MIDDLE School
A PLACE TO THRIVE
Our unique, open-planned and innovative Middle School provides an environment that encourages excellence at a crucial stage in a student’s educational journey. Students are introduced to the world of Secondary School carefully and intentionally.
Our Middle School educators use a teaching philosophy focussed on collaborative and team teaching, where they explore and continually improve their pedagogy, as well as offering different teaching styles to better engage our diverse learners. Students have greater access to educators by all being in the one centre with educators on hand for help.
Our Middle School offers open plan and modern learning environments where students are able to have more control over their physical space to help them achieve their learning needs, as well as access to the Secondary specialist classrooms.
Our educators are privileged to be part of such an important time in a student’s learning journey. They develop strong relationships with the students and provide guidance as they prepare to move into their future pathway in the senior years. Our educators, along with support from our wellbeing staff, understand the nature of the adolescent years and are prepared to assist the students in utilising their individual attributes, to foster their values and equip them with lifelong skills.
We ensure that students aspire and strive to achieve the greatest possible choice of futures through an experience of excellence in pedagogy and pastoral care.
RIVERMONT EXPERIENCE
The Rivermont centre and gardens are immersed in our stunning natural environment and is the transition centre between the Primary and Secondary School. The Rivermont nature-based educational experience is steeped in a rich culture of community, sustainability and is quite unlike anything else. When entering the nurturing ambience of our learning space, you can appreciate the unique opportunity that students have to participate in something very special.
The Rivermont Experience encompasses a forward-thinking approach to modern education that harnesses the power of individual learning styles and whole child wellbeing to achieve academic, personal and spiritual development. We are passionate about supporting and assisting students to develop vital skills that can be applied universally, wherever they go in life. We provide a rigorous curriculum that is creatively and seamlessly integrated with nature-based adventure activities. The curriculum is rich in teamwork and collaborative experiences, whereby a deep connection with ourselves, each other and our precious Earth are established, as seen in our Garden to Kitchen Program. Students are encouraged to continually explore and develop their creative and innovative skills. They are supported whilst stepping out of their comfort zone to take risks, to expand their experiences and continue to aspire to becoming the best version of themselves.
The Rivermont Experience is a truly enriching experience unlike any other and provides a solid foundation of independent, lifelong learners with a full repertoire of contemporary life skills, resilience and knowledge.
THE RITE JOURNEY
A key feature of our Year 9 Curriculum is The Rite Journey, which is an established year-long program that integrates healthy rites of passage to prepare adolescents for their transition into adulthood.
Year 9 students are venturing into one of the most significant times in their adolescence, and The Rite Journey supports our students through significant physical, social and emotional changes. One of the key features of the program is a wide array of challenges (physical, spiritual, emotional) that are integrated throughout the year, and which help to build their independence, self-esteem and resilience.
Students are streamed into classes that are grouped by gender, and the program is facilitated by an educator of the same gender, which allows students to discuss topics and issues in a safe and nurturing environment. The Rite Journey at HILLS provides an opportunity for our young adults to deeply explore themselves, their peers and how they relate to the wider community around them through fostering mentoring relationships with key adults and their educator.
