The fourth strand in the Woodleigh curriculum is the Homestead program. At Woodleigh, the word ‘Homestead’ has three special meanings.

1. 7 small communities of students and teachers

There are six Junior Homesteads and one Senior Homestead. Each Junior Homestead has around 65 students from Years 7-10. Students in each Homestead are divided into four year-level tutor groups of 13-16 students. There is one Senior Homestead for all Year 11 and 12 students who are also divided into small tutor groups. Each tutor group has a teacher-in-charge who is called a tutor teacher.

2. A set of buildings and gardens for each community Students use these buildings and their surrounds as ‘home’. They use them in free time and must maintain and clean them. The cleaning is organised on a weekly roster basis. There is a teacher on duty at each Homestead at all times.
   
3. Sessions in the students’ weekly timetable Junior Homesteads have a set of themes which they work on during these timetabled sessions. Some examples are:
   

Term 1- Settling into Homestead

• Year 7 How can we get to know the people in our Homestead?
  
• Year 8 How can we help the Year 7s to get organised for camp?
  
• Year 9 What can we organise so that everyone gets to know each other? (Run a Homestead session)
  
• Year 10 How can we help to organise the Homestead community?
  

Term 2 Working Together

• Year 7 What can we challenge another tutor group to do?
  
• Year 8 What can our tutor group achieve as a team?
  
• Year 9 How can we represent the people in our Homestead with a display?
  
• Year 10 How can we involve our Homestead with another Homestead? (Run a Homestead session)
  

Term 3 Thinking of Others

• Year 7 How can we publicise who in the community are in need?
  
• Year 8 How can we publicise who helps people in the community? (Run a Homestead session)
  
• Year 9 How can we provide practical help for those in the community in need?
  
• Year 10 How can we raise money for people in need?
  

Term 4 Putting Something Back

• Year 7 What can we put back into the Homestead? (Run a Homestead session)
  
• Year 8 What can we put back into the school?
  
• Year 9 How can we give the Year 10s a send off?
  
• Year 10 What can we leave as a final contribution to Homestead?
  

Senior Homestead use their timetabled sessions for academic and career purposes. They also have a program of guest speakers discussing current social issues appropriate to the needs and interests of young people who are getting ready to leave the school community.

Homestead is the focus of our pastoral care program. Tutor teachers are responsible for their students’ academic progress and for their general well being. Tutor groups also provide us with our administrative organisation. We commence each day with a ten-minute tutor group meeting for roll checking, morning notices and other similar tasks.