Learning and Teaching News
Inquiry Learning @ SMDP
In a primary school, subjects other than English, Mathematics, Religious Education and those taught by specialist teachers (Performing and Visual Arts, Languages other than English - Japanese, Physical Education and Sustainability) are taught in a combined and interconnected way.
This makes the learning meaningful, purposeful and manageable. We call this Inquiry Learning.
Teachers design journeys of inquiry with and for learners that help them see connections across learning areas and between ‘school’ learning and the world beyond school.
They teach learners how to collaborate as they investigate problems, projects and passions.
Inquiry learning is a process and it is ultimately the skills and dispositions of the learner that are as important as the content.
Taking an inquiry approach to learning means you have to be a researcher, a thinker, a self-manager, a communicator and a collaborator.
Teachers plan an Inquiry for their students based on their knowledge of a broad curriculum so they can address as many Victorian Curriculum outcomes as relevant. Big concepts that drive Inquiry Units include change, sustainability, history, culture, ecosystems and relationships.
Every couple of weeks, on Seesaw, class teachers provide an overview of learning for the following two or three weeks.
This is so you know the big ideas and key learnings and can support your child's learning and connect their in school learning with real world learning.
You are encouraged to share your own knowledge, help them to access relevant resources like experts, books and videos and discuss your experiences of the topic.
You might take them to places to build their knowledge of the topic and ask probing questions and draw their attention to relevant past experiences.
The Units of Inquiry for Term 1 are as follows:
Year level | Inquiry title and big question | Snap shot of the Inquiry |
|---|---|---|
Prep | Building Connections What makes a successful and happy learning community? | An inquiry into who is in our community and what it takes to belong within a community. Students identify different types of relationships. They begin to identify and practise basic skills for including and working with others in groups. Everyone has a role and a responsibility in a community. They explore the people and services who keep us safe in our community. |
Year One & Two | Seasons Through Different Eyes How do different cultures and communities see, experience, and define the seasons in the places they call home? | An inquiry into "place" starts by understanding it as any part of the Earth people care about and give meaning to. We look at how we show these places using maps, globes, and models. We also see how weather and seasons change our daily lives and the world around us. Importantly, we explore how different cultures understand seasons, noting that not everyone uses the four-season model. We learn about how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples see many seasons based on nature, animals, and plants. By understanding these different views, we appreciate Indigenous knowledge and how they connect with the land. |
Year Three/Four | One Past, Many Voices What are the significant events in Australia’s history and how did they impact different people? | An Inquiry into how historical events affect groups differently according to the perspectives they have. |
Year Five/Six | Plan It - Build It - Do it! What makes a successful business? | Students embark on a design challenge, creating a product (physical, service, or digital) within a set timeline. Through research and teamwork, they develop enterprising skills by exploring fundraising or business ventures. This process hones their decision-making, weighing costs and benefits, and encourages reflection on the intended and unintended consequences of their choices, preparing them for real-world application. |
Creative Arts Exhibition
We are excited to announce that our school's artistic talent has been recognised! From nearly 400 submissions, artwork created by five of our students Aoife, Rishon, Amelia, Olivia and Sofia C.
Our students have been selected for the 2025 Catholic Education Week Creative Arts Exhibition. This display will be held at the Catholic Leadership Centre, 576 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, from Sunday 16 March 2025, 11.00am – Saturday 22 March 2025, 4.00pm.
Exhibition Dates | Time |
|---|---|
Sunday 16 March | 11am–4pm |
Monday 17 – Thursday 20 March | 10am–4pm |
Friday 21 March | 12pm–7pm |
Saturday 22 March | 11am–4pm |
We encourage all families to visit the exhibition and celebrate our students' remarkable achievements.
NAPLAN Update
The SMDP NAPLAN assessments have been completed! Only catch-up testing remains for students who were absent.
We want to send a big congratulations to all our students for their fantastic effort during the NAPLAN assessments. They approached each task with positivity and determination, demonstrating all their learning powers. We are incredibly proud of how they applied their knowledge and skills. Well done to everyone!
Elise Coghlan
Acting Principal | Learning and Teaching Leader