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Learning & Teaching
St Clare's Primary School Truganina
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At St Clare’s, our mission is to nurture each student’s unique light, inspiring a love for learning and growth grounded in our Catholic faith. We strive to create a safe, inclusive environment where students feel valued, connected, and empowered to reach their full potential as curious, compassionate, and resilient learners.
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At St Clare’s, our learning experiences are guided by the Science of Learning, using evidence-based practices to continually strengthen student outcomes. We endeavour to provide experiences that enable our students to become lifelong learners. Quality teaching and learning is everything we do at St Clare’s.
We believe:
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in consistent practices and routines that include a deep understanding of the Victorian Curriculum domains using a Prep to 6 Scope and Sequence
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in a schoolwide instructional model of Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) of I Do, We Do, You Do model, to introduce new concepts ensuring all students achieve success
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newly acquired knowledge is moved into the students’ long term memory by conducting ‘Daily Reviews’ which is based on the concept of spaced and interleaved practice
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differentiated learning fosters the individual needs of each child
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in building the capacity of students to be effective communicators, thinkers, collaborators and researchers
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learning and teaching is explicit and scaffolded to establish learning intentions, success criteria and feedback, to ensure success for all students
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Students are empowered to have a strong voice in the learning process and to take risks in a safe environment
Religious Education
Our faith is at the heart of everything that we do at St Clare’s Catholic Primary School. We are committed to our faith community, fostering an environment where each individual grows in their relationship with God.
Religious Education at St Clare’s Catholic Primary School is underpinned by our Catholic faith traditions, Gospel values and Franciscan charism. We appreciate that all students bring a wide range of faith and spiritual experiences. These experiences are built upon in the curriculum as rich sources for further learning in Religious Education.
Students are invited to explore and celebrate the Catholic story in all its richness and diversity through reflection, prayer and action for the good of others and their world.
At St Clare’ Catholic Primary School we recognise faith development is a lifelong journey and acknowledge parents and family as the primary faith educators of students.
English
At St Clare’s, our English program is grounded in the Science of Reading and aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, ensuring every student is given the best opportunity to develop strong literacy skills, essential for lifelong learning. We prioritise a structured, evidence-based approach to reading that incorporates explicit instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, recognising that these components are critical for literacy development.
Our teaching methods reflect current research about how children learn to read, with a focus on systematic and explicit instruction tailored to meet each student's unique needs. For students requiring extra support, we use a multi-tiered approach, offering targeted interventions, such as small-group instruction, to build confidence and reinforce foundational skills.
Our targeted English experiences cover a broad spectrum of literacy skills in language, literature and literacy We integrate real-world texts and experiences, deepening background knowledge and encouraging critical thinking and creativity. Through our approach, we strive to inspire a love of reading, strong communication skills, and the ability to navigate language confidently in all aspects of life.
Across all of our year levels, we use rich content material, both fiction and non-fiction, to develop units of work, relating to the same topic. We use The Writing Revolution method to enable students to master the skills that are essential to become competent writers. It is these skills that also equip students to become more proficient readers, to communicate more effectively in writing and speaking and evaluate their thinking.
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Students need explicit instruction in writing, beginning in the early year levels. Sentences are the building blocks of all writing. When embedded in the content of the curriculum, writing instruction is a powerful teaching tool. The content of the curriculum drives the rigour of the writing activities. Grammar is best taught in the context of student writing. The two most important phases of the writing process are planning and revising.
Mathematics
At St Clare's, students learn mathematical concepts related to the six strands of the Victorian Curriculum: Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability.
Through explicit teaching and daily review, students are supported to fully grasp foundational concepts before moving to the next. There is a focus on using concrete materials before moving on to the visual and abstract representations, ensuring students have a thorough understanding of the mathematical concepts and skills they are learning.
At St Clare’s, our approach to teaching Mathematics is grounded in the Victorian Curriculum and employs an explicit, direct teaching methodology to support all learners. We focus on building fluency, understanding, reasoning, and problem-solving skills, ensuring students develop a deep and comprehensive grasp of mathematical concepts that they can apply to real world problems.
Learning Diversity
At St. Clare's, we recognise that each child is unique, made in the image of God (Gen 1:27), with individual strengths, personal challenges and an inherent right to learn and play.
Learning Diversity is enacted on the foundational belief that "all students regardless of race, age or gender, by virtue of their dignity as human persons, have a right to an education that is suited to their particular needs and adapted to their ability." (Pope Paul VI 1965).
St Clare's is an inclusive and diverse community that recognises and values all of the unique traits that our children bring to school. Our educators seek to meet the needs of all learners, so that every child experiences success. It is the understanding that all students should be fully active members of our school community and that all educators in the school share responsibility for learning.
Intervention & Enhancement
Our committed teachers and leaders work to develop inclusive, research based pedagogy that provides diverse and multiple opportunities for full participation in learning.
St Clare's have a devoted team of Learning Support Officers, who work alongside educators to support children who require adjustments to be made for them at school.
