In 2013 Dalby State High School introduced a new and innovative program called The Apollo Program; designed for high achieving students in Years 8, 9 & 10.  The program has provided an additional opportunity for motivated students to be challenged and encouraged by their peers and their teachers to work hard and continue to succeed in their studies.

Why Apollo? Apollo was the Greek god of intellectual pursuits …

The program has been developed to ensure that students who achieve academically at primary school remain engaged in their studies during Years 8, 9 & 10.  Research indicates that many high achieving students lose interest in their education between the ages of 12 and 15.  This program will ensure that these students remain engaged, challenged and highly motivated during this period of their schooling.

When Apollo students reach years 11 and 12 they will be well prepared to work at the higher level and at the faster pace that is expected of students in their senior studies.   They will be well prepared to manage not only the quantity of work that needs to be covered, but also to meet the more rigorous intellectual demands expected of them.

The Archimedes Project; Design & Discover:•Why Archimedes? •Archimedes was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer.•This project will appeal to students with a talent and or interest in design, mathematics, science, investigation and engineering.

The Aristotle Project; Connect & Communicate:•Why Aristotle? •Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, poet, linguist, writer and sociologist. •This project will appeal to students who have a talent or interest in the humanities, including the social sciences, language, literature, analytical and creative thinking and the power of communication.

Four Distinct Streams

The Aeschylus Project; Devise & Perform:•Why Aeschylus? •Aeschylus was a Greek playwright, philosopher and author. •This project will appeal to students with a talent and or interest in dramatic art, performance and language.

The Chronos Project; Extend & Accelerate:•Why Chronos? •Chronos was the Greek god of time.•More about the Chronos project later…

Four Distinct Streams (new for 2014)

The Archimedes, Aristotle and Aeschylus Projects are delivered as elective subjects.

•The Archimedes Project – semester 2 Year 8, year-long Years 9 & 10

•The Aristotle Project - semester 2 Year 8, year-long Years 9 & 10

•The Aeschylus Project - year-long Years 9 & 10

•These three projects ‘appear’ in the timetable just like any other elective subject, art, manual arts, drama, business, etc.

•Aeschylus has a compulsory after school workshop each week.

Delivery

Check the guide !

It is on the website:

http://dalbyshs.eq.edu.au

I have a few copies here if you would like to have a look.

So what is the content?

Archimedes:

A snapshot…

Term Topics Covered

3 Energy Transfer and Efficiency

Forces

Newtons Laws of Motion

Gravity, Mass and Weight

Distance and Displacement

Speed and Velocity

Simple Machines and Oral Presentation Skills

Simple Machines and Assignment

Feedback on Assignments and Drag Racers

4 What is Engineering?

Hypothesising and Designing Experiments

Collecting and Analysing Data

Writing Analysis and Assignment

Keeping an experimental Journal and Assignment

Assignment

Feedback on Assignments and Design Challenges

Aristotle:

A snapshot…(continued)

Term

Topics Covered

3 Man and/or animal? – taste testing psychology  Social structures and belief systems – sampling sociology

  Big ideas – a smorgasbord of philosophy, religion and ethics  Literary studies (novel and film)  What makes the bad guys tick? – tyrants, villains, madmen and monsters  What makes the good guys tick? – leaders, heroes and super-achievers  Assessment: 70 minute written exam assessing students’ knowledge and understanding of

course work

Term

Topics Covered

4 Students undertake a negotiated investigation into a specific topic relating to psychology,

sociology and/or philosophy  Selection of a focus topic

  Creation of two major texts (one written, one spoken) in relation to the focus topic. One text

will be creative and the other will be expository. 

Of Monsters & Men; Introduction to Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy

Aeschylus:

A snapshot…(continued)

Term Topics Covered

1 Team building exercises and group work skills

  Elements of Drama & audition skills

  Elements of Drama and improving improvisation skills

  Process Drama

  Process Drama assessment

2 Improving Responding skills 7 viewing a variety of performance styles

  Responding assessment (multi modal)

  Eisteddfod performance preparation

Term Topics Covered

3 Eisteddfod performance preparation

  Eisteddfod week

  Writing a critical analysis

  Devising a final (public) performance

4 Rehearsing a final (public) performance

  Final Performance Written Forming (justification)

  Rehearsing a final (public) performance

  Viewing performance & debrief

(Structure is repeated in year 10 with different content)

Year 10 students can benefit from the ultimate innovative approach to academic success with the commencement of accelerated academic pathways through years 10, 11 and 12. Selected students may commence their senior program a full year ahead of their peers; providing opportunities for extension and challenge. There are many researched benefits of accelerating high-achieving students including:

•An increase in academic achievement.

•A tendency to outperform students of similar ability who were not accelerated.

As a part of the Chronos project students complete six subjects which contribute to an Overall Position (OP), spread over a three year period. The additional space within the timetable is utilised for completion of Apollo projects in year 10 and undergraduate studies at university in year 12.

The Chronos Project

The Chronos Project

Year 1 (10) Year 2 (11) Year 3 (12)

Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 1 Semester 2

Subject 1 Subject 1 Subject 1 Subject 1 Spare

Subject 2 Subject 2 Subject 2 Subject 2 USQ Headstart Program

Subject 3 Subject 3 Subject 3 Subject 3 UQ Enhancement Program

Apollo Apollo Subject 4 Subject 4 Subject 4 Subject 4

Apollo Apollo Subject 5 Subject 5 Subject 5 Subject 5

Spare Subject 6 Subject 6 Subject 6 Subject 6

• Check the website.

• Or paper information is in the room.

• Current round of nominations closes Tuesday, 21 October 2014.

How to be involved?

Questions?