Curriculum at a glance
The Junior School curriculum at St Catherine's provides so many opportunities for engaging learning, discovery and challenge. All students are valued and encouraged to pursue personal excellence and to move towards independent learning.
The St Catherine's Curriculum is based on Best Practice teaching and is carefully planned always with our students' knowledge, needs, interests and varying abilities in mind. It is underpinned by the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) and is both rigorous and sequential. Below is a snapshot of the St Catherine's Curriculum in the Junior School.
Prep
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 1
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 2
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 3
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 4
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 5
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Philosophy*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Year 6
Art*
English
French*
Library*
Mathematics
Music*
Philosophy*
Physical Education*
Religious Education*
Units of Investigation^
Additional Programs
Instrumental Music
Brass and Woodwind Groups
Bodyworks
Perceptual Motor Program
Choirs
String Groups
Musical Theatre
Special Clubs and Groups: Maths Mastery, Gym, Jazz, Ballet, Drama, Writing, Tennis, Concert Band, Percussion and String Groups, Classical Dance, Choral Groups
* Denotes taken by specialist teacher.
^Our Units of Investigation (Prep to Year 6)
Four well-planned Units of Investigation are part of every student's academic program and comprise the disciplines of History, Geography, Science and Health.
Each Unit of Investigation is underpinned by a sequenced Research Skill Program. Why do we do this? To research and investigate at a sophisticated level, we believe in equipping our girls with the skills of note-taking, summarising, discerning between fact and fiction, sequencing events, devising timelines, using the Internet, books and maps and referencing and resourcing.
Additional Units of Investigation will occur when appropriate, ensuring our young learners remain motivated and lifelong learners. Overall, we celebrate inquiry and promote the investigation of interesting and positive material.