The curriculum at Junior Campus covers the disciplines of the Arts, (including Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Art), English, Mathematics, Science and Humanities, (Economics, Geography and History) and Languages other than English. The curriculum at the Junior Campus also covers Physical, Personal and Social Learning including Health and Physical Education, Interpersonal Development, Personal Learning, (Social Competencies), and Civics and Citizenship. Interdisciplinary Learning develops communication, Design, Creativity and Technology, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Thinking.
The curriculum in the Junior School sees the entwining of the Interpersonal and Interdisciplinary Strands throughout the learning processes of the integrated Studies. These Integrated Studies or Units of Study at the Junior Campus revolve around Concepts. Sciences and Humanities are the general host disciplines for the Integrated Studies, supported by the other disciplines. These are carefully planned by the staff to ensure a balance across Discipline, Physical, Personal and Social Learning and Interdisciplinary Learning.
The Arts
The Arts are a valuable means of expression and communication enabling students to learn new ways of exploring, developing, representing and understanding ideas, emotions, values and cultural beliefs. Through experience in the Arts, students are able to take risks, be imaginative, question values, explore alternative solutions, develop and refine skills and techniques and share and express ideas and opinions.
Visual Art
At the Junior Campus the Visual Art program seeks to foster in children a love and enjoyment of the arts as a means of self-expression and creativity. Visual Art becomes a medium of self-expression as children work in an environment where they are able to observe, sense and fantasise.
Dance
Children in 4 year old ECC through to Year Four participate in a weekly dance program. The emphasis of the program is to encourage creativity through movement and dance. A qualified dance teacher runs the program. Opportunity for performance is also provided in a variety of ways.
Drama
Through drama children learn to express themselves creatively and in different ways. Drama is incorporated in to the children’s classroom program from ECC to Year Four and is taken by a specialist teacher at Year Five and Six.
English (Literacy)
Language is central to all learning and is of paramount importance in a child’s education. Language competency is prompted across the curriculum. An ability to use language in a variety of forms and in different contexts empowers the learner so that he or she can have access to the full range of opportunities offered by society. The curriculum is based upon an holistic approach, which views the processes of reading, writing, spelling, listening and speaking as dependent on each other. The English curriculum maintains and develops the relatedness of the various modes and skills of language. In the early years of schooling in particular, children are taught to develop and integrate skills and knowledge in the systems of language, for example phonemic awareness, (decoding), graphophonic relationships, syntactic and grammatical cues, context. It also focuses on the process learning approach, which builds on the natural interests of the child, and on experiences provided by the home, school and the wider community. Literature provides both the stimulus and the model for the whole range of language activities, and forms the core resource of the English curriculum.
Health & Physical Education
Understanding of physical activity and movement, food and nutrition, health, safety, human development and human relations are vital aspects of children’s education. Healthy children need an understanding of their bodies and how they work, opportunities to enjoy and develop skills in a range of physical activities and an understanding of the role of physical fitness in their lives. Children also need opportunities to explore concepts of identity, relationships and physical development in a secure and supportive environment. The program includes the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) for children in 4 Year Old ECC through to Year Two. This program focuses on skill development in fine and gross motor activity ie: throwing, catching, rolling, jumping, tumbling and balancing. The PMP program is conducted by a specialist. A structured Outdoor Education Program for children in Year Two to Six is also an important element of the Health and Physical Education key learning area.
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education has an important place in the curriculum of the School. Our program recognises the vital role Outdoor Education plays in the personal and physical development of an individual. It provides an ideal opportunity for students to develop respect for self, others and the environment through direct experience. Junior Campus and Senior Campus Outdoor Education experiences are provided through our Activities Weeks and Camps programs which are designed to provide a broad range of Outdoor Education experiences.
The Camps Program at the Junior Campus is an important aspect of the curriculum and students are expected to participate.
At Year Two students participate in a school based overnight sleep over.
At Years Three and Four students participate in a two night adventure camp.
At Years Five and Six students participate each year in an extended camp. They may also participate in an overnight camp in a bush setting during Year Six.
Each camp has specific objectives related to the Outdoor Education Program.
Sport
Students are offered many opportunities to participate in school sport. It is non-compulsory. All interested students are given support and encouraged to participate. At the Junior Campus the Physical Education program encompasses the main areas of swimming, gymnastics, athletics, ball handling and major and minor games. Students in ECC, Prep, Years One and Two are also involved in a Perceptual Motor Program and dance and movement program, whilst students in Years Five and Six compete on a regular basis in inter-school sport.
Children in Years Five and Six also compete in local interschool sports in winter and summer seasons. Children in Years Two to Six participate in interschool and cross-country competitions. Opportunity to compete at Zone, State and National level is also provided.
Languages Other Than English
The Asian region has been identified as having economic and cultural significance for Australia. Our country’s multicultural diversity is internationally recognised and has influenced the development our society. The unusual and contrasting worlds of Asia and other cultures will unfold for the Junior Campus students as they study aspects of many traditional cultures from around the world. Through classroom based activities. Prep to Year Four students participate in the Asian Studies Program. At Year Five and Six the students participate in a LOTE Program taught by specialist staff. The children experience two languages, French and Indonesian. At the end of Year 6, it is expected that the students will choose either French or Indonesian for study at Year 7 and beyond.
