Teaching & Learning

At our school the Australian Curriculum is taught in all areas of learning, including Maths, English, HASS and Science with specialist teachers providing programmes in Physical Education, Performing Arts, Music and Japanese. Additional Language learning is also offered in Arabic, Hindi and Chinese. Additional Music private instruction on a one to one basis is offered in a wide variety of instruments.

The DfE Teaching for Effective Learning framework is a reference for quality teaching by all staff at our school. This is reflected in a broad based inquiry model using EALD pedagogical practices to ensure a balance of student led learning and explicit teaching of English literacy and numeracy skills. This enables students to develop skills through these teaching methods to clearly understand and design learning tasks to extend achievement to the highest standard.

Literacy is taught with a focus on EALD pedagogy and theoretical underpinnings. Spelling and reading is taught using Systematic Synthetic Phonics in the early years, followed by Words their Way which is used in Years 3-6.

Numeracy is taught with an increasing focus on problematized mathematical thinking and explicit skill development. Teachers from Reception to Year 6 have been involved in the DfE Thinking Mathematically Project to further develop this work.

Teachers continue to develop a contemporary and modern approach to teaching and learning which draws together STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and maths in engaging learning tasks and projects. Students have opportunities to work in collaborative teams and learn how to apply knowledge of disciplines and understandings in new contexts as they get involved in rich inquiry-based STEM learning activities. Incorporating this approach to teaching and learning promotes engagement and challenge for every learner. STEM education programs will focus on teaching for the development of entrepreneurial, critical and creative thinking skills and strong subject knowledge and understanding.

Learning Areas and the Australian Curriculum

All students are assessed in accordance with the learning areas of the Australian Curriculum at their year level. Below is a brief outline of each learning area, including the content and strands of each.

English

The English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of language, literature and literacy. Together, the three strands focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating.

Maths

The Mathematics curriculum is organised around the interaction of three content strands and four proficiency strands. The content strands are number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. They describe what is to be taught and learnt.  The proficiency strands are understanding, fluency, problem-solving and reasoning.

Science

The Science curriculum has three interrelated strands: science understanding, science as a human endeavour and science inquiry skills.  The science understanding comprises four sub-strands, being biological, chemical, physical and Earth and Space sciences.

Humanities & Social Sciences

The Humanities and Social Sciences curriculum learning area includes a study of history, geography, civics and citizenship and economics and business.  Each of the learning areas are organised into two broad strands, being knowledge and understanding and inquiry and skills.

Technologies

The Technologies curriculum describes two distinct but related subjects: Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies. Each subject has two strands, being knowledge and understanding and processes and production skills.

Health & PE

The Health and Physical Education curriculum is organised into two content strands: personal, social and community health and movement and physical activity.

The Arts

The Arts curriculum is a learning area that draws together related but distinct art forms.  The Australian Curriculum: The Arts comprises five subjects: Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts.  Each area focuses on its own practices, terminology and unique ways of looking at the world.

Languages

The Languages curriculum is designed to enable all students to engage in learning a language in addition to English. The learning area is organised into the strands of communication, aspects of language and culture and reflection.  Japanese is the main language taught at Plympton Primary. Our First Language Maintenance and Development program includes Arabic, Chinese, Urdu, Nepalese and Hindi.

General Capabilities

As well as learning areas, the general capabilities play a significant role in the Australian Curriculum in equipping our students to live and work successfully in an ever changing and complex world.

For more information on any of the learning areas or general capabilities, please go to: www.australiancurriculum.edu.au

Extra Curricula

Student Leadership

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is the main consultation group to provide student voice in the decision making processes for the school. The SRC is also responsible for organising student events. Each class has representatives elected each year. There is also opportunity for students to be House Leaders and Active After School Coaches.

Competitions

Students are encouraged to participate in academic competitions such as ICAS, Oliphant Science Awards, Australian Mathematics Challenge and Book in a Day. They are also invited to participate in School Sport SA events at local, state and national level in a wide variety of team and individual pursuits.

