Our Learning Journey

St Joseph’s Primary Schofields offers a relevant curriculum with emphasis on catering for the needs of each learner.

We expect all students to achieve their personal best and it is our belief that together we can make our classrooms places where learning is inviting and enjoyable.

At St Joseph’s, in partnership with parents/carers, we promote educational and personal excellence in our students as they grow as whole persons, attending to their spiritual, intellectual, physical, social and emotional development.

We foster a collaborative community and supportive environment as we want each learner to feel accepted and grow in their learning. We respect and celebrate diversity and individuality by recognising and providing for differences in learning styles, rates of learning, strengths and needs.

St Joseph's Schofields Learning

Our learning statements

Our educational practice is expressed in our Learning Statements, based on sound educational research and formulated in consultation with staff, parents and children.

Children learn best in a supportive and empowering environment where children are motivated and inspired by their teachers
Children learn best when they are encouraged, take responsibility for their learning, and have the opportunity to reflect on and demonstrate their learning
Children learn best when teachers and parents work in partnership accepting, acknowledging and celebrating each child’s personal achievements
Children learn best when learning is purposeful and engaging, using learning activities that are well-structured, modified and relevant

Children learn best when teachers work as a team, plan collaboratively and draw on expertise within and beyond the school, e.g. teacher librarian, special education, ESL
Children learn best in a social context where they develop the skills of listening, discussion, cooperation, and reflection
Children learn best in an environment of wellbeing and positive mental health.

St Joseph's Schofields KLAs

Key Learning Areas

St Joseph’s follows the curriculum documents from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), for the six key learning areas of English, Mathematics, History and Geography, Science and Technology, Creative Arts, and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) and Religious Education 'Living Life to the Full', from Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta.

English

St Joseph's Primary Schofields English

At St Joseph’s, we believe that literacy is integral to all key learning areas and is vital to the development of the whole child. We are committed to providing quality teaching and learning experiences that cater for individual needs and learning styles, and improve academic outcomes of all students. We provide a balanced English program including reading, writing, talking and listening based on the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) English K–6 document, to achieve success for each child. We incorporate modelled, shared, guided, and independent teaching and learning experiences. All staff members are given ongoing professional development opportunities to ensure best practice is maintained at our school.

Assessment and reflection informs our classroom practice. We are committed to early intervention for children at risk through the provision of specialist programs and resources. Learning support programs assist teachers and students, and cater for individual student needs. We use quality literature, an essential part of an effective English program, and information technology is integrated naturally into each stage of our English program. Parents are encouraged to help during the Literacy Block.

Mathematics

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Maths

At St Joseph’s, we believe that Mathematics is an essential life skill that helps us make sense of our environment. We think that Mathematics should be meaningful for children, and we encourage the development of mathematical thinking to solve problems. Through identifying and exploring patterns and relationships, children learn to apply concepts and skills to problems in their world.

Students are provided with a well-balanced Mathematics program covering each of the strands from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Mathematics K-6 document:

Working Mathematically
Number
Patterns and Algebra
Data
Measurement
Space and Geometry.

Through exploration, discussion and the sharing of discoveries and experiences, students’ understanding develops from the concrete stage to the abstract.

Our The Mathematics support page provides guidance to parents on how to best support their child's Mathematics learning in grades K-6.

View Mathematics Support

Creative Arts

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Music

Music

Music plays an integral part in the life of St Joseph’s students. It enhances the prayer life of the community; it is a source of entertainment at events, such as school assemblies, discos and end-of-year functions; and it provides students with an opportunity for meaningful self-expression. At St Joseph’s, music is taught in accordance with the guidelines set out in the NESA NSW Creative Arts K-6 syllabus. Each student participates in formal music lessons within their classroom. Music is also integrated into other key learning areas. Part of our music program involves performances by professional musicians. Students at St Joseph’s have the opportunity to participate in the school’s choir, talent quests and in the Diocesan Creative Arts Expo.

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Visual Arts

Visual Arts

The children at St Joseph’s are fortunate to have their artistic talents expressed, fostered and valued. Each class participates in Visual Arts lessons. During these sessions, the learning experiences are adapted to school or class contexts, paying close attention to the needs of individual students. The children are exposed to a variety of art-making techniques, which include drawing, painting, colouring, and paper craft.

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Drama

Drama

The Drama program is designed in accordance with the NESA NSW Creative Arts K-6 syllabus. This document organises dramatic skill and understanding into the areas of creating, performing and appreciating. Students from K-6 participate in lessons that explore many aspects of dramatic experiences, including mime, improvisation and movement. Lessons incorporate learning specific skills and performance opportunities. Students move from the familiar, such as nursery rhymes and traditional stories, through to abstract experience in the creation of their work. They are encouraged to develop and extend their skills, both individually and in groups, and respond constructively to others.

Dance

In Dance, students develop knowledge, skills and understanding in composing, performing and appreciating their own dances, and those of others. Our students participate in cultural experiences, including Indigenous Australians' dance, and are given the opportunity to perform in our talent show in Term 3. Dance is also a component of the PDHPE key learning area.

