Kindergarten to Year 6
Our integrated curriculum is organised around the concept of a ‘Focus Study,’ linking learning outcomes through an overarching theme or topic, providing meaningful and rich learning experiences.
Our class structure cultivates and expands the children’s social and learning horizons and allows us to accommodate children’s needs in a supportive environment. Children remain with their Kindergarten teacher for the first year. As they move into Years 1 and 2, they retain their class teacher for two years. In Year 3, they have a new teacher who sees the class through to the end of Year 4, and the cycle repeats for Years 5 and 6.
In addition, the primary school employs specialist teachers for Music, Art, PE, Library, Language (Japanese) and Coding (Years 5 and 6 in Term 3). Learning support teachers and wellbeing staff are also part of our Primary team.
Early Stage 1 – Kindy, Year 1 & 2
Kindergarten is a time for laying strong foundations for all the essential skills required for formal learning, for creative work, for a secure relationship with the teachers and other children, and for the future enjoyment of learning. We allow young children at Korowal the time and opportunity to be children, to be playful and joyful.
Creating a safe environment for our youngest students to experience positive, enriching learning outcomes is central to our educational vision at Korowal School.
These early school experiences are the first opportunity we have to instil a belief in the value of education and a joy for learning. We believe that this environment leads to learners embracing attitudes and behaviours that will permeate their entire learning life, qualities such as: motivation, discipline, patience, persistence and confidence in their competence.
Your child will grow socially and emotionally, learning to develop and extend their communication skills, build their self-confidence, learn to be creative, and develop skills that assist them with reading, writing and mathematics.
Stage 2 & 3 – Year 3, 4, 5 & 6
The primary school curriculum aims to develop the students’ sense of agency in the world by strengthening their relationship with real world issues, and their ability to have an influence. The focus for K–2 is on the development of confidence and competence.
Students in Years 3–6 develop robust foundations in all basic skills through their application to projects, problems and rich tasks. Focus Studies in primary integrate and link subject areas for meaningful practise and learning outcomes.
Through an emphasis on oracy-based skills of listening and speaking, as well as concentration and fine motor skill development, Korowal prepares children to become effective and motivated learners. Rhythms and routines are emphasised as a means of settling children into school, learning to balance individual and group needs, establishing trusting, respectful relationships between students and teachers, and as a means of producing quality work.
Morning Circle
“Each morning, the children enter the classroom and form a circle with the teachers. We share songs or poems and exchange greetings, with each class developing its own unique morning circle routines.”
In Morning Circle, the children learn to;
• feel secure in the class group
• become an equally valued member of the group
• share
• memorise, recite and perform
• develop musical skills
• take turns
• listen
• discuss issues relevant to the group
• accept and appreciate differences
• respect one another
Bush School
Bush School is one day each term that we spend outdoors in our beautiful natural Korowal School grounds. Bush School days help build emotional and social skills, resilience and connections with the natural world. The Bush School activities provide diverse opportunities for students to enjoy, relax, observe, learn, explain, discuss and create.
We try to change activities each term but have a few tried, true and well-loved activities such as:
-
A campfire set in a clearing among the trees. Maintaining a safe, informative, relaxing and nurturing campfire space is the focus of this activity, often with the treat of damper and honey.
-
Natural craft activities such as weaving, tree-stars, stone painting, and Native Bee hotel construction.
-
Nature exploration – finding, sorting, drawing and describing plants and animals from the bush.
-
Bush regeneration, weeding and planting native trees.
-
Mandalas constructed from natural materials such as leaves, gum nuts, banksia cones and flowers.
Special visitors are invited to host Bush School stations depending on their interest area and expertise. This year, we hosted two special guests: local author Alan Page, who spoke with the children about native flora and fauna and read from his newly published children's book, Blue Mountains Nature – An Introduction, and scientist, environmentalist and artist Zorana McDavitt, who led a scientific bird drawing workshop.
Bush School groups are mixed groups of Kindy to Year 6 students, designed to build friendships across age groups and to provide opportunities for mentoring. There are often stories of the kind and responsible care provided by Year 6 students as the groups move through their activities. Each Bush School Day ends with shared feelings of great exhaustion and satisfaction!
Communication with Parents/Carers
Year group meetings are held at the beginning of the school year, and as necessary, throughout the year. Teachers and the primary coordinator communicate updates through the online Sentral Parent Portal, weekly school newsletter and Sentral app.
Mid-year student-parent-teacher interviews aim to give parents a comprehensive insight into how their child is progressing along with a report at the end of the year. Should any issues arise at other times, teachers will contact parents/carers, and parents/carers are invited to contact the school if there are matters of concern.