The Year 7 and 8 Enrichment Classes at Coffs Harbour High School are designed to:
Foster creative thinking skills;
Develop the ability to think laterally;
Provide a variety of challenges - through extension and enrichment activities - which utilise higher order thinking skills;
Develop advanced organisational skills and
Promote a positive work ethic which encourages all students to achieve their full potential.
The Enrichment Class is a stand-alone group for English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, PDHPE and study skills. The class will be integrated with other classes for Technology Mandatory and Creative and Performing Arts.
All subject areas run programmes which include core work (to ensure syllabus requirements are met) plus extension and enrichment activities in addition to lateral thinking exercises.
Each student in the class has a learning log (as well as their school diary) that they are required to complete on a regular basis.
In addition all students have to complete a major independent study project across the course of the year. Students are provided with a mentor from within the school for purposes of this project. Students are also encouraged to find an out-of-school mentor to assist them with this project.
Entry into an Enrichment class is usually by application, interview and evidence of a wide range of interests.
Peer Tutoring Reading Program
For more than 5 years, 20 year 10 students have been assisting Yr 7 students with their reading every morning.
This very successful program has seen more than 100 students receive a TAFE CERTIFICATE and as many younger students develop confidence with their reading and homework.
Year 10 students are trained as tutors following a Certificate Course approved by TAFE. This can be used towards further Courses such as Childcare.
The benefits for the students are outstanding: Year 10 students acquire pastoral skills, develop a real sense of mentoring, assisting others, sense of responsibility and commitment and tremendous personal satisfaction.
Year 7 students form friendships with an older mentor which generally goes further than just the program as well as improving their reading skills and confidence with language.
The teachers who co-ordinate the program, Mr Peter Crewe and Ms Raelee Smith also gain great personal satisfaction from seeing how much students improve. Indeed they have witnessed a former Yr 7 reversing roles in Year 10 as a tutor.
Year 9 students can apply at the end of the year for selection as a tutor.
A "win win" situation for all concerned.
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QuickSmart Numeracy Program
QUICKSMART is a theory based intervention approach to the assessment, diagnosis and remediation of basic academic skills deficit in numeracy.
The aim of the QUICKSMART program is to increase automaticity in basic academic skills for middle-school students with learning difficulties.
The QUICKSMARTprogram is currently operated as a withdrawal program with students working in pairs under the guidance of an instructor.
Coffs Harbour High has a dedicated and fully equipped room and five qualified instructors.
