Covenant provides an enriching and supportive learning environment that inspires students to work to the best of their ability. At Covenant, the NSW curriculum is taught from a Christian perspective and in a way that meets the learning needs of all students. This includes teaching and learning practices in every classroom, as well as extension and enrichment, and learning support. Our mission is to provide an academically rigorous education, through a well-taught integrated Christian curriculum.

All students at Covenant are valued as having been made by God (Psalm 139). We recognise that students learn differently, at different rates and at different levels. Some students will need learning support, others will require extension and enrichment, or both. We celebrate the uniqueness of each child by knowing our students and understanding how to meet their needs.

In every subject, lessons are created to drive conceptual understanding and critical thinking, not just to convey information. Flexible teaching strategies and genuine care for each individual results in high levels of student engagement. As well as effectively differentiating the curriculum, teachers may use strategies such as setting open-ended tasks, and allowing like-minded or similar-ability students to work together. While applying a Christian lens to all subjects, a learning culture is created.

Students are further challenged through extension and enrichment opportunities in areas of particular interest or ability. Some strategies currently used at Covenant include:

Differentiation
Pull-Out Classes
Streamed Classes
Curriculum Compacting
Major Work Projects
Enrichment Workshops
Extension and Enrichment Days
Co-Curricular Enrichment
The Da Vinci Decathlon
GATEway 8
Future Problem Solving competition
Competitions
Lunch-time Clubs
Servant Leadership

Differentiation

All our teachers tailor lessons to suit their individual student group. Teachers know and monitor their students to ascertain where they can undertake more complex work using higher-order thinking skills.

Pull-Out Classes

In a number of subjects, students from Kindergarten to Year 10 have the opportunity to be selected for pull-out programs providing more complex work to be undertaken. These are tailored to the student who is achieving beyond the expected level of their peers.

Streamed Classes

In some subjects, there are ability-based groupings allowing for certain students to complete work at a more complex level or increased pace.

Curriculum Compacting

This involves condensing the usual academic program in order that students may progress at a faster pace and move swiftly onto more difficult work.

Major Work Projects

Students undertake project-based learning tasks which allow them to create a major work which they are passionate about. It challenges and extends them while preparing them for major works in their senior years.

Year 6 - FLIP (Free Learning Independent Project)

Year 8 - Passion Project

Enrichment Workshops

Covenant operate a number of exciting enrichment camps during term time. Taught by specialists, these camps allow students of all ages and stages to work together. Currently, students can attend camps which focus on the following areas: art, drama, writing, music, coding and mathematics.

Extension and Enrichment Days

These opportunities expose our students to deeper thinking.

Outer Limits Days is our annual Extension and Enrichment day for Covenant students in Years 3 to 6. Students explore a range of topics and activities, enjoying taking time to develop skills, passion and knowledge.

Co-Curricular Enrichment

Covenant offers a vast range of opportunities including:

  • The Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • Our camping program
  • The Covenant Music program
  • School musicals
  • Covenant Dance Academy

The Da Vinci Decathlon

The Da Vinci Decathlon is an annual inter-school academic 'Olympics' tournament held at Knox Grammar School. Teams of students from schools across Sydney compete in 10 intellectual activities over the course of a day. The disciplines can be as far ranging as Art and Poetry, Code Breaking, Cartography, Science and Philosophy.

GATEway 8

A team-based academic gala day designed to challenge and enthuse gifted students in creative academic pursuits. This inter-school competition focuses on problem solving and is held annually at Macarthur Anglican School.

Future Problem Solving competition

As part of our extension program, Covenant has participated in Future Problem Solving (FPS) program, an international thinking and analysis competition for students.

FPS is an international educational program focusing on the development of critical, creative and futuristic thinking skills. It is one of the few academic competitions in Australia that enables students to compete internationally. The program challenges students to apply their minds to some of the significant issues facing the world of today and the future, equipping them with the vision, skills and tools to design and promote positive futures for the society in which they live.

The competition challenges young people to use their imagination in applying research and advanced thinking strategies to the resolution of issues.

Competitions

he school organises and participates in a number of competitions which allow students to test and refine their skills.

Competitions may include:

  • ICAS (English, Maths, Science, Writing, Computing)
  • Debating
  • Public Speaking
  • Performing Arts Eisteddfods
  • Robotics
  • Mathematics
  • Writing and Illustration

Lunch-time Clubs

Both Junior School and Secondary School run a variety of lunch-time clubs. Some current examples include:

  • Science Club
  • Robotics Club
  • Chess Club

Servant Leadership

There are many opportunities for servant leadership that allow our students to use and develop their leadership gifts, engage positively within our school environment, and to grow and show increasing responsibility.

We provide age-appropriate opportunities for leadership, starting with our Year 2 students leading Infants assemblies and finishing in Year 12 with a variety of leadership positions.

Opportunities include:

  • School Captains (Year 12)
  • House Captains (Year 6 and 12)
  • Student Leadership Council (Years 8 to 12)
  • Sound and Lighting Team (Years 6 to 12)
  • Mustard (Year 12)
  • Worship Band (Year 6 and 12)
  • Year 11 Community service
  • Kids for Christ (Year 6 and 11)
  • Home Class
  • Bus Monitors
  • Library Monitors
  • Year 6 buddies to Kindergarten
  • Student Representative Council (Years 1 to 6)
  • Primary Clubs (Year 6)
  • Assembly leading (Year 2)

Meet Amanda Drain - Extension & Enrichment Coordinator

Amanda has been a Northern Beaches local for all of her life. She is married to Dale and they have 3 lovely daughters. Amanda began her career as a primary school teacher and discovered a passion for extending children to nurture and develop their God-given talents. She completed a Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education at the University of New South Wales in order to understand the academic and emotional needs of these students and how to best cater for them at Covenant Christian School.

Amanda started as the Primary Extension and Enrichment teacher in 2017 and has grown the role into Extension and Enrichment Coordinator Kindergarten to 12. She is passionate about supporting teachers to identify and extend high potential learners so that each student receives an academically rigorous education.

All knowledge through Christ

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