The King David School - A unique school of thought

Senior School

Head of Campus Profile

Debra Howieson
Head of Campus
Magid Institute
(Senior School)

B. Comm

Dip. Ed.

Grad. Dip Sec Stud. Educ and Grad Dip Computer Educ

Assistant Principal and Head of Magid Institute

With extensive experience in large schools, Debra has worked on a range of Statewide committees developing curriculum for Victorian Schools, particularly in the area of Information Communication and Technology. Her experience includes a six month project for UNESCO in Bangkok to develop programs that increase the participation of girls in education.

The development of The King David School as a thinking school that excites and engages all students in thinking and learning, has been a major focus of her work since coming to the school in 2001.

Senior School
At the start of 2006 The King David School opened its newest campus – Magid Institute. Built to accommodate up to 300 students from Years 9 – 12, the campus features a stage and auditorium, a media and visual communications centre, science laboratories, special education rooms and music, art and drama studios. In keeping with King David’s strong technology focus, the Magid Institute boasts a computer centre as well as a special graphics computer room for specialised studies. Sport enthusiasts will enjoy the advantages of the sports hall, weight training facilities, indoor volleyball court and basketball court. A dedicated Year 9 Centre is housed within the building at the front of the property, while a purpose-built extension on the original mansion provides outstanding resources and facilities to our VCE students to enable them to reach study success.

The Senior School is specifically focussed to provide students with a pre-tertiary experience. Year 10 students can opt to include a number of VCE 1 and 2 Units in their subject selections. The aim of this is to give them an insight into the demands of VCE Units 3 and 4, one year before their full involvement in the statewide external assessment. It also provides the opportunity for suitably qualified students to undertake University level subjects during Year 12. These strategies are designed to allow students to maximise their VCE scores and to gain familiarity with the structure of University and/or TAFE courses.

Since opening for VCE in 2000, King David has consistently achieved strong results. Currently our students can choose from thirty VCE subjects on-campus, with the opportunity to study others off-campus. Suitably qualified students may wish to undertake University subjects during Year 12. This allows them to maximise their VCE scores and gain familiarity with the structure of University and TAFE courses.

Curriculum
With a limit of three classes of 25 students per year level, The King David School prides itself on being small enough to provide a nurturing, family environment while being sufficiently large to provide a wide range of academic experiences. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Senior School curriculum.

In Years 9 and 10, the core subjects of English, Hebrew, Mathematics, Physical Education and Science are complemented by a wide variety of stimulating electives. Students can select four electives each semester from the following:

Art

Business Studies

Drama

Geography

History

Information Technology

Jewish Studies

LOTE: French

LOTE: Russian

Media

Music Technology

Technology

Visual Communication & Design (Graphics)

Students in Year 10 also spend one week on a work experience placement, where they gain insight into a possible career path, learn to embrace change and invest in themselves, their School and the community.

At the VCE level, The King David School again excels itself in the range of subject choices available to students. The School offers over thirty subjects to VCE students, including four languages other than English and a variety of areas within the Arts, Studies of Society and Environment, Mathematics, Language Studies, Science, Technology and Health & Physical Education.

TOP OF PAGE