Curriculum

Writing a story in Year 4

 

• Reading

• Writing (including spelling, grammar and punctuation)

• Talking and Listening

Books, magazines, posters and audio and video tapes enrich our students' learning.

Studying symmetry in Year 2

 

Maths is a practical activities area with much learning through concrete materials and other realistic situations, especially problem solving.

Aspects of mathematics are

• Number (including numeration, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, money, chance and data)

• Space (including two and three dimensional shapes, position and graphs)

• Measurement (including length, mass, area, volume, temperature and time)

• Working mathematically (recognising and applying maths in everyday situations, using mathematical language, and using maths creatively in expressing new ideas.

Finishing touches to a Year 4 unit of work

 

This learning area focuses on people, cultures, societies and environments, the development of positive attitudes and values through the development of skills in investigation, communication and participation.  Units integrated with other Key Learning Areas provide a context for an understanding of national identity and effective participation in maintaining and enhancing the quality of our society.  In HSIE, students develop knowledge, skills and understandings about

• Change and continuity

• Cultures

• Environments

• Social systems and structures

 

This is the learning area in which students learn about the natural and made environments by

An interesting range of resources make active learning a pleasure for all students as they develop skills through Science and Technology which they can apply to the wider environment.

An Art Lesson in Year 2

 

Art, craft, music and dance opportunities enable creative exhibitions and performances by all students. Individual expression and creative skills and talents are developed through a variety of learning opportunities.

Music and drama performances at Assemblies and School Performances are the culmination of continuous activity in these areas during the year. Students also participate in choral, instrumental, dance and speech activities during the District Music Festival, Anzac Commemoration, Education Week and other public arenas, in addition to class based activities.

Singing and percussion activities are introduced for all students early in the school's music program, while talented musicians have the opportunity to learn flute, clarinet and violin through individual and ensemble tuition.  (see Extra-Curricula Activities - Music and Dance)

Ball games at the Athletics Carnival

 

Class programs also include lessons in  

• Growth and development

• Interpersonal relationships

• Personal health choices

• Safe living

• Fitness and lifestyle

In all classes, child protection education is taught as part of this Key Learning Area.  Child protection education teaches students to recognise when they may be unsafe and how to seek help.

A corner of the the computer laboratory

 

All classes receive specialist tuition in computer technology in the school's computer laboratory. A broad range of skills are covered from fundamental computer operation to word processing, problem solving and program techniques.

Children are taught to access and make effective use of the internet, thereby enabling them to develop skills required to locate and make use of information and to become efficient and responsible users of electronic mail and other internet communication services.

 

The Library is a wonderful learning resource used extensively by our students who are taught how to care for books while using them for research and enjoyment. 

During Book Week each year a book donation system is in place where families can donate a book to the  school Library.  This is an effective way of increasing Library resources and keeping abreast of new and popular authors and titles.

As our books are precious, they require special care and cannot be borrowed unless children bring a suitable protective bag to school. Children borrow during their Library lesson and the Library is open before school and the second half of lunch Monday to Thursday, for returning and borrowing books.

Book Club highlights are displayed in the Library when book club is on offer. These are viewed and discussed before being processed for borrowing.

  BOOK CLUB

Our winning Gala Day 2004 Netball Team

 

The school encourages participation in a variety of sporting activities, some of which involve payments. This is at the parents' discretion.

Due to our relative isolation, most of our sport is within school, ranging from developmental movement activities in infants grades to house team competition sports in primary.

Our children also participate in P.S.S.A. carnivals and competitions at District and State Level whenever possible.   A special date on the Sporting Calendar is Gala Day when Wideview gets together with other local schools to compete in Soccer and Netball.

The whole school is involved in the Annual Athletics Sports Day, Cross Country, and the Primary Department is involved in an Annual Swimming Carnival.

 

Infants Religious Instruction classes take place half an hour before recess on Wednesdays and Primary Religious Instruction is immediately after recess on Wednesdays.

Religious instruction is provided under the direction of local churches and is provided in three groupings -

Catholic, Combined Protestant, and Jehovah Witness classes.

Parents not wishing their child to attend Scripture classes must notify the Principal in writing.

 

At Wideview, we recognise that all children have interests and talents and special aptitudes which, when nurtured, will flourish.   In order to develop these interests and aptitudes, as well as enhancing self-esteem and motivation, we have developed a range of Enrichment Programs.  These programs seek to achieve their objectives by building upon the strengths and interests of students, staff, parents and visiting personnel.

The Enrichment Studies Program incorporates:

• development of general skills in creative thinking and problem solving, and higher order thinking skills.

• development of effective processes such as sensing, appreciating and valuing.

• development of a wide variety of specific learning how-to-learn skills such as debating, note taking, interviewing, classifying, analysing data and drawing conclusions.

• development of oral, written and visual communication skills that are primarily directed towards maximising the impact of students' products upon appropriate audiences.

• Technology, Art/Craft, Drama and Music.

As part of the Gifted and Talented Program, we identify students with special gifts and/or talents, and provide special opportunities for these students to be extended and immersed in higher level studies, e.g., Negotiated Learning Program, Maths Olympiads, attendance at out of school workshops and participation in state-wide competitions.  Programs are being further developed to provide a planned, sequential approach K-6 catering for individual needs.

 

A specialist teacher is available to assist students experiencing learning delays or difficulties in literacy and/or numeracy.

Parents are encouraged to become involved in assisting students with literacy and/or numeracy. They will receive instruction from the Support Teacher (Learning Difficulty) to implement special programs. This program is partly funded through the School Contributions as decided by the P&C.

A dance group performing in an eisteddfod

The School Band practising

 

The school's music program is diverse and provides opportunities for children K-6 to be a part of choirs, instrumental groups, and to learn to play a variety of instruments including recorder, flute, clarinet and percussion.

Students from Year 3 may seek to join the school band.

Wideview students performing at the Hornsby Children's Voices for Reconcilliation 2004

 

 Key Learning Areas, integration of concepts and principles of a number of Across Curriculum areas takes place, and are taught within the overall teaching/learning programs offered at Wideview  These include

• Multi-Cultural Education

• Aboriginal Education

• Gender Equity

• Environmental Education

• Computer Education

The first three reflect the changing nature of our society and provide opportunities for the school to develop in students a commitment to cultural diversity and equity.  The last three are concerned with children learning about the impact of technology on society.

 

Throughout the year teachers select from a variety of assessment strategies to assess student progress in each Key Learning Area.  These may include work samples, assessment tasks such as projects, pen and paper tests or teacher observation.  These assessments enable teachers to see if each student has achieved the syllabus outcomes set for each learning stage. 

The learning stages for the majority of students are Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten), Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4), Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6).

At the beginning of each year, teachers establish a Portfolio for each student.  This is an accumulation of work samples and assessment tasks which becomes the basis for reporting to parents at the end of each semester. 

Parents are welcome to arrange interviews with their child's teacher at any time throughout the year.