Curriculum Opportunities

We pride ourselves on a wide range of curriculum opportunities for our students

It’s not the curriculum that we offer that sets us apart, it’s the manner in which it’s delivered

Any school can teach a curriculum. Amazing schools like ours is full of teachers actively and passionately exploring the possibilities of making their teaching practice more innovative, engaging and fun at every turn. This is the single ingredient that drives the most growth in our students.

The success we attain is not only evidenced by the assessment data – but it’s seen through the smiles and joy we see on our student’s faces as a concept is grasped. This is the indefinable element that drives us as teachers to produce and grow our own teaching skills year in, year out.

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Religious Education

Religious Education is pivotal to everything that we do at St Timothy’s. As well as the formal classroom religious education curriculum, the members of the school community are also encouraged to be involved in Prayer, Liturgy and the Sacramental life of the church.

Student Wellbeing

Literacy

English proficiency is the key to success in everyday life and we focus on developing skills to be able to communicate effectively with others.

Maths

Our Mathematics curriculum is pivotal in providing our students the vital skills and proficiencies to successfully tackle mathematical problems in the real world.

Physical Education

At St Timothy’s our Physical Education program develops the required skills in movement and physical activity, while building on the interpersonal skills of teamwork, collaboration and cooperation.

The Arts

Visual Arts, dance, drama and music. Through the arts, children are challenged to think creatively and solve problems

S.T.E.M.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) pervades every part of our lives. Through STEM, we foster ingenuity and creativity and encourage experimentation, teamwork and collaboration.

Languages (Mandarin)

At St Timothy’s our Language is Mandarin. All children from Prep to Year 6 receive a weekly lesson, taught by our specialist Mandarin teacher.

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Religious Education

CLASS PROGRAMS

Our class programs are based on ‘Coming to Know, Worship and Love’,and the New Religious Education Catholic Framework for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The formal curriculum involves the children in a variety of learning experiences to help them to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic traditions, prayers and sacramental life of the church. The children are encouraged to make connections with Gospel stories and the meaning of these stories in their own lives. They are assisted to develop inquiring minds and to develop a sense of wonder, to encourage them to continue to be life-long learners of their faith.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMS:

During their primary school years, the children are prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion/Eucharist and Confirmation. At times, at the request of a child/parents, and in consultation with the Parish Priest, the opportunity is provided for the preparation to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

FIRST RECONCILIATION:

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is celebrated for the first time when the children are in Year four. The children who attend St Timothy’s School are prepared as part of the classroom program. The children and parents from the school and the parish take part in a workshop and attend a Parish commitment Mass. They also take part in a reflection day. The Sacrament of (First) Reconciliation is celebrated with the parish community in the last week of term one or during Holy Week when possible. The parents are also able to arrange a time with Fr Rod for their child to receive this Sacrament in individual Reconciliation.

FIRST EUCHARIST:

The Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated for the first time when the children are in Year three. The children who attend St Timothy’s School are prepared as part of the classroom program.The children and parents from the school and the parish take part in a workshop and attend a Parish commitment Mass. They also take part in a reflection day. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated during parish Masses over a number of weekends during term three.

CONFIRMATION:

The Sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated when the children are in year six. The children who attend St Timothy’s School are prepared as part of the classroom program. The children and parents from the school and the parish take part in a workshop and attend a Parish commitment Mass. They also take part in a reflection day. The date for the celebration of this Sacrament is set by the Archdiocese, but traditionally it takes place in our parish during term two.

PRAYER:

Young people learn to pray through the experience of prayer. At St Timothy’s we help the children to pray by praying with them and providing regular opportunities for prayer. Prayer tables are set up in each classroom and meditation occurs every morning.
As well as learning and using formal prayers such as Our Father and Hail Mary, the children are also encouraged to pray in an informal format, for example, prayers of praise, thanks or petitions. As part of prayer, they have opportunities to experience silence, stillness, movement, ritual and symbol.
Each day, the whole school starts the day with Christian meditation and prayer. At assemblies and for special days such as ANZAC Day, Mother’s Day, Fathers’ Day and the beginning/end of the school year, prayer services are celebrated as a very important component of our faith.
Meetings and parents’ sessions are started with a prayer. Regular prayer sessions are also very important for members of staff at the beginning of meetings.

LITURGY/MASS

The children are given the opportunity to prepare for and participate in a weekday Mass each term. Parents and friends are invited to attend these Masses. The members of the community are also invited to attend a Sunday Mass at the beginning of the school year.
The community is also invited to attend Commitment Masses and celebration Masses for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. These Masses are celebrated on a Saturday night or Sunday morning in the parish church.

Student Wellbeing

At St Timothy’s we are justifiably proud of our safe, welcoming, inclusive and empowering school. We aim to build a strong school community through a sense of belonging and to build strong relationships where every child and adult is valued. Our aim is to provide students with the skills to be able to meet the social and emotional challenges that they encounter both in the present and the future.

We believe the wellbeing of our school community is vital for learning.

Our Positive Behaviour Management, embraces well being of all children. Therefore if concerns are raised in regards to social, emotional or behavioural issues all children will be supported in an effort to address the issue and repair relationships.

