Year 8

Year 8 Overview

Shaped on the successes achieved in Year 7, the focus of Year 8 at St John’s Grammar is to ‘innovate’ by building on knowledge and skills as students experience new contexts and challenges.

In Year 8, students build upon understanding and comprehension they developed in Year 7 through a broader choice of elective subjects and opportunities. Students begin to experiment with, and specialise in, certain subject areas while continuing to develop skills in Languages, studying a full year of Indonesian or Japanese.

Focusing on learning and wellbeing, students participate in our Wings wellbeing program throughout the year to learn life skills in resilience to navigate life’s ups and downs, enabling them to flourish cognitively, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and physically.

Through signature experiences and learning, St John’s Grammar Year 8s build self-awareness and strength to succeed beyond Middle School and the classroom.

Some of the highlights for the students are a Leadership Development Program, an Outdoor Education expedition along the Murray, and our exciting Innov8 project, which is a celebration of student agency, creativity, innovation, problem identification and budding entrepreneurship.

Year 8 Curriculum

Our Year 8 program builds upon existing knowledge and skills in the core subjects and provides exciting learning as students begin to shape their learning pathways.

The core curriculum includes English, Science, Mathematics, Languages (Indonesian or Japanese), Physical Education and Humanities, with Wings (wellbeing) and Digital Technologies for a semester each. A further two semesters of elective subjects can be chosen from diverse subject areas including, Performing and Visual Arts, Music, Food Technology, Design & Technology, Manufacturing and Philosophy. To read more about the subjects on offer, view our Middle School Curriculum Handbook.

We also offer a range of scholarships, find out more on our Scholarships page.

Wellbeing program in Year 8

Our wellbeing program sees students gaining tools to live well, supporting their developing independence in leading healthy, meaningful and purposeful lives in order to soar into their future.

Our Middle and Senior School students participate in wellbeing as part of the Health and Personal Development curriculum (7-10) and during pastoral care time (7-12), with developmentally appropriate topics and themes discussed.

The 8Wings program delves into expanding students’ knowledge, understanding and skills to strengthen their sense of self, and build and manage satisfying, respectful relationships.

Focus areas of the program include mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth of the individual and the challenges these changes can present. Critical thinking and problem solving will be developed through a strengths-based approach to safety when it comes to choices in relationships, with alcohol and drugs and in their own mental health.

Signature experiences in Year 8

In Year 8, our students have the chance to build ideas, products and solutions through the exciting Innov8 project, which is a celebration of student agency, creativity, innovation, problem identification and budding entrepreneurship. Run like a New Inventors style show, students present their design, the often non-linear, messy journey along the way and the learning they had made to be judged by a panel.

Students who are finalists in this competition have the opportunity to be paired with an expert in the industry to further their invention and bring their concepts to fruition.

The Leadership Development Program is another hallmark of the Year 8 experience. Over the course of a term, students participate in up to five leadership sessions during which they learn how to be an effective leader and what leadership can look like. Developing a leader-centred vision is the ultimate outcome of this program, with students also exploring the qualities and values that will make them an effective leader.

Another signature experience in Year 8 is the Outdoor Education expedition along the Murray. Making use of the features of the unique natural environment, students are presented with some challenging, exciting and worthwhile learning experiences in the outdoors. It is a highlight of the year for many and builds students’ stamina and mental fitness.

To nurture outstanding learners, our Frequent Flyers program offers a program of activities for highly able students. Transcending year level groups, this program gives students creative, collaborative and competitive problem solving tasks to maximise engagement and hone skills.

Extra curricular opportunities for Year 8s

Extra curricular activities in the Secondary School cover the whole spectrum. We have a very high participation rate of extra curricular activities, with most students taking up an activity in addition to their academic studies.

Students can select from a broad range of sporting activities, a specialist music program, and extensive arts programs including band, orchestra, drama and dance. Pedal Prix, triathlons, ski trips, mountain biking club, Subs in Schools and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme are also among the offerings. House activities include debating, chess, public speaking and inter-House sports.

Student-led clubs are also popular, and there are many leadership positions available for each year level. If a student interest is not catered for, students are supported by Home Group teachers to set up something new.

The important elements of House and School life include a range of House sports, including weekly competitions and inter-House challenges, Athletics and Swimming Carnivals, as well as a number of special days and events such as the Festival of Ideas, and celebrations, such as Book Week and Science Week.