GBC Curriculum

• The College provides an inclusive curriculum that addresses appropriate issues and needs, ensuring that learning is relevant and engaging.    
• Teachers emphasise a balance of academic rigour, personal well-being, physical and spiritual health.

Seamless Curriculum
Geelong Baptist College is committed to providing a seamless education from Prep to Year Twelve where students are in the same community from the beginning to the end of their schooling.  This is unique to our school, enhances our student community through many cross-age learning opportunities and assists students in their transition from Primary to Secondary school. 

The purpose of the College’s curriculum is to equip young people with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs to deal with life beyond school. The focus is on Literacy, Numeracy, learning for life, thinking skills and developing independence and genuine ambition in ongoing learning.

• Staff at the College are committed to providing students the best environment with varied opportunities and experiences for achieving success and they will endeavour to assist students to achieve their potential.
• The broad array of learning experiences offered are modern and relevant in today’s society. 
• The curriculum is taught within the Christian context and Biblical principles.
• It is interested in the fulfilment of social justice, the pursuit of truth, and personal integrity. 
• At times, special programs are run to ensure that students of all ages meet and learn from each other.
  
  

College Curriculum:

• English
• Maths
• Sciences
• Physical Education, Sports and Health
• SOSE - Geography + History
• LOTE - Indonesian
• Technology : Computing, Woodwork, Textiles, Graphics, Food Technology
• The Arts : Music, Drama, Visual Arts
• VCE, VCAL, VET
• Year 9 Program (One day a week in Semester Two)

Teachers encourage and challenge students:

• to take responsibility for their own learning,
• to develop independent and group learning skills,
• to take risks without fear of failure,
• to pursue excellence,  
• to put into practice those things that they have learned and
• to achieve their potential.
  
  

In Primary levels: 

• Children will be nurtured in a stable and safe environmentof positive care, where basic skills are taught thoroughly through a variety of modern teaching methods.
• Teachers focus on the needs and particular strengths of each individual, building confidence and self-awareness.
• Teachers incorporate a variety of enrichment activities and programs. 
• Specialist teachers take the following learning areas: LOTE – Indonesian, Physical Education, Music and Library.

In Secondary levels:  

• The College program is designed to challenge studentsto accept further responsibility for their own learning and develop skills for life-long learning. 
• The College offers opportunities for students to follow individual educational pathways.
• The College provides students with all the skills and experiences they need to make informed choices in life and to be fully prepared to make a positive contribution to society.

Extra Curricular Activities:  enhancing and extending the curriculum  

• Activities such as sporting teams, music groups, public speaking and debating.
• Students may also participate in subject-specific competitions.
• Fun activity days such as Book Week, Multicultural Day, Grandparents Day, Girl/Boy days.
• Student Welfare and Leadership Programs
  

Curriculum Highlights

Year 7: ‘Night of the Notables’
Year 8: ‘Saddle On’ Elective
Year 9: ‘The Edge’ Program
Years 7-9: ‘Project 729’ – two day hands on career experiences
Year 10: Career focus, Work Experience and VET opportunities
VCE + VCAL:   Study skills, Pathways into Careers and Further Education.

Community Partnerships

The College acknowledges that the community is a wonderful resource and can provide numerous  opportunities to complement and extend the curriculum.

We have developed two Community Partnerships which will commence in 2010:

• Saddle On which will provide many hands on learning opportunities and leisure activities such as horse riding, BMX bikes and archery, developing students’ team skills, cooperation, self-esteem, resiliency,  physical fitness and overall well-being.
• RSL – (“The Darwin Defenders”) allowing students to represent this unit in memorial marches, assist these soldiers in writing up their memoirs and fostering a deep understanding and empathy as they learn of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces. 

Camping Program
Camps provide a wide array of opportunities, experiences, new environments and challenges. Camps enable students to further their learning and develop many important skills such as resilience, adaptability, initiative and social maturity in a non-school environment.

At GBC, the camp program is ran every second year for students in Years 4 to 12, whilst students in Year 2 – 3 participate in a sleepover at school and other planned associated activities. 

All Secondary classes time their camps to run simultaneously avoiding repeated disruption to other classes, but choose different camp sites to meet the Year level’s goals and needs.