2003 Middle School Orientation Day

Happy Valley School

Responsibility

Respect

Integrity

Programme Achieve

In addition to the stated goals opposite, 2003 Middle School Orientation Day also featured a focus on Programme Achieve, a programme that is designed to help students achieve success and emotional well-being.

It does so by helping young people understand the relationship between thinking, feeling and behaving. Students develop awareness of what it is they are saying to themselves (self-talk) and how this relates to how they feel and how they act.

Programme Achieve helps students monitor their feeling (emotional thermometer). How am I feeling? What am I thinking (saying to myself) that may be causing this? Is my self-talk helpful? (true?). The student is taught the skill of ‘disputation’ i.e.. Where’s the evidence that say’s I am worthless because someone won’t play with me? What can I say to myself that is true and will help me feel better? Expressing feelings rather than expressing anger, is a key to success in most relationships.

Responsibility

Respect

Integrity

Middle School students and teachers involved in a team-building session

The Middle School at Happy Valley consists of the four Year 6 and 7 classes. Education for students in the Middle School has received high priority at Happy Valley School for a number of years now. The school recognizes the importance of these transition years between a student’s primary and secondary education.

Geeta-boards call for cooperation

Throughout the school year, there are many activities involving the older primary students. These activities encourage the students to display leadership, collaboration and participation in school programmes. There is also a focus on work education, transition to high school and an exciting camping experience. The programme culminates in the Year 7 Graduation Ceremony during the final week of school.

The Middle School year begins with the Middle School Orientation Day which was held, this year, on Friday 21st February. The day incorporated group activities and "Life Be In It" games in the morning, and self development and goal setting activities in the afternoon. Later in the term our Middle School students will experience an exciting week long aquatics programme at Port Noarlunga.

Parent, Paul Adams helps with Lunch

The main aims of Orientation Day are as follows:-

To promote leadership skills
To foster a sense of cooperation and team-work
To have fun
To encourage students to participate in a wider range of school programmes
To enable students to display leaderships skills
To increase self confidence in our senior students
To provide an opportunity for students, staff and parents to interact
To promote values such as honesty, respect, individual rights and responsibilities.

Photo Gallery of Orientation Day
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Geeta boards	Volleyball in the mist	Earthball

Bocce	Cooperation	Sam

Nathan, Sam & Luke	Volleyball	Parachute

Earthball squash	Volley Earthball	Hand tennis


Land-mines	Jarrad	Stilts

Oops	Lunch time	Sausage test !

Indoor activities	Goal-setting	Miss Wiliams lends an ear

Kellie sets goals	Under the parachute	Mrs. Gabb