Year 3 and 4 – The Curious Years
In the middle years of Junior School, students shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” This is the moment when we spark their curiosity through our Units of Curiosity, which foster creativity, critical thinking, innovation, character development and leadership.
Our focus on strong foundations continues in Years 3 and 4, where dedicated literacy and numeracy instruction exceeds mandated hours. This ensures every student strengthens core skills and is well prepared for ongoing enrichment. Shared devices are also introduced at this stage, used thoughtfully to enhance learning when appropriate.
Supported by our 关爱文化, our girls not only ask meaningful questions and develop the skills to solve them, they also build the empathy and motivation to make a positive difference to others.
Our flagship 九年级 "流浪精神 "计划 has now been extended into the Junior School through the introduction of Little Wanderers in Year 3. This initiative is designed to nurture a strong sense of service, compassion and leadership. The timing is intentional, aligning with a key stage of development when students are ready to connect their learning with a deeper purpose.
The expansion of ESSTEAM (our Entrepreneurship program) into Year 3 represents an exciting next step in the growth of this world-class initiative. Grounded in the design thinking process, the program teaches students to apply creativity, logic, and empathy to real-world challenges. With deep literacy and numeracy knowledge as their foundation, and deep thinking as their compass, our students are empowered to imagine, create and achieve without limits.
Year 4 marks the beginning of the two‑year Compass journey, where students from Scotch College and St Hilda’s build teamwork, communication and collaborative skills through shared, co‑educational activities across both campuses. As part of this non‑competitive personal development program, they work together to plan and complete meaningful experiences across the four key areas of Health, Skills, Citizenship and Adventure, helping them form positive relationships and appreciate diverse perspectives.
At St Hilda’s, every girl is known, not just by name, but through a deep understanding of her learning journey. Using intentional data tracking from the earliest years, we develop a rich picture of each student’s progress, strengths and areas for growth. Academic information is paired with insights into wellbeing, engagement and social development, allowing our staff to respond with precision and genuine care. This personalised approach ensures every girl is seen, supported and equipped to thrive.
