Foundation Learning
Prep is the foundation year for a child’s formative learning journey. We recognise this at St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar by offering smaller class sizes of around 18 students in Prep and Year 1 to ensure every student receives explicit instruction and the individual attention that they need to develop their foundational skills.
St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar offers a Diamond Education Model. This means students in Junior School, which includes Years 5 and 6, are taught in a coeducational learning environment. As students progress and enter Senior School (Year 7) they will be taught in single-gender environments on a dedicated campus; girls at the Berwick Campus and boys at the Officer Campus.
Growing Great People
To grow great people we recognise that we need to educate the heart as much as the mind of each student.
As an open-entry, non-selective school we aim to engage and reach every student to ensure that they have a strong sense of belonging to our community, that they are regularly challenged to ensure their personal growth and that they strive for excellence in everything that they do.
Excellence
We challenge our students to achieve their best potential and pursue excellence in all endeavours within a high-quality and balanced educational experience.
Growth
We inspire our learners to find their strengths and grow in their voice and agency through a cope and sequence of opportunity, choice and challenge, appropriate to their age and stage.
Belonging
The essence of an education at SMBG is the strength that comes from belonging and connection with something larger than oneself. Our aim is to ensure all community members feel safe, valued, nurtured and connected, with a strong sense of belonging to place and people, so you always feel welcome.
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We deliver Excellence, Growth and Belonging through the lens of our 4 As to provide a holistic education, ensuring every student finds and explores their passion which we strive to develop and nurture.
The nature of education and curiosity means that no A stands on its own but is intrinsically linked with the other As. Leadership is not only found walking on the trails of the high country, but can equally be found in the performing arts, the debating team, the sports field or the nuances of global citizenship.
Our Junior School teaches the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) which is designed for children from ELC to Year 6. PYP nurtures and develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. Through its inquiry-led, explicit teaching and trans-disciplinary framework, PYP challenges students to think for themselves and take responsibility for their learning as they explore local and global issues and opportunities in real-life contexts.
Through the PYP programme students find their voice and develop their Leadership skills. Understanding their strengths and opportunities, our students develop their identity, confidence, and foster a strong sense of belonging to the community. Specialist classes in Music, Visual and Performing Arts, French, Chinese, Library, Sport and PE inspire curiosity and creativity and the unique opportunity for hands-on learning through a wealth of outdoor camps (from Year 3) excursions.
Notable Prep Events and Experiences
- Each Prep student has a Year 3 and Year 6 Buddy
- Each child belongs to a House as part of our Wellbeing program
- House events (Cross Country, Athletics, Jog-A-Thon)
- Excursions and Incursions
- Cooking experiences in the Senior School
- Prep and Year 1 Concert
- End of year Prep Celebration Concert
- Participation in biennial Junior School musical
- 1:1 iPad program
We encourage you to visit us to experience St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar firsthand. To find out more contact our Admissions team on 03 9703 8111 or enrol@smbg.vic.edu.au
