Curriculum
Find out more about the curriculum at Pakenham Hills
At Pakenham Hills Primary School, our teaching programs are created based on the Victorian Curriculum and assessment data gathered about the skills and abilities of our students. Teams of teachers plan together to deliver a comprehensive curriculum to engage and prepare students for the challenges of primary and secondary school. Our school motto, ‘Life is for Learning’ also informs our instruction as we foster a love of learning and the development of a growth mindset. Teachers report against the relevant curriculum achievement standards twice a year and produce semester reports to update parents on their child’s learning. Throughout the year, teachers are also available to meet with parents upon request to discuss a student’s progress.
In the classroom, learning intentions are shared with students at the beginning of each lesson to make explicit the learning about to occur. Success criteria, in the form of ‘I can’ statements, are also shared with students to describe the steps needed to achieve the learning intention. These statements are linked to our curriculum objectives and students’ learning goals. Through our PHPS instructional model, which is based on the Gradual Release of Responsibility model, students review prior learning, receive explicit instruction on new learning, participate in guided practise with the teacher and their peers, with corrective feedback provided by the teacher, before attempting independent practise. At the end of the lesson, learning is reviewed, assessed and reflected on.
Students requiring additional support or extension in any learning area are provided with Learning Statement (LS) or an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). These documents are developed by teachers, in consultation with students and parents if appropriate, and details the goals and strategies necessary to continue learning growth. These are shared with students and parents to promote student agency and develop the home-school partnership. These documents are reviewed formally every 6 months, with new goals selected for the upcoming semester. In some cases, a Student Support Group (SSG) meeting be held between teachers, parents and any required support services to discuss the goals set out and review progress made.
Many classes at Pakenham Hills Primary School are supported by a full-time Education Support staff member who works with individual students or small groups to support learning or provided additional support which is relevant to a student’s Learning Statement or Individual Learning Plan.
Assessment is ongoing at Pakenham Hills Primary School and used to inform teachers’ teaching and planning. Through pre-testing and post-testing, teachers measure their students’ growth and reflect on how methods of instruction have been effective. If appropriate, this information is also shared with students and parents so that they can share in celebrating growth. Informal, formative assessment occurs daily in our classrooms through short activities on mini-whiteboards and questioning of all students. Teachers use a range of strategies to check the understanding of all their students and use the information to adapt their current or future lessons. A range of tools are used for assessment at our school, including: ACER PAT tests, Essential Assessment, English and Maths Online Interviews, Jolly Phonics Sound Check and Sparkle Assessment (from Decodable Readers Australia). Our Year 3 and Year 5 students also undertake NAPLAN tests in March of each year.
We are also able to offer additional support for students who need to revise prior learning through our Intervention programs, Starting to Achieve Reading Success (STARS) and Getting Ready in Numeracy (GRIN). These daily, short, small-group interventions are provided to students who have been identified through data analysis as requiring support. Their progress in the intervention is reviewed through assessment and discussions between the intervention and classroom teachers. For students requiring extension, our school has a High Ability Practise Leader (HAPL), who facilitates student participation in the Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP) and Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series.
Students at Pakenham Hills Primary School learn to read and write through a structured literacy approach. This approach reflects current research on best practices for teaching, drawn from the Science of Reading and Learning, and a range of evidence-based strategies. At the beginning of their school journey, students are supported to learn phonological awareness skills, which help them tune into sounds, rhymes and syllables. This leads to daily phonics lessons, where students participate in the Jolly Phonics program, which is a systematic, synthetic and multi-sensory phonics program. This has been adapted by our teachers to suit our context and the needs of our students. Students learn sets of letter sounds, with matching Cued Articulation actions, and practise applying these by blending and segmenting words. For example, once students learn the first three sounds – /s/, /a/, /t/ – they practise reading words like at and sat by sounding them out. Our school is currently investing in a range of high-quality decodable readers to match our phonics program which will support in class and home learning. Students are asked to learn some ‘Tricky Words’ by sight, which are irregular words or high-frequency words that include sounds they haven’t learnt yet but are necessary to read books, e.g. the, they. Students’ progress through the program is continually monitored and additional support is applied through revision or in class intervention.
