Catalyst • Junior Secondary Curriculum • Handbook 2019
About this Handbook
It gives me great pleasure to present our Catalyst
Handbook for 2019. For families of current junior
secondary students, this handbook provides
information on year-specific courses, building on
students’ understanding and continuing to provide
focus for their personal learning journey. For many
parents, however, it will be an introduction to the
system of junior secondary schooling at Guildford
Grammar School. Many parents have indicated that
the move to high school is a demanding time for
them, as well as their child, as they learn a new set
of systems, subjects and procedures. The intent of
this handbook is to capture as much of this new
information as possible, and present it in a single,
clear publication.
Mr Graham Lawson
At Guildford Grammar School we will continue to
build on a curriculum that meets the needs of our
students and prepares them for the challenges and
opportunities their fast-paced, contemporary futures
will provide.
As well as providing direct links to the Western
Australian Curriculum, our junior secondary academic
program provides every student with an education
that meets the essential requirements of a quality
education, while catering to their learning needs
and interests, from their very first day in the Senior
School.
I hope that the following pages answer many of your
questions, however, I do expect that you will have
specific queries related to our academic program and
your child’s choice of courses. Please do not hesitate
to contact me for any further information you
require. My email address is graham.lawson@ggs.
wa.edu.au and my direct telephone number is (08)
9377 9299.
A large part of this handbook outlines our extensive
range of Discovery courses. Discovery courses are
the courses students elect to study based on their
interests and passions. We are understandably proud
of the number of opportunities we are offering in
2019 for individually selected study, and provide a
brief outline of these courses for your consideration.
In the coming weeks you will be asked to make a
selection from these courses; this process is outlined
in the final pages of this handbook. Should you
require any additional information about specific
Discovery courses, the relevant contact person for
each course is listed on the page.
In my role as Head of Catalyst, I assume responsibility
for this exciting and challenging Year 7-9 curriculum.
My priority is to support students and families as
‘learning partners’ during these important early years
of secondary education. I am confident that 2019 will
provide all Catalyst students with opportunities to
acquire valuable skills for their future, discover new
talents and simply find enjoyment through learning. I
look forward to sharing the experience with you.
Mr Graham Lawson
Head of Catalyst
As a school, the decisions we make about what we
teach and how we teach it are backed by research
and supported through the efforts of committed and
passionate teachers who seek to inspire every student
to achieve their very own brand of personal excellence.
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