TEACHING & LEARNING
The provision of the school’s curriculum is arranged so that each class has a two-hour Literacy block and a one-hour Numeracy block each day. The other learning domains such as Science, the Humanities, Technology and Health are taught using an Inquiry Approach, where a focus is selected from one of these areas each term.
By using an Inquiry Approach, we are able to provide learning experiences for our children that are not only engaging but also allow for the development of skills such as: problem solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, the generation of new ideas, the ability to analyse and evaluate information and to plan for the future. All these skills will be required by your child in the future, for life in the 21st century.
Religious Education
At St. Joan of Arc we focus on the development of the whole child – spiritually, morally, socially, emotionally and intellectually. We seek to develop students who feel accepted and have an appreciation of the world and their place within it.
We embrace the teachings of Jesus and endeavour to practise the gospel values of honesty, forgiveness, justice, compassion and inclusiveness. Our focus on Social Justice and our school motto ‘Faith in Action’, makes strong connections with these teachings and embeds these values even further.
We celebrate together in the form of whole school masses and liturgies and embrace the opportunities to gather together with the parish. Through these opportunities, we are able to strengthen our faith community. We utilise the Primary Religious Education Curriculum Framework which incorporates the To Know, Worship and Love text and other programs and materials to support our teaching.
All baptised Catholic students receive the sacraments in the following order:
- Reconciliation – Year 3
- First Eucharist – Year 4
- Confirmation – Year 6
Sacramental programs are school based and linked with the life of the Parish. Formation and Information Nights are held for parents.
English
At St Joan of Arc, we believe that active and effective participation in society depends on the ability to speak, listen, read, view and write with confidence, purpose and enjoyment. We have high expectations for all students and provide opportunities for each individual to demonstrate their skills and talents in all areas of English, including Reading and Viewing, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Each day in Years Prep to Six, we have a two-hour uninterrupted literacy block, with one hour each of Reading and Writing.
Students in Years Prep to Two are taught the foundations of English. This allows the students to gain literacy skills through explicit teaching of reading strategies and writing skills. They participate in Read Write Inc. Phonics and Spelling Mastery to equip them with spelling and word understanding. Students are exposed to a wide range of literature and develop their understanding of the purpose of texts through making connections.
Students in Years Three to Six continue to develop their word knowledge through the Spelling Mastery Program and learn to appreciate and use the English language in all its variations. During the literacy block, students are given the opportunity to develop their understanding of the power and richness of language and literature, and how it is used to convey information, evoke feelings, communicate ideas and express opinions. Students in Year 5 and 6 take part in a structured Literature Circles program to develop the skill of analysing literature and the author’s purpose. The senior students also take part in the ‘Confident Young Speaker’s Public Speaking’ program which is an externally run course. It is designed to provide opportunities for students to improve their formal and impromptu communication skills.
Students in Year Prep to Six are challenged and extended during Small Group Instruction, facilitated by the Third Teacher. Intervention Programs are provided during school hours to those students who need further support to develop effective reading and writing strategies. At St Joan of Arc, we aim to personalise the curriculum in order to meet the individual learning needs of each student at our school.
Mathematics
At St Joan of Arc our goal in Mathematics is to assist students to understand and work with numbers and to apply logical reasoning and creative thinking to solve problems.
The Mathematics curriculum covers the content strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics and Probability. Included within these strands are the proficiencies: understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning.
At St Joan of Arc, we use pre and post testing to inform the teaching and learning of Mathematics. Both formal and informal assessments enable us to support the students as they develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.
Rich, open-ended learning tasks and focussed teaching is used within each classroom to cater for the various levels of understanding and enable students to build upon and extend their current knowledge. Students work on tasks that include problem-solving, investigations and reinforcement of computation skills through the use of modelling materials, concrete tools and games.
In the early years there is a strong focus on students learning the fundamentals in number. Regular assessments and targets are set for individual students and a third teacher works within the grades P-6 to support students in their mathematical learning program.
Maths Intervention is provided to those students in Years 1 to 4, who need further support to develop effective numeracy strategies.
The Maths Olympiad program is available to selected children in Years 5 and 6. The program is unique in that it focuses on the students’ ability to solve mathematical problems in a creative manner – as opposed to simply reaching a solution using a prescribed method.
The program aims to:
- Introduce students to important mathematical concepts
- Teach major strategies and develop flexibility for problem solving
- Foster creativity and ingenuity and strengthen intuition
- Stimulate enthusiasm and enjoyment of mathematics
- Provide for the satisfaction, joy and thrill of meeting challenges
Inquiry
An Inquiry approach develops the attitude and habits of life-long learning. Inquiry is a dynamic approach to teaching and learning. It recognises that children bring with them prior knowledge and experiences and seeks to build upon these. It actively involves the children in exploring their world, asking questions and inquiring into issues or ideas that are relevant to them. Inquiry is a constructive process with the learner making connections and developing new understandings that are transferable to a range of contexts in their world.
Contemporary Learning
At St Joan of Arc we are committed to equipping our students with the skills necessary to engage in the contemporary world. Today’s students live in a world that has seen an information explosion, marked by rapid change not only in science and technology but also in so many aspects of our everyday society. It is therefore essential to provide our students with powerful learning opportunities that allow them to adapt, apply and transfer new skills and knowledge, show respect towards others, embrace technological and social change, equip them with skills that will meet the challenges of 21st century learning and allow them to be lifelong learners.