Specialist Education
Unlike many other schools, we employ specialist educators to teach a range of subjects to our early learning students.
Each specialist teacher is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their subject, which enhances our students’ learning experiences and provides them with opportunities to identify their passion.
Specialist teachers teach the following subjects in our Early Learning Centre
KINDY | PRE-PRIMARY | YEAR 1 | YEAR 2 | ||
SCIENCE | |||||
RELIGIOUS STUDIES | |||||
MUSIC | |||||
JAPANESE | |||||
VISUAL ARTS | |||||
PHYSICAL EDUCATION | |||||
OUTDOOR EDUCATION |
Scientist in Residence
Our Scientist in Residence Program affords all our Junior School students an opportunity to learn alongside a qualified scientist in our purpose-built science laboratory. Our Years 1 to 6 students participate in the program weekly, while our Pre-primary students enjoy fortnightly sessions with our school-based scientist.
Outdoor Learning
We believe that nature can inspire learning. Our early learning students regularly venture outdoors to connect with nature and develop necessary life skills, including collaborating with others to achieve common goals.
Our Kindergarten to Year 2 students participate in a regular Nature Play Program, and in Terms 2 and 3 they visit the neighbouring Trigg Bushland Reserve weekly to participate in Bush School. Bush School provides our students with opportunities to hone their problem-solving skills, think creatively and develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of our precious environment. It also offers them a chance to build their resilience beyond the classroom.
Music
All Kindergarten to Year 2 students enjoy a range of music activities and our specialist music program offers learning experiences that develop their performance, composition, theory and music analysis skills. The program, which begins in Kindergarten and continues to Year 6, is a structured, sequential and Kodaly-based program, which recognises singing as the most direct path to a successful musical education. The main aim of the music program is for each child to experience and enjoy as many different types of active music making as possible, both in class and ensembles.
Visual Arts
All of our Kindergarten to Year 2 students participate in a specialist visual arts program, where they are encouraged to independently discover, explore, imagine and experiment with a broad range of materials, processes and ideas.
Our program, which is designed to nurture our students’ imaginations and artistic innovation, provides rich opportunities for our girls to expand their visual communication skills and explore the visual arts as a creative framework for learning.
Sport
Our Physical Education curriculum focuses on the benefits of being active. We believe that participating in recreational and competitive sporting activities contributes to our students’ health and wellbeing.
Our Kindergarten to Year 2 Physical Education curriculum focused on Fundamental Movement Skills, which are categorised into three components: stability, locomotor and object control. Our Kindergarten girls are taught these skills directly, and they are then developed during Pre-Primary, Year 1 and Year 2 through games, stations, circuits and game play.
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St Mary’s is all about girls discovering their best. We want our students to be engrossed in the exploration of ideas, to be self-motivated and self-directed, to delight in trying something new and to contribute positively to the community.