Curriculum- Teaching and Learning

School Wide Teaching and Learning

In each edition of our school newsletter, we share with our community an insight into the curriculum being taught within our classrooms. This reflects our school's strong focus upon continuous improvement.

Each edition covers a different area of the curriculum, and is supported by our school-wide approaches to teaching and learning.

In this edition we provide you with an overview of our Inquiry units across the last fortnight within our classrooms.

Talk Moves- our agreed conversational norms for classroom talk

At Upwey South Primary School, part of our teaching and learning curriculum involves 'conversational norms'.

Conversational norms are the agreed ways we communicate during classroom and/or group settings.

The purpose of establishing conversational norms is for speakers to be able to contribute without interruption, and for all views to be respectfully supported and/or challenged.

Please click on the links below to see our talk moves in action, which are based upon Auslan.

I agree. I connect with your thinking and/or behaviour.

I understand.

I understand and have one idea, statement or comment.

I understand and have two ideas,statements or comments.

I don't understand and need some assistance. (Help)

I respectfully disagree.

I am choosing to ignore your behaviour.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities Beyond the Traditional Classroom

As part of our School Strategic Plan (2022-2026) we have a focus upon creating even stronger Student Voice, Agency, and Engagement; alongside the continuous improvement of our traditional/core curriculum.

Please be aware that the extra-curricular opportunities referenced in this post are beyond existing opportunities, such as the Victorian State Schools Spectacular (VSSS), John Monash Science School (JMSS), school choirs, interschool sport, arts initiatives, and other opportunities which have been previously communicated throughout this term.

School-wide Specialist Agency and Engagement Sessions

As part of our specialist programming, our specialist team have timetabled sessions to further engage students beyond the traditional classroom.

These Specialist Agency and Engagement sessions will occur during class-time, therefore it is important to be aware that participating students will step out of their normal classroom routine. This time out of class will vary dependent upon the year level and specialist area, with details referenced below.

The following sessions are available for the remainder of Term One, and throughout Term Two:

Cross Country- Training and Technique When: Session 6 Thursdays (outside of assembly weeks)

Target Student Audience: Yr 3-6 students aiming to progress beyond District level. Teacher: Mr Justin Scicluna Justin.Scicluna@education.vic.gov.au

Description: The purpose of this program is to enhance students’ level of running competency, increase their distance running, focus upon race tactics and techniques, and to improve overall running endurance. Students will take part in small groups based upon competitive age-levels. This session is in addition to our Friday morning Running Club which is open to all year levels.

Getting Real with Robotics

When: Session 5 Mondays

Target Student Audience: x2 Year Five/Six student mentors and x4 Year Two students (fortnightly changeover of students)

Teacher: Ms Hayley Oliver Hayley.Oliver@education.vic.gov.au

Description: During this session students will explore the world of coding and robotics beyond their in-class opportunities, using a combination of BeeBots, DashBots and EV3s. Students will learn how to program different types of robots to undertake a variety of levelled challenges.

Victorian Robocup League Tournament

When: Session 5 Fridays

Target Student Audience: x4 JMSS Robogals mentors, x 4 Year Five/Six students (fortnightly changeover of Year Five/Six students)

Teacher: Ms Hayley Oliver Hayley.Oliver@education.vic.gov.au

Description: This session will build upon the skills developed from the JMSS Robogals enrichment program. The four JMSS mentors will lead a team to enter the RoboCup League Tournament which is scheduled to be held in August (dates TBC).

Japanese Sister-School Partnership

When: Session 6 Thursdays

Target Student Audience: Year One students (fortnightly sessions in small groups) Teacher: Lee Sensei Michelle.Lee3@education.vic.gov.au

Description: The purpose of this session is to provide Year One students an opportunity to engage with Japanese language and culture. Students will form connections with a sister school in Japan, as we begin to form a meaningful school-wide partnership.

Make Your Mark with Community Art

When: Session 6 Thursdays

Target Student Audience: Visual Art Leaders and interested students (F-6) via application Teacher: Mrs Danielle Haines Danielle.Haines@education.vic.gov.au

Description: This session is an opportunity to participate in a permanent artwork for our school. Anyone with a passion for art, no matter your skill level or year level, is welcome to apply to take part. We will begin with our Visual Art Leaders creating a conceptual design for an eye-catching signpost to help guide visitors around our school. Once we have a design, we will then involve interested students in the creation. Details of how to apply will be shared with students during Visual Art classes.

Community Auslan Engagement- Peer Teaching

When: Session 6 Thursdays

Target Student Audience: Auslan Leaders, x4 Year Six students, x4 Foundation-Year One students (three-week rotational cycle)

Teacher: Mrs Amanda Oakley Amanda.Oakley2@education.vic.gov.au

Description: This session is an opportunity for our Auslan Leaders and our Foundation-Year one students to have a go at being the teacher, as they teach our senior students Auslan. Each week we will focus upon different signs and groups of signs, with the senior students supporting our junior students to produce video content for each newsletter. The video content will feature students communicating with our new signs and be placed into the Auslan section of each newsletter. Our first cycle of signs will include our new Talk Moves.

Note: students involved in this program will require parent permission to have their video content published in the newsletter. Required permission will be communicated by Mrs Oakley as relevant for each student group.Should you have any questions regarding the above programs, please make contact with the listed staff member.

2023 Specialist Programming

Please refer to the below information, which provides you with an overview of our specialist programming for 2023.

Foundation Specialist Programming

In 2023, all Foundation students will take part in the following specialist programs, with the following teachers:

Health and Physical Education- Mr Justin Scicluna
Visual Arts- Mrs Danielle Haines
Performing Arts- Ms Penelope Lang
AUSLAN (Languages Other Than English)- Mrs Amanda Oakley
Perceptual Motor Program- Mr Justin Scicluna