Primary (K-6) Curriculum
The NSW Primary School Curriculum has been divided into six Key Learning Areas (KLA’s) and at St. Philomena’s we have added Religious Education as our seventh KLA.
The primary curriculum is inclusive of studies in:
- English
- Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE)
- Science and Technology
- PDHPE
- Creative Arts
- Mathematics
- Religious Education
Primary Religious Education
The goals of Religious Education in the Primary Department at St Philomena’s are concerned with the development of the whole person within the spiritual realm and within the real world. Our qualified and skilled religious educators within the school have adopted the guidelines of the program Celebrating Our Journey in holding with the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Catholic Education Office. These guidelines are centred upon the growth in knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of the student. The focus of Celebrating Our Journey (COJ) is described as attempting to develop faith awareness in the following areas:
Self - the relationship of the student and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
Others – the relationship of Christ’s followers and those whom we encounter in our lives;
Church – the discovery of celebration with a Christian identity in the faith community;
World – an awareness of God the Creator, the world and the responsibilities given to God’s people as caretakers;
Liturgical Seasons – an appreciation of important events within the Catholic Church, which signify the worship of God’s people.
The aspects of faith development, which encompasses the traditions of the Catholic Church, are emphasized in the student’s life experiences, scriptural and doctrinal understanding and participation in celebrations.
This school is a school “…where younger children receive their early lesson in faith (and which) remains a cornerstone of the pastoral care of Australia’s Catholic people.
Here the community of faith hands on the timeless message of Jesus Christ to its youngest members.”
Sharing with your Child about God
Parents are the first to educate their child in the Faith. It is of great importance to take time to listen to and talk with your child. Take time also to share simple prayers with your child. Think about your own beliefs and what you want your child to have and believe now and as they grow into young adults, men and women. Attempt to present God as a loving and forgiving Father and friend. Try to have your child understand that God is never just an observer of faults, but as a loving, kind and generous God.
Sacramental Programs within the School
St Philomena’s maintains sacramental programs as part of the Religious Education program. As part of St Francis Xavier Parish our sacramental program operates in conjunction with the Parish Priest. This program provides enrichment and background to the Sacraments and prepares students formally. Students who are of an age in which their particular class program does not include them (Year Two – First Reconciliation, Year Three – First Eucharist and Year Six – Confirmation) are still able to be included in the training for these Sacraments by approaching the Parish Priest (on 67522886), where training is afforded out of school hours.
All students are given the opportunity throughout the year to be a part of prayer in class, services of the word, paraliturgies, reconciliations, liturgy of the Eucharist, as well as meeting with the whole school in community celebrations. Parent support is always welcome in our school in this area.
As well, the four-year Faith and Practice Program which focuses this year on the Creed is an ongoing addition to our school programs.
English
At St. Philomena’s we aim to encourage positive attitudes towards learning English and to develop students’ ability in using language effectively and to enable critical reflection on how language works.
Language is the key to students’ intellectual, social and emotional development and is integrated across all Key Learning Areas.
The English Curriculum has three important components. Outcomes are provided for each of these:
- Speaking and Listening
- Reading / Viewing (Secondary)
- Writing ( including Handwriting, Spelling & Grammar)
Nine text types (or purposes for writing) are covered in all stages with ranging skill level:
- Recount – “tell what happened” and can be factual or literary.
- Narrative – construct a pattern of event with a problematic and / or unexpected outcome that entertains the reader or listener.
- Procedure – tell how to do something. Eg: a task or game.
- Information Report – present information about something.
- Explanation – tell how and why things occur in scientific or technical fields.
- Discussion – used to look at more than one side of an issue. They allow us to explore various perspectives before coming to an informed decision.
- Exposition – used to argue a case for or against a particular position or point of view.
- Description – focuses on the characteristic features of a particular thing and often form part of other texts.
- Poetry – is a channel of communication that is used to achieve a range of social purposes.
Learning to read and write includes:
- Learning about the conventions of prints.
- Learning to use contextual, semantic, grammatical, graphological and phonological information.
- Learning how to draft, revise, edit, proofread and publish writing using a variety of text types.
Mathematics
At St. Philomena’s Mathematics is the study in the fields of number, measurement, chance and data and space. Most particularly it is:
- A search for patterns and relationships. This search, utilising acquired knowledge and skills, leads to the development of concepts and generalisations which can be applied in finding solutions to problems, improving our understanding of the world around us and meeting the specific needs of people.
- A way of thinking characterised by processes such as exploring, manipulating, discovering, ordering, classifying, generalising, abstracting, estimating, calculating, predicting, describing, deducing, drawing and measuring.
- A powerful, precise and concise means of communication used to represent, to interpret, to explain and to predict.
- A creative activity. Accordingly, it involves invention, intuition and discovery.
