Profile

Woodleigh School is quite different from most other 'traditional' independent schools. While it is very definitely an academic school, with fine VCE results equipping the large majority of its students for tertiary study, it also provides a number of other very important dimensions that prepare all its students for the challenges of life in the twenty first century.

It affirms openness, independence, self motivation and initiative. These are elements you can sense as soon as you enter Woodleigh. It is fiercely coeducational, committed to the belief that this is the only suitable setting to educate both boys and girls for adult life.

Aims

Woodleigh School aims to provide an appropriate education for boys and girls: where all are valued equally, where all are given equal opportunities to develop their skills and abilities in all facets of school life, where care is taken to meet the needs of each individual and where all students are encouraged and supported to develop to their full potential.

Involvement

The School Board is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. The School is responsible to the Company for the efficient development of the school according to the aims and objectives set out in the constitution. The Woodleigh School community, which includes students, teachers, parents, administrators, School Board, past-student and past-parent groups, is committed to working closely together to achieve the School's goals and objectives. All members of the community have the opportunity to participate in the life of the School.

Vision

Woodleigh School believes the growth of the individual is paramount. Self-esteem, confidence, responsibility and self-reliance are fostered through participation and interaction in a carefully planned program. We seek the best for our students. We believe that a student’s values, beliefs and concerns for others are inextricably related to what and how that student learns. We prepare our students for the future, gaining independence while building a sound mind, healthy body and sensitivity to what is honourable and beautiful. This school is committed to pursuing the growth of self to achieve personal harmony and active citizenship.

Leadership

The teachers at Woodleigh School seek to inspire and guide the lives of their students through their personal commitment to achieving excellence, and through the spirit and confidence they show when sharing interests and skills outside the classroom. They create the opportunities for self-discovery, and show their care for their students by providing the challenges that stimulate learning and by striving to be responsive to the needs of each student. Discipline at Woodleigh is based on three simple rules:

• Respect for self
• Respect for others
• Respect for the environment

Discovery

The curriculum of Woodleigh School is broad and comprehensive, providing a journey of discovery – of oneself and of the world. Based on core subjects and enriched as a student progresses through the school, it leads students to the acquisition of knowledge, the development of ideas and skills, and personal growth. The strong preparation for the Victorian Certificate of Education and for tertiary studies at the Senior Campus is reflected in an equally strong academic program for younger children at Minimbah. The School is noted for its nurturing environment, its energetic academic program and its unique Homestead, Activities and Activities Week programs. In a Woodleigh class, participation is an expectation, while attention to and care of the individual is paramount. Students are encouraged to discover and explore the wonders of knowledge and learning.

Creativity

Self-expression through the visual and performing arts and related activities enhances our understanding of ourselves and others as unique individuals, and develops our confidence, just as experience builds our skills. Drama, art and music are significant features of the Woodleigh curriculum. All students participate in a range of performing and expressive arts activities within the curriculum. This experience is further enhanced by music performances and other opportunities for participation and involvement in the arts. Music groups include the Minimbah Orchestra, the Jazz Band and the String Group. The quality of school life is enriched by the visual and performing arts program.

Challenge

The extensive Outdoor Education program at Woodleigh School provides an exceptional opportunity for young people to acquire self-knowledge and confidence. Students develop and exercise leadership whilst gaining an understanding of and sensitivity to the environment. All students participate in a carefully planned and sequential program, which aims to develop and extend the basic outdoor education skills of awareness, fitness, safety and survival. The program provides increasing challenge and adventure as the student progresses through the school. Memories of camps and outdoor adventures add to the store of shared experiences that last a lifetime.

Vitality

Visitors to Woodleigh School comment on the cheerful activity within the school and the care and sense of purpose, which characterises the interaction between students and teachers. It is an accepted part of the school’s ethos that Woodleigh students are motivated; they seek and respond to challenges while recognising the importance of cooperation; they are sensitive to their learning and to the needs of others; they value respect, tolerance and understanding while meeting the high expectations for work, participation and behaviour; they share their enthusiasm and creativity.

Participation

Developing the body as well as the mind to achieve the complete well being of each student is a priority at Woodleigh School. Physical fitness and the acquisition of skills begin at Minimbah and continue through the senior years. Participation, competition against oneself and teamwork are stressed. A wide range of individual and team sports is played and students are encouraged to participate in teams in the wider community. Minimbah competes in the traditional sports with other small, coeducational schools on a regular basis. Woodleigh is a member of the Southern Independent Schools group and senior students compete regularly in sports such as swimming, cross-country running, track and field, netball, basketball, soccer, football and cricket. School teams also compete in skiing, surfing sculling, canoeing and girls’ football.

Pastoral Care

Significant learning occurs through our interaction with others. The Homestead Program at the Senior Campus aims to develop skills of cooperative living, social responsibility and leadership. The Forum Program at Minimbah has similar aims. As we are a small community, with two hundred students at the Junior Campus and five hundred at the Senior Campus, the quality of interaction between all members is enhanced. Older students serve as role models for younger students by taking a leadership role in cross-age tutoring, Homestead and Activities Programs. We express our trust and confidence in our students through the responsibilities we give them. We emphasise the value and dignity of individual spiritual needs and beliefs, understanding and respecting the diverse beliefs represented in our school community while exposing students to the positive power of faith in our lives. We affirm the idealism of youth and the importance of relationships.

Global Awareness

Woodleigh School students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. We welcome students from other lands who have chosen to study here or who are visiting through student exchange programs. Interaction between students promotes knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the values and traditions of others. Social Science, Languages Other than English (French and Indonesian are taught at Woodleigh), Literature, Science and Outdoor Education all provide opportunities to learn about the world beyond our immediate community, our interdependence and our responsibility for our environment. Travelling in groups to other countries during school holidays – sometimes in conjunction with other schools – also provides unique learning experiences. Environmental education at Minimbah involves the students in planting and recycling programs while the Senior Campus has a centre for Environmental Education. Studies include work on alternative energy sources and permaculture.

Service

Awareness of the needs of others and participation in programs to assist in meeting those needs is fundamental to the Woodleigh School experience. There are many opportunities for community involvement and service available to students, ranging from the care and protection of wildlife such as dolphins and penguins, to assisting with the cleaning of local beaches, projects for homeless youth, providing assistance at inner city kindergartens, the Salvation Army, Ozanam House and the Mission to Streets and Lanes. Minimbah students visit with senior citizens in local nursing homes and retirement villages, and students at the Senior Campus continue this contact through the Homestead Program offering practical assistance where necessary. Woodleigh is a socially aware community where skills of cooperative living, social responsibility and leadership are fostered.

The Future

Woodleigh seeks to develop in students the wide range of personal competencies required of an independent adult in our society. Through the many programs, experiences and opportunities created, students are able to acquire the independence necessary for happiness and success in tertiary studies and in life. Young people need to develop these skills gradually and it is therefore necessary to maintain a balance between the degrees of authority and freedom. Careers counselling enables students to clarify career aspirations, investigate career options and develop job skills. Career education is integrated within the total curriculum with attention focussed on the world of work at Year 10 level. At VCE level particular emphasis is placed upon selection of appropriate subjects and preparation for tertiary study or employment. Many students have also discovered vocational interests through the Activities and Activity Weeks programs.

The Difference

There is something special about the way people respond to each other at Woodleigh School. We have our own special character. Here is a community where laughter, excitement and an occasional touch of magic thrive. While the tangible outcomes of a Woodleigh education can be seen in our fine Year 12 results and tertiary placement record, the daily rewards experienced by each student continue year after year.