The Primary School

In 2007 the Primary School will have four hundred students enrolled from Kindergarten to Year 6. There are two classes in each grade. There is an additional multi-age K-2 class. The Primary School uses the NSW Board of Studies curriculum for all Key Learning Areas.

In addition to the classroom teachers, specialist teachers are employed for Library, Speech and Drama, French, Japanese, Gifted and Talented, Learning Difficulties and Music. The College employs counsellors for Primary families to access. The Primary School has an occupational therapist and a speech therapist as associates.

The staff is drawn from diverse backgrounds and have a variety of educational philosophies. Teachers are encouraged to trial new approaches to pedagogy. We have the vibrant Professional Learning Program, which addresses selected priority areas. Teachers have high levels of collegiality in teaching and programming. Release from classroom teaching is provided at the same time for grade teachers to facilitate this collegiality. Team teaching operates throughout the School.

National Awards

In 2005 the Primary School was one of four independent schools in Australia to be awarded a National Literacy and Numeracy Week Award for Excellence in Literacy. This followed on from a National Quality Schooling Award in 2004 for Literacy. In 2003 we won a National Quality Schooling Award for our Mathematics achievements. In 2002 we won a State National Literacy and Numeracy Week award for Mathematics

These awards recognised the work of the Primary Staff with our Professional Learning Program. Our PLP provides time and training for teachers to develop projects that address our priority areas.

Our priority areas in recent years have included:

2006: Information and Communication Technology

2005/04: Writing (NLNW Award and NQS Award)

2003: Mathematics (NLNW Award and NQS Award)

The PLP reflects the model of learning for all members of the Primary School. We believe that learning should be:

Library

Our full time Primary Librarian provides weekly lessons to all grades. The lessons are planned and team-taught with the class teacher to ensure that the Library lesson is an extension of the classroom program. The Librarian resources all class programs and ensures that the Library supports the curriculum and students’ interests.

The Premier's Reading Challenge, class novel studies and an annual book fair are also co-ordinated by the Librarian.

Learning Resource Centre

The Learning Resource Centre is responsible for the provision of education programs for students identified with learning difficulties or special needs. The programs take the form of individual education plans, small group programs and grade support. The Learning Resource staff includes two teachers and four classroom aides who have completed the NSW TAFE training for classroom aides.

The Learning Resource Centre staff work closely with teachers and parents of students within their programs. This takes the form of meetings each term with parents and teachers to discuss progress. LRC staff members also meet each term with the grade teachers to discuss progress of and provision for identified students.

All new students entering the school other than Kindergarten undertake a diagnostic test to determine their academic progress. This diagnostic test determines placement in support programs. Existing students’ progress is monitored continually. If concerns about progress arise students are placed in a variety of support programs ranging from individual education plans and small group withdrawal to in-class support.

Gifted and Talented Students

A specialist teacher provides a program for students assessed with this profile. The program has three components. The first is the provision of a thinking skills program for small groups of identified students. This program is delivered by withdrawal from the class for students in Grades 3 to 6. The second component is the provision of a co-operative skills program for all Grades 3 to 6 classes. The third component is a mentoring program. The GATS teacher provides this directly or organises a mentor from outside the school.

Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

All Primary students are involved in the study of a language. From Kindergarten to Year 3 the language is Japanese, which is taught by a Japanese national. In Years 4 to 6 the language is French and is taught by a French Canadian. Both teachers are language teaching specialists.

Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)

The College has a deep commitment to the creative arts. It presently employs three specialist teachers to deliver the CAPA syllabus. The three teachers work as a team with each grade and provide Music, Dance and Drama as an integrated package. Students rehearse for and perform regularly at weekly assemblies.

The Primary School involves all students in the Regional Eisteddfod. In Year 3 all students participate in a strings program. Specialist tuition in a variety of musical instruments is available through the School of Music.

The EYE Festival

“EYE” stands for “Express Yourself Everyone”, the motto for the week-long creative and performing arts festival held each year in the Primary School. The EYE Festival includes daily performances by students, staff and visiting artists. It also includes daily sessions with over 20 visiting artists from a range of backgrounds including cartooning, drama, drumming, ceramics, circus skills and a variety of dance and crafts. Other features include visits to art galleries, a student film festival and a final concert.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is delivered through a multi-faceted program. A major aspect of care is the School Counsellors who provide both immediate and longer term support to students in need. The College Chaplains undertake a similar role. The “Seasons” program has operated in the school since 2003. Six Primary teachers have undertaken the training for the facilitation of this program. It is provided for groups in each stage.

