Curriculum Overview

Victorian Essential Learning Standards

Victorian schools work to a set of guidelines; the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS), which outline what is crucial for all students to learn from Prep to Year 10. Schools use the Standards to plan their teaching and learning programs, including assessment and reporting of student progress.

The Standards outline what is important for students to learn during their time at school.

The Standards ensure that students continue learning traditional subjects such as English, mathematics, science, humanities, languages and the arts. Within these subjects, students learn the physical, personal and social skills they need in life.

There are three strands in the Victorian Essential Learning Standards that define what students should know and be able to do at different stages of learning. They are:

Physical, Personal and Social Learning: such as health and physical education and civics and citizenship

Discipline-based Learning: of subjects such as the arts, economics, English, mathematics, geography and history

Interdisciplinary Learning: covering Communication and Information Technology

The school report card shows how far your child has progressed during the year, and compares their performance with the standards expected for students of their age.

Over the 11 years of compulsory schooling, The Standards are set at six levels that recognise the differing learning needs of students. These levels are generally associated with the following year levels:

§         Level 1 - Prep

§         Level 2 - Years 1 and 2

§         Level 3 - Years 3 and 4

§         Level 4 - Years 5 and 6

§         Level 5 - Years 7 and 8

§         Level 6 - Years 9 and 10

Standards are set at a challenging level, not minimum competence, to suit the age and developmental stages of students. This helps to ensure that students are stretched to learn, rather than doing work they find easy.

English

The teaching of language skills will be based on the needs, interests and experiences of each child which could arise from the home environment, classroom, school or through excursion programs.

 All aspects of language programs such as listening, speaking, reading and writing, will be integrated where possible with all areas of the curriculum.

 Literature forms a basis for our reading program, which promotes sharing and understanding and encourages further reading at home.  Many ‘big books’ are used for shared reading, along with a wide variety of interest based reading materials, including sets of multiple copies, which may be used in conjunction with listening-post activities.  Class and individual books are also made and read.

 From the time children enter school they are encouraged to write and will be helped to develop a working knowledge of the processes involved. 

Prep - 4 Early Years Literacy Program

The school uses the Early Years Literacy Program P-4.  Its major components include:

·         a structured classroom literacy program (guided reading and writing)

·         additional assistance for those children who require it

·         parent participation in their children’s education

 We have an uninterrupted, two-hour literacy block in our daily timetable. 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Children from non-English speaking backgrounds who need assistance with English are offered further sessions.  These sessions may be taken in the classroom. Alternatively, children are withdrawn in small groups for intensive teaching sessions.