TEACHING AND LEARNING

St. Thomas’ School strives to educate the whole child – intellectually, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.  We act on the basis that learning is ongoing and life-long and encourage children to become effective self-managers of their learning.

Our curriculum is based on the Victorian Curriculum F-10 and framed within the principles of Professional Learning Communities (PLC).  Learning is approached as an inquiry process.  The inquiry process offers the potential to develop skills and dispositions for lifelong learning, for example, independence, thinking skills, confidence, decision making and cooperative learning.

Parents are the primary educators of their children and we aim to support and supplement that role by developing core skills and progressively opening minds to embrace diversity and teach inquiry and critical thinking.

It is a priority for our community of staff, students and parents to interact with one another in a spirit of pastoral care and mutual respect. 

Your child’s performance at school is strongly influenced by parental attitudes and expectations, therefore the interests of the child are served best when there is collaboration, cooperation and understanding between school and home.

• Student Reports and Learning Portfolios

Reports are issued twice yearly at the end of Terms 2 and 4. They are delivered in conjunction with each child’s Learning Portfolio which showcases the child’s work alongside curriculum outcomes.

• Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent Teacher Interviews are held in Term 2 and provide an important opportunity to discuss the progress of your child as well as talking through any concerns or difficulties and how they may be addressed.

Parents are encouraged also to meet with teachers at other times throughout the year and the office may be contacted to make a mutually suitable time for this to occur.

• Student Diary

All St. Thomas’ students are provided with a diary and notes added to to the diary can also be used as a means of communication between parents and teachers.

• ART

Opportunities for children to participate in the areas of Performing and Visual Art are embraced and celebrated at St. Thomas'.  Our students have weekly lessons in our well resourced Art Room on projects that complement the inquiry units of work from the classroom.

Students are able to showcase their performing arts skills when presenting their learning to the school community at weekly assembly. Our school also participates in the Warrnambool Eisteddfod giving children the opportunity to perform items such as Choral Speaking, Recitals, Poetry Performance and Story Telling.  

• MUSIC

St. Thomas' music program gives children the opportunity to explore a wide rang of musical experiences. Children are directed in the appropriate techniques and in appreciation of music in society.  Students are given numerous opportunities to share their music with others through performances and concerts.

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Integral to education at St. Thomas’ is the acquisition of movement skills and concepts to enable students to confidently, competently and creatively participate in a range of physical activities.

• DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

The Digital Technologies curriculum at St. Thomas’ enables students to become confident and creative developers of digital solutions through the application of information systems and specific ways of thinking about problem solving.