Learning at St Pats

We develop essential 21st Century skills

At St. Patrick’s, we are committed to preparing our students for the future by developing essential 21st Century skills.

We aim to provide a strong foundation that fosters success in further education and beyond. While the specific jobs of the future are uncertain, we recognise the importance of problem solving, project-based learning, entrepreneurship, and technology.

Our teaching emphasises flexibility, collaboration, and inquiry-based learning, focusing on student-centered approaches and investigation.

Digital Technologies are integrated across the curriculum, with ample resources including iPads, Chromebooks, coding tools, and robotics. Students learn to communicate through codes and symbols, explore programming concepts, and develop their digital skills to thrive in various educational and work environments.

Religious Education

Religious Education is a core part of our curriculum

At St. Patrick’s, we provide a learning environment rooted in a Catholic context, with Religious Education as a core part of our curriculum following the Catholic Education Office's Awakenings program. All students participate in this program, which prepares them to engage with the secular world while immersing them in the Christian tradition through reflective and prayerful experiences.

This immersion aims to foster awareness of justice, compassion, and personal transformation. Religious Education is integrated into the formal curriculum and various school activities, including liturgies, prayer, and our awards program. Students also have opportunities to embody Gospel values by engaging in Social Justice Groups, Kindness Day, Harmony Day, and Mission Day, as well as connecting with the elderly in the community through various activities.

Literacy

St. Patrick’s Primary School uses a Structured Literacy approach to teach reading and writing, which is systematic, explicit, and evidence-based. This method focuses on building strong foundational language skills through carefully sequenced lessons that emphasise decoding and encoding. Instruction is cumulative and adjusted based on ongoing assessments to ensure all learners progress effectively.

The school implements the following literacy programs:

• Foundation to Grade 2: InitiaLit Literacy Program
• Grade 3 to Grade 6: PhOrMeS Systematic Phonics
• MiniLit & Macqlit: Literacy Intervention Programs
• The Writing Revolution - Spelling Mastery

Numeracy

Students at St Patrick's participate in a daily numeracy program that covers the Victorian Curriculum Mathematics strands: Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. Sessions include whole class focus, mental computation strategy development, small group activities, and tailored tasks.

At the end of each lesson, formative feedback is provided through peer discussions or teacher elaboration to reinforce learning and address misconceptions. Common Formative Assessments (CFATs) are collaboratively designed to inform teachers about students’ knowledge and skills, guiding the planning of future lessons to meet individual and cohort needs.

Physical Education

We help students develop essential movement skills and strategies for confident participation in various physical activities. Physical Education is offered weekly from Foundation to Year Six, focusing on fundamental motor skills and sports such as football, basketball, soccer, netball, tee ball, lacrosse, cricket, tennis, hockey, and athletics.

Students also visit the Stawell Leisure Centre, participate in Jump Rope for Heart, and learn water safety skills. Grades 3-6 take part in the Swimming Carnival, and there is an annual Athletics Sports Day at North Park, with opportunities to compete in zone-level athletics and cross country.