In early Term 1 of each year we hold a Peer Support Camp for our Year 6 to develop their leadership and relationship skills. We also run Peer Support sessions, during which our Year 5 students assist Kindergarten with literacy. This extends to Year 6 students assisting Year 1. The Playground Skills program has operated for a number of years to assist Stage 1 children adjust to the playground. An Art group has been initiated and developed for students who are experiencing social difficulties.

The Transition to High School program has operated since 2003. This includes orientation days and “shadowing” days to assist students’ adjustment to high school life.

Various class and school recognition systems operate. These include the Principal’s awards for students sustaining effort, class merit awards for classroom work and a ‘caught you being good’ acknowledgement.

The Clubs Program

Clubs are offered to Primary students at lunchtime and after school. They are voluntary, but do enjoy a high degree of popularity. Two types of clubs are provided: either cultural or sporting. The cultural clubs include Dance, Chess, Computers and Needlework. The sporting clubs include Rugby, Basketball and Netball. The Learning Resource Centre staff provides the Homework Club.

Social Justice Initiatives

Each class has a sponsor child through the World Vision scheme. The Primary School also supports a Cambodian orphanage. Other fundraisers undertaken annually include MS Readathon, 40 Hour Famine, Jeans for Genes and Sunnies for Sight.

A staff funded scholarship for Aboriginal students has been in place for a number of years.

Outdoor Education Program

The program runs from Grade 1 to Grade 11 with increasing difficulty and challenge. In Grade 1 the students are led by an experienced Outdoor Education tutor through a series of activities at the school for a day. In Grade 3 the students stay overnight at the school and are involved in activities for two days. In Grade 5 the students travel to an Outdoor Education facility for a three-night stay with specific activities provided.

Student Representative Council

The Primary School elects two school captains and two vice captains. These students are joined by eight Year 6 students to form the Student Representative Council. The SRC meets weekly with the Head of Primary. The SRC has developed and implemented a range of activities for the students including dances, cake stalls, speaking competitions, chalk art, Aqua Jet nights and fun runs. The SRC uses the funds raised by these events to purchase a Year 6 gift for the school and to support a selected charity.

After School Care and Vacation Care

The College operates the After School Care facility and program for parents requiring this service. ASC operates from 3pm to 6pm each school day. Our Vacation Care program operates through the school holidays.

Parent Participation

Parents are a regular presence in the Primary School, assisting with reading and numeracy as well as attending excursions. Other parents take roles coaching School sports teams particularly Rugby, Basketball and Netball. Parents are involved in the College Canteen and the Parents and Friends Association.

At the beginning of each year parents are invited to an orientation evening to meet new teachers and receive an outline of the year ahead. Parents enrolling children in Kindergarten are invited to an information evening and orientation afternoons for the children in November, prior to the new school year.

Parents are invited to a conference with teachers at the end of Term 1 and again at the end of Term 3. A student assessment portfolio is provided at the end of each semester. Each term, the grade teachers provide overviews of the term for parents.

The Primary School has initiated and implemented a range of parent education courses including ICT, Writing, Reading and Numeracy.

Computer Studies

Bishop Druitt College Primary School has excellent computer facilities.  This includes a full time Primary E-mac workroom equipped with twenty eight computers, banks of laptops on mobile trolleys that are available for classroom work, a fully wireless environment and the provision of a laptop to all teaching staff.  The Primary school has developed a Computer Studies K-6 plan to provide for the development of students skills and knowledge in ICT.

At the beginning of 2007 75% of Primary classrooms were equipped with interactive whiteboards.  By the beginning of 2009 all Primary classrooms and associate rooms will be equipped with IWBs.  These interactive whiteboards provide extra-ordinary tools and applications for the teachers and students.  These include direct internet access on a full size screen, DVD player, interactive screen and a suite of teaching tools.

There is a full time ICT manager and two technicians to oversee the operation of the equipment.

Quick Links

Stage 1 Curriculum

Stage 2 Curriculum

Stage 3 Curriculum