Through our reading lessons, students receive opportunities to develop their oral language skills, receive explicit vocabulary instruction and are supported to develop their comprehension through book studies. These lessons focus on building up students’ vocabularies and background knowledge in a variety of areas through high-quality literature. Students are also supported to develop their fluency when reading through daily opportunities to read aloud.
In Writing lessons, students begin to learn to write by developing their fine motor skills and ability to form letters correctly. Using their understanding of phonics, they learn to write short decodable words and sentences. Explicit instruction around the parts of a sentence and sentence construction ensures students have a strong grasp of what a sentence must include in order to make sense. This supports their ability to write longer, more complex sentences and paragraphs. Alongside this, the genres of writing are taught, including recount, narrative and persuasive writing, and practised. Students write about real life experiences or texts that they have read in class, and are encouraged to experiment with vocabulary and sentence structures as they find their voice as an author.
At PHPS, we aim to promote and foster an “I can do it” attitude (growth mindset) in all students towards mathematics. Teachers provide experiences that encourage student engagement and opportunities for students to struggle productively with maths problems. Teachers plan tasks that allow for differentiation and collaboration so that all students can participate at their level of development. They give regular constructive feedback and celebrate successes. Importantly we aim to teach concept before procedure so that students can reason and apply procedures accurately and efficiently to solve problems. We encourage all students to think and talk about their reasoning and to be ready to justify their responses and solutions.
Teachers base their mathematics planning on a robust understanding of the Victorian Curriculum, its Learning Progressions, Numeracy Focus Areas and Big Ideas in Number. We use formative assessment and regularly check for students’ understanding within each lesson.
Learning Support
Some children need support with their learning for a variety of reasons. Let’s work together!
Learning Support at Our School
Learning Support incorporates the expertise of staff and the wider resources of the Department of Education and Early Chilhood Development to assess, develop, implement and evaluate individual and small group programs which address the individual needs of children.
Education Support Staff (ESS)
Our Education Support Staff work closely with classroom teachers to support students with learning differences.
Language Support Program (LSP)
Our Language Support Program aims to achieve “age appropriate speech and language development,” assisting students both individually and in small group settings.
Corrective Reading
Students requiring additional reading assistance as they prepare for the transition from primary to secondary schooling participate in our intensive corrective reading program. Students work one-on-one with a fully qualified teacher in a supportive learning environment.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Children need confidence and support to reach their full potential. The EAL program is designed for children with individual needs associated with learning English as an additional language, including speaking and listening, vocabulary building, reading, writing, grammar and spelling.
Arts
The Visual Arts
At PHPS students experiment with a range of mediums and techniques. These include drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and multimedia.
They learn about artists and their practices from various times and cultures, including Australian First Nations Art and Culture. Through this process students develop understanding about the world they live in and the part they play in that world. Engaging with the visual arts, students at PHPS have a safe place to explore their world, take risks, and face challenges, a space for their curiosity and imagination.
We also have fun!
School Concert
Our annual School Concert is a showcase of performing arts and student learning, featuring dance, drama, and design. This event allows students to express their creativity through music and dance while performing in front of a live audience at a professional theatre. The entire school community collaborates to prepare for the performance, reflecting the diverse personalities, concerns, hopes, and dreams of those involved.
Senior students also have the chance to audition for individual roles and take on various backstage and creative responsibilities. The School Concert helps students build social skills and self-confidence through teamwork with peers, teachers, and parents. It’s an entertaining experience that is, above all, FUN for the participants! Everyone leaves feeling a sense of accomplishment and learns the importance of collaboration.
Music
At Pakenham Hills, we students participate in Music as part of our Performing Arts classes. Our lessons include activities such as listening, singing, playing instruments, improvising, and creating music. These lessons are designed to help students develop a love for music and essential skills.
Students learn to play different instruments, which boosts their confidence and technical abilities. We also focus on musical dynamics, helping them express feelings through volume and intensity in their performances. Understanding how to read music is important as well; students learn basic music theory, which enhances both their playing and listening skills.
Additionally, we explore the history of music, encouraging students to discover various genres and cultural traditions from around the world. This helps them understand music’s significance in different societies.
Through this well-rounded approach, we aim to inspire a lifelong passion for music, allowing students to appreciate its beauty and importance in our lives.
