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Curriculum

Numeracy

At St Aloysius' every student receives one hour of Mathematics learning each day. We focus on building maths basics through explicit mathematical teaching and 'hands on' experiences. Our students are assessed using the Mathematics Assessment Interview (MAI) and Assessment Online which assists in targeted teaching toward individual needs. Competence in Mathematics enhances both our understanding of the world and the quality of participation in Australian society. Mathematics deals with concepts in the domains of; number, measurement, shape, chance and data and reasoning and strategy.

Through learning mathematics children will work towards:

building up a bank of strategies to solve problems
developing knowledge and skills in using mathematics for everyday situations
enjoying the challenges of and discoveries in how number works
using materials and technology appropriately and effectively to support the learning of mathematics.

Literacy

At St. Aloysius’ School, Literacy development is one of our highest priorities. Developing competency in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening is obtained through careful planning, targeted teaching, formative and summative evaluation of student performance, and regular professional learning for our staff to ensure contemporary approaches to teaching are maintained.

St Aloysius implements OLSEL (Oral Language Supporting Early Literacy) and Heggerty's Phonological Awareness throughout the school. This prioritises vocabulary, phonological awareness (sounds within words), story grammar (how writing is structured) and complex questioning. Smart Spelling is a program run from Foundation to Year 2 with students in Years 3-6 engaging in Spelling Mastery. The Writing curriculum is taught using ‘Bump it up Walls’ where students self-assess their progress and teachers provide feedback for improvement. We have a daily Two hour Literacy block where uninterrupted reading and writing learning takes place.

STEAM

St Aloysius' students participate in weekly ‘STEAM’ specialist lessons. In this time, staff and students work to investigate, design, analyse, seek improvement in often open-ended design tasks. Students have access to digital learning such as programming, coding and robotics. It is an exciting initiative for our school. Children will be using ‘Sphero’ and ‘Beebot’ robots to support their learning. Cyber safety is a priority and students sign a ‘Code of Conduct’ annually prior to using ICT and will participate in Cyber Safety lessons through all levels.

ICT encompasses a diverse range of modes of interactions between people and devices. ICT attempts to improve our access to information, to make it relevant and easy to share. Children have access to computers across the learning areas with middle and senior students using 1:1 Chromebooks and IPads used throughout the school to support learning. Online resources are made available to the children which challenges their understandings and assists in developing fundamental life skills. Cyber safety is very important and all students start the year learning about how to access online resources safely.

We understand that a healthy balance needs to be achieved when using ICT. We use our Chromebooks and iPads to enhance learning through targeted programs and information delivery.

Library

Library Our dedicated library aims:

to develop independent readers who want to read, enjoy reading, and who can justify and support opinions through reading.
to expose students to a wide range of experiences and values through literature
to develop research skills in a range of topics using print and online mediums
Developing early habits in reading can lead to a lifetime love of books and literature

We encourage all children to borrow regularly from the library. Classrooms have access to the library all week.

Religious Education

At St. Aloysius we aim in our Religious Education programs and teaching to share, in a meaningful way, the message of the Gospel.

We aim to relate this to issues and concerns experienced by our children as they see them impacting on their daily lives.

Our Religious Education program and teaching is focused on sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the Church, making use of the best of current research, theory and practise in education, leading the children to a full and rich appreciation of the Christian life

Christian attitudes are foremost in our content, teaching and modelling integrated through all learning areas ensuring the development of each individual and unique child in our care. Each year of schooling the children's' understandings and experience is enriched according to their stage of development.

We aim to foster a sense of belonging in the life of the Church by providing assistance in:

developing an awareness of,

an understanding of,

a response to,

and celebration of the child in relationship to God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, to the Church and to the world.

The Diocese of Ballarat uses as their primary resource, "Awakenings": a religious education curriculum developed specifically to meet the religious educational needs of the students.

"Awakenings" is a comprehensive and sequential curriculum framework that is informed by the Doctrine of the Catholic Tradition and is presented to teachers and students in a way that reflects current understandings about teaching and learning. "Awakenings" (p.55) states that:

Religious Education intends to awaken us intellectually:

By encouraging critical thinking and inquiry;
By firing our imaginative capacity;
By enlightening our experiences with reason;
By broadening our perspectives through Scripture and Tradition.

Religious Education intends to awaken us ethically:

By forming moral character;
By arousing our desire for wisdom;
By attuning us to the attitudes of Jesus;
By promoting responsibility and integrity in living.

Religious Education intends to awaken us spiritually:

By relating our life to the mystery of God;
By valuing our interior life and capacities;
By developing prayerful and liturgical habits;
By connecting compassion with justice.

