The Australian Curriculum identifies what should be taught and what is important for students to have opportunities to know and be able to do. Disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding are described in the eight learning areas of the Australian Curriculum: English, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts, Technologies and Languages. The latter four learning areas have been written to include multiple subjects, reflecting custom and practice in the discipline. In each learning area or subject, content descriptions specify what young people will learn, and achievement standards describe the depth of understanding and the sophistication of knowledge and skill expected of students at the end of each year level or band of years. The curriculum describes that students need for ongoing learning, social and personal competence and participation in a democratic society. The Australian Curriculum and Queensland’s interpretation (C2C) informs our curriculum planning and assessment at Ithaca Creek State School.
Ithaca Creek State School offers our students a curriculum which engages, enables and empowers students to think, create, communicate, investigate, participate, reflect and understand within the globalised society of the 21st Century. We believe every child should experience a learning environment that is challenging, structured, enjoyable and safe. We believe children should be encouraged to become independent learners and are able to work collaboratively to achieve their goals. To support their success in learning, we believe our educational program needs to be built around a framework of basic skills in literacy, numeracy, social skills, technology, philosophical enquiry and mindfulness.
Learning areas
Core learning outcomes are organised under banks of integrated units of work.
Literacy, Numeracy, Sustainability, Indigenous Perspectives, Critical and Creative Thinking and Social Skills are the cross curricular priorities that are supported throughout our term planning.
English, Mathematics, Science, HASS (History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship and Economics and Business) The Arts, Technology, LOTE and HPE are the core subjects of the Australian Curriculum taught, assessed and reported on each semester. Unit planning identifies and maps core learning outcomes across the curriculum program.
Teachers provide Curriculum Snapshots to parents at the start of each term. These are a summary document of the core content covered for the units.
In addition to the core curriculum are our co-curricula offerings.
Philosophy in the classroom
Philosophy in the classroom philosophy in the classroom is the study of being, knowledge, social authority, morality and beauty. Teachers engage students in developing valid arguments inductive and deductive reasoning within a community of enquiry. All our students undertake Philosophy lessons each week.
Mindfulness
At Ithaca Creek State School the Smiling Minds Program is implemented throughout the school.
Instrumental Music
As well as the class music program organised by the teacher, children have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Education Queensland instructors visit the school on a regular weekly basis, teaching children to play a musical instrument.
Education Queensland Scheme: Three visiting instructors teach many different kinds of orchestral instruments to the children.
Such instruments include Strings (Year 3-6), Percussion, Brass and Woodwind (Year 5-6).
Health and Physical Education
Swimming is an integral part of the school curriculum and we are very fortunate to have our own swimming pool onsite at ICSS. Swimming classes are undertaken during Term 1 and Term 4 during the allotted Physical Education timeslot.All our students undertake weekly Health and Physical Education lessons. These lessons are supplemented by the following activities;
Prep-Year 2 -Perceptual Motor Program and Outdoor Learning
Year 5-6 - Interschool Sport
Whole School - Kilometre Club, Dance and Inter-house athletics.
e-learning
At Ithaca Creek State School we acknowledge the importance of and the roles that ICT’s have in education, the workforce and society. This school uses ICT’s to broaden the educational options and opportunities available to our students. We acknowledge the positive impact ICT’s have on children’s attitude to learning and hence the improved outcomes for all students.
Our e-learning teacher conducts coaching sessions with our classroom teachers as well as digital technology lessons with students. Our preferred platform for e-learning at ICSS is the use of i-pads throughout the school.
Languages
German is the language other than English studied at Ithaca Creek State School. Year 6/5 students receive lessons for one and a half hours each per week, while students in 4/3 receive a half hour instruction each week.
Assessment and reporting
The school year is based on a semester program, with each semester being broken into two terms. Written reports on your child’s academic progress and social development are prepared each semester. Parents are requested to visit the school to have a discussion with the teacher concerning their child’s progress. Interview times will be advertised early term 3. Other opportunities for students to share their learning journey will be arranged class by class and facilitated by each student’s folio of student leaning (FoSL). This allows for two way evaluation of each child’s learning progress, with added information being given from both parents and teachers alike.
Reporting to parents
Formal interviews will be offered twice annually. Parents are invited to speak with the teacher as often as is necessary. Teachers are unable to arrange interviews with parents during teaching time, unless in an emergency. A mutually suitable time, before or after school, for such interviews, should be arranged between the teacher and the parent in advance.
On certain occasions, the telephone, letters or email can be used for parent/teacher communication, but the personal interview is by far the most appropriate form of communication. Besides the formal report cards emailed home at the end of each semester, other forms of written reports may be used from time to time.
Excursions and incursions
All classes take part in special activities such as excursions, incursions or camps. Every year level participates in an incursion, excursion every term. The school has a school camp program from Prep-Year 6 that is age appropriate and connected to the curriculum.