PREP TO YEAR 7
Our Prep to Year 7 programme gives students a clear and well planned pathway from their first day of school to commencement of high school. We promote the development of character through the provision of a seamless curriculum and consistent expectations and values.
Our curriculum framework is interlinked with the Queensland Studies Authority Curriculum and concepts are incorporated into real life learning activities to help young people retain their natural curiosity and interest in new ideas.
From Prep through to Year 7, your classroom teacher is the main carer and provides opportunities for personal and social growth.
What is an Integrated Curriculum?
Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is balanced across academic and personal growth, and is focused on engaging young learners to achieve their highest potential.
We have identified the major issues children have with absorbing concepts and adapted the delivery of the Queensland Primary School Curriculum (QSA Curriculum & Essential Learning) to accommodate all styles of learners.
Our curriculum is characterized by many features advocated by contemporary research on children, including real-life problem-solving among peers with numerous opportunities for creative thinking and exploration.
Classrooms are created to engage children in hand on learning adaptations of the curriculum and beyond, which allows children to acquire concepts through the use of concrete (tangible) materials rather than attempting to teach children merely abstract concepts.
As the child’s learner maturity progresses it is their understanding of these real materials that creates a link to the meaning of the abstract concept.
Our curriculum also engages the learner through a thorough integration of subjects through project work and connectedness with each subject area.
A strong emphasis is placed on the value of numeracy and literacy throughout the curriculum as we acknowledge that one of today’s greatest failings in the education system is graduates of other schoolings systems who are unable to adequately read & write. Numeracy and literacy is fully integrated into all projects in which children are engaged.
Our delivery methods have been derived from a number of recognised theories including Dewey’s progressive education, integrated curriculum, Kolb’s VAK & experiential learning, Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and Harvard University’s Teaching for Understanding. No one theory takes precedent, but we incorporate the positive aspects of each to fully engage all learners at all times.
We work towards giving children all the life skills they need to prepare them for making positive contributions to society, and our teaching and learning practice combines the best of tradition with strategies based on contemporary knowledge of the way the brain functions and learns. Our curriculum develops a culture to help students go deeper in their understanding and relate learning experiences to real life situations.
Strong foundations in mathematics, reading, language , science, social studies, sport and the arts are recognised by the staff as key to each child’s future. The schools core curriculum is governed by the Queensland Studies Authority and complies with all state requirements.
Mathematics
The mathematics curriculum focuses on the essential elements of logic, open ended questioning and problem solving in order to develop and apply thinking and reasoning skills in areas such as number concepts, patterns, measurement, shapes and chance and data.
English
English focuses on making meaning of text and language through a variety of teaching approaches, These include integrating the key features of grammar, phonics, spelling, punctuation, and genre in the area of speaking and listening, reading, writing and interpreting various text types.
Science
Science involves students making sense of scientific phenomena as they investigate and understand aspects of society, the earth and the universe, energy, living things and natural an d processed materials.
Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE)
S.O.S.E. encourages enquiry about our social and environmental world through the study of past and present history, culture and identity, political systems, government and power, and the conservation and preservation of our environment.
Technology
This subject integrates design and development of products in response to needs, wants or opportunities. Students are able to use, modify and reflect on technical products by investigating and applying their knowledge, information, materials and systems.
Art
This creative area incorporates dance, drama, media, music and visual arts.
Health and Physical Education
The focus is on promoting health, developing skills and enhancing personal development through programs such as swimming, tennis and games skills.
Languages Other Than English (LOTE)
A holistic approach which assists children in comprehending and composing a language other than English.
The team has a focus on early intervention in Junior School to help students with learning difficulties, and oversees acceleration programmes across the College.
Acceleration
Students who have been assessed by the College as being capable of working at an above grade level are offered a number of options, depending on individual needs and abilities. Our composite class system allows children to participate in concepts at a higher level of understanding if they are already grasping the level that is related to their age and stage of development.
It is possible to accelerate by whole year level/s to work full time with a group of older students, or only part-time in particular subjects; to join special multi-age classes working above grade in particular subject areas; or to work on advanced concepts within their own year level. Decisions about advancement are only taken in co-operation with parents and based on data judged by the College to satisfy requirements.
