Enrolments
Enrolments
Transition

Transition

Elisabeth Murdoch College has a great relationship with local Primary Schools whose website links are listed below. Our Transition Program is well planned in partnership with primary school Transition Coordinators to prepare Grade 6 students for their smooth movement into Year 7. We conduct:

  • School visits with student presentations to answer questions
  • Workshops with Grade 6 students on daily routines, how to use the combination lock and getting organised by using the Student Planner
  • An Orientation Day program in December of each year
  • An annual College Production and invite Grade 5 students to a matinee
  • Tours for primary teachers at the beginning of each year to visit Year 7 classrooms and see how their past students are settling in to life at secondary school

Langwarrin Primary School - www.langwarrinps.vic.edu.au
Langwarrin Park Primary School - www.langwarrinparkps.vic.edu.au
Woodlands Primary School - www.woodlandsps.vic.edu.au
Pearcedale Primary School - www.pearcedaleps.vic.edu.au
Cranbourne South Primary School - www.cranbournesouth.vic.edu.au

Orientation Day

On the 10th of December, EMC hosts an Orientation Day for all Year 6 students enrolled at the College. This day helps students to learn more about the way the College runs and to relax anyone who may be feeling a little unsure of what might be up ahead.

Adjusting to life at Elisabeth Murdoch College

During the first week of their first year at secondary school, Year 7 students will be allowed  time to adjust to EMC life. Older EMC students understand the need for new Year 7 students to feel safe and secure in this new environment. All 8 – 12 students assist whenever possible.

Home Group sessions will provide a safe place to ask the questions that Year 7 students like to ask. Home Group Teachers will assist with timetable use, lockers, bus times and ideas for making new friends. Homework tasks are kept to a minimum and Year 7 students will be allowed to access canteen and bus queues a little earlier than other EMC students for the first few weeks.

There are many staff who assist Year 7 students. Whilst the Home Group Teacher is the first point of contact for new students, there are other staff available to assist such as the sub school leaders and Assistant Principals.

Mrs. Lorraine Pearson is the Middle School Administration Officer. She provides important information to Year 7 students and/or their parents. This can include all notices, forms, student timetables, room allocations. She may contact home and assist students to settle in and find their way around.

More details are included in the Student Planner.

Primary School Visits

During term three and four each year, staff from EMC visit the local Primary Schools on a regular basis. In particular, the Year 6 students from, Langwarrin PS, Langwarrin Park PS, Woodlands PS, Pearcedale PS and Cranbourne South PS will recognise important Year 7 staff in preparation for the following year.

All Year 6 staff will also have the chance to discuss any matters related to the transition from primary school to secondary college with caring EMC staff.

Lockers

Each Year 7 student is provided with a locker to safely and securely store all personal belongings and College books. A padlock that requires a security code is also provided as a component of the College fees and charges. Students are asked to keep this code private to enable security of their property to be ensured. If students forget their code, a Middle School Leader can assist them.

Home Groups

Each Home Group is aligned to a particular Sub School to ensure each student has the care and attention they deserve at this important time. As in Primary School, each Home Group has a dedicated Home Group Teacher who is able to deal with any issue that arises and is the first point of contact for parents and students. Each Home Group elects a male and female Class Captain who can arrange special events for the class and liaise with other Class Captains.

Sub School Leaders 2013

  • Ms Nicole Burke is the Allinga (Red) Sub School Leader
  • Ms Amy Miller is the Bindana (Blue) Sub School Leader (Acting)
  • Ms Joanne Lackman is the Kurunda (Yellow) Sub School Leader (Acting)
  • Mrs Julia Nasser is the Myamba (Green) Sub School Leader (Acting)

Sub School Leaders are able to help parents with any issues they may have in regard to their child within the allocated Sub School. This enables effective communication to occur to resolve any issues that may arise for our Year 7 groups.

Team Leaders are also part of each sub school and these staff are listed in the Student Planner.

Year 7 Camp

The Year 7 students attend and experience Camp Howqua. The camp provides all of the students with the chance to begin and even reinforce friendships that will help them in the transition to secondary college life. EMC staff assist these young people to break barriers, conquer perceived fears and reinforce the values of teamwork, caring for others and developing a desire to succeed. Activities to promote these values include abseiling, initiative challenges, canoeing, wall climbing, water based challenges, giant swing and other team-based challenges.

Year 7 Activity Days

The Sub Schools plan team building days with a focus on promoting an ethos of meeting challenge, peer support and healthy activity. The benefits of these days include teamwork development, physical challenge, problem solving and relationship building. Our Year 8 students assist with the day as leaders and buddies to develop links with our new students.

The team building days are held outdoors at Lloyd Park. Staff will ensure that every student is given the opportunity to show their strengths and skill levels across a variety of individual and team challenges.

The Murdoch Program

The Murdoch Program (formerly known as the High Achievers Program), at Elisabeth Murdoch College is a challenging and innovative program engaging student who endeavour to excel in their academic studies. The Murdoch Program personalises learning for students who are 'gifted and talented' delivering an accelerated Maths, Science, English and Humanities curriculum that encourages students to become independent, lifelong learners.  In addition to academic excellence, social justice and leadership are key components of The Murdoch Program.

Key contact: Amy Dean - Transition Coordinator

Other key contacts for general Middle School matters are Lorraine Pearson, Administration Officer and Ciro Ferra, Assistant Principal