Key Learning Areas (KLAs)
The School’s curriculum requirements are set by the NSW Board of Studies and the NSW Department of Education and Training. There are six key learning areas (KLAs) for primary education. They are:
English – including listening, talking, reading and writing. Students are encouraged to develop their spoken and written English skills for a range of purposes.
Mathematics – students study patterns and relationships. Students analyse, count and sort numbers and solve problems in the areas of space, measurement, number and working mathematically.
Science and Technology – helps students understand their environment, both man-made and natural, by investigating, designing, making and using technology.
Human Society and Its Environment – encourages students to study relationships between people, cultures and languages, with a special focus on civics and citizenship.
Creative and Practical Arts – students participate in the art forms of dance, drama, music and visual arts through creating and making their own works.
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education – helps students develop self-esteem, social responsibility, personal fitness and the ability to make informed decisions about health and lifestyle decisions. Programs of Child Protection, Life Education, Peer Support, Social Skills and Drug Education are part of this key learning area.
While all the Key Learning Areas are important, teachers spend the greatest time on English and Mathematics.
Library
Classes visit the library each week for a one hour lesson. During library lessons the students are exposed to a wide range of quality literature. They learn about authors, illustrators and publishers. They learn about the organisation of libraries and how to use them. By the end of Year 6 it is expected that students will know how to locate, understand and extract information from books, encyclopaedias and the internet.
The library is open during second half of lunch Monday – Friday. Lunchtime activities include quiet reading, drawing, games, computers and research. The computers in the library can be used for research or to complete work on any of these days. Each stage also has a day when they are able to play games on the computers.
These days are as follows:
Monday – Kindergarten and Stage 3
- Tuesday – Stage 1and Stage 2
- Wednesday – Kindergarten and Stage 3
- Thursday – Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Friday – All Stages
Students can borrow books during library lessons, at lunch time and before and after school. Kindergarten borrows one book initially and when they have mastered the procedures of borrowing they graduate to two books per week. Stage 1 borrows two books per week, Stage 2 borrows three books per week and Stage 3 borrows four books per week. The borrowing period is three weeks but students are encouraged to borrow or renew their books weekly.
Lost or damaged books are to be paid for at the replacement cost. As the cost of books is constantly escalating it is highly recommended that the students use the plastic lined school library bag to carry their books back and forth from school. Students in K-2 will only be allowed to borrow if they have a library bag with them.
Stage 3 students have the opportunity to trial for library monitor positions at the beginning of each year. If chosen they are rostered on for one lunch duty each week to help in the library. Parental assistance in the library with reshelving and covering books is also welcome as this results in more time being devoted to teaching.
Primary School Education
Parents of primary school children, in partnership with teachers, have an important part to play in encouraging young children to develop a love for learning.
During their primary school years children will develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing, numeracy and other mathematical skills, problem solving, scientific and technological skills and learning how to use computers.
The Board of Studies is responsible for developing syllabuses in six areas – called Key Learning Areas. The syllabuses provide teachers with the broad direction and purpose of the learning area and the support materials give teachers practical assistance in teaching students and using the syllabuses.
The Board of Studies also produces documents for parents to help them to support their children to learn.
If you have any questions about your child’s education, the best point of contact is the teacher or the school principal.
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a program available to students in Year 1 who are experiencing difficulties with reading and writing. Students in Year 1 are assessed to be included in this program. Individual students are taught for 30 minutes each day for between 12-16 weeks (maximum 20 weeks) by a specially trained Reading Recovery teacher, to accelerate their progress to the average classroom level.
Reading Recovery can halt the cycle of failure for at-risk students.