We continually develop a sense of wellbeing by:

Encouraging positive relationships between all members of the community

Collaboratively implementing a Whole School Positive Behaviour Management

A vibrant Buddy Program with our Year 6 and Foundation (Prep) children and other students

Cross Year level Learning opportunities ( STEAM, Science Technology Engineering Arts/ Maths)

The choice for children to play within or across their levels

Acknowledging days e.g Harmony Day, Better Buddies, National Day against Bullying

Transition days/weeks from Kindergarten to School, Year Level to Year Level and Primary to Secondary school

“Open door” for children to speak to a trusted adult (Teachers, Principal, etc.) to assist with strategies to solve the issue

St Timothy’s use a range of curriculum programs including Berry Street, Better Buddies, You Can Do It, to support and nurture wellbeing in children

Literacy

English proficiency is the key to success in everyday life and we focus on developing skills to be able to communicate effectively with others. The English curriculum underpins all areas of the curriculum and incorporates Reading & Viewing, Writing (including spelling) and Speaking/Listening as outlined in the Victorian Curriculum.

We have a daily two hour literacy block, which focuses on whole class, small group and individual needs. This Literacy block involves a variety of rich, engaging learning opportunities to develop reading, comprehension skills, writing skills across a range of genres, punctuation, grammar focus, phonics, word study, spelling, oral language development and handwriting.

All students are taught at their point of need and are supported with a focus on intervention or extension where needed.

Maths

Our Mathematics curriculum is pivotal in providing our students the vital skills and proficiencies to successfully tackle mathematical problems in the real world. Mathematics is taught using a range of approaches including whole class, small group and individual strategies. We include a focus on teaching students at their point of need providing both intervention and extension.

An hour is dedicated each day to provide opportunities to develop Number and Measurement, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics and Probability as outlined in the Victorian Curriculum. We value and undertake Pre & Post testing to ascertain individual levels, monitor growth and progress.

Through a differentiated approach we aim to:

Develop maths confidence in all children

Offer a variety of ways to develop mathematical skills and proficiencies

Provide engaging, rich and purposeful mathematical challenges

Include rote, rigour and process to apply/solve problems

Celebrate mathematical learning for all

Physical Education

At St Timothy’s our Physical Education program develops the required skills in movement and physical activity, while building on the interpersonal skills of teamwork, collaboration and cooperation.

A specialist Phys Ed teacher takes classes on a weekly basis, and these lessons are complemented by the inclusion of specialist incursions across sports . We have a Dance and Gymnastics alternate years program. Each year we access Sporting Schools funding to provide a range of experiences including athletics, orienteering, basketball, bowls, hockey and tennis.

All children have the opportunity to participate in the annual school athletics carnival.

The Year 3- 6 have the opportunity to participate in Inter School Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming . Our Year 4, 5 &6 children are also involved in Interschool Sport days with a variety of Sports e.g Netball. T Ball.

Year P-4 participate in a 10 day Intensive Swimming Program in Term 4 and Year 6 a one week Intensive program.

Our grounds enable us to offer a broad range of physical activities. We have:

a large grassed sports oval

2 basketball courts

2 adventure/ Fitness playgrounds

a large multi-purpose hall

Year 5 & 6 children are involved in an Outdoor Adventure camp program every second year ( the Alternate year camp is at Sovereign Hill, Ballarat).

The Arts

St Timothy’s arts program includes visual arts, dance and drama. Through the arts, children are challenged to think creatively and solve problems, whilst developing skills of observation, spatial perception and fine motor skills, using a variety of mediums. Art shows and expos give are an opportunity for parents to view, appreciate and be actively engaged with the children’s learning.

Through Performing Arts (drama, music and visual art) all our children participate in a variety of performances/productions, including creating props and designing costumes, dance routines and speaking parts.

Drama, Dance and Visual Art is taught by specialist teacher and STOMP dance. We work with Whitehorse Council with Artist in Schools Programs to support our Performing Arts program and Visual arts projects which adorn our walls, corridors and grounds

Music

Music at St Timothy’s gives children the opportunity to explore and express ideas through voice, movement, percussion and instrument. It includes learning through chants songs and rhymes. It explores pitch and rhythm. It encourages children to respond to their own and others music and interpret music and participate in musical performances.

S.T.E.M.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering, and Mathematics) pervades every part of our lives. Through STEM, we foster ingenuity and creativity and encourage experimentation, teamwork and collaboration. Through an Inquiry approach, we develop maths and science skills, teach problem-solving and critical thinking and encourage tech use. It enriches the curriculum by combining several learning areas. We prepare our students for possible STEM careers which are believed to be the careers that will be in demand in the future.

Digital Technology

Through Digital Technology our students engage and learn through a variety of technologies, preparing them for a rapidly changing, globalised world. Use of digital technology equips students to use a variety of disciplines to solve complex problems through inquiry learning. Our students have access to a number of devices such as Chromebooks, laptops, iPads, Spheros and Bee-Boots. These resources complement our students’ learning as Digital Technologies is also integrated into all areas of the curriculum.

Languages (Mandarin)

At St Timothy’s our Language is Mandarin. All children from Prep to Year 6 receive a weekly lesson, taught by our specialist Mandarin teacher. The students are immersed in the Chines/Mandarin language and culture through a range of activities, including speaking, singing, listening, reading and writing. Once a year we celebrate with a mini performance to showcase the learning.