Manly Daily Article

16 March 2007

Narrabeen Sports has an innovative, challenging and enjoyable orientation program for its Year 7 students.

Kerry Rose with Year 7 new enrolments

Narrabeen Sports has an innovative, challenging and enjoyable orientation program for its Year 7 students. It involves the first week at high school being spent in 2 hour blocks of technology, visual arts, music, orienteering, drama, science, sport and peer support activities. Students also undergo literacy, numeracy and general knowledge testing to determine proficiency or problem areas. Test performance as well as student learning profiles from primary school and information supplied by parents on their children's interests and strengths will determine class placement. In each year group there is an extension class for talented students and the remaining students are put into parallel comprehensive classes.

What do these students think of high school so far? Triplets, Matt and Ryan Jarman think that making new friend is great while Justin loves the art activities. Emma Uptin likes having different teachers while twin sister Bree thinks that getting to know the Year 11 peer support leaders is really helpful. Paul Fabbro, who plays bass clarinet for the Performing Arts wind ensemble, is impressed at how kind everyone is.

The Principal, Kerry Rose, explained:

"The program does not allow any time for students to be bored or feel left out. Making new friends and engaging in exciting learning activities supported by their peer support leaders has been a very good introduction to high school life, especially important considering that students come from 30 different primary schools to attend Narrabeen Sports High School." Parents have commented very favourably on the orientation program, saying that their children came home exhausted but happy every day and were looking forward to their learning journey at Narrabeen Sports.