading to greater engagement and
achievement in schools. It develops students’ social and emotional
learning skills to succeed in life, including:
• Collaboration;
• Problem-solving;
• Communication;
• Resilience; and
• Empathy.
Students are selected to be part of HoLP which prepares them for
their senior years of schooling where students and teachers work
collaboratively to negotiate, create and implement meaningful
and practical projects that benefit the school and the community.
Students build self-esteem, friendships and a sense of belonging and
become more content at school.
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