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Curriculum

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At St Catherine’s we guide our learners to be self-managed, innovative and critical thinkers who have a strong sense of who they are and their responsibility to their world.

We value the skills necessary to build meaningful relationships and to be connected to learning. We encourage our learners to question, explore and discover so they actively contribute to a more just, peaceful and forgiving society.

Our Curriculum

The Australian Curriculum provides a framework for our teaching and learning...

It outlines the key elements of what young Australians should learn as they progress through their primary schooling and into high school. It is the foundation of their learning, growth and active participation as productive members of society.

Curriculum Areas

  • Religion
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences)
  • STEM
  • Languages (Italian)
  • The Arts (Music, Art, Drama)
  • Health
  • Physical Education
     

General Capabilities

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • ICT capability
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Personal and Social capability
  • Ethical understanding
  • Intercultural understanding
     

Cross-Curriculum Priorities

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait histories and culture
  • Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
  • Sustainability

Assessment

As a school, we assess student learning in a whole variety of ways, including diagnostic and anecdotal data.

This helps us continually improve our teaching methods and learning styles according to the needs of both students and classes.
In terms of reporting, we report back to parents in a wide range of ways:

  • At the end of Semesters 1 and 2, parents receive summative reports of their child's progress.
  • We provide parent information evenings and parent-teacher Learning Conversations during the year.
  • In direct conversations between parents and teachers.  The best way to know how your child is progressing is to have regular conversations with their teacher.  All teachers share email addresses with parents, all classrooms are open for interaction with parents and we strongly encourage the parent-teacher partnership.

 

ICAS Testing

At St Catherine’s we understand that some children have interests in specific areas and enjoy extra challenges with their learning. Our school and The University of New South Wales offer Year 2-6 children an opportunity to enrol and participate in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS). ICAS is an independent, quality skills-based assessment program which rewards and recognises achievement. ICAS gives a broad insight into a child’s performance across English, Mathematics, Science, Digital Technologies, Spelling and Writing.

ICAS assessments have taken place annually in schools for over thirty years and in twenty countries. Educational Assessment Australia (EAA), who design and deliver the assessments, is the not-for-profit arm of the University of New South Wales.  Participation in the assessments enables the progress of each student to be mapped in each skill against their previous performance, demonstrating personal improvement.