Early Years

We Explore

Commencing the education journey can be a daunting process for students and our families. We pride ourselves on developing positive family relationships to ensure a student’s start to formal education is seamless. We focus on a positive education approach to wellbeing, resilience, and social-emotional learning. In our dedicated Early Years Mercy Precinct we offer a safe and secure environment that allows our students to develop independence and the necessary social, emotional, and personal skills needed to prepare them for the next step in their education journey. Primary school is not simply about the development of Literacy and Numeracy skills but preserving a child’s sense of wonder and creating a love of learning that will endure as they progress through our College and their education journey.

Our dedicated Early Years staff prioritise establishing foundational Literacy and Numeracy skills in a nurturing environment. We are at the forefront of evidence-based best practice to cater to the learning needs of all students. Our Early Years precinct nurtures imagination and curiosity through an inquiry-based approach to learning. Students begin to reflect on their learning, become critical thinkers and when this is combined with our social justice education and the Catholic social teachings, they understand how to be a person of action.

Our team of specialist teachers work with all of our students across subject areas such as The Arts, Language and Physical Education to provide them with a unique opportunity to engage the body as well as the mind which is essential to developing a wide range of learning tools. Students engage in reflective activities to explore faith, spirituality and responsible decision making.

Each Prep to Year 2 class has its own core teacher who is responsible for the well-being and academic progress of each student.

Our dedicated Early Years teachers are focused on providing the essential elements of an Early Years education. Parental involvement, solid literacy and numeracy foundations and a nurturing environment are all the cornerstones of our Early Years precinct.

Homework is a vital part of the learning process for all students. It provides students with opportunities to consolidate their classroom learning, assists the development of disciplined study habits and involves family members in the students’ learning.

In the Prep Year parents are encouraged to read to their children and talk about daily activities moving into more formal home study as the year progresses.

Home study in Years 1 – 4 should take 1 to 2 hours across three to four nights per week to allow time for other extra-curricular obligations. The setting of homework in these years takes into account the need for students to have a balanced lifestyle including sufficient time for family and recreation.

In this early phase of learning many activities at home or in play can assist children to develop literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills including:

• Linking concepts with familiar activities such as shopping, preparation of food, local environment and family outings
• Conversations about what is happening at school
• Daily reading to, with and by parent or other family members
• Opportunities to write for meaningful purposes
• Preparation for upcoming classroom learning such as oral presentations, collecting relevant materials and information, completing surveys and audits.

Homework Club is available after school on Mondays between 3-4 pm in the Loyola Resource Centre for our Year 3 to Year 6 students.

Assessment and reporting

Students are assessed by a variety of methods depending on the subject, their developmental stage, and the aim of the assessment task. In addition to exams, our upper primary students' assessments may include multi-media presentations, research assignments, essays, performances, orals, viva voces, and videoed responses. Results of assessment and indications of a student’s progress are notified to parents in reports, which are issued at the end of each semester. Parent-Teacher Interviews are held in Term 1 and Term 3 for all parents. By appointment, teachers are available at other times to speak with parents.

Technology

1:1 Chromebooks

Part of our Catholic mission is the creation of environments where learners flourish.  Wireless in all classrooms, 1:1 mobile devices in students' hands and a Google Apps account for all staff and students, means that learning in our classrooms can be full of hope and life.  Our learners have a voice and we want to hear them.  (TCEO)

St Catherine’s Catholic College is a Google Apps for Education School.

Our aim is to develop our students' digital literacy skills, preparing our students to use technology responsibly to compose ideas, research information, communicate, create and collaborate. Google Apps for Education provides access to web-based tools to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and websites. Parents with students in Years 4, 5 and 6 have the option to participate in the 1:1 program using school-administered Chromebooks. The Chromebooks support our students and staff to fully utilise the Google Apps for Education resources, enhancing students’ educational outcomes.

Please find below useful technology forms for our students, as well as the link here for our Technology for Learning Devices and G Suite Agreement.

Early Years Documents

Welcome to the documents section, this is where you can download useful forms for your son or daughter here at St Catherine's.

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