At Carcoola Primary School, our staff sets high expectations for students, using evidence-based high-impact teaching strategies. Continuous encouragement and constructive feedback play a pivotal role at every stage of learning, ensuring student success.
We are dedicated to cultivating a nurturing learning environment characterised by warmth, cooperation, and care. Our approach involves providing challenging learning opportunities through hands on experiences, exploring topics of interest, organising special events and engaging in cultural activities. The integration of digital technology is evident in all aspects of our curriculum.
The curriculum offers a learning framework, which enables children, at their own individual ability levels to:
- Speak, listen, read and write efficiently and effectively.
- Master mathematical ideas and skills
- Appreciate their heritage and the natural world they live in
- Observe the physical world around them and gain understanding of it by posing problems.
- Making investigations and drawing conclusions
- Express themselves through drama, art and music
- Be physically fit and understand the important aspects of good health.
- Gain hands-on experience in information technology, enterprise and science.
- Express values in their everyday lives
English
Students learn that there is a structure to effective writing and are taught to express themselves effectively while at the same time creativity and imagination are fostered. Children are encouraged to write daily about their ideas and experiences. Writing skills are explicitly taught at all year levels and students are expected to present their work in an organised, neat and sequential manner using the appropriate vocabulary, grammar and genre. Correct letter formations, pencil grip, posture and setting out are explicitly taught at all year levels.
Spelling
The teaching of correct spelling at Carcoola is based on the explicit teaching of phonics, phonemes, syllabification. Carcoola has a whole school approach to spelling with the PLD (Promoting Literacy Development) program used in years Kindy to Year 6
Reading
Standing alongside our reading programs, we encourage students to read at home. Pre Primary to Year 2 students are encouraged to read each night and this is recorded in the RIB-IT (Reading In Bed – It’s Terrific). It is a program aimed at encouraging all students to read regularly at home. Reading time should be about 15 to 20 minutes. Parents can encourage their children to be better readers and successful students by:
- Ensuring their child chooses a book to read in bed
- Encouraging their child to go to bed a little earlier so they can read in bed, and
- Completing the log book provided
In Years 3-6, we operate the Literacy Pro program. Students read books at their level and are regularly quizzed on the information gained in each book they read. They earn points for awards and prizes throughout the year. This program is designed to improve confidence and comprehension in reading.
Mathematics
There are 3 mathematical learning strands – Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability. In Mathematics the emphasis is on understanding how our number system works and problem-solving techniques with which to find solutions to everyday problems. Explicit teaching of all new learning concepts is essential and underpins the need for regular practice of fundamental skills involving the children in automatic recall of number concepts and facts.
HASS – Humanities and Social Sciences
The HASS component of the Curriculum includes History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, and Economics.
Science
Science lessons involves investigating, observing and handling physical objects and living things. Children make observations, record data and draw conclusions. In doing this, they develop critical and creative thinking skills and challenge themselves to identify questions and draw evidence-based conclusions using scientific methods.
Arts
Students engage in activities where they express imagination, record creatively, construct meaning and communicate by means of aesthetic values. The Arts include Dance, Drama, Media, Music and Visual Arts. Often these areas are interrelated by exploring and developing ideas, using skills, techniques and processes, and using Arts Languages.
Drama/Arts are encouraged at all year levels, often leading to a class or group presentation to the school or at a special event.
Languages – Indonesian
In the LOTE Learning Area students develop the knowledge, skills and understanding to communicate effectively and appropriately in Indonesian. This general capability is to be included across all areas of the Australian Curriculum and enables students to gain a wider knowledge and understanding of Asian countries and their cultures.
Digital and Design Technologies
Technologies enrich and impact on the lives of people and societies globally. Society needs enterprising students who can make discerning decisions about the development and use of technologies, develop solutions to complex challenges and contribute to sustainable patterns of living. Technologies can play an important role in transforming, restoring and sustaining societies and natural, managed and constructed environments.
Physical Education – Sport
Physical Education classes aim to develop in all children an enthusiasm for physical activity so that they become committed to pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle. The programme is designed to improve skill development through stimulating and challenging situations with the emphasis being on the value and enjoyment of participating rather than competition.
Some school activities, mainly sporting, are organised, where children are placed in one of the following factions – DJARLMA… KAARLA… PINJAR…. New students are allocated a faction upon enrolment at school. All students are expected to wear their faction shirts and hats on Sport Days and to all sports events.
SWIMMING PROGRAM – All children in Years Pre Primary to Year 6 are able to participate in swimming lessons that run 10 lessons in one week. The lessons are arranged through the WA Department of Education. The lessons are held at the Pinjarra Aquatic Centre. Transport is via a school bus service directly to the Aquatic Centre and back to the school. Parents are welcome to be assistance or spectators at the lessons and at the Swimming Carnival. Swimming Lessons for 2024 will be held in Term 2 – Week 4. Details will be released closer to the scheduled times.
INTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES are part of the overall programme with athletics, cross-country and team sports carnivals being annual events for Pre Primary to Year 6. Some other interschool events may also be arranged between us and other small schools.
SPORTS CLINICS for a variety of sporting activities are held during school time. Co-curricular sport is available in a variety of winter and summer games. Parental involvement is encouraged in sessions and is necessary at sports carnivals.