Parish Based Sacramental Program

The Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Eucharist are offered to children through a planned program over a two-year cycle. Preparation and support is extended through our Parish Based Sacramental Program, the Parish Sacramental Team and through complementary school programs. For more information on the dates and times of the program please contact the Parish Office on 5335 9460 or click here to visit the website.

Inquiry Learning

In order to provide our students with the best model of learning possible, the school uses Inquiry units of work across a number of curriculum areas, focusing on the Strands and Domains specified in the Victorian Curriculum.

This model of learning is based on the Kath Murdoch “Inquiry Approach”, and invites students to actively participate in a thinking curriculum designed to encourage life-long learning. This features Key Questions and Rich Assessment Tasks to promote the children’s quest to gain understanding and to be able to access, understand and present information and ideas about their learning.

Inquiry Learning Units are planned in line with the Victorian Curriculum. Two-year cycles of units of work are planned, in advance, through a study of the curriculum focus statements of each Learning Area and taking into account the interests of the students, the world and local events, and the available resources.

Key Capabilities are woven through each Inquiry Learning Unit and are also in line with the Victorian Curriculum.

Each unit of work is planned with the assessment criteria already selected. It is our hope that Inquiry learning at St. Aloysius' encourages questioning, new ideas, collaboration and new discoveries in real Our excellent Auditorium and Sports Hall provides the perfect backdrop for weekly lessons in Physical Education. Health and Physical Education promotes an understanding of the importance of personal and community actions in promoting health and lifelong participation in physical activity, and of the crucial role that supportive physical and social environments play in the development of the health of individuals and communities.

Physical Education

Health and Physical Education helps young people learn about factors, including nutrition, that promote and protect the physical, social and emotional health of individuals, families and communities, and the range of health-related services and products available in the community. They learn to identify the harms associated with particular situations and behaviours, and how to take action to minimize these harms. They consider personal and community rights and responsibilities, and the cultural and social diversity of Australia in relation to health and safety so that they are informed in making decisions about their own and others’ lives.

A significant aspect of young people’s lives is their physical, social and emotional development. The Health and Physical Education recognizes the challenges faced by young people as they grow and develop, and the many contexts in which they form and negotiate relationships with family, friends, partners and groups.

Participation in physical activity provides opportunities for relaxation, enjoyment, recreation, fitness, social interaction and competition. The experience of physical activity in play, recreation, sport, fitness and outdoor environments, provides challenge, personal growth and enjoyment.

LOTE

At St. Aloysius the children are taught Japanese as part of their weekly program. This study includes language and cultural studies.

The ability to use a language other than English and move between cultures is essential for full participation in the modern world. This is especially so given an increasingly global society and Australia’s cultural diversity. Children work in a dedicated Japanese classroom for their lessons each week.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at St Aloysius School is providing a wonderful learning platform for the children to share in pleasurable food experiences and development of their understanding of environmental sustainability through growing their own produce.

The Kitchen Garden Program challenges and inspires the children by providing a ‘real life’ food education experience, they are not just learning about how to produce food, they are experiencing it … and loving it!

In the garden, the children work together in small groups, learning practical skills, growing fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs whilst delighting in the simple joy of digging the soil, planting seedlings, composting and harvesting glorious fresh produce.

In the Kitchen, inspired by their fresh harvest the children research and create recipes to enjoy the simple pleasure of preparing and sharing in a meal of nutritious seasonal food together.The introduction of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at St Aloysius School is providing a wonderful learning platform for the children to share in pleasurable food experiences and development of their understanding of environmental sustainability through growing their own produce.

In the garden, the children work together in small groups, learning the practical skills of growing fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs whilst delighting in the simple joy of digging the soil, planting seedlings, composting and harvesting glorious fresh produce.

In the Kitchen, inspired by their fresh harvest the children research and create recipes to enjoy the simple pleasure of preparing and sharing in a meal of nutritious seasonal food together.

In the Kitchen, inspired by their fresh harvest the children research and create recipes to enjoy the simple pleasure of preparing and sharing in a meal of nutritious seasonal food together. The introduction of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at St Aloysius School is providing a wonderful learning platform for the children to share in pleasurable food experiences and development of their understanding of environmental sustainability through growing their own produce.

In the Kitchen, inspired by their fresh harvest the children research and create recipes to enjoy the simple pleasure of preparing and sharing in a meal of nutritious seasonal food together.

Pastoral care

St Aloysius’ is proud to offer Professional Pastoral Care at school. This involves having a trained Pastoral Care Worker in our school for three days per week to work with children and families.

Our Pastoral Care Policy aims to develop children to have a sense of self-worth, a sense of responsibility for others and honesty in thought and action.

Our policy aims to develop such life skills as:

recognition of the value of the human person
respect for the rights and responsibilities of individuals
fostering of the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness