Learning
Curriculum
The provision of the school’s curriculum is arranged so that each class has a two-hour Literacy block and a one-hour Numeracy block each day. The other learning domains such as Science, the Humanities, Technology and Health are taught using an Inquiry Approach, where a focus is selected from one of these areas each term.
By using an Inquiry Approach, we are able to provide learning experiences for our children that are not only engaging but also allow for the development of skills such as: problem solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, the generation of new ideas, the ability to analyse and evaluate information and to plan for the future. All these skills will be required by your child in the future, for life in the 21st century.
Religious Education
St Patrick’s works in partnership with parents to nurture the faith of the students. The teaching of Religious Education at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School will deepen students’ relationship with God, develop strong relationships with others, and broaden their knowledge to create a just world. At St. Patrick’s students are invited explore and celebrate the Catholic story in all its richness and diversity through reflection, prayer and action for the good of others and their world.
The Sacramental program enables students to explore, and be initiated into, the Catholic faith and its traditions. We prepare our students for the healing and initiation sacraments of First Reconciliation in Year 3, First Eucharist in Year 4 and Confirmation in Year 6.
Maths
At St. Patrick’s our Mathematics program is designed to…
- Develop confident and curious mathematicians
- Deepen students’ mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding
- Encourage students to problem solve and communicate their mathematical thinking
Our Mathematics program is underpinned by the three areas of the Victorian Mathematics Curriculum: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Our rigorous assessment strategies assist in identifying every child’s point of need, in order to enable targeted planning and teaching.
The daily one-hour Mathematics Block consists of whole-class, group and individual tasks that are ‘differentiated’ to cater for different levels of understanding in mathematics; at the beginning of each lesson the students participate in a short ‘Tool Time’ session, which is an opportunity for the students to improve their number fluency, with a focus on counting and times tables. ‘Open-Ended Tasks’ are used within lessons and are designed to enable students to extend themselves beyond their current understandings or be supported and scaffolded in their learning where required. We believe that students learn best in Mathematics when they are engaged in real-life mathematical situations and able to work collaboratively to problem solve and learn from each other. Ongoing assessments are used throughout mathematical topics to inform teaching and to target learning needs.
English
Our daily, two-hour literacy block addresses the curriculum content areas of Reading and Viewing, Writing, and Speaking and Listening. We believe in a careful balance of direct instruction and explicit teaching, while exposing our students to a wide range of good quality literature from diverse voices.
In Prep and Year 1, the literacy block starts with explicit teaching of phonics, using the ‘Little Learners Love Literacy’ approach. This incorporates five essential steps for effective reading instruction: identifying letter sounds, sounding out words, fluency, accuracy and comprehension.
Reading sessions start with a whole class shared text with a clear focus, before moving into guided reading and small group work. Such an approach allows for targeted teaching, based on personalised goals.
Writing is such a vital part of our Literacy program at St. Patrick’s. It includes many aspects from handwriting and letter formation to studying and writing various genres like recounts, narratives, reports, explanations and persuasive texts just to name a few.
The students at St. Patrick’s use the the ‘Seven Steps to Writing Success’ program. It is a program that engages and excites writers from the very young to the older students and makes writing achievable for all.
The Seven Steps to Writing Success program at St. Patrick’s Primary School is a comprehensive writing program that provides students with the skills, strategies, and confidence they need to become successful writers. With a focus on the writing process, our program helps students to develop their writing skills from start to finish.
Our program consists of seven steps, each designed to help students develop a different aspect of their writing skills. From pre-writing and planning, to drafting, revising, editing, and publishing, our program covers all the key elements of successful writing.
In addition to teaching writing skills, our program also helps students to develop a love of writing and a confidence in their own abilities. With our supportive and encouraging approach, students are able to take risks, experiment with new ideas, and find their own writing voice.
Whether you are a student who loves to write, or one who struggles with it, our Seven Steps to Writing Success program has something to offer. With our expert teachers, engaging lessons, and supportive environment, we are confident that our program will help you to achieve your writing goals and become a confident and successful writer.
The Seven Steps to Writing program breaks down writing into seven main skills:
1. Plan fof Success
2. Sizzling Starts
3. Tightening Tension
4. Dynamic Dialogue
5. Show Don’t Tell
6. Ban the Boring Bits
7. Exciting Endings
Inquiry
Each term, we have a whole-school unit, through which students engage in an inquiry-based approach to learning. The units cover the Curriculum areas of History, Geography, Sciences, Health and, in the upper years, Civics and Citizenship, and Economics and Business. Each unit commences with explicit teaching, which immerses students in the topic and provides them with the understandings required to explore it further.
Project-based learning encourages motivation, deeper engagement and passion, while also developing research skills and pride through ownership. Where appropriate and meaningful, the unit is linked closely with the four capabilities of the Victorian Curriculum: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability, Intercultural Understanding and Ethical Understanding
Sport
At St Patrick’s, we understand the importance of sport in developing teamwork skills, strength, personal and community health, and promoting overall wellbeing. Our students remain active throughout the day also, with regular ‘brain breaks’ and movement, keeping their minds fresh and ready to learn.
