Curriculum
In 2005 we moved into the new approach to student learning specified through the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
The Purposes of the new directions in educations are set to ensure that students are equipped with capacities to:
- Manage themselves and their relations with others.
- Understand the world.
- Act effectively in the world.
This is undertaken through the three core inter-related strands which follow.
PHYSICAL PERSONAL AND SOCIAL LEARNING
Knowledge skills and behaviours in
- Health
- Physical education personal learning
- Interpersonal development civics and citizenship
DISCIPLINE BASED LEARNING
Knowledge, skills and behaviours in :
- The Arts
- English
- Languages Other Than English
- The Humanities
- Mathematics
- Science.
INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING
Knowledge Skills and Behaviours:
- Communication
- Design
- Creativity and Technology
- Thinking.
- Information and Communication Technology
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
In our religious education curriculum, we will follow the Directives of the Archbishop of Melbourne as given in the official Diocesan Texts “To Know Worship and Love”.
In the Curriculum we will provide religious education that is meaningful to each stage of our students’ development. This involves bringing the Gospel into dialogue with the concerns of their lives and of our time. In our curriculum we work with the distinctive realities, issues and concerns which students experience in their daily lives. We attempt to present Jesus Christ and his message and His Church making use of the best of current research, theory and practice in education. Hopefully, this will lead our students to a full and rich appreciation and practice of the Christian Life.
An Integrated Program of Learning is undertaken at St. James’ but the following is indicative of the essential content embedded in each integrated Unit of Work.
STUDIES OF SOCIETY & ENVIRONMENT
This key learning area focuses on investigating people’s interactions with each other in different places at different times. It also considers society’s interaction with its physical surroundings.
SCIENCE
Science education at St. James’ develops student’s abilities to pose questions and provide answers about the physical and biological world.. We aim to give students an understanding of the way science and scientists work in the community and help them make decisions about further study and hope to develop their interest in science and stimulate thinking.
HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Studies in this area promote understanding of physical activity and movement, food and nutrition, drugs, health, safety, human development and human relations.
THE ARTS
Music, Drama, Dance, Media and the Visual Arts are the five components of The Arts curriculum at St. James’. Each makes a distinctive contribution to learning as students are engaged as makers or producers, as performers or presenters, as audience members, as critics or as arts theorists, studying The Arts in the past and present.
L.O.T.E. - ITALIAN
St. James’ supports the contention that learners learn best through using the language to achieve a clearly defined purpose in realistic, and where possible, real situations. Activities are chosen for their value in promoting knowledge about the language, its vocabulary and structure, as well as deepening the learner’s knowledge of Italian society and culture.
TECHNOLOGY
The technology program at St. James’, involves students in generating ideas and acting on them, as well as using and developing processes and products that satisfy human beings. Students develop their skills in using equipment, and their knowledge and understanding of past and present technologies grow as they explore the possibilities of emerging technologies.
The Information Access Centre formed by the Library and Computer Laboratory is integral to all teaching and learning conducted at St. James'.
We recognise the importance of fostering multi-media computer literacy amongst staff and students.
INTEGRATED LEARNING
While above we have specified the discipline areas, an integrated model of learning is used at St. James’, the approach is enquiry based. This "interdisciplinary” approach matches subjects for overlaps in topics and concepts attempting to ascertain and teach what is essential learning.
This approach, typified by the work of Kath Murdoch, is a natural integration of material through an inquiry approach.
The inquiry approach to learning and teaching supports contemporary learning theory. This approach is built upon the idea that students are actively involved in learning and continually reconstruct understandings in the light of experience.
It encourages students to participate in active investigation, and to integrate, rather than separate knowledge, as they move from acquisition of facts to the development of deep understanding.
ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
We are pleased to utilise the professional expertise offered by programs such as "Life Education " in which children learn the manner in which to care for their bodies and about peer pressure.
Every effort is made to allow every child within the school to become a proficient swimmer. A formal swimming program is arranged as an integral part of the Health and Physical Education Program.
The school community accesses a comprehensive network of educational support services to assist in the skill development of both ‘gifted and talented’ children and children ‘at risk’. This network enables teachers to focus more clearly on the skills particular to individual student needs.
Children in the senior classes are taught First aid and are expected to participate in the school camp.
Paraliturgies and school Masses are prepared throughout the year and Sacramental programs are an integral part of Religious Education within the school.
Netball, basketball and soccer are keenly contested in interschool sport and professional tennis coaching is also available. Older children participate in interschool cross country running and athletics is encouraged throughout the school.
Special Weeks are set aside for such diverse events as Science Week, Health & Fitness Activities, Helping Others and the many special events that occur throughout the year.
All children are offered the unique opportunity to study any one of a wide variety of orchestral instruments (including violin, cello, piano, flute etc.), on campus or at the neighbouring ‘Star of the Sea’ secondary college. We are proud of our school choir and look forward to the Bi- Annual Performing Arts night which is held at Sebastian Hall. To facilitate and enrich the curriculum offered, excursions within the wider community are occasionally organised as appropriate.
A chess club is run weekly and St. James' students perform admirably in interschool competitions.
Flower arranging classes are also available and being facilitated by a floral artist and children from St. James' have been recognised over the years for their floral contribution to the Brighton Floral Show.
The school curriculum is supported by a well established library.
St. James' School endorses, among other initiatives the Safe Routes to School program ,The Asthma in Schools Program, and the Sun-Smart Program.