Curriculum

Our Approach to Learning

English

English curriculum encompasses the oral written and visual forms of the language. The strands differentiate between the modes in which students are primarily:

Making meaning of ideas or information they receive (listening, reading and viewing).
Creating meaning for themselves or others (speaking, writing and presenting).

Mathmatics and Statistics

The school teaching is based on the national numeracy programme that ensures students develop the appropriate knowledge and strategies that will provide the foundation for future mathematical learning.

Each year students cover work in all 3 strands:

Numbers & Algebra
Geometry & Measurement
Statistics

Science and Social Sciences

These areas of the curriculum are organized with an integrated approach around a range of topics. The school uses an Inquiry approach to the learning that involves a child centered focus for learning that develops a combination of students obtaining knowledge and thinking at increasing levels as they progress through the school.

Technology

Students receive a range of experiences based on the Technology Curriculum within their class and team. Being able to think through solutions to a problem is a feature of this programme that can be covered separately or integrated with topic studies.

Information Technology

The use of ICT to enhance teaching and learning is an ever developing feature of the school. The school has a balanced approach to devices with ipad’s in the year 1 and 2 classes and then chrome books in the year 3-6 rooms. The use of data projectors or large screen TV’s for children to cast their work on and digital equipment is being used in more classes as the funds become available for their supply.

The school has a suite with 15 computers and also computers and iPads in all classrooms. The use of data projectors and other digital equipment is being used in more classes as the funds become available for their supply.

Health and Physical Well-Being

Programmes are based around the following four strands:

Personal Health and Physical Development.
Movement Concepts and Motor Skills.
Relationships with Other People.
Health Communities and Environments.

Physical Education

The programme at the various levels involves daily fitness and includes large and small ball skills, athletics, gymnastics, swimming and cross country.

The swimming programme for the junior students is based at the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre and for the senior students is a beach based programme.

The programme at the various levels involves daily fitness and includes large and small ball skills, athletics, gymnastics, swimming and cross country.

The swimming programme for the junior students is based at the Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre and for the senior students is a beach based programme.

Each year school events are held for swimming, cross-country and athletics. The school participates in the events organised by the Hibiscus Coast Schools Sports Association. School teams are involved in touch rugby, netball and basketball. Enrolment with sports clubs is advertised through the weekly newsletter.

The Arts

Programmes are based around four key strands of:

Dance
Drama
Music – Sound Arts
Visual Arts

Kapa Haka

The school Kapa Haka group meets for tuition once a week. The junior Kapa Haka from 1:15pm to 1:45pm and the senior from 1:45pm to 2.45pm under the guidance of Lee-Anne Wade. This group is open to all students attending the school.

Outdoor Education

The School has developed a progressive programme that has students receiving experiences outside the classroom. The programme includes:

Hiking.
Cooking meals over an open fire.
Setting up a complete camp site using the School tents and cooking equipment.

Learning Support

These are offered where needed to support student learning.

Through our learning support programme/s students are offered additional support in these areas to help them progress. This programme is also used to extend students with talent working above their class peers.

Homework

Each team will inform parents of the homework requirements and routines through a Homework Guide issued at the start of each year. Homework is set to provide children with the opportunity to practice and build on work learnt at school.

Returning ‘Readers’ and having the correct clothing for physical education is all part of the homework routine.

The following is a guideline of the average for homework on each of Monday to Thursday nights: