Curriculum Opportunities

OUR CORE FOCUS

We pride ourselves on a wide range of curriculum opportunities for our students

It’s not only the curriculum we offer that sets us apart, it’s the manner in which it’s delivered

Any school can teach a curriculum. Amazing schools like ours are full of teachers actively and passionately exploring the possibilities of making their teaching practice more innovative, engaging and fun at every turn. This is the single ingredient that drives the most growth in our students.

The success we attain is not only evidenced by the assessment data – but it’s seen through the smiles and joy we see on our students’ faces as a concept is grasped. This is the indefinable element that drives us as teachers to produce and grow our own teaching skills year in, year out.

Student Wellbeing

At Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School encourages partnership between school, family, parish and local community providing a secure and safe working and learning environment. The development and wellbeing of each student is central to the school vision.

Literacy

The English domain is centered on the conscious and deliberate study of language in a wide range of texts and the contexts in which they are spoken, read, viewed and written. English involves students in reading, viewing, comparing, researching and talking about texts.

Numeracy

At Sacred Heart Primary School, we have a strong focus on engaging students in open-ended maths tasks based around real life and student experiences.

Religious Education

Sacred Heart School offers a holistic education that is based on Catholic Tradition and Contemporary Learning.

Religious Education underpins all of the arrangements we make for children’s learning at Sacred Heart and so is an integral inclusion in our total curriculum.

Collaborative Learning

E-Learning

Sacred Heart recognises that in order to take part in a modern world, students need to be educated to use a range of digital technologies, but more importantly, to understand how these systems work and be able to use them to create digital solutions.

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Upschool

This free and growing resource is our way of sharing positive and inspiring messages with our community.

Upschool

Student Wellbeing

At Sacred Heart Primary School we aim to provide a safe, nurturing, dynamic learning community that caters for the uniqueness of each student. We provide an environment and curriculum that challenges students to achieve to their highest potential and that develops knowledge, skills and resilience to be successful global citizens. Our Sacred Heart Primary School community has a consistent and positive approach to behaviour and uses the Positive Behaviour process and Restorative Practices, to foster a school climate where personal responsibility and self-discipline are developed. In addition to our teaching staff we have a highly dedicated Student Wellbeing teacher who works together with staff, students and families to ensure that the students at Sacred Heart primary school travel along their school journey feeling supported and are able to reach their full potential. We provide a number of opportunities for students and parents to connect, be involved and feel supported. These include:

A whole school approach to School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support
Special intervention and enrichment opportunities and programs
Class Meetings
Circle Time
Social and Emotional learning
Student leadership opportunities
Camps, excursions and incursions
Prep and Year Five Buddy Program
A School Choir
School psychologist on site to provide support for students and families
A weekly school assembly and student awards
School production (alternative years)
Special curriculum and activity days: Book Week, Family Week, Sports events, Family carols evening.

The Resilience Project

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools, providing practical, evidence-based
mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness.
Through presentations, school curriculum, events, the TRP App, and Wellbeing Journals, we share the benefits of
Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, and easy ways to practise these in everyday life. We also incorporate
Emotional Literacy, Connection and Physical Health education and activities as they are foundational contributors to
positive mental health.

Why The Resilience Project Exists

The mental health statistics in this country are confronting. Our mission is to teach positive mental health strategies
to help people become happier and more resilient.
We share emotionally engaging stories that help to make the topic of mental health more accessible. The research is
clear; the more positive emotion you experience, the more resilient you will be. For that reason we focus on three
key pillars that have been proven to cultivate positive emotion; Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM). Our
programs also have a strong focus on Connection, Purpose, Kindness, Emotional Literacy and Physical Health.

Gratitude
What is gratitude? It’s about paying attention to the things and moments we have right now, and not worrying about
what we don’t have. We practise gratitude by noticing the positives that exist around us, and by being thankful for
things, places and people in our lives.

Empathy
What does empathy mean? Empathy and kindness are closely linked. So are empathy and compassion. To be
empathetic is to put ourselves in the shoes of others to feel and see what they are. We practice this by being kind
towards other people.

Mindfulness
How to practise mindfulness? Mindfulness activities help us to be present in the moment and often create a feeling
of calm. We practice this through slowing down and concentrating on one thing at a time. This includes meditation,
colouring in and flow states.

Literacy

The English domain is centered on the conscious and deliberate study of language in a wide range of texts and the contexts in which they are spoken, read, viewed and written English involves students in reading, viewing, comparing, researching and talking about texts. Through a variety of learning experiences, students explore the meaning of texts and how meaning is conveyed. They develop the critical understanding about the ways writers and speakers manipulate language to influence their listeners, readers and viewers. Students become able to control language by recognising and understanding how language works and applying this knowledge.

By understanding and working with texts, students acquire the knowledge, skills and personal qualities that enable them to read, view and listen critically, and to think, speak and write clearly and confidently. These skills are necessary for success at school and beyond for an active, informed and fulfilling life in modern Australian society and the global community.

At Sacred Heart we aim to develop in students:

The ability to speak, listen, read, view and listen effectively with confidence, purpose and enjoyment
A knowledge of the ways in which language varies according to context, purpose, audience and content, and the capacity to apply this knowledge
A knowledge of the linguistic patterns used to construct different texts, and the capacity to apply this knowledge, especially in writing
A broad knowledge of the range of texts and a capacity to relate this to aspects of contemporary society and personal experience
The capacity to discuss and analyse texts and language critically
Knowledge of the ways textual interpretation and understanding may vary according to cultural, social and personal differences, and the capacity to develop reasoned arguments about interpretation and meaning.

Students are assessed using both formal and informal assessment tools to allow us to provide a differentiated curriculum based on Victorian Curriculum.

Sacred Heart is currently involved in the Catholic Education Office's Collaborative Literacy Learning Communities Project. This project, involves our year 5 & 6 students and is focusing on the research question:

How can we connect students, parents and the community to work collaboratively through the use of digital literacies to improve student outcomes?

Numeracy

At Sacred Heart Primary School, we have a strong focus on engaging students in open-ended maths tasks based around real life and student experiences. During our Numeracy units students are taught specific strategies and skills, which enable them to work confidently, taking risks and making errors to develop a multitude of problem solving skills. Students work towards finding appropriate strategies and actively participate in developing maths-specific language.

Religious Education

We support the parents in the faith development of their children through the formal teachings of the Religious Education program and the faith/spiritual experiences which we provide for the students. This program is based on the Religious Education Framework and the ‘To Know, Worship and Love’ texts. A Parish/School Sacramental program is conducted for Reconciliation (Year 2), Eucharist (Year 3) and Confirmation (Year 6). We also celebrate Feast Day Masses, Liturgies and Class Masses throughout the year and believe in linking with local and global communities to develop a strong sense of social justice.

Collaborative Learning

At Sacred Heart Primary School, students work collaboratively across their level. Collaborative learning is an educational approach to teaching and learning that involves groups of learners working together to solve a problem, complete a task, or create a product. Collaborating allows students to share different skills, knowledge and experiences, building confidence and trust in each other. Students who work collaboratively are more likely to be engaged in their learning as each student has the opportunity to express their ideas within a small group setting, therefore feeling valued.

E-Learning

Students will use ICT devices including Chromebooks and iPads to investigate, create and communicate in their everyday learning. This may be seen in activities such as: researching, reading, presentations, video making, voice recording, published work, data collection and much more.

Students will then develop their knowledge of the underlying concepts of information systems, data and computer sciences in order to extend ICT, moving students from technology consumers to creators.

Sacred Heart is a registered eSmart school with a strong focus on the education of students to protect themselves online.