In addition to these practices, all students from Prep to Year 4 participate in an annual, intensive swimming program. Each year in December, our students in Years 5 and 6 participate in an open water safety program at a local surf life saving club. As students reach middle and senior school, there are further opportunities to participate in extracurricular or interschool sport events. Morning ‘Run Club’ training is a particular highlight of our students, earning points for their House team for every lap they complete. Terms 2 and 3 sees the senior students participate in weekly, friendly games of netball and football with students from nearby schools. Other extracurricular sporting events include:
- Athletics
- Cross Country
- Swimming
- Lightning Premierships – AFL, Netball and Softball
- Round Robins – mixed teams of Soccer, Newcomb and Basketball
Camps
At St Patrick’s we believe the opportunities arising from an experience such as camp, further contributes to the overall development of each child. The camp programs offered aim to reinforce the concepts of relationship building, teamwork and resilience. The challenging and stimulating experiences provided, take the children beyond the classroom and foster independence and self-confidence.
- Year 4 Bike Education Camp
- Year 5 Outdoor adventure camp
- Year 6
Music Tuition
Learning Diversity
We are deeply committed to supporting safe and inclusive learning for all children in our care, including any child who may have additional learning needs.
Learning support teams including teachers, learning leaders and learning support officers work together to tailor adjustments to provide the best possible learning outcomes for each child.
If needed, this support may include the establishment of a ‘program support group’ that will meet regularly to monitor wellbeing and learning. Individualised adjustments and learning goals are then documented on a ‘personalised learning plan.’
Our Sacramental Program
The school works in partnership with St. Michael’s Parish to support children to prepare for and receive three, key Sacraments of our Catholic tradition:
- First Reconciliation (generally received in Year Three)
- First Eucharist (generally received in Year Four)
- Confirmation (generally received in Year Six)
To be part of these important faith events, your child needs to have received the sacrament of Baptism.
Our Prayer Culture
Prayer is an essential and highly valued element of our faith culture and Catholic identity.
Our prayer routines include:
*Participating in daily classroom prayer
*Practising daily Christian Meditation
*Learning the traditional prayers of our Church
*Weekly communal prayer at Assemblies
*Regular liturgical celebrations as a faith community.
Intervention Programs
We are deeply committed to supporting safe and inclusive learning for all children in our care, including any child who may have additional learning needs.
Learning support teams including teachers, learning leaders and learning support officers work together to tailor adjustments to provide the best possible learning outcomes for each child.
If needed, this support may include the establishment of a ‘program support group’ that will meet regularly to monitor wellbeing and learning. Individualised adjustments and learning goals are then documented on a ‘personalised learning plan.’
Our school’s specialist program includes Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Italian, Digital Learning and Physical Education. Our students love the opportunity to work with each of our dedicated and talented specialist teachers once a week an hour.
Details for each below:
Visual Arts
The provision of the school’s curriculum is arranged so that each class has a two-hour Literacy block and a one-hour Numeracy block each day. The other learning domains such as Science, the Humanities, Technology and Health are taught using an Inquiry Approach, where a focus is selected from one of these areas each term.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Specialist program covers the areas of music, drama, dance and media. Each class attends a weekly session. Every second year, the school hosts an ‘Extravaganza’ that showcases the skills and talents of our students in the area of Performing Arts. The other year focuses on building students’ confidence and awareness in all four areas of the performing arts. Students experience; playing the ukuleles, djembes, boomwhackers, etc in music; role plays and improvisation in drama; learning and creating small dances; and using various apps and websites to create songs and music notation, in the area of media.
Italian
Students participate in weekly Italian lessons. The students are immersed in the culture and customs of Italy, with further emphasis on language acquisition as they move through to Year Six.
Digital Learning
he Digital Learning specialist program aims to ensure that students can:
Navigate the internet and digital life safely
Become confident users of technology through the creation of digital solutions
Acquire a deep knowledge and understanding of digital systems, data and information
Use computational thinking strategies with coding and programming
Physical Education
Physical Education is a high priority at St. Patrick’s. The school emphasizes the importance of Physical Education in the total education of the child. Each week the students participate in a Physical Education lesson. The Physical Education lesson deals primarily with the development of gross motor skills, fundamental movement skills, hand-eye coordination, sportspersonship and learning and developing their understanding of gameplay.
Extra Curricular Activities
Physical Education is a high priority at St. Patrick’s. The school emphasizes the importance of Physical Education in the total education of the child. Each week the students participate in a Physical Education lesson. The Physical Education lesson deals primarily with the development of gross motor skills, fundamental movement skills, hand-eye coordination, sportspersonship and learning and developing their understanding of gameplay.
