Setting Year 9 students up for success in the 'danger year'

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"Year 9 can be the danger year," says Emmanuel College Principal, Peter Morgan.

"Teachers and governments have long recognised that Year 9 is an absolutely critical year for students and that Year 9 students have quite distinct learning needs.

"Entirely traditional ways of teaching do not always successfully engage the majority of Year 9 students or meet their needs."

Emmanuel College is addressing the unique needs of Year 9 students through the introduction in 2022 of a new Year 9 program, 9@RICE. The program will be delivered at a Year 9-only campus.

"Students in Year 9 are at a pivotal time in their lives," Peter said.

"It's a time when they are experiencing profound physical, emotional, social and intellectual changes as they transition from childhood to adulthood.

"They are gaining independence from their parents while developing more supportive relationships with their friends and peers.

"Changes in the development of the brain at this age sees Year 9 students becoming more complex thinkers with the ability to apply logic and regulate their own learning," he said.

"Data confirms that students who are not engaged in their learning at Year 9 are much less likely to complete Year 12."

Dr Josie Monro, who holds a Phd in History, was appointed as Emmanuel's Director of Year 9 this year, leading the team that has developed 9@RICE.

Josie was previously the head of the year nine program at Peninsula Grammar School, along with teaching in the UK and at Haileybury College.

The aim of the program, according to Josie, is to encourage students to be agents in their own learning, taking an active role in deciding what and how they learn, making choices and taking responsibility for the decisions they make.

"When students make meaningful decisions for their own learning and take greater ownership of their education they become more accountable for the development of their skills and knowledge," Josie said.

"There will be a strong focus on project-based learning that challenges students to investigate, in depth, curriculum that has real-world relevance.

"They will be using critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, technology, communication and investigation to create rigorous and authentic learning outcomes.

"The program will also actively incorporate a sense of service to members of the local, national and global communities," she added.

9@RICE not only refers to the campus that will provide the base for the program, but is an acronym for Resilience, Innovation, Community and Endeavour.

The program will be based on nine-week terms with a focus on project-based learning with real-life relevance. Students will work collaboratively and individually for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, problem or challenge, investigating a curriculum that has a real-world connection.

"At the end of semester, students present their projects to a wider audience in an expo-style event," Josie said.

"One week of term may be a Learning Adventure Week with camps, local discovery days, outdoor activities, excursions, career and pathways days, health and wellbeing programs."

9@RICE is one of several major developments coming to Emmanuel College in 2022, a year that will also see Years 10, 11 and 12 students located together at the McAuley campus in vertical groupings.

"It is important the Year 9 students, having completed the 9@RICE Program, return to the McAuley Campus knowing they are now members of the senior school and that they need to approach their studies and their school life with a senior student attitude," Peter said.

Parents can discover more about 9@RICE by emailing info@emmanuel.vic.edu.au or via the Emmanuel College website.

This is branded content for Emmanuel College.