EDUCATION AT GIB GATE KLA Co-curricular Languages Music Visual Arts Key Learning Areas | English | Mathematics | Science and Technology | | Human Society and Its Environments | | Creative and Practical Arts | | Personal Development/Health and Physical Education | ENGLISH As well as being an area in its own right, English is learnt across all curriculum areas. This role of English across the curriculum is part of our explicit planning and teaching. Our programme includes those aspects of English teaching that have been validated by research and proven to be effective in classrooms. Students are:   • taught the letter-sound relationships of the language,   • given daily teacher-directed instruction in reading and writing,   • taught a full range of strategies to apply in reading and writing,   • encouraged to read aloud regularly to an adult,   • exposed to excellent models of literature,   • taught specific aspects of grammar and syntax,   • encouraged to develop an appreciation and critical response to the full range of text types both literary and factual,   • exposed to classic literary works,   • given many opportunities to practise and to experiment with their new knowledge in written, read and spoken text. The purpose of language is to communicate. In order for children to continue to try to communicate in increasingly sophisticated ways they need to experience success by seeing that they can, indeed, communicate with meaning. At Gib Gate therefore, we respond firstly to the meaning in children's reading and writing. HUMAN SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT This Key Learning Area is known as HSIE. Its aim is to develop in students the knowledge and understandings, skills, attitudes and values which enhance their sense of personal and national identity and enable them to participate effectively in maintaining or improving the quality of their society and their environment. The content area is divided into these four strands: • Human Beings • Cultures • Society • Environment Civics and Citizenship understanding, skills and values are a part of all learning in this area. It is clear that these five strands are difficult to separate and to teach in isolation. For teaching and learning purposes the programme is therefore divided into units or topics. At Gib Gate our topics cover the subject matter that is set out by the New South Wales Board of Studies and also takes advantage of the unique setting and qualities of our school. For example, there is a very strong emphasis on studies of Asia throughout the school and children from Years 3 to 6 currently learn Japanese. A bi-annual trip to Japan is offered for those who wish to take up the opportunity. Students from Japan visit in the intervening year. Each unit of work in HSIE includes aspects of sociological, historical, geographical and anthropological content and understandings. Though our two weekly assemblies we also look at many of these aspects as they relate to the development of personal values within individuals and society. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Science and Technology are integral parts of the modern world. Rapid and dramatic change in these areas is a basic fact of life for all students. Students will need to be equipped to respond to the growth of Scientific and Technological knowledge, together with the rapidly changing nature of the world. Broadly speaking, the programme at Gib Gate offers students the opportunities to:   • • • understand the physical world, investigate and make judgements about information, evaluate and use the products of technology,   • respond appropriately to local, national and global issues of a social, economic, environmental and ethical nature. The strands of the curriculum are:   • Built Environments • Information and Communication • Living Things • Physical Phenomena • Products and Services • The Earth and its surroundings. In the KLAs of Science and Technology and HSIE teachers plan units of work that are generally a term in length. In order to maximise the connections children are making between all the bodies of knowledge we link the units of work whenever possible. These links may be made via the subject matter, the skills component, values and attitudes or the linguistic demands, such as the text structures being used in the unit. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Every classroom has easily accessible computers. Kindergarten to Year 3 classrooms have a bank of computers adjacent to their classrooms and from Year 4 each classroom has a number of computers installed. The school network links primary classrooms to the library for instant access to up-to-date resources and the Internet. Computers and multi-media processes are used as tools across the curriculum. MATHEMATICS Mathematics in the Primary curriculum involves observing, representing and investigating structures, patterns and relationships between objects and events. At Gib Gate we aim for our student to:   • • • understand that Mathematics is useful and creative; recognise that Mathematics is part of our culture; develop positive attitudes towards Mathematics and the personal qualities required to pursue mathematical activity;   • develop their mathematical knowledge, skills and ways of thinking for:       • using Mathematics in their everyday lives including leisure;   • using Mathematics as a basis for making, evaluating or judging;   • engaging in the mathematical study needed for further education and employment;   • communicating mathematically and interpreting information used;   • using techniques and tools which are appropriate to modern Mathematics   • using Maths as a means for solving problems, both within and beyond the classroom, using a range of methods involving mental, manual and technological processes. Our Programme:   • is based on the New South Wales Board of Studies Mathematic syllabus,   • features three main content strands: Number, Space and Measuremen,   • includes Pattern and Chance and Data as other sections of the core material,   • expects children to learn their tables and the foundations to this begin in the early years,   • emphasises 'Working Mathematically' and developing 'Number Sense' as opposed to a mechanical approach,   • Mathematics is integrated with other curriculum areas whenever possible and thus provides students with 'real' problems enabling them to see Mathematics in a broad perspective,   • is spiral in nature and children revisit concepts throughout the years from Kindergarten to Six,   • is able to accommodate children working in small groups with a specialist teacher when appropriate. Students from Years 3 to 6 are encouraged to take part in the annual University of New South Wales Mathematics competition and students in Years 3 and 5 also sit the Basic Skills Test each year. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT/HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION As a part of the overall policy of providing a supportive learning environment at Winifred West Schools at Gib Gate we build personal development into our classroom management and teaching practices. We also have an explicit programme of Health and Personal Development that is sequential throughout the school. This KLA assists students to develop self-esteem, social responsibility, personal fitness and the ability to make informed decisions about health and lifestyle. As well as the teaching of specific content and skills surrounding Personal Development and Health, these are also connected to other KLAs wherever possible. There is also weekly Physical Education lessons and a vast range of sporting teams and activities. (See Co-curricular and Extra Subjects, click here.) CREATIVE AND PRACTICAL ARTS The aim of this programme at Gib Gate is to develop in all students a vital interest in learning through the Visual Arts, Music, Drama and Dance. They can value the personal and shared meanings gained from experiencing the arts; appreciate how the arts celebrate, reflect and challenge societies and culture; and appreciate how the arts are structured to provide for the communication of ideas including their own. We are very fortunate at Gib Gate to have a strong tradition and expert staff in this area. There are many occasions throughout the year for parents to see their children's work in this area and for students to share their products.