Victoria’s first specialist senior secondary school for science, mathematics and associated technologies, JMSS was formed in 2010 as the result of a unique partnership between Monash University and the Victorian Department of Education. This school is for those with a passion for the sciences, who love a challenge and welcome every opportunity to learn.
The school’s growing outreach program includes work with students and teachers from remote locations in regional Victoria and outer-metropolitan Melbourne, as well as local primary schools. Community members are welcome to join students, teachers, parents and Monash academics for the annual Science Fair in October. Partnerships with several international specialist science schools enable students to collaborate, share research and build friendships with equally passionate students across the globe through exchanges and science fairs. JMSS is excited about opportunities available for teaching its contemporary curriculum online via Emerging Sciences Victoria (ESV)
Facilities: A state-of-the-art educational facility with open learning spaces, on the ground of Monash University’s Clayton campus in Melbourne’s south-east suburbs. Science laboratories and class areas are spacious, flexibly designed and ICT-rich, allowing small-group or whole-class problem solving, with up to 50 students and two teachers working together in a team-teaching environment.
Curriculum: JMSS has formed strong partnerships with researchers and academics in a broad mix of scientific fields at Monash University and CSIRO, sharing resources and expertise and ensuring the courses offered at JMSS are rich, challenging, contemporary and relevant. The curriculum at JMSS allows students to explore the cutting edge of scientific knowledge and understanding in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, mathematics, engineering, biomedical science, geography and computer science. Many students access a university extension subject on the Monash campus alongside traditional Year 12 subjects.
Co-curricular activities: Every student has access to a range of co-curricular options including languages, music, the arts, community service, leadership, information technology and robotics, and sport. JMSS believes in a holistic education for all students, and the strong focus on personal wellbeing and empowerment, physical activity and leadership development is a feature of life for students at the school.
Student wellbeing: There is a strong support system at JMSS which underpins all learning. Each student has their own mentor teacher who will also remain with them during their time at JMSS, who is responsible for overseeing each student’s day-to-day progress and wellbeing. Students are allocated to one of four Houses, named after Australian scientists Fiona Wood, Tim Flannery, Elizabeth Blackburn and Peter Doherty. The school runs many House events and other programs designed to build confidence, connectedness and spirit within the community. The school has a well-developed mindfulness program to build resilience in students.