Math’s ability groups operate across Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. This has been found to be a successful method for catering to the needs of all children’s abilities. After initial testing processes, children are placed in an ability group. The placements are under constant revision.
Science and Technology
At St Philomena’s we adopt an approach which will provide each child with substantial access to the Science and Technology Key Learning Area continuously throughout each year through to K-6. We recognise that Science and Technology education has an essential place in the Primary curriculum if students are to be adequately prepared for life in the 21st century. It is also necessary to recognise that the Key Learning Area of Science and Technology in K-6 leads to study in two of the eight Key Learning Areas in the Secondary curriculum.
Science and Technology is the learning in which all students learn about the natural and man-made environments by investigating, by designing and making and by using technology. Learning in Science and Technology will draw on and contribute to learning related to the other five Key Learning Areas.
Within this Key Learning Area students engage in these processes and as a result will develop their knowledge of a range of scientific and technological concepts. These concepts are embodied in each of the content strands of the syllabus. The content strands are:
- Built Environments, in which students learn about the structures and spaces that people construct, modify and adapt
- Information and Communication, in which students learn about communication technology and the ways people make, store, organise and transfer images and information
- Living Things, in which students learn about people, other animals and plants
- Physical Phenomena, in which students learn about phenomena related to energy, space and time
- Products and Services, in which students learn about goods and commodities, and the systems used to produce and distribute them
- The Earth and its Surroundings, in which students learn about the earth and its environment, and how people use the resources it provides
Learning about Science and Technology will occur in relation to each of the above strands.
Human Society and Its Environment
At St. Philomena’s the aim of Human Society and Its Environment is to develop in students the values and attitudes, skills and knowledge and understandings that:
- Enhance their sense of personal, community, national and global identity.
- Enable them to participate effectively in maintaining and improving the quality of their society and environment.
Human Society and Its Environment is the key learning area in which students develop knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes about people and their social and physical environments. K-6 syllabuses are organised in broad stages that describe the sequence of learning experience through which students will progress. The outcomes and content in the Human Society and Its Environment K-6 syllabus are organised in four strands:
1. Change and Continuity
2. Cultures
3. Environments
4. Social Systems and Structures.
Through the learning experiences in this syllabus, students will develop knowledge and essential understandings about Australia’s history and geography, the people who live within its territory and their social, cultural, economic and political lives. They will learn about Australians, European influences, the original occupation of Australia by Aboriginal people and Australia’s shared history, Australia in the context of the Asian and Pacific regions and the world, and other cultures in the world.
At St Philomena’s as a result of learning in Human Society and Its Environment, students should develop a sense of personal, community, national and global identity and the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that will equip them to participate as responsible citizens in maintaining and improving the quality of their society and environment.
Skills:
- Acquiring information
- Using inquiry process
- Social and Civic Participation
Values and Attitudes:
- Social Justice
- Intercultural Understanding
- Ecological Sustainability
- Democratic process
- Beliefs and Moral Codes
- Life long learning
Creative Arts
At St. Philomena’s Creative Arts provides opportunities for students to work within and learn about the artforms of visual arts, music, drama and dance. Creative Arts aims to enable students to gain an increasing understanding of the artforms and for students to appreciate the meaning and values that each of the artforms offer personally, culturally and as a form of communication.
The components and focuses of Creative Arts are: skills and understanding values and attitudes are developed.
- Visual Arts – focuses on making and appreciating.
- Music – focuses on performing (singing, playing, moving) organising sound and listening.
- Drama – focuses on making, performing and appreciating.
- Dance – focuses on performing, composing and appreciating.
At St Philomena’s we aim to provide regular learning experiences that are thoughtfully planned, sequenced and related to developing student skills, knowledge and understanding, via these artforms therefore contributing to the development of the whole child.
Physical Education, Health and Personal Development
At St. Philomena’s, the study of the PDHPE is important because it:
- Encourages an understanding and valuing of self and others
- Promotes physical activity
- Emphasises informed decision-making leading to effective and responsible action.
Specifically it is concerned with:
- Physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth and development patterns
- The development and maintenance of positive interpersonal relationships
- The factors influencing personal health
- Living and learning in a safe secure environment
- The adoption of an active lifestyle
- Fundamental movement patterns and co-ordinated action of the body
- Skills that enable action/for better health and movement outcome
The subject matter includes 8 strands:
Sport is part of this curriculum.1. Active Lifestyle
2. Dance
3. Games and Sports
4. Growth and Development
5. Gymnastics
6. Interpersonal relationships
7. Personal Health Choices
8. Safe Living
Sport
Infants - Fridays
Primary - Thursdays
Students participate in regular physical education activities designed to promote fitness and the development of motor skills. As students grow they are introduced more to team games and have opportunities to represent the school in sports such as swimming, athletics, cross-country, football, netball and a variety of other sports.