Curriculum
There are seven Key Learning Areas taught from Kindergarten to Year 6:
- Religious Education
- English
- Mathematics
- Science and Technology
- Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE):
- History and Geography
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- Creative Arts
NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) developed a syllabus for each of the Key Learning Areas except for Religious Education, which is set by the Diocese. Click here for the link to the Parent's Guide to the NSW Syllabuses from NESA.
Religious Education
The practice of our faith is central to our Catholic identity. Therefore we value opportunities to gather as a parish school community. Students regularly attend Masses at St Augustine's Parish church. Feast days, as well as special celebrations like Mothers' Day and Grandparents' Day, are celebrated as a whole school, and each cohort attends Mass twice a term. The Sacramental program is Parish based, and families are invited to contact the parish office for enrolment details.
Music
Music is a key part of our school, and all students have lessons with our specialist Music teacher once a week. In addition, students may elect to be part of the following:
- School Choirs - Students from Year 3 to Year 6 can elect to join a choir. These choirs perform for school and community events, including the Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod.
- Piano Lessons are available during school hours with a specialist music tutor. An additional fee applies to this program.
Technology
The use of technology is an integral part of learning at St Augustine's and is embedded in all Key Learning Areas. Every cohort has access to laptops and iPads to facilitate a variety of online learning platforms. Students in Years 5 and 6 may bring their own devices to use during school time for learning, but it is not compulsory.
Every learning space has an interactive whiteboard or Smart TV. Interest groups and lunchtime clubs involving technology include Robotics, Coding, 3D Printing and Photography.
Seesaw
At St Augustine's, we know that parent engagement in learning leads to improved outcomes for students of all ages. We believe that parents play an essential role as the first educators of children, and ongoing, active engagement of parents, families and communities has a major impact on a child's success at school. We understand that teachers and schools can support parent engagement in learning by building partnerships to connect learning at home and school.
Seesaw is used across the school, K-6, as a strategy for building partnerships between school and home. It is our intention that Seesaw will encourage conversations between students and families centred on learning. Our goal is to continue to build connections between families to student learning and celebrate student growth.
What is Seesaw?
Seesaw is a student-driven digital portfolio, a simple way for students to record and share what's happening in the classroom. It gives students a place to document their learning, be creative and learn how to use technology. Each student gets their own journal and will add things to it, like photos, videos, drawings, or notes.
Digital portfolios make it easy to give students choices, empower reflection on learning over time and help students create something they're proud to share with others. Most importantly, Seesaw gives your child an authentic audience for their work and their family, which motivates them to do their best.
Students post on Seesaw at least once per week. What a great way to see what is happening in the classroom and a wonderful conversation starter with your child.