Community Service

Community Service is an important part of our school community development with active encouragement and leadership promoted to connect with our local neighbours, gardening, library helpers, charity work with local non-government support agencies and coaching of teams.

Physical Education & Sport Program

Extra-Curricula Opportunities

Australian Rules Football

Our school coordinates an Auskick program with West Adelaide Football Club in term one every year for students in years R-2 in the school and local community. Additional opportunities occur during the year for students to participate in school AFL and AFLW carnivals.

At this stage we are in a rebuilding process for getting our school AFL programs back up and running.

School Sport South Australia (Formally SAPSASA)

Plympton Primary School enters teams where possible and depending on student interest into the following School Sport SA events as part of our commitment to providing opportunities for sporting excellence.

Girls

• Cross Country
• Soccer
• Australian Rules Football
• Netball
• Athletics
• Basketball

After School Sport/Interschool Sport

As a part of our commitment to providing sporting opportunities for students we provide an after school sports program which is coordinated by our staff and volunteer parents. At present we have netball and basketball teams in local competitions. Costs vary depending on numbers and location as well as the day of the week that they play. These sports rely on parent volunteers to ensure participation. We are looking to expand this.

Soccer (Football)

Plympton Primary has a lunchtime soccer program that is coordinated and run by a staff member. Students practice during lunchtime once a week. The school holds two interschool matches within our partnership schools during the year. The soccer club is open to all students from year 4-6.

Music Program

Extra Curricula Opportunities

Festival of Music Choir

Years 5-6 students have the opportunity to partake in the Festival of Music Choir each year. The Festival of Music is a school based music education program brought to you by the SA Public Primary Schools’ Music Society and the Department for Education. Students learn 15 songs over the year, having once a week choir lessons during school hours. Students perform with 21 other schools across South Australia in term 3 at the Festival Theatre. It is a huge event with students participating in workshops and two big rehearsals before the performance. It is an amazing experience!

Private Tuition

Onsite instrumental tuition is available during school hours to reception to year 6 students. Students are able to undertake individual or small group lessons with our private instrumental teachers. Prices vary from teacher to teacher from $15-$37 per half hour. Payment and timetabling are negotiated directly through the instrumental teachers.

Piano

Guitar/Bass Guitar/Voice

Percussion – Drum kit

DfE Beach Front Hub Program – Brighton Secondary School

Year 5-6 students have the opportunity to begin FREE Instrumental Music Lessons at Brighton Secondary School. Instruments include Bass, Percussion, Brass:- Trombone, Tuba, Trumpet, Woodwind:- Flute, Saxophone or Clarinet. Transport is the responsibility of the parents. Carpooling is recommended. Lessons begin usually week 4 of term 1. Students attend lessons on Wednesdays, for half an hour each week, between 9.30 and 10.30am. Later in the year students will form the beginner band. Students will need to buy or hire an instrument organised through the DfE Beach Front Hub Program or privately along with tutor book and admin fee. Once a student has started it is expected that they will attend all lessons, continue for the whole year, and practice at home!

Languages Program

First Language Maintenance and Development (FLMD) Programs

First Language Maintenance and Development programs support our school community with the provision of additional language programs that maintain and extend the home language of reception to year 6 students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds and to support Aboriginal students to learn and maintain their languages. FLMD languages reflect the recently arrived communities at our school.

This funding is allocated on a year by year basis.

The purpose of the FLMD program is to provide mother tongue language-learning support for reception to year 6 students from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds, who speak a language other than English at home as a normal means of communication on a daily basis.

The FLMD languages at Plympton Primary School are:

• Hindi
• Nepali

Recent arrivals are defined as those students (or their parents/caregivers) who have arrived in Australia in the last 5 years according to South Australian census data and school collection data and who use their mother tongue as their prime means of communication on a daily basis.

The recent arrival student eligibility criterion will be used by the DfE panel in the allocation of the FLMD salaries to Plympton Primary School.

Resources for Learning