History and Geography

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Geography

The aim of History and Geography is to develop in students the values and attitudes, skills, and knowledge and understandings that:

enhance their sense of personal, community, national, and global identity
enable them to participate effectively in maintaining and improving the quality of their society and environment.

Learning in History and Geography involves sharing ideas and working cooperatively in groups. Many opportunities are made for the students to work together, enabling them to better understand the diverse nature of people in the classroom, school, broader community, and the world. Students in K-6 participate in lessons where they learn about change and continuity, culture, the environment, and social systems and structures. Skills are taught in acquiring information, using the inquiry process, and social and civic participation.

Science and Technology

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Science

St Joseph's Primary Schofields Technology

Science and Technology is the area through which all students learn about the natural and made environment by investigating, designing and making, and using technology.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of development in the science area, the outcome of Science education is to provide students with the processes and skills required to access knowledge. Science education assists students to understand themselves and the environment, and provides opportunities for them to develop independent rational thought and responsible action. Students in K-6 participate in lessons where emphasis is on first-hand experiences, investigation, design and make, problem solving, and clarifying understandings.

As technology continues to influence and shape our world, it is not surprising that it is also bringing about dramatic change in the classroom. The technology within the school is enhanced by the use of computers, iPads and interactive whiteboards within the learning spaces. The library has a bank of computers which are used specifically for research, using the internet and accessing specific software. With internet access throughout the school, emphasis is on utilising technology to support learning. The children are encouraged to access the internet, and are supported in its use to enrich learning, to locate information and to broaden their knowledge and understanding of world issues.

The children are very comfortable using iPads, computers, digital cameras, data projectors, and network printers to enhance their learning and presentations. Students learn skills in basic graphics, information and communication, spreadsheets, software, word processing, and multimedia. They are also supported to be discerning in their internet use and ethical use of information.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)

St Joseph's Primary Schofields PDHPE

The aim of the PDHPE curriculum is to develop in each student the knowledge and understanding, skills, values and attitudes needed to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. This syllabus is directly concerned with supporting the development of the student as a whole person. Learning in PDHPE extends beyond the planned classroom lesson and is reinforced by the pastoral care program, the school canteen, the Religious Education program, and other ‘health-promoting’ activities. Each class receives two hours of structured physical activity per week.

PDHPE is an important key learning area as it:

encourages an understanding and valuing of self and others
promotes physical activity
emphasises informed decision-making leading to effective and responsible action.

Our Catholic faith lights the way as we guide your child’s learning journey. We are led by love, compassion and respect for all.
We walk with Jesus and with those in need, both at school and in the community. Together in Christ, we will change the world.
We see the good in each child. Every child deserves to be safe, known and cared for. Every child can learn lots, grow as a person and be happy.

Here’s what we think about learning

Let’s work together

Every child’s learning journey begins at home. We’ll work with you to make sure that your child is on track at school too. This means getting to know your child well, especially what gets them excited about learning.

Like you, we understand that great teachers make a real difference in a child’s life. That’s why we’ll make sure that your child’s teachers are skilled up and supported by an effective Principal with a passion for learning and caring.

Our teaching is up-to-date

Our children’s adult lives will be very different from our own. Technology is changing everything including the way they will work. To prepare them for whatever that future holds, our school has had to change and will need to keep changing.

Learning today is so much more than facts and figures. Information will be coming at them from everywhere so they need to learn to make sense of it all and the world around them. We’re focused on developing strengths that students need now and in the future - communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and so much more.

We’ll work with your child to find out what interests them and show them ways to learn more.
We’ll use real world problems to show how the skills we learn at school are relevant for life.
We’ll work closely with your child as they learn to take responsibility for learning too.

It’s a great start to a lifelong learning journey. And our teachers are lifelong learners too!

This is how we do it

So much more is being asked of teachers today. Not only will teachers get to know your child’s needs, they’ll change their teaching approaches to meet them where they’re at. This means teachers need to be ready to share skills with students, help students plan their learning, track how each student is progressing, and respond with extra support as needed. After all, learning how to learn is even more important than what we learn.

We’re supporting your child’s learning

Our school is a place where curiosity, imagination and love of learning are treasured. We know schools should be places of wonder, exploration and endless possibilities. Our school is full of great teachers working together to meet your child’s needs in spaces that are designed for up-to-date learning. There are places for students to work together and for working independently. They are places where the latest technology supports your child’s learning.

We’ll make this work for you and your child

Every child is different and so is their learning journey. Teamwork between our school and families, expert staff, state-of-the-art technology, well-designed facilities, and a can-do attitude help us to meet your child’s needs better. Our school is a community of learners, thinkers and achievers. It is a safe place for each child to belong, make friends and be cared for.

Let’s keep talking!

We’ll take every opportunity to talk with you about your child’s learning. The best learning happens when there’s a strong partnership between home and school. We know you want to know how the learning works, and we’ll keep you updated when it’s working well for your child and when it’s not. After all, we’re all in this together.

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