Primary Years
Primary (R–6)
In the Primary years, the focus is on building strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, optimism, and resilience. Programs such as InitiaLit, Reciprocal Teaching, The Writing Revolution, and PhOrMES spelling support structured, high-quality literacy instruction. Purposeful Play and cross-curricular provocations in the early years (R–2) encourage curiosity and engagement, while strategies such as Welcome Circles, Ready to Learn Plans, and brain breaks foster belonging, safety, and regulation. Students are encouraged to become independent thinkers, problem-solvers, and tolerant citizens, guided by class mantras that promote kindness, effort, and persistence.
English
Through the English learning area, our students actively engage with ideas both critically and constructively, exploring a diverse range of language and texts to better understand the complexities of the world around them.
They develop essential skills in listening, reading, analysing, and interpreting, while also learning to communicate effectively across oral, visual, and written forms.
Reading
At our school, we place a strong emphasis on reading and use the science of reading to explicitly teach the essential skills required for success. Our approach is evidence-based, ensuring all students receive structured and systematic instruction. We regularly assess reading progress to monitor each student’s development and provide targeted interventions for those not meeting year-level expectations, supporting every learner to achieve their personal best.
We use Lexiles as part of our home reading program, allowing students to set personal reading goals and track their progress over time. This approach encourages students to take ownership of their learning and supports the development of confident, independent readers.
Writing
We are dedicated to building strong foundations for writing by using techniques from The Writing Revolution, guiding students to construct clear sentences and grow into capable, confident writers. Writing is taught purposefully and explicitly, following the teaching and learning cycle to ensure every student learns essential writing skills and language features.
Through this approach, students build the ability to communicate ideas, inform, persuade, and entertain through written text, preparing them to be successful writers for a range of audiences and purposes.
Spelling
We use the PhOrMES program to explicitly teach spelling sounds and patterns across our year levels. In the Year 3–4 team, our focus is on phonology and orthography, helping students to understand how sounds and letters work together.
As students move into Years 5–6, the focus shifts to morphology and etymology, deepening their understanding of word structures and origins. This structured approach ensures that students develop strong spelling knowledge and skills as they progress through the primary years.
Maths
In Mathematics, we explicitly teach key concepts and provide opportunities for students to investigate and explore mathematical ideas. We use common assessments across year levels to ensure learning is consistent and equitable for all students.
Our school has adopted the CUBES problem-solving approach, which helps students break down problems and apply effective strategies across all areas of mathematics. This structured and cohesive approach supports every learner to build strong mathematical understanding and confidence.
HASS
At our school, we use the South Australian Curriculum to guide our teaching in Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), providing students with a variety of opportunities to learn about their local community. In HASS, students develop an appreciation for historical events, geographical features, civic values, and economic factors that shape societies, impact sustainability, and foster a sense of belonging.
As a memorial school, we place a special emphasis on ensuring students understand and appreciate the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. Through this focus, students learn the significance of remembrance and respect for those who have served.
By engaging with a range of perspectives and interpretations, students deepen their understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them, preparing for active and informed participation in life and society. Learners are encouraged to think historically, environmentally, socially, and economically, developing key disciplinary skills such as questioning, effective research, analysing, evaluating, and communicating. These skills support students in undertaking meaningful inquiries about their own world and the wider world, both past and present.