Learning
Our Learning Philosophy
At South Melbourne Primary School, every person is significant. Our educational philosophy supports every child to be safe, happy, connected and achieving. We develop a culture of gratitude, empathy and an active care of others and the environment.
We aim to develop the essential skills of literacy and numeracy. We strive to develop professional excellence and knowledge of world’s best practice which uses data as evidence of growth over time. We constantly inspire students to become curious and engaged in authentic learning experiences.
We teach and support social and emotional wellness and ensure children have an active voice in their development. Students will emerge resilient and self-motivated with the ability to articulate goals and growth.
The Victorian Curriculum F–10 sets out what every student should learn during their first eleven years of schooling. The curriculum is the common set of knowledge and skills required by students for life-long learning, social development and active and informed citizenship.
The Victorian Curriculum F–10 incorporates the Australian Curriculum and reflects Victorian priorities and standards.
Literacy and Numeracy
The Essentials
At South Melbourne Primary School, the Victorian Curriculum is taught. The state-wide curriculum framework can be found at: http://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/ Fundamentally, our school believes in building strong foundations in Literacy and Numeracy. These are our core programs and essential skills in these key areas are taught as a platform for future learning.
Literacy starts with a strong connection to oral language development and incorporates fundamental building blocks such as phonics and phonemic awareness. It builds up to Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and extends to Grammar and Punctuation and Spelling. Mathematics development involves a fundamental understanding of number and place value and leads onto practical problem-solving skills and include fluency in thinking and mathematic application.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program caters to a variety of different art styles and offers a wide range of artistic experiences including painting, drawing, paper collage, Aboriginal Australian art studies, digital art, sculpting and many more. We are passionate about guiding young minds, helping them develop their unique artistic voices and skills. We encourage students to explore their imagination and see the beauty in the world around them, transforming their ideas into stunning works of art. Through hands-on activities, students learn to communicate their emotions and ideas visually. They also gain a deeper understanding of art history and various artistic techniques, building a strong foundation for a lifelong love of art.
We believe that the arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, and our Visual Art Program is the canvas upon which our students’ dreams and aspirations come to life.
Music & Performing Arts
South Melbourne Primary School’s Music and Performing Arts program aims to extend students’ skills, knowledge and enjoyment of Music, Drama and Dance. Students employ voice, instruments and body percussion to experiment with elements of Music including tempo, dynamics and meter. Graphic and conventional notation is studied in increasing complexity, with students learning to create and read scores and chord charts. Through Dance, Dramatic Play and Music, students create mood and convey meaning, developing choreography, stage craft and composition skills that culminate in the design, direction and performance of ensemble productions.
Students work collaboratively to create rich and varied performances using voice, drama, dance and musical instruments.
Physical Education
The Physical Education program at South Melbourne Primary School assists students to achieve independence in developing and maintaining their physical, mental, social and emotional health. Our program highlights the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. Students are involved in many forms of physical activity, from individual and non-competitive activity to competitive team games. Students develop fundamental motor skills before progressing to complex movement patterns that are integral to team sports. Our program encourages students to enjoy being active as they integrate motor skills and tactical knowledge to improve individual and team performance. Emphasis is on participation and improvement not winning.
Students develop an understanding of rules, teamwork skills, sportsmanship, fair play and game strategies, enabling them to participate in movement and physical activity safely and confidently. Students learn the skills of variety of roles including umpire, coach, player and coordinator and assume responsibility for the organisation of aspects of a sporting competition.
LOTE | Mandarin
The Language Other Than English Program at South Melbourne Primary School aims to provide opportunities and activities for students to develop their language and cultural understanding of Mandarin and the Chinese Culture. We aim to inspire an interest in the Chinese speaking culture, people and places, providing skills across all learning domains, that will encourage our students to continue with a lifelong love for learning languages and respect for other cultures.
We deliver a curriculum that will bring out the potential of every child through a differentiated curriculum and catering to the learning needs of our students. At South Melbourne Primary School, many of our students speak English as the second language already. We acknowledge many of our students already speak Mandarin as their first language so our Specialist teacher extends their language skills in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing whilst supporting students who are learning Mandarin as a second or third language.
South Melbourne Primary School
129-161 Ferrars Street, Southbank 3006
Phone
03 9935 9399
