Signature Programs

The purpose of these programs is to encourage students to try new things, develop independence and build connections with teachers and peers. Through these experiences student gain a greater sense of self confidence, build leadership skills and have an opportunity to engage in a range of outdoor challenges and cultural experiences.

what’s on offer at each Year Level

We are committed to supporting our students to develop their own leadership identity, in preparation for their role as leaders of tomorrow. Each phase of learning offers our students a mix of formal and informal opportunities to develop, enhance and demonstrate their leadership capacity.

All students have the opportunity to serve both the School and wider community though formal and informal participation in committees such as Social Service, Environment, Student Representative Council and the Palm Leaf.

Junior School

Student leadership encompasses both formal and informal opportunities to learn and develop the competencies as individual leaders and effective participants in teams and groups. From ELC – Year 2 development of the leadership of self is key with children are appointed to classroom leadership roles. In Years 1 and 2, the more formal role of Class Captain is introduced and students are elected for a semester. In Years 3 to 5, a Class Captain and SRC Captains are elected for a semester.

In Year 6 there is a formal Leadership program which includes: two Junior School Co-Captains, two Co-Captains in each House, and Portfolio Captains for Art, Sport, Music, Environment, Library, STEAM, Social Service and International. Working with their committee and mentor, they contribute and assist with sharing news and events that are related to their portfolio. All Year 6 students have the opportunity to be part of a committee.

Years 7 and 8

All students have the opportunity to serve both the School and wider community though formal and informal participation in a range of committees.

Students have the opportunity to pursue a role as a Year Level leader. Elected by her peers to represent the class, she will learn to support and mentor others, engage in conversations with Heads of Years as well as foster student agency and enact positive change.

Year 9

In Year 9 students have the opportunity to take on the role of Ambassador. Their role is to welcome, communicate and share their experiences with future families through assisting with School Tours and Open Days. The Ambassador’s role is an important one in that it encompasses the School values of service and respect. As part of their preparation students participate in an educational program centred around communication and influence. They work through a program where they explore communication as a skill set; messaging vs influencing; storytelling; speaking confidence; and, managing nerves.

House Arts, our Performing Arts Competition for students in Years 7 to 9 provides leadership opportunities for all Year 9 students. Based on a stimulus, each House presents a performance, which involves acting, singing, dancing and instrumental. The program is entirely led by Year 9 students who each take on a position of responsibility. In this much anticipated part of the Year 9 Program, students will build skills in communication, project management, literacy, personal growth, collaboration, time management, critical thinking and so much more.

Year 10

Year 10 students with a strong interest in developing and applying leadership skills may choose to participate in the Peer Support Program, working during the school day with Year 7 students with whom they foster connections. Students are prepared by participating in a formal training program created and supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Health.

Year 11

Year 11 students have the opportunity to nominate themselves as House Representatives within their year level. This role requires students to be a voice for their year level and work with their Mentor and Head of Year, for the duration of the year. All students are encouraged to develop and demonstrate their leadership skills by engaging with their various passions within the SRC, Social Service, Environment, Palm Leaf, Sports, Music and Arts groups; all of which meet regularly throughout the year. Year 11 students have an opportunity to take on various leadership roles throughout House Chorals, sharing the leadership of this significant school event with the Year 12s. The Year 11 cohort undertake an extensive leadership application process in preparation for taking on formal and informal leadership roles in Year 12. This rigorous process spans the entirety of Term 3. As VCE students, all Year 11 students are viewed as School leaders in all that they do.

Year 12

Those students who are elected Office Bearers and members of the Year 12 Leadership Team. Portfolio Captains include School Captain, Visual Arts, Drama, Sport, Social Service, Debating, House Captains, International, Music, Palm Leaf and Environment. House Special Effort Days offer the opportunity for our Year 12 House Captains to lead their respective House to identify a social issue and then research current organisations that are tackling the issue. Our Year 12 leaders choose the direction of the community service effort and present it to the rest of their House group on the vision they have for raising awareness and funds.

Students also have the opportunity to nominate as Chairwoman to lead their respective Houses in the Year 6 – 12 House Chorals competition. Overseeing the entire process, these leaders work with their leadership teams to bring together all the required elements.

Throughout the year, Year 12 students have the opportunity to lead various Korowa sports teams and are elected to the positions by their peers. They will work with their coaches and relevant staff members to ensure the success of the sporting program at Korowa.

In addition to formal leadership opportunities, Korowa girls demonstrate an ethical leadership character through service to the community. Our girls are keen to make the world we live in a better place and they do so through a range of activities including the annual whole school fundraising day “Big Day In”; participation in community activities such as the Red Cross Appeal; class-group fundraising for a local charity; and House Special Efforts led by our Year 12 House Captains.

Ongoing community service activities supported by Korowa students and the broader Korowa community include the support for 35 scholarships for girls in Baguia (Timor L’Este) and funding teaching staff and resources for a school in Bangladesh which was opened in 1997 and known as Korowa Memorial School, in honour of Korowa’s late Chaplain, Revd Beth Richards.

KXP is an 8 week learning expedition founded on curriculum outcomes across a range of subjects and is underpinned by literacy. This program is designed to build character, produce high quality work and mastery of knowledge and skills. Both the design thinking process and critical thinking are key components of KXP.

It is a powerful experience that builds life skills that students will use beyond school. KXP provides opportunities for students to work together to problem solve, to lead, negotiate, connect with experts creating real world connections and mastery learning where they continue to improve their work, taking on feedback from teachers and peers. At the end of the expedition students produce a beautiful product that has a real purpose in the world as students work with real clients.

Learn more

These days are an opportunity for the cohort to come together as a community outside of the classroom and take part in a range of activities, listen to guest speakers and create together

Each Empowerment Day has a different focus:

• What are my passions?
• What are my strengths?
• Peer Relationships and Teamwork
• Move, Play and Rest
• Meaning and Mindfulness

Agility, flexibility, adaptability and an in-depth understanding of self are key to becoming future ready. In Year 10, Morrisby testing and one on one interviews enhance student awareness of their aptitudes and environments best suited to their learning and career pathways.

An understanding of the important role that micro-credentials will play in their lifetime is experienced by students who undertake a suite of micro-credentials tailored towards employability skills.

Students in Years 3 and 4 participate in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Scheme program, where they learn positive food habits for life, about their natural environment,  practical skills including recycling, composting, preserving, budgeting and fundraising and life skills, such as cooperating, sharing, critical thinking and leadership.