At St John the Baptist Primary School, we are committed to providing high-quality Catholic education that supports every student to learn, grow and reach their full potential.
We are a community of learners characterised by high expectations, academic rigour, curiosity and a commitment to continuous growth. Our learning environments are designed to engage and challenge students while providing the support they need to experience success.
Key Learning Areas
The curriculum at St John the Baptist is based on the syllabuses developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Students engage in learning across all Key Learning Areas:
- English
- Mathematics
- Religious Education
- Science and Technology
- Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) – History and Geography
- Creative Arts
- Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
Teaching and Learning
Our teachers provide explicit, purposeful and engaging learning experiences that build students’ knowledge, skills and understanding.
Teaching is informed by curriculum requirements, assessment and evidence of student learning. Teachers use this information to plan learning experiences that respond to the needs of their students and provide appropriate levels of challenge and support.
We recognise that every student is a unique learner. Through differentiated teaching and appropriate adjustments, students are supported to access the curriculum, consolidate essential skills and extend their learning.
Literacy and numeracy are central to learning at St John the Baptist. Strong foundations in English and Mathematics are developed through explicit teaching, regular assessment and targeted support and extension according to student need.
Supporting Every Learner
Our classroom teachers work collaboratively with learning support staff and other relevant professionals to identify and respond to the learning needs of students.
Where additional support or adjustment is required, evidence of student learning, assessment information and teacher observations are used to inform planning. Support may be provided within the classroom, through targeted individual or small-group instruction, or through adjustments to teaching and learning.
We value strong partnerships with families and recognise the important role parents and carers play in their child’s learning. Families are kept informed about student learning and progress and are encouraged to work in partnership with teachers to support their child’s ongoing growth.
Developing Lifelong Learners
At St John the Baptist, our goal extends beyond academic achievement. We want our students to become confident, curious and capable learners who can think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others and take increasing responsibility for their own learning.
Through high expectations, quality teaching and a supportive Catholic learning environment, we seek to develop students who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values they need to participate positively in their community and the wider world.
Our Religion program presents to the students core doctrine, knowledge, understanding and skills in the tradition of the Catholic Church in accordance with the Diocesan Syllabus.The teaching of Religion at St John the Baptist occurs via the implementation of the mandatory Diocesan K – 12 Religion Syllabus and Support Units in all classes throughout the school.
The teaching of Religion goes beyond the teaching of knowledge. At St John the Baptist students and their families are part of a Catholic community which gives witness to its faith through pastoral care and support.
At St John the Baptist the curriculum encompasses Religion and the six Key Learning Areas as prescribed by BOSTES (Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW). These Key Learning Areas are:
Students learn to read, write, speak, view and represent language. They learn about the English language and literature through working with a wide range of spoken, visual, multimedia and digital texts. Students learn how language varies according to context and how to communicate to a range of audiences for different purposes. They learn to read for information and pleasure. Students gain a sound grasp of language structures, punctuation, spelling and grammar and learn to think in ways that are imaginative, creative and critical.
Students develop their thinking, understanding, competence and confidence with numbers, shapes and measurement. They learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Students learn to measure time and calculate with money. They learn geometry, algebra and how to work with data and graphs and they use mathematical knowledge to communicate, problem-solve and reason.
Students develop skills in thinking, investigating and problem-solving. Science and Technology gives them knowledge and skills in scientific investigation and inquiry, design and applied technologies. Students pose questions, test ideas and develop and evaluate arguments based on evidenc
HSIE provides opportunities for students to explore how people, events and forces from the past have shaped their world. They investigate their personal and community identity and gain an understanding of their nation and its place in the world. The two strands of HSIE are: Geography (the study and understanding of interactions between people, places and environments in order to become informed citizens through a process of inquiry) and History (exploring the past to develop a critical understanding and the impact of the past on the present).
Students experience visual arts, music, drama and dance. They learn to appreciate the meanings and values that each art form offers as they perform, express themselves and explore their creativity.
Students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives. They learn about the importance of good food and regular exercise and develop positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle. Students learn how bodies grow and change over time. They learn skills to play individual and team sports, and the values of sportsmanship and teamwork.