School of the Good Shepherd offers 4 specialist programs that enhance student learning and provides students with an opportunity to master skills in the areas of: Physical Education, Languages, STEM and The Arts.
Physical Education
We believe that Physical Education is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. Our school’s Physical Education program led by Mr. Frank Piccione enables all children participate in strategic sequential skill development programs. In addition to weekly, 1 hour classes with the Physical Education teacher, class teachers reinforce skills through outdoor activities. All students are allocated house colours and participate in a Sports Carnival annually. Year 5 and 6 are involved in inter school sports and participate in the summer and winter competitions, competing against other school within the district. School of the Good Shepherd prides itself on providing opportunities for its students. With this in mind, the school regularly nominates students to try out for Victorian State teams, also known as “Team VIC”. These teams compete at the School Sport Australia National Championships against other Australian states.
The main aim of our Physical Education Program is to equip students with experiences supporting students to develop competence in making decisions and taking action to promote an active, healthy lifestyle. School sport offers the school community opportunities to build a strong identity and culture of excellence. Traditional values of respect, fairness, responsibility and resilience are developed as part of students’ participation.
Visual Arts
We believe studying visual art is important in a child’s development. Our Visual Arts teacher, Giannina Garro teaches that the many skills that can be gained from studying art including spatial skills, creativity and art appreciation are a large part of the human experience. In Visual Art, students have many exciting opportunities to explore the world around them, record what they see and how they feel. They will progressively develop their skills in drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, sculpture, construction and textiles. Visual art is integrated into the inquiry units of each year level (where appropriate) and enriches the children’s understandings of topics being explored in their classrooms.
The understandings of the elements – colour, form, line, shape, space and texture are all investigated through creating works of art and exposure to a wide variety of famous artists, both contemporary and the great masters.
In Visual Art, children learn to take risks, make mistakes, get messy, create with their hands, problem solve with their peers and have lots of fun!
LOTE: Italian
We believe learning languages enriches our learners intellectually, educationally and culturally and also enables our learners to communicate across cultures and contribute to social cohesiveness through better communication and understanding. Learning languages in addition to English extends student’s literacy repertoires and their capacity to communicate. It strengthens student’s understanding of the nature of language, culture, and the processes of communication.
During our 1 hour LOTE lessons with Mr. Frank Piccione, the language taught is Italian. The program is taught from Year 2 to Year 6. The basics of the language are taught from Year 2 and are built upon as the children progress through the year levels.
Music
The Music Program at School of the Good Shepherd aims to build confidence and provide the tools and strategies for self expression. Students’ active participation in music fosters understanding of other times, places, cultures and contexts.
Music has the capacity to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting the imagination and encouraging students to reach their creative and expressive potential. Skills and techniques developed through participation in music learning allow students to manipulate, express and share sound as listeners, composers and performers. Music learning has a significant impact on the cognitive, affective, motor, social and personal competencies of students.
Music learning combines listening, performing and composing activities. These activities, developed sequentially, enhance students’ capacity to perceive and understand music. As students progress in their study of Music, they learn to value and appreciate the power of music to transform the heart, soul, mind and spirit of the individual. In this way students develop an aesthetic appreciation and enjoyment of music.
The Music curriculum aims to develop students’:
- confidence to be creative, innovative, thoughtful, skilful and informed musicians.
- skills to listen, improvise, compose, interpret, perform, and respond with intent and purpose.
- aesthetic knowledge and respect for music and music practices across global communities, cultures and musical traditions.
- understanding of music as an aural art form, its relationship with other arts forms and contributions to cultures and societies.
STEM
We believe that in this ever-changing global world, STEM is an essential part of the curriculum. It is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This program is run by Mrs Nicole Vellucci.
Through STEM, students develop key skills including:
- Problem solving
- Creativity
- Critical analysis
- Teamwork
- Independent thinking
- Initiative
- Communication
- Digital literacy