How We Teach & Support

Our entire teaching staff is dedicated to the detail and we want to ensure every child achieves to their own potential. 

This means ensuring we have a robust system of teaching and support that not only caters to the average (or middle student) – but also the advanced student or the student that needs some extra support. 

For learning to take place we need to ensure that every child feels safe, happy and confident within themselves – and so a huge emphasis is placed on a strong wellbeing and support program that achieves just that!

Extending Students

At Sacred Heart Primary School our focus is always on the `individual learner’, providing the opportunity for every student to reach their full potential. We use a range of formative assessment to identify the needs of every student, including students who require extension. Our aim is for every student to be challenged, engaged and to show learning growth in all areas of the curriculum. Our expert teachers work collaboratively to ensure that all our students, at both ends of the learning spectrum, can fully flourish.

Additional Support

Our teachers are extremely skilled at identifying students who require additional support. With the support of our School Leaders, our Teachers and Support Staff implement intervention strategies in the core areas of Literacy and Numeracy. In addition to this support, our Reading Recovery Program supports students from Year One to reach reading benchmarks.  We also have a qualified staff member along with a Learning Diversity Leader that work together in this area to implement programs in small group settings to students that may need additional support in their learning.

At Sacred Heart Primary School we work closely with parents through our `Program Support Group’ (PSG) meetings to set learning goals and Personal Learning Plans (PLPs).

Respectful Relationships supports schools to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

At Sacred Heart Primary School we are committed to implementing a School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) approach to the teaching and management of student behaviour.  SWPBS approach means that we: use DATA to track progress and identify areas for intervention; use school wide EXPECTATIONS and RULES in specific settings to EXPLICITLY TEACH appropriate behaviour; use a POSITIVE INCENTIVE program to encourage appropriate behaviour and use EFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES to discourage inappropriate behaviour.

Our school community has identified the following school rules to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour:

• Respect for Self
• Respect for Others
• Respect for Environment

At Sacred Heart Primary School we are committed to implementing a School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) approach to the teaching and management of student behaviour.  SWPBS approach means that we: use DATA to track progress and identify areas for intervention; use school wide EXPECTATIONS and RULES in specific settings to EXPLICITLY TEACH appropriate behaviour; use a POSITIVE INCENTIVE program to encourage appropriate behaviour and use EFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES to discourage inappropriate behaviour.

Our school community has identified the following school rules to teach and promote our high standards of responsible behaviour:

• Respect for Self
• Respect for Others
• Respect for Environment

At Sacred Heart Primary School we believe that students should move through every stage of schooling with confidence. As the majority of our student’s transition to our school from Kinder to Foundation, we implement a Foundation Transition program that includes:

• A `Foundation Interview’ at the beginning of each year, with an opportunity to discuss particular interests and needs.
• Foundation Teachers visit Kinder and Early Learning Centres to meet the students in their early learning environment.
• A ‘FUNdamentals for Foundation’ program offered in Term 3 and 4 for six morning sessions, with an opportunity to participate in a structured program aimed to help prepare pre-schoolers for their transition into formal schooling.
• Optional home visits.
• Four additional orientation sessions in the Foundation Learning Space, with an opportunity to participate in Specialist Subjects, and meet new teachers, in LOTE (Indonesian), Physical Education, Performing Arts, STEM ad Visual Arts.
• A `Parent Evening’ to provide information in regards to the new school year. An additional parent evening is facilitated in the new school year with a focus on working in partnership in student learning.

At Sacred Heart Primary School we regularly welcome students into our school at levels other than Foundation. We understand the importance of a smooth transition in order for a new student to feel safe, supported and welcome! 

• Families are always encouraged to take an extensive tour of our school to visit our learning spaces, meet our teachers and see learning in action. They are also welcome to contact the school at any time for further information.
• We can tailor a transition program to suit the needs of the student, including spending time in a learning space prior to beginning a new school year.
• We encourage families to work in partnership with us from day one, sharing any information that will assist in meeting the needs of the individual student.
• We arrange for a `buddy’ student’ (fellow classmate) to support the student in the first few days or weeks of transition, both in the classroom and in the playground.