Deepening inquiry through connection
Yokine Mia, meaning “Dingo House” in Noongar, embodies protection, collaboration, and care. Dingoes are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and strong sense of community — qualities reflected in the way our middle primary learners support one another, think critically, take responsibility, and work collaboratively as they navigate these formative years.
Yokine Mia staff create a learning environment where students feel valued, challenged, and connected as they continue to grow into capable, confident young people. Rooted in our values of Connection, Courage, Curiosity, and Compassion, Yokine Mia balances academic rigour with creativity, inquiry, and social–emotional development.
Transitioning from Yonga Mia to Yokine Mia
As students move from early primary into middle primary, learning becomes more complex and independence grows. This transition is often one of the most significant at Kerry Street, as it includes moving buildings — a meaningful rite of passage that symbolises each child’s growth.
In Yokine Mia, students build on the strong foundations of Yonga Mia while stepping into deeper thinking, more structured learning, and more mature collaboration. While academic expectations increase, learning remains hands-on, inquiry-rich, and connected to real-world contexts. Students continue to follow their interests, ask questions, and engage in investigations that spark curiosity and creativity.
A place where learning becomes purposeful and connected
In Yokine Mia, learners begin to see themselves as capable thinkers and contributors across all learning areas. Learning unfolds through:
- explicit literacy and numeracy instruction that builds fluency and confidence
- inquiry projects exploring big questions and real-world issues
- hands-on investigations across science, geography, and design technologies
- place-based learning that deepens understanding of Country, ecosystems, and stewardship
- excursions and walks that extend this learning into the community
- sustainability practices that encourage responsibility for the environment
- reconciliation learning that honours Noongar language, culture, and perspectives
- collaborative tasks that strengthen communication and teamwork
- creative arts, storytelling, drama, and design challenges
- outdoor learning in our Wild Space to anchor thinking in nature and lived experience
As students grow, technology becomes a purposeful and integrated tool that supports inquiry, creativity, and communication. Learners use iPads and laptops to research questions, create digital texts, and document their learning through photos, recordings, and multimodal projects. A small selection of curriculum-linked platforms is also used to support personalised practice in literacy and numeracy. These tools enhance the curriculum — never replace it.
Students are encouraged to take increasing ownership of their learning, manage materials, and set personal goals as part of their developing independence and maturity.
Growing as capable, confident learners
After their time in Yokine Mia, learners are typically:
- responsible and independent, managing their time and materials
- critical thinkers who ask deeper questions and make thoughtful connections
- fluent mathematicians confidently using number knowledge and all four operations
- developing writers who express ideas clearly and organise their thinking
- confident users of technology for learning, communication, and creation
- respectful collaborators who contribute meaningfully to group work
- emotionally aware and beginning to self-regulate
- resilient problem-solvers who persist through challenges
They move forward with growing maturity, a stronger voice, and the confidence to advocate for themselves as thoughtful, empowered learners.
A confident step toward the upper primary years
Yokine Mia is a warm, collaborative, and intellectually engaging environment where students develop the skills and confidence needed for upper primary learning. Curiosity deepens into critical thinking, independence becomes responsibility, and connection grows into community-minded citizenship.
Students leave Yokine Mia ready to transition into Kaarla Mia as capable, reflective, and resilient learners who understand themselves and their place in the world.