Curriculum
The curriculum implemented at St Mary's is designed to enhance the intellectual, social, physical and personal development of each individual child. Therefore, along with the formal and changing sessions within a day it includes the hidden curriculum - the relationships and values evident in the ethos of the school.
Our curriculum is based on the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS), set by the Victorian Government's Department of Education and Training. VELS encompasses three essential learning strands: Physical, Personal and Social Learning; Discipline based learning and Interdisciplinary learning. Under these headings or strands, learning is broken up into areas called domains of which there are 16: Health and Physical Education, Interpersonal Development, Personal Learning, Civics and Citizenship, The Arts, English, Languages Other Than English (LOTE - Japanese is taught at St Mary's), Economics, Geography, History, Mathematics, Science, Communication, Design Creativity and Technology, Information Technology and Thinking. Religious Education is based on the Diocesan Religious Curriculum "Journeying Together in Hope" and the reception of Sacraments is parish based. Comprehensive information is available from the school, or by accessing the Department of Education and Training's website.
The school provides educational programs which cater for the spiritual, academic, social, emotional and physical development of all students. We aim to provide a comprehensive curriculum with a strong emphasis on providing every child with the skills necessary to commence the next stage of their education after completing their primary years. We believe every child is capable of achieving excellence in areas of their choice and see it as our responsibility to foster this.
We endeavour to develop the whole person and foster the potential of every student through a range of specialist, support and extension programs. Specialist teachers are employed in the areas of Literacy intervention, Koorie programs, Japanese, P.E. and Library.
- Individual instrumental music lessons are available at an extra cost to parents.
- Literacy intervention is provided by Mrs Wendy Dean , who supports students with literacy needs. She works with individual and small groups in both remedial and extension work. Mrs Dean also liaises with the class teacher in literacy assesment and in implementing our First Steps in Literacy program.
- Reading Recovery is an early literacy intervention programme designed for children who have literacy difficulties at the end of their first year at primary school. It involves reading and writing in a daily one-to-one lesson with a teacher for a period of between 12 and 20 weeks. At the end of that time, most children have caught up with their classmates and can read and write at a level appropriate for their age. Mrs Wendy Dean is at present the reading recovery teacher.
- Our Koorie educator supports both Koorie and non-Koorie students. He helps coordinate local cultural activities and represents the school on the Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LAECG).
Religious Education
The Religious Education Program at St Mary's endeavours to help all children to develop a knowledge of God and assist them in developing a personal relationship with God. We do this by developing an awareness of God as a loving Father, as Jesus our friend and teacher, and as the Holy Spirit who guides and strengthens us.
Through liturgical celebrations the children have an opportunity to express their faith, grow in understanding in the traditions of the Church and experience a sense of community. Whole school liturgical celebrations mark special occasions and events in the Church year. Each class takes a turn at preparing and participating in the weekly celebration of the Parish Mass in the school chapel. Healing Masses are celebrated at school with the Parish community. The Sacrament of Reconciliation or liturgies of God's forgiveness are celebrated at school for all classes at least once a year.
The school supports the Parish in the Sacramental Program which follows the Diocesan Policy of being Family Centered, School Supported and Parish based.
St Mary's follows the Diocesan Religious Education Curriculum Journeying Together in Hope. The curriculum is described in a framework covering doctrine from the Catholic Church. It covers eight strands: God; Jesus Christ; Scriptures; Church; Sacraments; Christian Paryer; Christian Life; Religion and Society.
The material and concepts presented take into account the different stages of faith development. There is a handbook available which provides material to assist parents in the religious education of their children.
