The teaching approach underpinning the Emmaus Catholic Primary School philosophy encompasses evidence-based, research supported teaching and learning practices.
As such our school ensures that the curriculum, is not only delivered through all learning areas, but also inspires students to become committed to service of the common good and contribute as Christians to society today.
Religious Education
Religious Education is the first learning area in a Catholic School and its curriculum is mandated by the Bishops of Western Australia. All students in Catholic schools in Western Australia are required to learn Religious Education from K-12.
The Religious Education Curriculum is modelled on the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Western Australian curriculum. As with other curricula, the Religious Education curriculum specifies the knowledge, understanding, skills, values, and attitudes which students are expected to acquire and provides guidelines for the assessment of student achievement.
Purposeful Play
Play is the vehicle through which a child’s learning and development occurs, as it is through play that children problem solve, invent, create, construct, explore, question, hypothesise and investigate. It is meaningful and non-threatening and encourages children to make choices. Purposeful play experiences help children develop strong foundations of language, literacy and numeracy. They are encouraged to wonder, explore, and discover their world.
Emmaus Catholic Primary School embraces an Inquiry Learning pedagogy with the aim to engage children from early childhood right through to their early teenage years using a range of strategies that authentically personalises learning. Children, parents and teachers embrace the approach as it relates to the real world in which children live. Opportunities are provided that inspire children’s natural curiosity, enhancing intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.
“If we love our children and want them to thrive, we must allow them more time and opportunity to play, not less.
~ Dr. Peter Gray
Kindergarten
Emmaus Catholic Primary School offers a 3-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten program for families.
The early childhood years are critical in the development of the whole child. In this time, children are growing and developing spiritually, linguistically, cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively. Emmaus Catholic Primary School’s early childhood education offers an inquiry program that facilitates the development of the whole child though the vehicle of “purposeful play”.
Early Years Learning Framework
The National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) guides the curriculum at Emmaus Catholic Primary School. This forms the foundation for ensuring that children in all early childhood education and care settings experience quality teaching and learning. It has a specific emphasis on play-based learning and recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. Fundamental to the EYLF is a view of children’s lives as characterised by belonging, being and becoming.
The learning outcomes are:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of well-being
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators.
These are achieved through the strong relationships developed with families and the stimulating play environment that provokes children to explore, question, collaborate and reflect.
“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn. ”
~ O. Fred Donaldson
The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.
~ Maria Montessori
Years 1- 6 Curriculum
The Curriculum at Emmaus Catholic Primary School encompasses everything the students experience from the time of entering the school grounds until the students exit the grounds at the end of the school day.
The curriculum assessment, standards and reporting are as advised by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA).
Learning content and processes are underpinned by the SCSA, the Early Years Framework and the National Quality Standards as well as the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Standards.
The learning programs offered at Emmaus Catholic Primary School are designed to cater for the diverse needs, abilities and aptitudes of students and the staff are committed to contemporary teaching and learning practices. Students are encouraged to communicate, collaborate, think critically and be creative problem solvers. In turn, our curriculum delivery aims to be relevant to students, be rich and timely, emphasise deep learning and higher order thinking, integrate ICT and learning goals, incorporate evidence-based practices and prepare students for life and learning beyond the classroom.
