Connecting with our primary schools
Mitchell High School has strong and valued relationships with our local primary schools. We know how important it is to build positive connections early to help primary students feel comfortable, welcome, and confident as they prepare to start high school. We offer regular visits, joint learning activities, orientation programs, and community events so students can meet our staff, explore our school, and experience the friendly and lively culture here. These early experiences make the move to high school easier and help students start to see themselves as part of our school community—a place where they are encouraged to grow, succeed, and thrive. By strengthening these partnerships, we make sure students start high school feeling they belong, are excited, and ready for the next step in their education.
What is Next Gen Mitchell?
Mitchell High School is proud to present Next Gen Mitchell, an innovative, next-level transition program designed for our upcoming generation of students.
Year 5 students are handpicked by their teachers from our partner primary schools, participating students have demonstrated exceptional promise across the four HPGE domains: intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical. This year, we welcome talented young people from Shelley and Blacktown South Public Schools as they take their first exciting steps into high school life.
Next Gen Mitchell goes beyond the traditional primary-to-high school transition. It's a rich, hands-on experience that challenges students to extend their talents across a diverse range of learning areas, including Science, Music, Dance, Creative Arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Textiles, and Orienteering (map and navigation activities).
Every student who completes the program receives a Certificate of Participation, while our dedicated facilitators are honoured with a Certificate of Recognition, because developing great minds takes great people.
Next Gen Mitchell - High Potential & Gifted Education (HPGE) Program
Next Gen Mitchell - High Potential & Gifted Education (HPGE) Program is aimed to support HPGE Year 5 students transitioning to high school
The Next Gen Mitchell program runs across three school terms, Term 1, 2 and 3, and offers workshops specifically designed to extend and challenge talented students.
The workshops available:
- Creative Arts
- Dance
- Orienteering (map and navigation activities)
- Music
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Textiles (sewing and fabric work).
These workshops are designed for students who enjoy new learning experiences and is specifically designed to extend and challenge high potential and gifted learners. Each workshop has up to 20 students, allowing teachers to provide targeted support, meaningful discussions and opportunities for deeper learning.
A key strength of the program is the implementation of carefully planned lessons by teachers to encourage higher-order thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem solving, while exposing students to the expectations and learning styles of a secondary school environment. Primary school students are challenged to think critically, take intellectual risks and apply their skills in innovative ways within each subject area. The workshops encourages student voice, independence and inquiry-based learning, ensuring participants remain actively engaged and motivated throughout the program.
Mitchell High School staff work collaboratively to create learning experiences that not only reflect the curriculum of their specialist subject areas, but also foster curiosity, resilience and confidence in students as capable learners.
The continuation of the Next Gen Program highlights the strong partnership we have built with our local primary schools. We are commitment to helping every student reach their full potential and continue to deliver enriched opportunities to develop the talents of HPGE students.
Mr S. Debrincat
Next Gen Mitchell Program Coordinator
Our Next Gen Mitchell Dance program allows students to develop the foundational knowledge, skills and capabilities reflected within the NSW Department of Education Dance curriculum-concepts they would otherwise not be formally introduced to until beginning their secondary studies in Years 9-10.
Students explored the development of dance technique and alignment, built their understanding of the muscles and bones of the body and how these are used to move safely and effectively through space, and learnt structured warm-up sequences, strength exercises and choreography across both jazz and lyrical styles.
Next Gen Mitchell Dance group ran across the entire year rather than a single term. This extended time was essential to the developmental nature of the program, allowing students to progressively build their technique, confidence, and performance skills and have come an enormous way from where they began.
Mrs C. Thratthabeusy
Next Gen Mitchell Dance Program Coordinator
Why is it important for high schools to stay connected with their local primary schools?
Smooth student transitions
- Staying connected helps Year 6 students feel more comfortable moving to high school. Familiar faces, school visits, and joint activities can ease anxiety and make starting high school feel less overwhelming.
- It lets high school staff understand students' backgrounds, strengths, and needs so they can better support new students.
Sharing information
- Primary schools can share valuable information about students, including learning needs, wellbeing concerns, and social supports. This helps high schools plan and provide necessary help from the beginning.
Building strong relationships
- When high school and primary school staff know each other, they can work together more effectively.
- Families also benefit from seeing a united approach and knowing both schools want what’s best for their children.
Improving learning outcomes
- Schools can collaborate on projects, curriculum, and teaching strategies, making learning more consistent from primary to high school.
- This can help students build skills and confidence in areas like literacy and numeracy.
Strengthening community
- By working together, both schools build a stronger sense of community. This can lead to joint events, shared resources, and a positive environment for students.
- It helps all families feel welcome and supported as their child’s education changes.
Supporting student wellbeing
- Early intervention can happen if high schools are aware of issues from primary school years.
- Shared wellbeing programs and support staff can help students before, during, and after their transition.
"At Mitchell High School, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Next Gen Mitchell is where that journey begins."
Opportunities at our school
- Specialised iSTEM Program
- Academic Extension Classes
- Acceleration Pathways for Year 10
- Advanced Learning Pathways
- Dance Ensemble
- Debating
- Book Club
- Chess Club
- Choir
- Creative Writing Club
- Drama Classes
- Dungeons and Dragons Club
- Enrichment, Extension and Extracurricular Programs.
- Environmental Club
- Gardening Group
- Movement Class
- Music Enrichment
- Open Movement Class
- Peer Support Programs
- Poetry Club
- Schools Spectacular
- School Leaders Body (SLB)
- Specialist Sporting Programs. For example: High Potential Volleyball and High Potential Soccer
- Tournament of Minds
- Visual Arts Enrichment
HPGE aspire class: A specialised program for students demonstrating high potential, offering a rich and stimulating curriculum.
Embedded HPGE activities: Enrichment is part of everyday learning, with opportunities designed to extend all students and nurture their talents.
Want to learn more about our school? Please call our school and we are happy to answer any questions or concerns. We’re here to help.
Enrolment information
Mitchell High School is a comprehensive co-educational secondary school in Blacktown NSW.
We are proud to be part of a strong public education system and welcome students and parents and carers from different backgrounds and cultures.
Our school is recognised for innovative teaching and providing our students with co-curricular activities, including specialised iSTEM program, tournament of minds, debating, sports, dance and drama ensembles...read more.
Growth in the classroom and beyond
We are proud to be part of a strong public education system and welcome students from all backgrounds and cultures.
Our inclusive education practices ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive, with learning experiences tailored to meet individual needs and aspirations. We strive for excellence in all that we do, and together we are building a future where every student can confidently step forward, prepared for life beyond school and ready to make a positive difference in the world.
Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Partner School
Inspire – High potential and gifted education School (HPGE) program promotes engagement and challenges' and supports every student, regardless of background, in every school across intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. Students have access to quality learning opportunities to encourage their potential and meet their needs and aspire their talents to development to their optimal growth.
Student support and wellbeing
Student wellbeing is an important part of learning and growing. Our school takes a whole-school approach to support students' mental, emotional and social development.
We create a respectful and inclusive environment where students feel ready to learn.
By working together and aiming high, we’re building a stronger future for our students, our school and our community.
We are located at 52 Keyworth Drive, Blacktown NSW 2148
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