Fintona Girls' School

[EduCativ]

Fintona (pronounced FIN-tona) came from a village in Northern Ireland, where Miss Hughston's mother spent her early childhood. In 1898, Fintona was moved to Burke and Victoria Roads, Camberwell, where it remained until 1936 when the move to Balwyn took place. By 1901 there were 100 pupils, and Fintona was acknowledged for its scholastic excellence and a close affiliation with the Presbyterian Church.
Fintona provides a diverse and challenging academic curriculum, where girls with a wide range of abilities are supported. Our girls consistently achieve outstanding VCE and NAPLAN results, placing Fintona among the best girls' schools in Victoria and the country. We are one of only a few schools in Melbourne to offer the Primary Years Program (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate. The PYP combines the best research and practice worldwide to create a relevant, engaging, and challenging educational framework for all students.
There are daily opportunities for the girls to engage in experiences encouraged to be curious and explore and interact with their environment physically, socially, and intellectually. The Junior School is equipped with large, attractive, light-filled learning spaces and landscaped garden areas designed for play and having fun.
Many girls experience Fintona for the first time in the Middle School. With our specially designed transition programs and our staff's support, Fintona girls are excited by the new possibilities and opportunities. New friends make new school grounds to explore, and a challenging curriculum that will stretch each girl's ability. Many warm personal relationships develop during the girls' Middle School years.
Our small class sizes contribute to our academic success and encourage close interaction and genuine collaboration between students and teachers. Middle School students enjoy their specific building, Moss House, where girls can interact during recess and lunchtime and participate in various clubs depending on their interests. Our Life Skills program allows students to learn from experts in health, drugs, emerging sexuality, relationships, cyber safety, and study skills. A Study Skills program provides strategies to guide students with organization and time management.
Our Years 9 and 10 curriculum provides an intense preparation for the VCE. All students in Years 9 and 10 studies the following core subjects: English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Science, History (covering Year 9 and 10 curricula in Year 9), French, Latin, or Japanese; in Year 9, students study at least one language chosen from French, Latin or Japanese. Some students may choose to study two languages: French and Latin or French and Japanese in Year 9 and beyond.
In addition to the core subjects, a broad range of semester-based electives is offered covering Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Commerce, Health and Physical Education, and Humanities. Our unique Connections Program is offered in Year 9, specifically designed to allow students to develop greater awareness of themselves and their community. We also offer an accelerated program in Mathematics and Science to students who demonstrate high ability in these subjects. In Year 10, students choose from several electives, including Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Commerce, Health and Physical Education, Humanities, and Digital Technology. Advice is continually available to assist students through subject selection based on each girl's strengths. All year ten students undertake a work experience placement.
In VCE, students can select from a broad range of subjects across the spectrum of disciplines. Subject selection is discussed with the VCE Co-ordinator and the Careers Counsellor to ensure that the subjects chose to reflect each girl's capabilities. In addition to choosing their preferred subjects, students can choose first-year university subjects. After their studies, all Year 11 and 12 students seek university places and gain entry into the university course of their choice. Year 11 and 12 girls each have a VCE Common Room where they learn to take collective responsibility and have opportunities to form close bonds with the whole year level.

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