Visit The Hughesdale Primary School Website

HUGHESDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Brine St. Hughesdale 3166
Ph 95704808 - Fax 95638851
hughesdale.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

"Every child, every chance, every day"

  
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Teaching and Learning at Hughesdale PS
Click a sub-topic to find out more

Literacy Numeracy Humanities
Health Science and Technology You Can Do It Values
Junior Action Group (JAG) Homework The Arts
Information and Communication Technology Library LOTE (Indonesian)
Transition School Camps PE and Sport
Waste Wise Student Portfolios  

In terms of delivering the school’s teaching and learning goals, the school uses the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) as its key resource.

Literacy (Back to top)
Hughesdale Primary School ’s Literacy program occurs daily, most commonly during the two-hour Literacy block.  It involves structured and sequential activities that develop children’s reading, writing, spelling, grammar, handwriting and punctuation skills.  Across the school, a variety of teaching approaches are used to foster children’s enjoyment, imagination, creativity, development, confidence and proficiency.

In all levels of the school, Literacy activities relate to relevant events in children’s lives and/or the Integrated Curriculum topic being investigated.  This helps ensure that children read and write for meaningful purposes. 

Hughesdale Primary School fully supports the Reading Recovery program it has implemented for Grade 1 students who experience difficulties with Literacy.  The one-on-one support given to those students who require it provides for accelerated learning and gives them the skills they need to move towards more independent reading and writing. Children in the upper primary years who have difficulties in this area are part of the Bridges Program that is run by parent volunteers.

As our 2007 official school review found, 96% of students across the entire school are achieving at or above their indicative level of reading.  This is an excellent achievement.  We are striving to achieve these same results in writing and spelling. 

Numeracy (Back to top)
Numeracy is taught in focused one-hour sessions.  Teachers of students in Prep – Grade 5 gain an intricate understanding of children’s Mathematical knowledge at the beginning of the year through completion of the Early Years Numeracy Interview.  This allows teachers to then address students’ weaknesses whilst recognizing their strengths. Some of the common teaching approaches used that provide for all learners on a daily basis include:-

Students in Grades 3-6 are given the opportunity to participate in the University of New South Wales Mathematics Competitions .  Each year, many individuals receive credits, distinctions and high distinctions for their efforts. 

Humanities (Back to top)
By the end of Grade 6, students will have developed a very good understanding of important concepts relating to local and global environments, Australian society and their place as citizens in our democratic society. 

Each unit of work is related to a broad ‘Essential Question’, which allows students’ learning to be focused yet flexible.  Our Term 1 whole-school essential question was “What makes Australia a great place?” with all grades investigating different topics under this all-encompassing banner.  This provides a unified approach and allows children to see links between each others’ studies.

As well as completing investigations, projects, homework tasks, Literacy and Numeracy-based activities related to their area of study, each year level also participates in various excursions and incursions relating to their Humanities topics.  These provide exciting, real-life ways to engage students and stimulate their thinking and learning.

In Grades 3-6, all students participate in the Epilepsy Foundation Trivia Challenge, which tests their general knowledge and promotes cooperative learning.  Each year we have had students go on to the semi-finals or finals held at Melbourne University . 

 

Health (Back to top)
Health is predominantly investigated in classrooms and during some Physical Education sessions.  This important area of the curriculum provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to be healthy and happy members of our society.  The school Lunch Order list supports students’ learning in the classroom by including a majority of healthy options which are clearly labelled as the ‘Eat Most’ category.

The Life Education Van supports the school program and students attend this once a year.  In Grade 6, Drug Education and Family Education programs are also offered.

Science & Technology (Back to top)
Students are encouraged to approach science and technology by asking questions and trying to problem-solve the world around them.  Hands-on activities that stimulate children’s curiosity, wonder and questioning are a feature of science sessions across the school.  Systematic and creative solutions to technological problems are encouraged, with the safe use of equipment always being a priority.  As students progress through the school, they learn the satisfaction involved in collaboratively planning, conducting and reporting on their own investigations. 

Each year in Grades 5 and 6, students compete in the Engquest competition against other students in the state.  Students cooperatively complete fun and engaging projects that require considerable scientific and technological thought and application. 

You Can Do It/Awards (Back to top)
Each week at Monday assembly, chosen students are formally recognised for their hard work and efforts in class through our You Can Do It, Student of the Week and Best Work of the Week awards.  Due to our pride in our students’ work, this work is always displayed out the front of the office.  It’s a great way to welcome guests to the school.

In addition to this, an ‘Aussie of the Month’ is chosen which recognises a student who is particularly caring, positive, responsible or a good ambassador for the school.  At the end of the year, a ‘Dux of the School’ is also chosen.

You Can Do It is our official values/social skills program that specifically teaches students resilience, confidence, persistence, getting along and organisational skills.  As these skills encompass everyday learning and living, it is taught by the whole-school immediately following assembly on a Monday morning. This sets a positive tone for the week.

Hughesdale Primary School is currently in the process of introducing a Restorative Justice program that will complement our You Can Do It program. This focuses on giving children the tools they need to resolve conflicts themselves and develops children’s empathy and awareness of others around them.


Junior Action Group (JAG) (Back to top)
Each grade 2-6 class elects a male and female student to represent their grade and form the school’s Junior Action Group.  These students survey their grades and discuss things they would like to improve in the school in an open forum.  These ideas are then forwarded to staff and school council for consideration. 

JAG is a fantastic way for students to have their opinions heard.  As well as this consultative role, JAG also organises fundraisers throughout the year, lunchtime sporting competitions for different year levels and a bi-annual end-of-year disco for the entire school.  Their role is a valued part within our school community.

