We are now an IB World School!
Genazzano is proud to be an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our commitment to providing a world-class education that fosters intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth is reflected in our adoption of this prestigious programme.
What is the PYP? The IB PYP is an internationally recognized curriculum framework designed for students aged 3 to 12. It emphasizes inquiry-based learning and aims to develop well-rounded students who are active, compassionate, and lifelong learners.
Key Benefits of the PYP at Genazzano
- Global Curriculum: The PYP encourages students to think critically and challenge assumptions, fostering a deeper understanding of global issues and diverse cultures.
- Holistic Education: Our program supports the development of the whole child, focusing on intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth.
- Inquiry-Based Learning: By promoting curiosity and inquiry, the PYP helps students become independent learners who love exploring new ideas.
- International Perspective: The PYP prepares students to appreciate and understand diverse viewpoints, preparing them for a globalized world.
PYP Curriculum Overview
Transdisciplinary Themes: The PYP curriculum is organized around six transdisciplinary themes that guide students’ inquiry and learning across various subjects:
- Who We Are
- Where We Are in Place and Time
- How We Express Ourselves
- How the World Works
- How We Organize Ourselves
- Sharing the Planet
The student is at the centre of all our learning.
We want our students to become confident and open minded learners and communicators who are ready to take on the world whether that be in their local, national and global communities and to strive to make a better and more peaceful world, promoting intercultural understanding and respect.
At Genazzano our approach to Inquiry learning is about presenting the students with relevant and engaging learning experiences that go beyond their homeroom and connect with specialist classes to explore central ideas and develop positive learner attributes.
We align with the requirements of the Victorian Curriculum ensuring that learning is developmental, grounded in Ignatian pedagogy and students are guided by effective feedback and continuous assessment. We use digital technologies to enhance our learning and teaching.
At Genazzano we tailor support to meet the unique needs of our students. Our learning enhancement team offers expert assistance in literacy, numeracy, social development and English as an additional language. We use evidence based programs that are underpinned by contemporary research. We use talent identification methods for students requiring additional challenges in their learning. Our expert team of educators work collaboratively to ensure that our high quality teaching methods are rigorous and challenging as we strive to build a community of lifelong learners.
As a learning community we seek to work together with families as partners in the learning journey. We provide opportunities to engage with our families throughout the year including but not limited to: Information nights, Junior School Assemblies, Twilight events, Sports days, Webinars, Performances.
Opportunities
The students in the Junior School are afforded many wonderful opportunities to add depth and breadth to their learning. Our camp program commences in Year 2 with CampGen, an ‘in house’ extended school day, all the way through to the girls heading to Canberra for immersion in the history and politics of our great nation.
Our Physical Education program is extensive and rigorous and features a fortnightly swimming lesson in our indoor 25m swimming pool for all students, tailored specifically to meet each student’s skills and experience. Our students have opportunities to participate in school based sport, district sport, and club netball at the Boroondara Netball Centre from Year 3.
Genazzano has a strong tradition of musical excellence. Through individual training and ensemble participation, students have been known to enjoy and excel not only in music but in many areas of College life. In the Junior School our students are fortunate enough to have classroom music and instrumental music as part of their core curriculum delivered by specialist music teachers. An integral part of our Junior School Music Program is the Strings Program that we offer from Years 1 – 4 and the Band and Strings Program in Years 5 and 6. Students also have the opportunity to take private instrumental music lessons on a variety of instruments and join one of the choirs and various String Ensembles and Bands in the Junior School.
The co-curricular program begins in Prep with offerings such as tennis lessons, music tuition, choir, ensembles, running club and more. We hold an annual art show, Les Jeunes Artistes, which showcases the beautiful and unique artworks each student has created through our Art Program and the Prep to Year 6 production is not to be missed.
Our Junior School girls interact with many wonderful role models in our Senior School. Interaction with many of our College Leaders brings an added dimension to the learning of our girls and involves them in the broader life of the College, through our Buddy program and events such as Sustainability and Social Justice weeks and Gen Day. College House events are a highlight on the calendar with the focus being on participation and having fun. Our very youngest students join with our oldest students in celebrating academic achievement across the College and see firsthand where aspiration, determination and commitment can lead.
Why transition to Genazzano in Year 5?
A number of key Genazzano programs commence at Year 5, from our Co-curricular Program to our Year 5/6 Music and Sporting Programs. Having the opportunity to immerse themselves in these programs allows our students to settle into the life and routine of a Gen Girl, enabling a very smooth transition into Year 7 and the Genazzano Senior School.
The Junior School, Grange Hill, is home to students from Prep through to Year 6.
Genazzano is proud to be an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our commitment to providing a world-class education that fosters intellectual, personal, emotional, and social growth is reflected in our adoption of this prestigious programme.
Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)
Prep to Year 4 students each have an iPad for their exclusive use within the classroom. Classrooms are digitally rich learning environments, using interactive white boards, Apple TV and video streaming to engage and stimulate.
Students in Years 5 and 6 use Apple MacAir notebooks in the classrooms across all curriculum areas and are also able to engage in GenTech, the co-curricular program that enables students to explore digital technologies, programming, coding and problem solving.
We keep in touch
We understand the importance of communication with home and parents and seek to form a partnership with our families. We do this by providing regular contact between parents and teaching staff. All students and families have access to the GenConnect which provides online access to all class and teaching materials. GenConnect also provides all students with extension work and extra resources to help support what is presented in class. Students can also view their timetable and receive automatic notifications about deadlines and review feedback online across multiple devices.
