Learning & Teaching

At St. Joseph’s, we believe that every child is unique, capable, and full of potential. As they navigate their learning journey, it’s essential to nurture their sense of identity, foster a growth mindset, and develop key dispositions that will serve them for life. This term, we are focusing on helping students understand who they are, embrace challenges with resilience, and cultivate essential skills such as creativity, self-management, curiosity, respect, and reflection.

Throughout Term One, students from Prep to Year Six will explore their own identity which is shaped by their experiences and relationships with others. We all play a vital role in forming a child’s identity by encouraging them to express themselves, celebrating their strengths, and fostering an environment where they feel valued and heard. 

We will also focus on supporting our students to have a growth mindset, which is the belief that abilities can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. When students understand that mistakes are part of learning, they become more willing to take on challenges. Simple phrases like “You worked really hard on that!” or “What can we learn from this mistake?” help reinforce a growth mindset at home. 

To support our students in becoming well-rounded learners and responsible citizens, we focus on six of our school dispositions: 

• Creativity – Encouraging students to explore new ideas, and express themselves in different ways.
• Resilience – Helping students navigate challenges, bounce back from difficulties, and develop perseverance.
• Self-Management – Teaching students to take responsibility for their learning, set goals, and manage their time effectively.
• Curiosity – Inspiring a love of learning by encouraging questions, exploration, and discovery.
• Respect – Fostering kindness, empathy, and appreciation for others' perspectives.
• Reflection – Encouraging students to think about their learning, recognise their progress, and set new goals.

By working together, we can create an environment where our students feel confident in their identity, embrace challenges with a growth mindset, and develop the key dispositions they need to thrive in school and beyond.