Curriculum

We believe that  students learn best when they have good working relationships with their teacher and peers, are challenged, can learn and practice required skills and can make real-world connections in their learning.

Students experience a core curriculum taught by their classroom teacher as well as a team of teachers who deliver the specialist aspects of the curriculum. Children who require extra support may receive that in class and/or in small withdrawal groups.

Literacy

We believe that the development of literacy is vital for learning and well-being.

Every child and young adult should be able to read, write, spell and communicate at an appropriate level.

It is important that the skills, knowledge and understandings of literacy are developed in children at an early age. These skills, knowledge and understandings must become increasingly sophisticated as these children grow into young adults and the literacy demands themselves become more sophisticated.

Literacy is taught within English by all classroom teachers from Reception to Year 7.  It is also everyone’s responsibility as it is integrated into all specialist subjects.

Numeracy

Developing the skills, knowledge and understandings in Numeracy is fundamental to the learning and well-being of children and young adults. Numeracy is a priority, building on the development of one-to-one correspondence in the Early Years to more complicated concepts in Number, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Statistics and Probability in the Primary Years.

Numeracy is taught within Mathematics by all classroom teachers from Reception to Year 7. It is integrated into specialist subjects where it is relevant.

Assessment and Reporting

Student learning will be assessed using Australian Curriculum framework as appropriate. Our student reports meet the requirements of the State Government’s plain-language student reports for South Australian public schools.

This means that our reports:

• are provided in writing twice a year.
• use plain English that is easy to understand
• include A-E achievement levels for student learning
• provide a professional assessment of each student’s progress and achievement.

Positive Education

Elizabeth Vale School has embraced  Positive Education. Positive Education brings together the science of Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology with best practice teaching to support individuals and communities to flourish. It focuses on specific skills that assist students to build and strengthen Positive Relationships, develop a Positive Emotion toolkit, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy and flourishing lifestyle.

‘Positive Psychology is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work and play.’ (Martin Seligman)