Curriculum
English
The English program at All Saints Parish School is designed to provide students with a comprehensive foundation in language skills, fostering their proficiency in reading, writing, and spelling. The program incorporates various methodologies and resources to cater to the diverse learning needs of students.
This encompasses programs such as PLD, which is integrated into the English curriculum to support students' language development from an early age. It includes activities and resources that enhance students' speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. In the junior years there is a focus on methods to develop students' phonics and phonemic awareness skills. These strategies focus on letter-sound correspondence and help students build a strong foundation in reading and spelling.
The English program emphasises the development of writing skills across different genres and styles. Students learn the writing process, including drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. They are encouraged to express their thoughts, ideas, and creativity through various writing tasks. Within the spelling programs students learn spelling patterns, rules, and strategies to enhance their spelling accuracy and expand their vocabulary.
All Saints prioritises reading comprehension and fluency. The English program incorporates a range of literary texts, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, to enhance students' reading skills. Teachers utilise a variety of strategies to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and critical thinking.
All Saints Parish School aims to create a well-rounded English program that equips students with the necessary language skills to succeed academically and become effective communicators.
Numeracy
The mathematics program at All Saints Parish School takes a holistic approach to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of mathematical concepts and skills. We integrate various resources and strategies to cater to different learning styles and abilities. The staff adopt a variety of pedagogies and teaching approaches to mathematics education, ensuring that students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts and their practical applications. It focuses not only on computational skills but also on problem-solving, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning.
Stepping Stones is an example of a comprehensive mathematics curriculum used by All Saints Parish School. It is designed to promote conceptual understanding and provide a solid foundation in mathematical skills. The curriculum is organised in a sequential manner, building upon previously learned concepts and gradually introducing new ones. We also embrace programs such as Maths Seeds & Mathletics which are online platform which offers a wide range of interactive activities and games to engage students and reinforce mathematical concepts. Mathletics provides personalised learning experiences, allowing students to progress at their own pace and receive immediate feedback on their performance.
The mathematics program incorporates hands-on learning experiences to make abstract mathematical concepts more tangible and accessible to students. Through the use of real-world examples, and interactive activities, students can explore mathematical concepts in a concrete and meaningful way. Students are encouraged to employ multiple strategies to solve mathematical problems. They are taught different problem-solving strategies, such as drawing diagrams, using manipulatives, applying logical reasoning, and utilising mental maths techniques. This approach helps students develop flexibility in their thinking and enhances their problem-solving abilities.
Inquiry
Our Inquiry curriculum aims to develop the students’ knowledge and understanding of Australian society, societies in other countries, local and global places and environments and the interaction of people with the environment. Using the content of the Victorian Curriculum Humanities domain, all students complete units of work with a History and/or Geography focus with students in Foundation to Year 1/2 learning about their local community and surroundings. Year 3-6 to expand their learning to cover more national and global societies and cultures. The areas of Civics & Citizenship and Economics are also covered by the middle and senior year levels where students explore the economic and governmental systems that shape society. From their learning, students are encouraged to reflect on how they can contribute as active and informed individuals.
Students engage in an Inquiry based process where they develop personal, interpersonal and inquiry learning skills. They learn to wonder and form questions about their world; to investigate and search a variety of sources for facts and information and to present their ideas in a variety of forms and mediums. Students enjoy completing research and projects, participating in excursions or incursions and listening to guest speakers or experts in the area. Investigations and research are directed by the student’s questions, concluding with some form of action to demonstrate the depth of their learning.
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Wellbeing
At All Saints Parish School, we understand the important link between wellbeing and learning. Wellbeing involves more than just physical health, it’s a combination of emotional, mental and social health. Wellbeing is crucial to improved academic achievement and enhanced mental health.
We currently run a range of programs to support our students’ wellbeing; Respectful Relationships, Bounceback, Year 6 buddies for our Foundation students, Student/Teacher feedback sessions, Zones of Regulation, plus many more.
To support our students’ social and emotional wellbeing, we have a school counsellor available to meet with students, to listen and provide strategies to support them to manage their emotions. In addition to the counsellor, we utilise a wellbeing check-in platform, which allows students to complete surveys based on how they are
feeling and flag important check-ins with teachers if they need support.
We have a Student Representative Council at All Saints School, who proudly represent all classes from years one to six and facilitate a student voice in our school community. Together they are the classroom contacts for our students to raise new ideas or changes they’d like to see at our school. They also promote awareness of a variety of different wellbeing initiatives, such as ‘Walk to School Day’.
As educators, we understand the importance of helping students to feel connected and engaged in their learning and school community. We prioritise collaborating effectively with parents to enable students to develop the social and emotional skills to grow into happy, respectful, well-balanced and successful members of their school and wider community.
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Interventions
At All Saints Parish School, we provide additional support to our students through a range of intervention programs, such as Reading Recovery, Early Mathematical Understanding (EMU), Gillon Phonological Awareness Program, MiniLit and MacqLit. Staff members running these programs have undergone extensive training to ensure the best possible student outcomes. Students are selected for interventions through assessment of their strengths and challenges, then our staff consider the best invention to support each individual student's needs.
In addition to our interventions, we run regular sessions of BOOST across all levels of the school to further support students in core learning areas. The BOOST program is designed to support students who need further instruction (a little boost) to get a solid understanding of the concepts taught in the previous learning cycle. BOOST sessions are also utilised by teachers to extend a student’s understanding if they have already gained proficiency in the area currently being covered in classroom instruction.
