Prep
A STRONG FOUNDATION
START AT STRATHCONA
For each girl, developing a positive sense of self underpins the year and provides the foundation for lifelong learning. Learning routines are established, thinking and teamwork skills are explored and communication and problem solving opportunities are presented daily.
Personalised learning programs, open-ended inquiry, and shared investigations in the key learning areas of English, Mathematics, Science and the Humanities are provided for each Prep student to build the strong academic foundations required in the Early Years. STEAM activities encourage the girls to explore, generate, understand and analyse new knowledge and skills through problem based learning activities.
Weekly swimming lessons are also provided within the School day.
Specialist Classes
In addition to our rigorous focus on literacy and numeracy, our Prep students have the opportunity to attend many specialist opportunities, utilising both the Junior and Senior School facilities.
Art
Each Prep student is encouraged to search for individual artistic expression using a variety of media and techniques including drawing, painting, printing, ceramics and textiles. Prep participates in two 40-minute lessons each week where students are taught techniques they can use in their artwork.
French
The study of French begins in Prep. There is a strong emphasis on listening and speaking French and each individual develops aural and oral fluency through rhymes, songs, stories, reading aloud, exchanges and role plays.
Inquiry
Inquiry skills are developed through investigation and play. Learning experiences are based on specific topics. Provocations are developed through the Prep students’ interests in a variety of curriculum areas including English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Science and Technologies. Through these inquiries children build skills such as problem solving, collaboration and questioning.
SOUL
Prep students participate in the SOUL wellbeing program along with the whole Junior School.
The program is about understanding ourselves, our emotions, and our body. Understanding others and diversity. Understanding us and learning about friendship and relationships with others. Discovering what are ones individual passions and strengths.
Music
All Junior School students receive two music curriculum lessons per week. In Prep, school lessons are comprised of fun, age-appropriate singing, listening and performance games and activities, designed to build basic musical skills and understanding, as well as all-important teamwork and social skills.
Health and Physical Education
In Junior School Health and Physical Education plays a vital role in health and wellbeing learning. Prep students participate in two PE class, one swimming class and one health lesson each week.
Digital Technologies
In Digital Technologies Prep students have the opportunity to create a range of digital solutions through guided play and integrated learning, such as robots to navigate a map, or identifying steps in a process to solve coding problems and challenges. They also begin to develop an awareness of cyber safety and responsibilities as a digital citizen.
Swimming
Swimming takes place once a week, utilising our Swimming Pool located on the Senior School campus. Prep students learn the fundamentals of water safety, how to float, and basic strokes through fun and safe activities.
Start at Strathcona
The social and emotional wellbeing of each Strathcona student is supported through daily opportunities to learn about the key social and emotional skills of Getting Along, Persistence, Organisation, Resilience and Confidence. The wellbeing of our Prep students is further nurtured through their involvement in the buddy program with Year 5 students, where each Prep student meets regularly with a friend and role model to guide and inspire them.
Strathcona provides an immersive, comprehensive curriculum facilitating deep thinking and meaningful connections between existing concepts. We offer a transformative, immersive curriculum within the Strathcona Junior School and equip our students with the visible thinking skills and ability to:
- Observe closely and describe what’s there
- Build explanations and interpretations
- Uncover complexity and explore deeper
- Capture the heart and form conclusions
- Consider different viewpoints
- Reason with evidence
- Make connections
- Wonder and ask questions
We are as committed to realising a girl’s dream of becoming a videogame designer or author as we are another girl’s desire to pursue medicine or civil engineering. What matters to us is that your daughter’s inner spirit has the chance to flourish, in an environment that is supportive, challenging and rewarding.
You’ll also have noticed that we have a certain personality — a personal touch — that separates us from the more corporate-themed institutions you may be considering. It’s this personal approach, our belief in knowing each girl as an individual and supporting her in being her whole self in mind, body and spirit, that is unlike anything you’ll find among our contemporaries. We’re unafraid of breaking private education stereotypes for something more meaningful. Where other schools may be selective in their enrolments, Strathcona develops high achievement in all, commensurate with an individual’s unique blend of skills and abilities.
This is supported by our strong orientation program, that is designed to provide a smooth transition for your daughter to her first, exciting year of school.
The social and emotional wellbeing of each student is supported through daily opportunities to learn about the key social and emotional skills of Getting Along, Persistence, Organisation, Resilience and Confidence. The wellbeing of our Prep students is further nurtured through their involvement in the buddy program with Year 5 students, where each Prep student meets regularly with a friend and role model to guide and inspire them. Equally, the Preps have a memorable role in the Year 12 Rose Assembly where each little girl, starting their Strathcona journey, presents a farewell rose to the older student concluding theirs.
Meet our Prep Teacher
Ms Megan Bates, our passionate and dedicated Prep teacher, provides a smooth and warm transition to our Prep students in their first year of school. She looks forward to meeting your daughter as part of our structured Prep Orientation program.
Register for an
Open Morning
Attend our next Open Morning to meet our Principal, key staff, and current students on a typical day. Please click here to register.
Small Group Tour
(Junior School)
Meet our Head of Junior School and experience insight into our small, nurturing classrooms from Prep to Year 6.
Book a
Personal Tour
Register here to arrange a personalised tour of Strathcona. Typically, these take place during school hours and term time.
Early Learning at Strathcona
Our Early Learning Centre can support your child’s learning before school in a play-based environment. Based upon Reggio-Emilia, our ELC is planned to develop children’s skills, knowledge and understandings which support their continued learning. You may like to consider enrolling your daughter in our ELC program to support her strong start in Prep.
