Junior Diploma
Junior Diploma
Students earn credits for their achievements in class and for participating in activities outside the class.
Subject Credits:
There are 24 credits available in each full subject, except Physical Education which has 18 credits and Health which has 12 credits
Participation in sport and cultural activities can gain a maximum of 18 credits.
For example: Year 9 English
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Description
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Credits
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Response to Texts (Literature)
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4
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Creative Writing
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3
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Formal Writing
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3
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Speeches
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3
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Close Reading
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3
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Reading Log
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2
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Book Work
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2
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Library
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2
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Homework
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2
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Total
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24
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Assessment
Each standard has a title and credit value.
Students are assessed for each standard and receive one of four grades
Achieved with:
Excellence (E)
Merit (M)
Achieved(A)
Not Achieved (N)
Students who get A, M or E are awarded the credits for each standard.
*F will designate when a standard was not attempted
Key Words
Assessment:
These are ways that a school measures your progress. For example: tests, doing research, making a poster, making a speech.
Credits:
These are the number of points you get when you are successful in an assessment.
Each assessment will have a set number of credits.
You will be able to gather credits throughout the year as you complete assessments.
Parents will be informed of the number of credits achieved by each student every term.
Standards:
In the past each subject has been divided into units of work with general titles. Subjects are now divided into standards that describe what you can do.
ACHIEVING A DIPLOMA
Year 9
Diploma
Year 9 students must gain a minimum of 120 credits out of a possible 216 credits. The 216 credits is made up of eight subjects worth 24 credits each plus a further 24 credits for extra curricula involvement.
Merit Diploma
In addition, a Merit Diploma will be awarded for achieving 60 or more credits at Merit level or above.
Excellence Diploma
An Excellence Diploma will be awarded for achieving 60 or more credits at Excellence level.
Year 10
Diploma
Year 10 students must gain a minimum of 110 credits out of a possible 192 credits. The 192 credits is made up of seven subjects at 24 credits each plus a further 24 credits for extra curricula involvement.
Merit Diploma
In addition, a Merit Diploma will be awarded for achieving 50 or more credits at Merit level or above.
Excellence Diploma
An Excellence Diploma will be awarded for achieving 50 or more credits at Excellence level.
JUNIOR DIPLOMA AWARDS
The Junior Diploma, Merit Diploma and Excellence Diploma, both for Years 9 and 10 will be presented at the Junior Prize Giving in December.
Students and parents will be notified each term regarding progress towards these Diplomas. Outstanding performance will be recognised in the school newsletter and at assemblies.
REWARD DAY
CATCH UP DAY
Those students who do not qualify for Reward Day will remain at school to do catch up work. This is not a punishment, but rather an opportunity to cover work that has been missed.
NOTE: Attendance at these days is compulsory.
FAILING TO ACHIEVE A JUNIOR DIPLOMA
When a student fails to achieve a Junior Diploma Award, their performance will be reviewed. Where their Golden Fern points indicate a reasonable level of effort and commitment, the student will progress to the next year level. When a student fails to achieve a Junior Diploma Award and their Golden Fern points indicate a lack of effort and commitment, they will not automatically progress to the next yea level. On a case by case basis one or more of the following will take place.*In conjunction with students and parents, a plan is developed that will address the issues and make it unlikely that the poor performance will be repeated. The student is promoted to the next year level.
*The student is required to attend the final catch up programme in the summer school holidays. At the successful completion of which they are promoted to the next year level.
*Where neither a plan nor the final catch up programme is completed, the student is required to repeat some or all of their current year.
Students who have 85% or greater attendance at school and have been signed off as being up to date with their work for the term by all their teachers will attend a Reward Day on the first Friday of the following term. If a student’s attendance is greater than 85% but their work is judged to be not up to date, they could do catch up work over the holidays and present their work to the teacher(s) to be signed off within the first two days of the new term. This would enable them to be eligible for Reward Day.