Homework (Back to top)
It is Hughesdale Primary School ’s policy that homework is given at each year level of schooling.  Homework provides opportunities for students to practice skills learnt in class and develop organisational skills. 

The following is the weekly homework expected to be completed by students at different year levels:-

Students in grades 2-6 may have projects related to Integrated Curriculum topics.  All students are expected to read for up to thirty minutes daily.  This is an excellent time for parents to enjoy with their children.

The Arts (Back to top)
Hughesdale Primary School values children’s creativity and imagination and as such, offers a sequential and well-resourced arts program.  The following are components of our developed Arts curriculum:-

            Performing Arts

·     The all-encompassing Performing Arts program enhances all aspects of students’ development.  Stimulating music, drama and dance activities develop students’ confidence, expression, rhythm, speaking and listening skills.  Children gain experience performing publicly at Assemblies, Grade Concerts and in Musical Productions.

 

·     The bi-annual school production is a highlight of Hughesdale Primary School .  All students in Grade 5/6 have a role in the impressive full-stage production.  Grade 3/4 students perform a medley of songs prior to the main performance.

            Visual Arts

·     This well-resourced program allows children to represent what they see, think, feel, value and imagine through making and responding to the Visual Arts.  Students explore drawing, construction, threads and textiles, painting, print-making, art using computers, modelling and appreciation of the Visual Arts.  Students investigate other cultures and there is a strong focus on reducing, reusing and recycling.

Choir and optional music lessons

·     Hughesdale Primary School offers weekly optional guitar and piano lessons for students who are interested in these pursuits.

 

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) (Back to top)
Students benefit from specialist sessions that develop specific skills.  Students have one timetabled session in our well-equipped computer lab that has 26 computers, 2 scanners, a projector screen, interactive whiteboard, a colour laser printer and access to numerous digital cameras and video cameras.  This computer lab is also booked and utilized by classroom teachers on a regular basis.

 

As this is the way the world is moving, ICT is an important area to the school and teachers integrate the use of technology across all areas of the curriculum.  Our specialist program is complemented by daily use of computers in the classroom, with student motivation remaining high during sessions involving this learning technology.  Each classroom is equipped with a minimum of 4 computers that have broadband Internet access and a colour printer.  These are rotated and updated on a yearly basis.  In our portable, students have access to 4 extra computers in a mini-computer lab.  In Grade 5/6, 6 portable notebook computers are additionally used on a daily basis.

Some of the activities engaged in and products created include:-

 

Library (Back to top)
All classes have a timetabled session to attend the library on a weekly basis.  This session furthers students’ love of Literacy and develops their research skills through investigation of the Dewey Decimal System.  Reading as recreation and fact-finding are the main purposes of these sessions.

The Library is also accessible and fully supervised during Monday and Thursday lunchtimes, with children choosing to draw, read, play board games and chess during this time.

Languages Other Than English (LOTE) (Back to top)
Hughesdale Primary School ’s LOTE program is available for students in Grades 3-6.  Children learn the basics of Bahasa Indonesia and explore some of the cultural aspects of our Asian neighbour.  This develops students’ awareness and respect for cultures other than their own.  Students attend an Indonesian cultural performance on a yearly basis, which is a rewarding way for them to experience a small part of Indonesian culture in person.  ‘Selamat pagi, nama saya Zoe – apa kabar?  Website ini bagus sekali!’

Grade 6 – Year 7 Transition (Back to top)
Students in Grade 6 are involved in a supportive and effective program that enables their transition from Primary School to Secondary College to be as stress-free as possible.  The transition program, supported by the ‘Hit the Ground Running’ program, includes:-

  Feedback from past students has indicated that this transition program has been extremely helpful in allowing students to settle at Secondary School quicker and easier.

Grade 4 – Grade 5 Transition
Hughesdale Primary School is currently developing a transition program for students entering Grade 5.  It involves the Grade 5 students holding information sessions on the expectations and requirements of the year.

 

Camps (Back to top)
School camps are often the highlight of the children’s year.  A structured camp program is in place across the school that gradually increases in length and complexity.  The following shows this progression:-

The camps offer a range of outdoor activities that challenge students and develop excellent team-building skills.  All camp sites attended are approved and accredited in terms of health and safety.

 

Physical Education and Sport (Back to top)
 Each week, students continue to formally develop fundamental motor skills, a sense of teamwork, enjoyment in physical activity and a respect for umpires and officials during specialist Physical Education sessions.  In Prep, this is known as the Perceptual Motor Program (PMP). 

The sequential program from Prep to Grade Six includes ball handling skills, gymnastics, a comprehensive two-week swimming program at the Monash University indoor-heated pool, athletics, major and minor games. 

In Grades 3/4, students engage in an extra hour of organised sport, which teaches children the rules and skills involved in major games such as touch football, baseball, circle-ball, netball, basketball and volleyball.  This prepares students for Grade 5/6 where the students participate in an Inter-school sport competition.

Bike Education is engaged in during Term 4 by Grades 4 & 5 students, which focuses on safety and the skills required when handling a bike in different situations and conditions.  Athletics and swimming competitions/trials are held each year, with children proudly representing the school, district and zone at different levels of the competition.

 

Student Portfolios (Back to top)
These documents are created over the duration of the year and are sent home each term.  They show parents samples of their children’s work in all areas of the curriculum and are another way we foster children’s pride with their work.

Waste Wise School (Back to top)
In 2006, the school officially became a Waste Wise School that values reducing, reusing and recycling.  We show our commitment to the care of our environment through the following measures:-

 

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