
Education in Faith
ST ANTHONY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Glen Huntly
Religious Education promotes the message of Jesus and develops the children’s understanding of living as a person of faith. Our Catholic beliefs and School Values permeate all aspects of the integrated inquiry approach and into all curriculum areas, focusing on critical thinking and an understanding of our Catholic faith in a changing world.
We strive to foster students with a rich understanding of their faith and as leaders in Social Justice issues guided by the Catholic Social Teaching Principles. Each student is unique, and we provide experiences for rich dialogue with others allowing them to form their own understandings and make deep connections with their faith.
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The contemporary Religious Education Curriculum includes teaching about Catholic Social teachings, Catholic Traditions, Stories, Scriptures, the Sacraments, Symbols and Beliefs, the Liturgical Seasons and special Feast Days.
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Prayer is an important part of the children’s development of their relationship with God and is particularly encouraged through their participation in daily classroom prayers, Prayer Celebrations and School Masses. Spiritual Meditation is practised daily.


English
English programs at St. Anthony’s are based on several key underlying assumptions. English learning is best when:
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Children are involved and engaged in a wide variety of purposeful and meaningful activities
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Expectations of success are high
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English learning is integrated across all curriculum areas when appropriate
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Children are encouraged to recognise and achieve their person best.
We provide the students with a variety of opportunities to share, use and experiment with language. They see it modelled and demonstrated by adults and are given helpful feedback. They have time and opportunities to practise and reflect on their learning in their daily activities.
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READING
InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole-class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. InitiaLit is a three-year program, covering the first three years of school (Prep to Year Two).
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InitiaLit offers an explicit and effective model for teaching reading and related skills to children in their first years of school in a fun and engaging way.
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InitiaLit focuses on two main components:
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Phonics: to systematically and explicitly teach the basic alphabetic code in a set sequence. In addition to learning letter-sound correspondences and how these are applied to reading and spelling, children will be introduced to common morphemes and simple grammatical concepts.
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Vocabulary, oral language and listening comprehension through quality children’s literature. Detailed lessons, including writing tasks, are provided for each of the storybook titles selected for use with the program.
Mathematics
At St Anthony’s we pride ourselves on providing a rich and targeted approach to the learning and teaching of Mathematics. Our teachers use data to understand and teach each and every child. We believe that mathematics is an essential life skill that will enable our students to participate confidently in mathematical situations both now and in their future.
We provide sequential learning opportunities to all our students using the Victorian Curriculum covering the three strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.
Features of our Mathematics program include:
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5 hours of mathematics teaching per week
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Teachers transforming the latest mathematics' research into classroom based activities
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The targeting of foundational mathematical skills through the Early Numeracy Assessment project
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The use of data to inform the teaching of small groups of learners at their point of need
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High levels of student engagement to enhance positive and growth mindsets in mathematics' education
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Opportunities for students to complete real life mathematic challenges and problem solving tasks, including participation in competitions such as Maths Explorer and Maths Olympiad
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Access to a range of engaging resources and materials that provide for hands-on learning


Languages Other Than English - Italian
Research has shown that students exposed to languages other than English benefit in numerous ways, including an improvement of general linguistic skills and an appreciation of different cultures and attitudes. Experiencing the contrasts and similarities of a different language and culture assists students in learning more about their own language and way of life.
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Italian at St Anthony’s Primary School is taught from Prep to Year 6. The program encourages enjoyment of learning another language through a variety of activities and teaches skills used in all areas of the curriculum.
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Our Italian teacher is responsible for teaching weekly Italian lessons across the school. Through the study of Italian, students have the opportunity to learn not only another language, but also find out about Italian culture. They are immersed in the culture through stories, songs, food, customs and traditions that form part of the Italian language thereby gaining direct insights into the culture which gives the language its life and meaning.
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We celebrate cultural days by immersing the children in pasta making, enjoying Italian food such as pasticcio, biscotti and gelato, and taking part in experiencing a theatrical performance highlighting life as an italian.
The Arts
The Arts curriculum enables students to develop their creative and expressive capacities by learning about the different practices, disciplines and traditions that have shaped the expression of culture locally, nationally and globally. Students are both artists and audiences in the Arts. They make and respond and learn to appreciate the specific ways this occurs in different disciplines.
The Arts contributes to the development of confident and creative individuals where students express, represent and communicate ideas in contemporary, traditional and emerging arts forms. In Dance, Drama and Music students explore the performing arts whilst in Media Arts, Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design students explore the world of visual representation and expression.
Weekly Art lessons provide a range of creative experiences for students. Students explore their own works and works of other artists. They use a variety of materials and tools to produce pieces of work which are exhibited at an Art Exhibition and Soiree Night.
The Performing Arts are given high priority where children are given the opportunities to take part in a performance where they take on the persona of the characters they represent. A whole school performance is held each alternative year. Dance, Drama and Music sessions are provided through specialised lessons.
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We provide students with extracurricular activities such as; Art Exhibitions, Artist in Residence, Music and School Productions which are on a yearly rotational basis.


Physical Education
The Physical Education Program focuses on the important roles that activity, sport and recreation need to play in our students' lives by providing opportunities for challenge, personal growth, enjoyment and fitness.
We provide sport, outdoor adventure activities, dance, gymnastics, aquatics and games to help children learn motor skills and fitness through enjoyment of physical activities. The acquisition of skills enables the children to effectively participate in team sports.
St. Anthony's School has an Annual School Sport's Day. The essence of this day is participation in House events and enjoyment both for the children and their families.
Years Four – Six students participate in the Holt Zone Interschool Sports Program. The students choose between Football and Netball, and take part in Swimming Carnivals, Soccer, Cross Country and Athletics events.
Digital Technologies
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGIES
Technology is an aspect of our world which is continually developing.
The children learn about the process which people use to manipulate and modify their environment and resources, by creating items and systems, which help us in our lives.
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Students participate in activities, which include using their knowledge of scientific facts to plan simple designs, select appropriate materials, produce a model and then evaluate their designs to ensure that they meet their needs.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
While recognising there are some specific computer skills which need to be developed in the primary school, we see technology as an important tool to enhance learning in all areas of the curriculum.
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All students have weekly Digital Technology classes with a specialist teacher.
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Our children at St. Anthony's School have access to computers, iPads and laptops in their classroom on a daily basis. Our Year 3/4 and 5/6 students have access to 1:1 devices in the classroom which our school provides.

Learning Highlights
ST ANTHONY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Glen Huntly
Learning Highlights
ST ANTHONY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Glen Huntly
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Gospel Values
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Daily Christian Meditation
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Daily prayers and reflections
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Sacramental program & Retreat Days
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Social Justice Program
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Class Masses participation
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Altar Servers
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Celebration of major Liturgical Feast days

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Expert teachers
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Evidence based approaches
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Data driven
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Differentiation
Plus:
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​Coding Club
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Art Club
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Book Week
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Science Week
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STEAM Program
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Maths Olympiad
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Years 3-6 Camps
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Premier’s Reading Challenge

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Morning Fitness
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Swimming Program
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Inter School Sports
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Cross Country
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Athletics Day
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Football
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Netball
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Hoop Time

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Buddy Program
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You Can Do It!
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The Resilient Project
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Cyber Safety
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Fortnightly Assemblies
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Anti- Bullying Initiatives
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Transition Program
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Growth Mindset

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Arts Exhibition & Soiree Night
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School Production
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Instructional Music
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Pantomime classes
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School Choir

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School Leaders
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Sports Leaders
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Social Justice Leaders
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Sustainability Leaders
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The Arts Leaders
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Student Representative Council (SRC)