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The Arts
‘The Arts’ are one of the four specialist subjects taught at All Saints Parish School. ‘The Arts’ includes one semester focused on visual arts and the second semester is focused on performing arts and music. Both subjects inspire our students to develop their creative skills, promote self-expression and encourage students to confidently share their learning with our school community.
In visual arts, students are encouraged to develop their creativity skills. Students learn about different styles of art and a range of different artists, together with the fundamentals of art; line, value, colour, shape, form, space, and texture. These are essential skills for our budding artists and provide a solid foundation for creating their own artworks. Our school holds an ‘Annual Art Show’ which displays several pieces of work from each of our students and we welcome families and our community to visit our school to view the amazing artwork of our exceptional artists.
Our ‘Music and Performing Arts’ lessons involve learning music theory, singing, playing instruments, dancing, acting and performing. Our senior students also utilise technology in music making, on their Chromebook devices, using a variety of music apps. Students learn songs and dances from all over the world, including the songs and dances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Our school has a dedicated music room, packed with instruments for our students to learn and students have the opportunity to utilise private music lessons with a local musician.
Each year, all students take to the stage in our annual concert which showcases the students’ coordination and musicality with choreographed dance moves. With the addition of beautiful sets and wonderful costumes, the concert is not to be missed.
STEM
STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is an educational approach that integrates these four disciplines to foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creativity in students. STEM classes in primary schools provide a foundation for future learning and set the stage for a lifelong passion for these fields.
During All Saints Primary School STEM classes, students of all ages engage in hands-on, inquiry-based activities that encourage them to explore, experiment, and discover. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, they learn to think critically, analyse data, and develop solutions to real-world problems.
In the science component of STEM, students delve into various scientific concepts, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. They conduct experiments, observe phenomena, and learn about the world around them. These experiences help develop their curiosity, observation skills, and understanding of the scientific method.
Technology plays a significant role in today's world, and STEM classes ensure that students are prepared for the digital age. Students learn about different technologies, computer programming, coding languages, and how to use various software tools. They also explore emerging technologies like robotics and virtual reality, which enhance their creativity, logical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities.
Engineering in STEM classes focuses on design thinking and the engineering process. Using equipment such as the LEGO Spike sets, Students are encouraged to brainstorm, design, build, and test prototypes to solve engineering challenges. They learn about and experiment with concepts such as structural design, mechanics, and electrical circuits, enabling them to think like engineers and develop innovative solutions to problems.
Mathematics is an integral part of STEM education. Students apply mathematical concepts and reasoning to analyse data, make predictions, and solve problems that are integrated throughout science, technology and engineering. They develop skills in areas such as algebra, geometry, statistics, and logical reasoning, which are essential for future academic and professional success.
STEM classes not only enhance students' knowledge and skills in these subjects but also foster important 21st-century skills. Collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity are all nurtured in these classes. Students often work in teams, collaborate on projects, and present their findings, developing strong communication and teamwork abilities.
By introducing primary school students to the wonders of STEM at an early age, we aim to inspire their curiosity, ignite a passion for learning, and prepare them for a future that increasingly relies on scientific and technological advancements. Our STEM classes provide a solid foundation for higher-level STEM education and open up a world of possibilities for students in their academic and professional journeys.
LOTE - Indonesian
Learning languages in addition to English extends student’s literacy repertoires and their capacity to communicate. It strengthens student’s understanding of the nature of language, culture, and the processes of communication. Students gain confidence and self-esteem while exploring the role of language in communication and culture.
At All Saints Parish Primary School students from Foundation to Grade 6 learn Bahasa Indonesia. Our students participate in a rich variety of listening, speaking, reading and writing activities that offer opportunities to develop an understanding of the Indonesian language system and cultural traditions. They engage in a variety of linguistic and cultural experiences that help them understand their role in a multicultural society.
In the early years the learning emphasis is on developing oral language through activities such as shared reading, songs and games. As learners move to middle primary and senior years they participate orally in classroom routines and tasks and create texts and use phrases in their conversations to develop their skills and knowledge about Indonesian language and culture.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to, School Life and Community, Family, Friends, Animals both domestic and native, Farming and Agriculture, Food, Traditional Indonesian Performing and Visual Arts, Customs, Holidays, Geographical location, trade relations, economics and intercultural awareness.
Students have the opportunity to consolidate knowledge, skills and concepts through a variety of activities, experiences and incursions.
Physical Education
Our aim is to develop a child's confidence to participate in a range of physical activity, recreational activity and sport at all levels. While a large focus is on the development of skills to participate in different sports, key values such as sportsmanship, teamwork, cooperation and winning/losing graciously are key learning intentions of PE lessons. During Physical Education students have a great deal of fun while building their capabilities, personal and interpersonal skills and fitness levels.
Our curriculum covers the key areas of athletics, swimming and team sports such as basketball and hockey. Utilising the Sporting Schools funding we also endeavour to expose our students to schools that they might not regularly participate in, such as martial arts, lawn bowls or gymnastics. Sports within our curriculum are routinely aligned with the start of local community sporting seasons. Children then have the confidence and ability to participate in community sport. Sport is a great social outlet for children, where many skills are learnt; particularly the ability to work with others in a team environment.
We participate in regular inter school competitions, entering teams in Athletics, Cross Country, Basketball, Swimming and Winter Series which includes Football, T-ball, Netball and Soccer. All students participate in a water safety program in which students in Foundation to Year 3 take part in swimming lessons, while our Year 5/6 students have great fun learning to surf at local beaches.
It is our hope that children develop lifelong healthy lifestyle choices to enhance physical, social and emotional health. We aim to pass on the passion for physical activity and sport to the children at All Saints Parish School.