Australian Curriculum
St Gerard Majella School teaches the prescribed Australian Curriculum in the areas of Mathematics, English, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Languages (Japanese) and Technologies.
Curriculum at SGM
Curriculum development is an ongoing process at St Gerard Majella. The curriculum represents what students are taught. This is informed by the Australian Curriculum and syllabi set out by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, which outline the core knowledge, understanding, skills and general capabilities important for students. The curriculum describes what young people should learn as they progress through schooling and forms the foundation for high quality teaching to meet the needs of students. The curriculum plays a vital role in forming attitudes and skills necessary to become responsible, active and informed citizens of Australia’s future generations.
Our view about learning and teaching is informed by the Diocesan Learning Framework that describes the key elements, which inform curriculum planning and decision making, along with the delivery and evaluation of curriculum in classrooms.
As defined in our Diocesan Learning Framework we seek to nurture students who aspire to the following:
LEARNERS
✔ Are all capable of learning
✔ Are diverse
✔ Seek agency in their learning
✔ Deserve success
✔ Adapt to change
✔ Progress at different rates
✔ Have different needs
✔ Are spiritual
✔ Learn from others
✔ Are curious
✔ Learn in different ways
✔ Come with prior knowledge
✔ Have various levels of social and religious capital
✔ Need to be appropriately challenged
✔ Are motivated in different ways and by different things
LEARNING
✔ Is a dynamic and organic process that is continual and life-long
✔ Occurs best in a community where relationships reflect Gospel values
✔ Connects the knowledge and experience of learners with authentic life contexts
✔ Occurs in a variety of environments and contexts
✔ Values individual differences and the dignity of the human person
✔ Is enhanced by meaningful, focused feedback and reflective practices
✔ Occurs where learners experience both success and challenge
✔ Is informed by a range of research-based, high yield, developmentally appropriate pedagogies
✔ Is enhanced by data and evidence informed practices
Our school-based programs are developed to meet the interests, needs and abilities of all our students. Continuous monitoring of children’s progress informs our planning. Teachers are supported in providing an exciting and relevant curriculum through staff professional development, networking and collaborative planning time.
Digital Citizenship
St Gerard Majella School provides students with skills needed to participate fully in and to succeed in their post-primary education, in the workplace, and in the wider community. We realise that Information Communication and Technology (ICT) provides opportunities for collaboration and promotes academic excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication. These opportunities can only be fully realised when students become skilled in accessing, synthesising, evaluating and applying information, and become aware of their responsibilities in the ethical use of technology.
As such, teachers and students are supported by specialist teachers, who assist classroom teachers, to integrate Digital Technologies into the Curriculum. Years 3-6 have school supplied 1:1 iPads, and Prep – Year 2 classes have access to iPads.
Physical Education
All students receive specialist Physical Activity lessons once per week.
The Arts
All students at St Gerard Majella receive specialist Performing Arts lessons weekly. This Learning Area incorporates Music, Dance, Drama and Media. In addition, classroom teachers provide activities for Visual Arts in the classroom.
Languages (Japanese)
All students have the opportunity to learn a second language. A specialist teacher provides Japanese lessons for students once per week.
