Curriculum - Junior School
The Junior School Curriculum has been structured in order to optimise the boys’ engagement and performance across all curriculum areas.
From Monday to Friday the morning block is devoted to Literacy activities followed by a Numeracy block up until the lunch break.
Following lunch, the boys generally engage in activities related to Religion, Science and SOSE. The use of ICT is integrated across all subject areas.
On Fridays, school assembly is usually held where boys have an opportunity to display some of their work, receive awards and celebrate birthdays just to name a few.
Classes take turns at presenting a liturgy at these assemblies.
Literacy Blocks
These blocks comprise 20 minutes of novel reading by all students followed by SWST (Single Word Spelling Test). This program sees the boys working at their own level on their own set of words. They complete self-guided activities and are constantly retested and their spelling age is monitored. Students are then engaged in completing Literacy activities such as guided reading, comprehension, learning about different writing genres and cloze exercises.
Numeracy Blocks
Numeracy blocks are timetabled between recess and lunch. Generally during the first 30 minutes of this block the focus is on problem solving and mental maths. All classes follow the Go Maths Program.
Integrated Units of Study
All topics for grade levels are outlined at the commencement of the school year. Each grade has a major focus for each term in Science and SOSE. Many of these units are enhanced by excursions, for example, a visit to Parliament House or incursions, for example, visits by Young Tassie Scientists.
Outdoor Education
Each class attends an annual camp. Camps may be organised around our teaching program or simply to promote cooperation, friendship, challenging activities and enjoyment. Currently our Grade 3 class have a 2 day camp at Conningham, Grade 4 visit Waddamanna for a 3 day experience, Grade 5 go bush, participating in such adventures as raft building, bush walking and sailing and Grade 6 visit Canberra over a four day period.
Specialist Subjects
Each class has Music, Library, Physical Education and Japanese weekly.
Art occurs on a fortnightly basis.
Learning Enrichment
Learning Enrichment is available for those students who after a series of assessments are found to be experiencing diffiuculties with the curriculum and require extra support, or are achieving at a high level and require extension and enrichment activities. A number of successful programmes are used to assist boys with their spelling, maths and reading development.
A reading programme runs with the assistance of parents and grandparents who are all trained at the commencement of the school year. Can you volunteer to help?
Religion/Faith Development
In addition to the formal classroom curriculum, students attend class and school Masses at the Cathedral; participate in daily classroom prayer; prepare and participate in liturgies at class level and school level.
Outreach
Grade 5 and 6 students are able to join our Mini Vinnies Group, which works under the banner of the St Vincent de Paul Society. They organise many fundraising and awareness activities including a clothing and blanket drive; soup and roll days, Loui’s Van, the Giving Tree and working with Bethlehem House.
The Junior School actively supports Caritas Australia through Project Compassion and other fundraising efforts.
We organise and support fundraising activities for the Archbishop’s ‘Good Samaritan Fund’.
The Junior School also responds to other special needs that arise for individuals, groups, regions or countries. For example, The Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
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iPad Programme
The St Virgil's College iPad Programme is a very exciting initiative that we are proud to present to our community.
Parents and students will need to carefully read through the iPad Programme Handbook and sign the documentation at the end before the iPad is issued.
If there are any questions, please contact the College or email the Director of ICT, Mr Richard Lawler
Junior School
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Homework
Homework is set each night.
The recommended time to be spent is
- Grade 3 - 15-20 minutes and reading 15 minutes
- Grade 4 - 20-25 minutes and reading 15 minutes
- Grade 5 - 25 minutes and reading 15 minutes
- Grade 6 - 40 minutes and reading 15 minutes
Aims
- To assist students develop worthwhile study habits, which will equip them with strategies that promote independent learning.
- To provide valuable opportunities for students to develop responsibility, perseverance, self-discipline and time management skills.
- To be conscious that homework does not encroach on extra-curricular experiences that students enjoy and gain considerable benefit.
- To provide opportunities for positive support roles for parents to assist their children.
Guidelines
- Students are expected to allocate time at home to complete unfinished class work, to complete research for projects and to develop their reading skills.
- Reading daily is considered to be one of the most important homework elements for all students.
- Depending upon the tasks to be completed at home, homework may be set at the beginning of the week for completion by the end of the week or for completion by the next school day. It may also be set as a short or long term project where a completion date is nominated by the teacher.
- Students are expected to demonstrate pride in their homework by completing their work neatly and returning it on time.
- If homework cannot be completed for a good reason, a note of explanation should be written in the diary by the parent or guardian.
- Very occasionally, a “Homework Free Night” will be given. This will usually occur following a whole school function or activity such as the Athletic Carnival or a whole of school Edmund Rice Mass.