Curriculum
English
At St Scholastica’s our students strive to be effective and confident communicators that develop meaningful and ongoing relationships with others. We understand that responding, connecting and questioning are important literacy skills for all students to become effective contributors to society.
Students at St Scholastica’s are encouraged to use these skills to participate in a variety of experiences, and understand and challenge their and the perspectives of others. We support growth and success in our students by providing rich and meaningful opportunities to collaborate that are personalised and engaging.
Our School strives to build a shared vision of contemporary pedagogy where every student is challenged and supported to achieve continuous improvement and success.
Victorian Curriculum
The Curriculum separates the English Domain into three strands:
Language
Literature
Literacy
Three Language Modes:
Reading and Viewing
Writing
Speaking and Listening
Our School places value and a strong emphasis on Literacy learning. The Literacy Leader and classroom teachers work closely together to ensure there is a strong team approach to professional learning and teacher planning.
The school places emphasis on developing effective communication by focusing on purposeful language interactions in every classroom. Students are encouraged to critically reflect on and respond to what they read and write.
We work in collaboration with Melbourne University to assess student’s reading skills and identify future learning foci. We offer the opportunity for students to participate in activities which support Literacy learning, including but not limited to:
- Indigenous Literacy Book Swap.
- Literacy and Numeracy Day activities – mulit age run by our students.
Maths
St. Scholastica’s endeavours to equip students with Mathematical knowledge, skills, understandings and confidence to enable them to effectively respond and contribute to real life situations in an ever changing world.
Our School strives to build a shared vision of contemporary pedagogy where every student is challenged and supported to achieve continuous improvement and success.
Victorian Curriculum
The Curriculum separates the Maths Domain into three strands:
- Number and Algebra
- Measurement and Geometry
- Statistics and Probability
The Teaching and Learning team at St. Scholastica’s work closely together to provide learning that is flexible and varied, catering for a variety of learning styles. Lessons are rich and challenging, promoting success for all students.
A variety of ongoing, formal and informal assessment including beginning and end of units are used to drive teaching, ensuring future learning successes for all students. We work in collaboration with Melbourne University to assess student’s mathematics and identify future learning foci.
We offer the opportunity for students to participate in programs and activities which support maths learning, including but not limited to:
- Maths incursions from The World of Maths providing the opportunity to participate in problem solving activities and challenges engaging students in mathematical thinking.
- Maths competitions.
- Literacy and Numeracy Day activities – mulit age run by our students.
Religious Education
Religious Education at St Scholastica’s School is part of a life long process of religious formation, through which we can grow into people who reflect the image of God who created us. We aim to live the life of Christ in all aspects of our school, so that young people may come to know that Christianity is a way of life based on love, compassion and justice. Religious Education is a curriculum area in its own right, in which a structured program of learning introduces children to the Catholic tradition.
We at St Scholastica’s believe that we are part of that life giving tradition and have been called to carry forward the mission of Jesus Christ to bring about the Kingdom of God. At St Scholastica’s, our program immerses the students in the life of the school and parish in such a way that they can experience the values of a Christian Community. Religious Education integrates with all areas of the curriculum and children are able to respond in many different ways including song, prayer, liturgy, drama and art.
Inquiry
At St. Scholastica’s we implement Inquiry Learning.
SCIENCE A fundamental goal for science education is to stimulate, respond to and nourish curiosity, wonder and questioning. It is becoming increasingly important that students understand the challenges and the implications of science for their own life choices, the environment and the community (local and global) in which they live. Building students’ science capability is critical to help them develop the skills and understanding necessary to meet these challenges and make responsible, informed choices. HUMANITIES Humanities provides a framework within which students develop their awareness of Australian and other cultures, local and world environment and the interaction pf prople within their environment. It deals with the areas of Economics, History and Geography. We believe that the studies of Humanities allow students to develop knowledge, skills and values that enable them to participate as active and informed citizens in a democratic society and in a global community. The humanities is taught through the Inquiry approach to learning.
As a school we have Celebration of Learning Days and whole school excursions linked to our Inquiry units.
The Arts
Visual Arts
Here at St. Scholastica’s, our Visual Arts curriculum offers students from Prep through to Year Six opportunities to immerse in a variety of art forms. A focus is placed on the students learning the skills, techniques and processes to express their creativity. Our art appreciation reflects the cultural diversity of our students exploring art from around the world. Students explore and respond to their own art and the artwork of others. Art work displays play an important role in art making with all students having their art works displayed around the school.
Parents and families are invited to be involved through volunteering time, skills and ideas.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts program offered at St. Scholastica’s provides an exploration into the arts of Music, Drama and Dance. Students participate in a 40 minute lesson once a week.
The curriculum emphasizes the use of voice, action and sound as a means of communication and self expression. As well as learning skills and knowledge in the arts, it also encourages confidence, creativity and team work. Students also gain an understanding of the culture and history of the performing arts.
The units coincide with what is learnt in the classrooms. This ensures learning is relevant and meaningful for students. The program follows the Victorian Curriculum which provides the framework for our course. Students partake in the following activities:
- Dance –Improvisation, learnt technique of styles/cultures, choreography.
