St Paul’s allows wide scope for the children to explore interests and to develop their knowledge and skills. Through our curriculum and attitudes to care, concern and encouragement, we strive to educate the whole child spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially.
Curriculum
St Paul’s curriculum is based on The Victorian Essential Learning Standards which describe what is essential for students to achieve from Years Prep to 10 in Victorian schools. They provide a whole school curriculum planning framework that sets out learning standards for schools to use to plan their teaching and learning programs, including assessment and reporting of student achievement and progress.
Victorian Essential Learning Framework
VELS Strand
Domain
Dimension
Physical, Personal and Social Learning
Health and Physical Education
Movement and physical activity
Health knowledge and promotion
Interpersonal Development
Building social relationships
Working in teams
Personal Learning
The individual learner, Managing personal learning
Civics and Citizenship
Civics knowledge and understanding
Community engagement
Discipline-based Learning
The Arts
Creating and making, Exploring and responding
English
Reading, Writing, Speaking and listening
Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
Communicating in a language other than English
Intercultural knowledge and language awareness
Humanities (Economics)
Economics knowledge and understanding
Economics reasoning and interpretation
Humanities (Geography)
Geographical knowledge and understanding
Geospatial skills
Humanities (History)
Historical knowledge and understanding
Historical reasoning and interpretation
Mathematics
Number, Space, Measurement, chance and data
Structure, Working mathematically
Science
Science knowledge and understanding
Science at work
Interdisciplinary Learning
Communication
Listening, viewing and responding
Presenting
Design, Creativity and Technology
Investigating and designing, Producing, Analysing and evaluating
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
ICT for visualising thinking, ICT for creating
ICT for communicating
Thinking
Reasoning, processing and inquiry, Creativity
Reflection, evaluation and metacognition
Religious Education
The Religious Education program aims to help each child develop a conscious, loving relationship with God. The children participate in various forms of personal and communal prayer each day and school liturgies and prayer celebrations are held each term.
Sacramental Programs
First Reconciliation is celebrated in Year 3 and First Eucharist in Year 4. Confirmation is received in Year 6.
Mathematics
Five dimensions of Mathematics are taught from Year Prep - 6
Number
Structure
Space
Working Mathematically
Measurement, Chance and Data
English
Years Prep - 2
A two hour literacy block operates each morning across the Junior school (Prep-2). During this time students are involved in various tasks and are grouped for intensive, focused teaching sessions that target their literacy needs.
Reading Recovery
Is an intensive one –to –one literacy intervention program run by a specially trained teacher to further support students whose reading and writing skills need further development in Year One.
Years 3 – 6
Once the basic skills have been successfully established, the children learn to be critical thinkers, to reflect on what they have read and to make meaning of text. They use many different kinds of texts to learn about reading and writing and how it works, and how to use reading and writing effectively in their learning.
ICT (Information and Communications Technology)
There are more than 130 networked desktop and laptop computers at St Paul’s. All classrooms have at least five networked computers with internet and intranet access. There is also a purpose built computer lab which whole classes use regularly.
Students are taught skills which will enable them to use ICT as a tool to enhance learning.
ICT is integrated into the everyday curriculum in all classes. All classrooms have Interactive Whiteboards. Classes use a variety of technologies to assist with their learning.
Humanities
Each year, children undertake integrated, inquiry based units of work to develop essential ideas from the disciplines of history, geography and economics. Knowledge and skills from many different domains are used and further developed in this way.
Science
Science is taught within integrated, inquiry based units of work and also through ‘stand-alone’ units.
Physical Education
Phys Ed is taught by a specialist Teacher from Years Prep – 6
A wide variety of activities such as ball handling skills, major and minor games, dance and athletics are covered by this program. Training for inter school competition is also offered.
Inter-School Sports
St Paul’s belongs to the Bentleigh District Primary School Sport Association. A wide variety of sports such as netball, basketball, softball, rounders, cricket, football, soccer, volleyball, athletics and swimming are part of the interschool sport program.
The Arts
Performing Arts, including Dance, Drama and Music is taught by a specialist teacher in Years Prep-6.
Instrumental lessons are also available after school and these are offered by a private provider, Creative Music for Schools.
Asian Studies - LOTE
The Asian Studies program begins in Yr 2. At present, children in Years 2-4 are learning about the culture and language of Japan. Children in Yrs 5&6 are learning about the culture and language of China (Mandarin).
You Can Do It!
You Can Do It! Is a personal development program taught from Years Prep - 6. The program teaches positive habits of mind and actively promotes the development of confidence and resilience in young people.
Detailed information about the Victorian Essential Learning Standards can be obtained from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority using the following link.
Visit Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority website