The High School Department at Sherwood Hills is dedicated to providing the best educational experience possible for our students. Our team includes teachers and teacher aides with many years of experience, and their responsibilities encompass a diverse range of subjects. At Sherwood Hills, we strive to maintain a culture of learning, pastoral care, and personal responsibility.

Our goal is to prepare the students not only academically but most importantly, spiritually.  With the inclusion of the Bible Classes offered to all year levels, twice a week, and a lunch time devotion, once a week, it is our desire to see our students develop to their full potential spiritually and academically.

Teaching Program

The High School Department of Sherwood Hills Christian School incorporates two systems that offered to cater to the different learning needs of the students:  The ACE system and the Teacher-Directed system.  The ACE system, which is Student-directed, is offered mainly to cater to the needs of students with learning, physical or social disabilities and/or difficulties.

The Teacher-Directed program employs the traditional classroom set-up.  The school uses a variety of textbooks and resources to meet each student’s needs and the New South Wales Education Authority (NESA) requirements. Each class’ requirements are different but usually includes homework, projects and assessments. Some classes are taught by stages and some by year level.

The following are the core subjects:

• • Mathematics

• • HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment)

• • English

• • Science

• • PDHPE (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education)

• • Bible Class for Male & Female (Years 7-10)

• • Studies of Religion (Years 11-12)

The school offers a variety of electives specific for each Year/Stage.

For Stage 4 (Years 7-8):

• • French and Technology (Year 7)

• • Creative Arts/Visual Arts and Music (Year 8)

For Stage 5 (Years 9-10):

• • Music (choice of instrument depending on the teacher (e.g. violin, clarinet, guitar)

• • Food Technology

• • Physical Education and Sport Studies (PASS)

• • Commerce

For Stage 6 (Years 11-12), the students have the opportunity to apply for a TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training) course that will be undertaken within the last two years of their schooling, in addition to their regular studies at the cost to the families.

Daily Schedule

A regular day for High School begins in the Library Building with prayer, the reading of the monthly memory passage, a short devotion and announcements.  After the morning routine, students are dismissed to go to their respective classes. Classrooms for High School are held in the Homeroom, Multi-purpose room, Computer room and the Science lab. To assist students with their work, a Lunch-time help is offered four times a week and an After-school help, once a week. This is designed so that students are able to receive tutoring and assistance in catching up with missed lessons or finishing assessment tasks. 

High School – Student Consultation Times:

These are times in which students can access the school IT resources for their homework or assignments, and they are also times in which they can receive some additional assistance with their work from a teacher.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday During Lunch Break

Thursday Afternoons* 3:30pm – 4.30pm

*ONLY with parent permission provided in diary prior to the day.

Excursions

Our High School students participate in various excursions and activities throughout the year.  Class excursions are scheduled by the individual subject teacher throughout the school year and students who have earned Honour Roll will also be invited to an excursion as a reward for their efforts for the term.

High School Camp

The High School Department runs a 4-Day camp in Term 4 every year. It is an opportunity for students to build friendships and to grow spiritually.  The cost for the camp can be charged in full or via instalments and is approximately between $200-$250 per student. Students are placed in 4 or 5 teams, and each team is designated a staff member or guest speaker as a Team Leader. The program generally includes an ‘Amazing Race’ component, camp sporting activities, Scripture memorisation, and a morning and evening chapel service with the guest speaker. It is a voluntary school camp; however, students who do not attend the camp are still required to attend school during that time. 

Reward System

The school recognizes students’ efforts by providing a range of awards each week at Monday Chapel Assembly, including Student of the Week, Scripture Memory, and Assessment Certificates. ‘Student of the Week’ is awarded to the student who has shown exceptional behaviour or has excelled academically in that week.  Certificates are given to students who have earned an ‘A’ grade in any assessment, or if they have recited the monthly Scripture passage in the previous week.

Honour Roll

All students in High School have the opportunity to earn Honour Roll each term. At the end of the year, students who have received Honour Roll for 4 terms will receive a trophy.

• • There are three academic requirements for Teacher-Directed Subjects (Mainstream Classes):

1. 1. 1. No individual subject can have a term average below 70%
      2. Overall term average across all subjects must be above 80%
      3. No Failed Assessments or Tests

• • *There are four academic requirements for Student-Directed Subjects (PACEs):

1. 1. 1. No individual subject can have a term average below 70%
      2. Overall term average across all subjects must be above 80%
      3. No Failed PACE Tests
      4. Minimum of two (2) completed PACES in each subject

• • No Detentions (Mercy detention is not included)
  • No “R” marks in any subject’s Personal Profile or in Desirable Traits and Habits
  • Memorize and say all Scripture Memory Passages by the specified date
  • Must not be absent from school for more than 10 days in a term.
  • Must not have more than 10 Late Attendance to school in a term. (Documented appointments do not count)

*Please Note: Any student who undertakes both student-directed and teacher-directed programs must satisfy both sets of requirements.