- Drama – Voice, expression, characterisation, play-making, performance and production skills.
- Music – Musicianship, singing, playing tuned and un-tuned instruments, music appreciation and composition.
- Performance and analysis
- Basic Multimedia
Students also have the opportunity to perform at school assembly and participate in the end of year concert which occurs every second year.
In addition to the weekly performing arts lessons which is part of the school curriculum, private piano and guitar lessons are also available.
Digital Technologies
The Digital Technologies curriculum enables students to become confident and creative developers of digital solutions through the application of information systems and specific ways of thinking about problem solving. Students acquire a deep knowledge and understanding of digital systems, data and information and the processes associated with creating digital solutions so they can take up an active role in meeting current and future needs.
Digital Technology is integrated widely throughout the school with a fully networked computer system. All classrooms are equipped with 4-5 networked workstations, shared laptops and interactive whiteboards. The Senior Students are using Chromebooks in a ‘one device per student’ setting. Children have access to a wide range of software introduced at appropriate levels. The vast resources of the internet are incorporated into all subject levels.
Our students are involved in coding activities across all levels. Coding has been described as the “new literacy” and encourages students to use a variety of thinking and problem solving skills. At St Scholastica’s we also integrate a range of hands on exciting and motivating Digital Technologies educational equipment into the classroom including; Robotics such as Beebots.
The school use Google Apps for Education which allows students to collaborate and access a variety of learning tools. Students have access to the school and class sites which are valuable resources and are regularly updated to keep them current to the curriculum requirements.
Physical Education
At St Scholastica’s Primary School students have a 40 minute P.E class each week with a specialist teacher. In these classes the focus is on skill development, fitness, fair play and enjoyment. In addition to these classes all students participate in extracurricular activities.
F-2
- Swimming Program
- School Twilight Sports
- Clinics offered from outside bodies
3-4
- School Twilight Sports
- Kelly Sports
- Circus Skills
- Cross Country Training Program
- Track & Field Training
- Clinics offered from outside bodies
5-6
- School Twilight Sports
- Cross Country Training Program
- Track & Field Training
- Inter-School Sport on Fridays ( Waverley East Sports Association, WESA )
- Inter-School Sport Cross Country ( WESA )
- Inter-School Sport Athletics Carnival
- Clinics offered from outside bodies
Personalised Learning
St. Scholastica’s strongly believe that all learning should have a purpose. We ensure lessons have a learning intention and success criteria. Students are able to explicitly identify these within a lesson to ensure they understand the lesson focus.
Students at St. Scholastica’s work in conjunction with their teachers to reflect and create personal learning goals for their Literacy, Maths and Social Emotional Learning. Students are then encouraged to work towards achieving this goal within class and in their personal time. Students reflect on these goals regularly to ensure their learning is targeted to their personal learning needs.
Specialist Programs
Performing Arts
Visual Arts
Italian (CLIL)
Physical Education
Library
Support Programs
English Support Program
St. Scholastica’s has a specialised English support teacher who works with students 1:1 or with a small group within the classroom or withdrawn from the classroom to support students who require extra assistance in English in an intervention program.
Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI)
St.Scholastica’s targets learning to individuals providing intervention for Year 2-6 students who are not working to standard. Using the Fountas + Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention system, we provide a short, small group, supplementary program proven to help students who find reading and writing difficult.
Reading Recovery
St.Scholastica’s offers the Reading Recovery program for Year 1 students who are finding reading and writing challenging. The program runs for 20 weeks, with one to one student and teacher daily lessons. The aim of the program is to supplement the classroom literacy program to improve the literacy skills of our students.
Maths Support Program
St. Scholastica’s has a Maths teacher to support students who require extra assistance in Maths through an intervention program. Students are supported 1:1 or in a small group.
Learning Support Officers (LSOs) Teacher Aides
At St Scholastica’s a number of LSOs work alongside the classroom teachers to enhance the learning of our children. They work alongside and collaboratively with the classroom teachers and may work 1:1 or with a small group to extend or enable the children’s learning in English, Mathematics, Social & Emotional Learning and more. All classrooms have an LSO timetabled throughout the week. The LSOs work closely with teachers and parents to work towards optimum learning and wellbeing for our students.
Extra Curricular
Sacramental Programs P – 6
Kids Matter School
Wellbeing Initiatives and Programs
Learning Support Staff in all classrooms
Student leadership and Buddy Programs
Specialist programs- PE, Visual Arts, Performing Arts and Italian
STEM an affiliation with Deakin University
Lunch time clubs
Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Projects (Melbourne University)
Public Speaking
Digital Technologies for Education (IPad, Chromebooks, laptops & Robotics)
Coding & Robotics Club
Lego Club
Dance and Music Club
Art & Craft Club
Sports clinics
School Garden and cooking
Concert and Art Shows
Camp
Inter-school Sport Programs – District & Zone Athletics
School Counsellor
Private Music and Instrumental Program
Before and After School Care
Deakin
STEM 1
Cooking 1
Drawing Club 1
Science Day 1
Cultural Day 1
Grandparents Day
