Our Curriculum

Literacy underpins learning in all areas of study and involves using listening, speaking, reading, viewing, critical thinking and writing in a wide range of situations. It includes the knowledge that enables a speaker, a reader and a writer to recognise and use language appropriate to different social situations. It should also allow people to use language to enhance their capacity to think, create and ask questions which help them become more aware of the world and empowers them to participate more effectively in society.

Learners comprehend and compose a range of literature, media and everyday texts. They explore and engage with fictional, factual, non-print and multimedia texts from much cultural perspective. They take pleasure in using these texts to explore ideas, and think imaginatively and critically about themselves, their world and the global community. They are also able to use the texts they read, view and listen to as resources for creating and constructing their own texts.

Each class engages in two hours of English lessons each day, as well as literacy activities that are part of all other learning areas.

Numeracy is a focus area of learning at St. Joseph’s School, being numerate is an important part of life.  At St. Joseph’s School, from the earliest years, learning Mathematics is an active and engaging process for all students. We develop knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical concepts through investigative learning to enable students to make real world connection with their learning. We encourage our students to discuss alternative solutions, explain their strategies and thought processes and apply thinking skills that demonstrate a multi angle approach to problems. We provide students with opportunities for higher-level thinking mathematical investigations to enable students to continually revise and apply the strategies, processes and concepts they have learnt.

 

 

At St. Joseph’s School students participate in  Science lessons utilising PrimaryConnections. PrimaryConnections is based on an inquiry-orientated teaching and learning model. Students use their prior knowledge and literacies to develop explanations for their hands-on experiences of scientific phenomena. Students have opportunities to represent and re-represent their developing understanding. They are engaged actively in the learning process. Students develop investigation skills and an understanding of the nature of science.

Teaching and learning progresses through five phases: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate.   This model engages students with their learning, uses hands on activities to explore skills and concepts, an explanation of skills or concepts, opportunities for students elaborate on their learning through application what they have learned and finally students evaluate to review and reflect on their own learning and new understandings and skills.

Physical Education has a strong focus on personal and social health and wellbeing.  Values and attitudes learned in Physical Education promote the integration of physical, social, emotional, environmental and spiritual dimensions of living.

 Each child has a 1 hour lesson per week, as well as 20 minutes of daily fitness activities to promote aerobic fitness through a diverse range of physical exercise.

Students may participate in before and after school sports as well as a variety of SAPSASA and SACPSSA carnivals and Active After School activities.

St. Joseph’s is a Crunch and Sip school, promoting healthy eating habits through fruit and vegetable snack breaks and regular hydration.

Our well equipped Science and Technology Room enables staff to plan and implement learning tasks and activities for your child to learn by exploring, and problem solving.

Many of the Design and Technology tasks are integrated into other learning areas throughout the curriculum.

 

Design and Technology is structured around the three main strands of learning of Critiquing, Designing and Making. The subject provides an opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, knowledge and understanding of materials, tools and techniques in creating products, processes and systems.

Through active engagement in practical design and technology experiences, learners develop creative and powerful ways of designing and making to meet identified needs.

 

Students also learn to critically examine existing and planned technologies through investigating and questioning the four phases of technology lifespan of Intention, Design, Making and Use/Misuse/Abuse.

Students are taught to use current technology and software and taught the skiils for living in an ever growing technological world.