School Programs

As our amazing school has grown and developed in our first 2 years of operation, so too have the programs and learning opportunities that we are able to provide to our students. No two schools provide the exact same programs and opportunities, so there will be levels of variance between schools in this area, but at ACS we are committed to provide a broad range of high level and purposeful Specialist and alternative programs that allow students to demonstrate their individual skills and talents across a number of areas and explore and develop new ones.

At this current time we run the following Specialist subjects and programs;

Physical Education
Visual Arts
Performing Arts
Camps program (from Grade 1 late stay through to Year 10)
Excursions and in school visits aligned to curriculum priorities
Swimming Sports day (Years 3-10)
Cross Country
Athletics day (Years 3-10)

LOTE

At this stage despite our endeavours to offer Auslan as our Language Other Than English (LOTE), we have for the last 2 years, been unable to attract a suitably qualified and experienced teacher. This has meant we have sought an exemption from the Department of Education and training (DET), whilst we continue to pursue an Auslan teacher to work in our school.

During 2020, we will be working diligently with DET and other organisations to determine the possibility and viability of Auslan as a LOTE at ACS into the future. Should we find that Auslan will not be achievable in 2021, we will go down the path of identifying another language to introduce in 2021. The school community will be kept updated via the School Newsletter.

Swimming

Many parents and family members may have had a school experience where you had an intensive learn to swim program (or alike) each year during their Primary School years. Up until recent years this was still common place, until some changes within DET and specifically to the Parent Payment policy meant schools were unable to pass on the cost of swimming tuition to families.

The school does receive some funding based on the number Grade 6 enrolments each year to support the implementation of a Water Safety and Education program, this money is nowhere near sufficient to cover what it would cost to provide an intensive swimming program for what is now 460 students.

So as a school, we currently run a Water Safety and Education program for our Grade 6 students each year through Life Saving Victoria and usually this is in Term 4. We feel given our location, this is a really valuable program for our students.

This is not to say this is how Water Safety and Education will be offered at ACS forever and we will continue to review and develop as time goes by.

If you have any questions relating to the above or related information, please contact the school Administration Office and we will be happy to discuss.