St Clare’s offers structured intervention programs, such as MiniLit, MacqLit, Heggerty and social skills support groups to target learners who require additional learning and wellbeing support. This provides a foundation for all our learners to flourish as they move through their educational journey at St Clare’s.
Inquiry
At St Clare’s we recognise that all children have an innate sense of wonder and curiosity. Through Inquiry, they are given the opportunity to be actively engaged in wondering, discovering, exploring and investigating the world around them. Inquiry links to Victorian Curriculum areas such as Science, The Humanities, the Capabilities as well as linking to RE, English, Maths and Specialist areas. There is a strong focus on building knowledge alongside opportunities to develop key skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, research skills, critical thinking and creativity.
Digital Technologies
In the ever-changing world that we live in, we recognise the ongoing evolution of technology and the important role that digital tools play in our children’s lives. ICT is embedded in teaching and learning across curriculum areas. Students in years P-2 are provided with 1:1 iPads, while children in years 3-6 are assigned 1:1 Chromebooks. Each teaching space is equipped with a TV which is mirrored from a teacher computer, and teaching resources are Apple-based to allow for a streamlined approach to teaching and learning.
At St. Clare’s, Digital Technology is more than just hardware. We strive to offer students the opportunity to become creative and confident content developers, with an emphasis on collaboration, application, and specific problem-solving approaches. Software such as Seesaw and Google Apps for Education allow students to share their work with parents and collaborate in groups.
eSafety
At St. Clare’s Catholic Primary School, we recognize the importance of creating informed digital citizens who can navigate and collaborate online in a safe and respectful way. In our Digital Technologies lessons, we place a strong emphasis on cyber safety and the appropriate use of the web for learning. We are proud to announce that we are an eSmart school, working toward set goals and using resources aligned with guidance from the eSafety Commissioner. In partnership with eSmart, we support children in becoming positive digital citizens through curriculum-aligned digital and media literacy activities. Additionally, we follow the Inform & Empower program, which promotes cyber safety and digital well-being through lessons and incursions led by qualified teachers. This program is also endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner as a Trusted eSafety Provider.
Specialist Programs
STEM
At St Clare’s, our STEM program equips students with essential 21st-century skills by blending critical and creative thinking with a strong foundation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Guided by the Victorian Curriculum, we emphasize problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation, empowering students to thrive in an ever-changing world. Through hands-on projects, real-world challenges, and inquiry-based learning, students explore the interconnected nature of STEM disciplines, applying their knowledge to meaningful problems.
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Our program fosters digital literacy, curiosity, and resilience, preparing students to adapt and lead in a technology-rich future. By focusing on both foundational skills and advanced thinking, we inspire students to become critical thinkers, innovative creators, and confident problem-solvers, ready to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Physical Education
At St Clare’s, our Physical Education program offers a contemporary, relevant, and engaging curriculum that encourages all students to embrace movement in a variety of enjoyable and challenging contexts. Fundamental to our approach is the development and application of movement skills, concepts, and strategies across diverse activities, helping students build confidence and competence in physical activity.
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Students have access to a range of enriching opportunities, including participation in summer and winter gala sports days in Year 6, our school athletics day, representation at district competitions for athletics and cross country, and a whole-school swimming program. Through these experiences, students not only enhance their physical performance but also develop social, psychological, and cognitive skills. By fostering a lifelong love of physical activity, we empower students to achieve improved movement performance and to lead active, healthy lives.
The Arts
At St Clare’s, we celebrate the transformative power of the Arts—music, drama, visual art, media art, and dance—as a means of sharing stories, ideas, knowledge, and understanding. Through the Arts, students engage their senses and explore imaginative and creative ways of knowing, being, and becoming. Participating in quality arts experiences fosters emotional and social wellbeing, enriches creativity, and enables students to reach their full intellectual and imaginative potential.
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We take pride in our active involvement in the Wakakirri National Story Dance competition, where Year 3 students bring powerful stories to life through performance. In 2024, St Clare’s was honored with multiple accolades, including the National Highly Commended Award, the Lead Cast Award for best performance in acting, and storytelling and production awards for excellence in drama, sound design, and teamwork. Our Arts program inspires students to celebrate, communicate, and challenge perspectives, building confidence and creativity for life.
LOTE
At St Clare’s, our Auslan program offers students a unique opportunity to learn Australian Sign Language, the primary language of the Australian Deaf community. This visual-spatial language uses hand, arm, and body movements, along with finger spelling, to communicate meaning. Through learning Auslan, students connect with the Deaf community, fostering empathy, respect for diversity, and promoting inclusion for people with hearing impairments.
Digital Technologies
At St Clare’s, Digital Technologies is a vital part of our specialist program, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Our approach encourages students to explore multi-literacies, critically evaluate information, and create their own digital content, empowering them to become confident creators rather than just consumers of technology.
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Through hands-on problem-solving activities, students learn fundamental programming concepts and apply creative thinking to design games and puzzles. We support this learning with a variety of tools, including Beebots, Spheros, Ozobots, and software like OSMO, Scratch, and Minecraft Education. At St Clare’s, we empower students to confidently engage with and shape the digital future, fostering innovation and creativity along the way.