Dance
Dance is a vital part of our weekly Performing Arts classes, ranging from free movement to structured choreography. Students are encouraged to create their own routines, exploring different dance styles and cultural traditions. This creative process not only enhances their technical abilities but also enriches their understanding of the diverse world of dance, fostering a vibrant and inclusive artistic community.
Each year, our school proudly supports 16 committed students as they prepare for the Victorian State Schools Spectacular. These students rehearse several times a week for their performance at John Cain Arena. In addition to this prestigious event, we offer various dance groups and performance opportunities throughout the year, allowing students to further refine their skills and showcase their talents.
Drama
Students develop a diverse set of dramatic and performance skills, focusing on how to effectively use their voices, bodies, and facial expressions to convey a range of emotions and portray various characters. They learn to read, follow, and act out scripts, while also having the opportunity to write their own. Creating original skits is encouraged, allowing for creative expression alongside formal script work.
In addition to acting techniques, students explore the significance of props, costuming, makeup, lighting, music, and set design in enhancing their performances. They learn how to use these elements to create a more engaging experience for the audience. Throughout the process, students refine their voice and body language, discovering how these tools can elevate their acting. This holistic approach not only builds performance skills but also fosters confidence and collaboration among peers, making the learning experience both enriching and enjoyable.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program at Pakenham Hills provides students with opportunities to develop and improve the necessary skills to be able to successfully participate in a range of sports and physical activities, both within the school and the wider community.
In the Junior School (grade K-2) the emphasis in on developing the correct technique for a range of basic physical movements and fundamental skills that are required for a variety of sports and physical activities. These include, but are not limited to: throwing, catching, kicking and striking balls, running, jumping, skipping, hopping and dodging.
For those in the Senior School (grades 3-6) the emphasis is on further consolidation of the same skills as those being taught in the junior school, though with a greater focus on technique correction and applying the skills into a game situation. Students at this level also begin to explore strategies and develop their team work skills.
The skills developed over the student’s time during Physical Education classes from K to grade 4, culminates in the opportunities at the grade 5 and 6 level to participate in a range of sports in our interschool sport program. Students are also able to further showcase their skills in our Lightning Premiership sports days, where we compete against all the schools from the interschool sport competition.
In addition to the Physical Education program, the lower ends of the senior cohort (grades 3 and 4) have a dedicated sport session, where they come together and play a round robin against each other. These sports/games are changed every three weeks and emphasize the skills being taught during their Physical Education class. This also prepares students to take part in interschool sport competition when they are in grade 5 and 6.
As Physical Education classes are only held once a week, participation is highly encouraged, so please remember to support your child to give it their best when they come to their weekly Physical Education lesson.
Auslan
At Pakenham Hills we are excited to offer Auslan as a language other than English (LOTE). The students learn to understand the important role language has in culture and notice differences between Auslan and spoken languages. The children will achieve this through games, interacting and sharing stories.
Children will use familiar signs to present information about themselves, family, people, places and things. They will express imaginative experiences through creative games and role-play. Auslan will see students participate in group learning activities that involve taking turns, playing action games, making choices or swapping and classifying items.
Students will learn to communicate their emotions with the use of Non Manual Features and understand how to enhance meaning in their signing. They will also translate words used everyday from English to Auslan and vice versa. Students at Pakenham Hills are showing a growing understanding of what it might be like to be Deaf , and the barriers that are faced by the Deaf community. We investigate important members of the Deaf community such as artists and advocates and see the positive impact they make.
Jolly Phonics
We can already see how this amazing program is helping our students learn and use the letter sounds. Students are excited for Jolly Phonics lessons and love learning a new sound each day. Students particularly like the songs and actions.
The five skills taught in Jolly Phonics
1. Learning the letter sounds Children are taught the 42 main letter sounds. This includes alphabet sounds as well as digraphs such as sh, th, ai and ue. 2. Learning letter formation Using different multi-sensory methods, children learn how to form and write the letters. 3. Blending Children are taught how to blend the sounds together to read and write new words. 4. Identifying the sounds in words (Segmenting) Listening for the sounds in words gives children the best start for improving spelling. 5. Tricky words Tricky words have irregular spellings and children learn these separately. |