Christian Living

For P-6 Christian Living, we use a curriculum called “On the Way” produced by TNT Ministries. It is a three year syllabus, covering the main Bible stories from Genesis to Acts.
Christian Living classes also involve prayer times, scripture memorisation and singing praise and worship songs. Lively discussion takes place and questions about spiritual matters are encouraged.
Our aim is to lead the children to faith in Jesus Christ. Our desire is for the children to know that the Bible and the Christian life are relevant to them today. Through fun and focussed activities we aim for each child to form a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is meaningful, satisfying and lasting.

English

The English program is structured around the SCHOOLWIDE EARLY LITERACY AND LANGUAGE PROGRAM (SWELL). The SWELL program was adopted and adapted from SUCCESS FOR ALL, a whole school reading program.

The SCHOOLWIDE EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY PROGRAM (SWELL) is divided into three stages:
• BEGINNING LITERACY
• BECOMING LITERATE
• TOWARDS LITERACY COMPETENCE

Beginning Literacy is the initial stage of the SWELL program. During this period, students are exposed to story telling and retelling; to concepts about print; to the connections that exist between speech and print; to the early phonological awareness activities of rhyme and sound invariance; to early writing and grammatical concepts and to the development of receptive and expressive language.

Becoming Literate commences at the end of the Beginning Literacy program and generally continues until midway through Year 1. The Becoming Literate program is presented in two parts: Becoming Literate – Preps; and Becoming Literate -Year 1. Becoming Literate Prep expands some familiar components from Beginning Literacy and introduces some new ones. Story telling and retelling continue, as do receptive and expressive language activities. However, phonemic awareness activities move from rhyming and alliteration to deeper levels of phonological sensitivity encompassing blending, segmentation orally. Spelling activities to match reading activities are also introduced in the Becoming Literate Program as soon as a small number of letter/sound relationships have been mastered.

Mathematics

The mathematics program is based on the GO MATHS program. GO MATHS equips students with a deep knowledge and understanding of mathematical concepts and the ability to think, reason and work mathematically.

The strands covered include:
• Number - Whole Numbers, Addition and Subtraction, Multiplication and Division
• Space and Geometry - Position, Two-dimensional space and Three dimensional space
• Measurement - Length, Area, Volume and Capacity, Mass and Time
• Chance and Data - Collecting, describing, interpreting, analysing and representing information in tabular and graphical forms.
• Patterns and Algebra - patterns and number relationships
• Working Mathematically – five working mathematically processes – Questioning, Applying Strategies, Communicating, Reasoning, and Reflecting are incorporated into all units, lessons and investigations in which the students will be engaged.

Science

Year Prep and Year 1/2 are working through a text book called Primary Investigations, published by the Australian Academy of Science. Primary Investigations has been carefully structured to provide the maximum opportunity for students to learn the major concepts and skills. It is based on constructivist learning theory. This theory suggests that students learn best when they are allowed to work out explanations for themselves over time through a variety of learning experiences. Students bring knowledge with them to these experiences. They then link new information with their prior knowledge. To help them make the connections between what they already know and new information, each unit has been organised into five stages - Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. Primary Investigations focuses on social skills that will help students work in teams and communicate more effectively. Throughout the year the students practise the following three team skills:
• moving to their teams quickly and quietly
• staying with their partner; and
• taking turns

Prep Science program overview
Unit 1: Introducing awareness to self
Unit 2: Observation -The Senses
Unit 3: Movement - Design and Technology
Unit 4: Space and time

Studies of Society and the Environment

In Term 1 Sose in the Prep class centered around the theme of transport from the early days to becoming more modern. The class looked at types of transport, safety rules and uses of various transport. This was achieved through class investigation using text books, fiction stories, pictures, individual worksheets and teacher input. In Term 2 the Prep class studied about being special and being uniquely created by God yet each displaying differences eg eyes, hair, talents. This was achieved through teacher input, fiction stories, individual worksheets and practical games. In Term 3 Sose in the Prep class consisted of study around the theme of environment and its little creatures eg minibeasts. This was achieved through class investigation using text books, fiction stories, pictures, individual worksheets and teacher input. Nature walks were taken to look at little creatures around the school. In Term 4 Sose in the Prep class consisted of study around the theme of Culture in different countries. Lessons were centered around grains or food crops associated with different countries eg rice and corn. This was achieved through text book information, fiction stories, practical activities, individual bookwork and teacher input. Further lessons consisted of teaching about different special days and celebrations including Christmas that other countries celebrate eg Chinese New year. This was achieved through teacher and class discussion using general knowledge, childrens family experiences, textbooks and Christmas stories from other countries.

Languages other than English

God is the author of all languages and every language and culture is important to God (Genesis 11:7-9, Acts 2:6, Rev 5:9, 7:9, 14:6). The purpose of this Primary level French course is to help children enjoy learning languages, creating a positive attitude to language learning for when they reach Secondary level. Students experience learning French through a wide variety of learning activities including songs, games and role plays. Students are introduced to basic vocabulary such as numbers, days of the week and colours. In order to avoid repetition, most topics which students learn during their Primary years are different to those studied at the Secondary level. Topics Prep students study include:

Term 1: Les numéros (numbers)

Term 2: 'Les couleurs' (colours) at 'la piscine' (the pool) and 'le cirque' (the circus).

Term 3: 'Les jeux olympiques' (the Olympic Games) sports, countries and the colours of their flags.

Term 4: Holiday celebrations in France, especially ‘Le Noël’ (Christmas).

Health & Physical Education

The program encourages students to participate in a range of Physical Education units and activities that develop Fundamental Motor skills including running, skipping, leaping, jumping, dodging, throwing and catching.

Visual Art

In Art students are able to participate and develop their skills using a variety of media, including paint, pencils, fabric art, collage, sculpture, wire, papier-mâché and printmaking. Planning, designing and evaluating work are also major components of the Art course.

Music/Performing Arts

Music in the Prep class centres around learning to listen, following instructions and moving to simple musical and rhythmic patterns. This is achieved through recorded music, teacher directed activities and musical games and singing.

Term 2 Music follows a similar theme with emphasis on texture and dynamics of music. Tapes and musical games are used to teach this. In Term 3 Music in the Prep class focuses on music, movement and drama drawn from well known fairy or folk tales, e.g. Little Red Riding Hood, using recorded music, teacher directed movement and story narration. Simple drama is used to retell stories. Class singing is also part of each lesson.

Term 4 Music in the Prep class focuses on lessons related to simple rhythm patterns, rapt rhythm patterns and Christmas concert preparations. This is achieved through teacher focus and direction, class participation, musical instruments and simple musical rhymes. Singing, dance and simple movements are also used to compliment Christmas songs for the concert.

 Print page