Mathematics (Numeracy)
Our aim is to make mathematics an enjoyable experience for each child, and to bring about success at the highest level of his of her ability. A mathematical background is essential for successful social living, thus we aim to develop in the child desirable attitudes towards the study of mathematics. We are vitally concerned with relating mathematics to the child’s familiar and everyday environment, as well as with encouraging children to experience mathematics outside the classroom situation. We therefore look towards providing a language-oriented activity-based program
Science
Science Education provides for the needs and development of all students and is concerned with environmental management, survival and quality of life for all people. Science for Prep to Year 6 is integrated and linked with learning experiences in other subject areas. Students are shown that Science is a relevant discipline that impinges on their day to day activities. The course seeks to extend and build on students’ everyday experiences. There is an appreciation of the value of allowing all students to tinker and take sensible risks. As many hands-on learning experiences as possible are provided for in the course – the emphasis is on learning by doing.
Humanities (Economics, Geography and History) formerly Studies of Society and Environment
Humanities is the study of human societies, people and their cultures in the past and the present. It develops in students the key ideas and concepts that enable them to understand the way in which people and societies have organised their world under particular conditions and made meaning of it.
The Humanities take as their subject matter human behaviour. They provide unique ways to understand how and why groups of people have settled where they have, organised their societies, developed means of generating and distributing wealth, developed codes, laws and belief systems and related to other groups of people.
Year 6 travel to Canberra for a week long study tour to support their Civics and Citizenship learning
Technology
The technology curriculum encourages students to use technology productively. Students are involved in generating ideas and taking action as well as in using and developing techniques and products that satisfy human needs. Through designing, making and evaluating, students can generate ideas and translate them into practice. They can explore, apply and develop information, materials and systems. It is important that students are encouraged to think critically about the effects of technology on themselves, their local community or region and the world. A notebook program operates in the classroom from Year Three onwards with students at lower levels having regular opportunities to use computers also.
Music
The Music Program offers general music encompassing performing, composing and appreciation and a specific instrumental program. Children in Years Prep to Two participate in an intensive class music program (based on the Kodaly method). At Year Two violin and cello are introduced and all students in Years 5 & 6 learn an instrument. The Music program is based on Kodaly’s philosophy of developing aural perception and imagination before instruments are introduced. Music is taught in a purpose-built music complex. Students may take up the learning of an instrument privately (at school) from Prep.
Library
Junior Campus enjoys excellent library facilities. A large range of books, magazines, maps, cassettes, slides and video tapes is available for loan. We ask parents to monitor their students use of borrowed materials and ensure that these are returned by the due date. Overdue materials are deemed to be ‘lost’ and parents will be required to contribute towards their replacement costs.
Computers (ICT)
Computer Technology can be a valuable enhancement to students' learning. The School aims to use computer technology as a teaching and learning tool to support, challenge and extend students. Computers are used in all classes from Early Childhood through to Year 6. Their use is integrated into the curriculum. They are therefore viewed as an additional tool to aid learning. Computers may be used for a variety of purposes ie: to help with research tasks via the use of the Internet and CD Roms, to communicate via e-mail, to produce work using word processing, to calculate via spreadsheets and other software, to present work in a variety of forms, digitally or via the World Wide Web. The use of computers is dynamic and teachers and students discover together new and improved ways to utilise them effectively. Desktop computers are available for use in all classrooms and a class set of notebook computers is accessed by children in Years 3 to 6.
Clubs
A special activities program operates throughout the year for our Year 5 and 6 students. On a designated afternoon our senior students participate in the Clubs Program undertaking a range of activities across each year. Clubs may include Outdoor Education, Sport, Cooking, Model Making, ICT, Indoor/Outdoor Games, Visual Art Activities and Crafts and Hobbies. Parents who may have particular interests or talents and would like to assist in the Clubs Program should contact Ms Melinda Hart at school to indicate their interest.
Educational Service - Challenge Program
The Challenge Program is designed to challenge and enrich students’ learning in a range of subjects. The program is developed within the framework of the classroom in consultation with classroom teachers, and Special Education teachers. The program commences in the ECC and continues through the Senior Campus.
A collaborative approach is taken when developing programs for identified students, working closely with the classroom teacher and other specialist staff. Programs can consist of support staff working in the classroom with small ability based groups, developing individual programs for students and programs that allow students of ‘like mind’ to work together in a withdrawal setting. Regardless of the format of the program the aim is to develop depth of study whilst also developing an ability to apply or integrate knowledge at a deeper level of conceptualization. One vital element of the program is to nurture the necessary dispositions that ensure a student is able to reach their true potential.
Educational Services - Remediation
Specialist Language and Maths teachers are available to help students with learning problems at all year levels. The specialist teachers work collaboratively with class teachers to plan individual programs for students needing assistance. Specialist teachers may work within the class to provide assistance or withdraw students in small groups for specialist help
Educational Services - Remediation
Junior Campus students are continually being assessed throughout their studies and opportunities exist throughout the year for formal and informal feedback to parents about the academic, physical and social development of their children. The formal reporting program consists of;
- Written reports
- Parent / Teacher interviews
- Individual learning plans
- Learning journals
