Year 9
St John's Grammar
The final year of Middle School, Year 9 is an important, action-packed 12 months at St John’s Grammar School. Our graduating Year 9s are optimistic about the future and prepared to succeed.
Transitioning into Senior School is a significant part of a child’s education journey and, the theme of this year for our students is, ‘become’.
The work throughout Years 7, 8 and 9 come together in St John’s Grammar School’s adaptation of The Rite Journey program, with the School culture and the students’ needs as the critical thread. By Year 9, St John’s Grammar School students have experienced that learning matters, School is enjoyable, and they have built a mindset for lifelong learning and action. The Middle School experts and subject specialist teachers, who teach across the Secondary curriculum, know how and where to extend, and support students in their journey to become young adults.
Students choose elective subjects and undertake The Rite Journey; a rewarding course that leads to a Year 9 camp at Mount Crawford featuring one night of solo camping and begins with a Calling and Departure Ceremony to say farewell to childhood and to usher in young adulthood.
As well as a rigorous academic and wellbeing program, students have opportunities to participate in international experiences in Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia. The fun also continues with the Year 9 casual where students can enjoy the company of their peers in an informal setting on campus.
Students learn citizenship and what it takes to build, belong, and become in our world by contributing to community service and connection, and our external mentor program. St John’s Grammar Middle School students learn to live beyond themselves, act with integrity, strive for personal bests, embrace school life, make opportunities, and develop school pride – we are in this together.
Signature experiences in Year 9
The Rite Journey program is a hallmark of our Year 9 experience. Providing the opportunity for students to participate in a year-long rite of passage experience, the overall aim of Rite Journey is to guide students in what it is to be a respectful and responsible person. Following four main themes (relationship with self, others, Spirit, and world), The Rite Journey program features 7 unique stages on your child’s transition from childhood to adulthood and each stage incorporates a ceremony or celebration that leads students to acknowledge their personal journey towards adulthood.
The Rite Journey is a unique and transformative experience that challenges our Year 9s in many positive ways. We are proud to have achieved Lead School status with the Rite Journey program, which sees other schools consulting with us on attaining best practice with this program.
Some of these include the Calling and Departure ceremony, which sees our Year 9s answer the call to begin Rite Journey, pay homage to their childhood and step forward in the pursuit of adulthood. It is an emotional and special event involving parents that gives the opportunity for some powerful dialogue as your family unit talks about the things your child will move on from or let go as they progress into young adulthood.
Another signature experience of the Program is the camp which pushes students far out of their comfort zone. Conducted with the help of Wilderness Escape, students are challenged with abseiling and trekking through tough terrain, with the pinnacle of the trip being an overnight solo camping experience – known as The Abyss. Giving the time and space to experience solitude, the Year 9s are given pause to reflect upon their year and their individual progress.
The external mentor program is also a highlight of Year 9 that sees our students reach out to mentors to share experiences and overcome challenges they may face as they grapple with their transition into young adulthood.
To conclude their Year 9 experience, students participate in a special end of year ceremony called Taking Flight to signify their transition to a Senior student.
Signature experiences in Year 9
Three international trips are on offer to students from Year 9.
Journey to Vietnam
The Journey to Vietnam trip takes in several locations across Vietnam as students volunteer in villages, visit care centres for disadvantaged children and tour historical regions while staying in a mix of homestay, train and hotel accommodation. This itinerary takes students from one end of Vietnam to the other, while providing understanding of the social, historical, political and developmental issues of Vietnam and hands-on community service activities.
Japanese Language and Cultural Trip
Students studying Japanese are eligible to attend the Japanese Language and Cultural Trip to advance their language learning. A week of homestay at our sister school, Yasufuruichi in Hiroshima provides an immersive cultural experience, followed by sight-seeing across several destinations including Himeji, Kyoto, Nara, Mount Fuji and Tokyo.
Indonesian Language and Cultural Trip
Students studying Indonesian are eligible to attend the Indonesian Language and Cultural Trip. Spending three days with our sister school, MAN Insan Cendekia, allows students to experience all that Indonesian school life has to offer before exploring the city of Makassar and the various tourist destinations along the way. The trip concludes in Bali where students partake in Batik and offering making lessons as well as fun and adventure at Waterbom Park.
Service in the community…
Year 9 students are encouraged to live beyond themselves and see their role and impact in the community. Two specific programs engage the Year 9s in meaningful service activities and build upon years of involvement.
All Year 9 students participate in the Relay for Life to raise funds and provide support to the Cancer Council. Over 24 hours students work in shifts to complete as many laps as possible in a relay in the Adelaide Hills. As part of the event, students witness and can be involved in special ceremonies such as a candlelight vigil, survivors and carers laps as well as a free breakfast.
The White Ribbon Day breakfast provides an occasion to show solidarity against violence against women. This event bands the Year 9 boys together with a prominent male figure in their lives to share a breakfast on campus and to open conversations about growing up, what it is to be a man, and living well and in harmony with others.
Innovative Agency Framework signature experience in Year 9…
Year 9 students develop core business, marketing, and creative skills as they work on a collaborative project that explores setting up a creative enterprise. Showcased via an Expo, students are encouraged to use their agency skills throughout the process.
To find out more about this program visit our Innovative Agency Framework page.
Year 9 Curriculum
The Year 9 program builds upon core subject knowledge and begins to extend students into areas of interest and passion with a greater number of electives.
The core subjects offered in English, Science, Mathematics, Physical Education and Rite Journey, with a semester each for Geography and History, allow students to develop comprehensive skills and knowledge. Elective streams offer diversity and variety to complement the core subjects.
To read more about the subjects on offer, view our Middle School page.
