Curriculum
At Cheltenham Primary School our teachers plan, resource and deliver a comprehensive curriculum adapted from the Victorian curriculum in line with Department of Education and Training guidelines. We provide students with learning experiences that build on their prior knowledge and give priority above all else to developing and extending the fundamental skills and knowledge in English and Mathematics.
Underpinning all our curriculum is rigorous planning and high quality teaching utilising evidence based teaching strategies. Complementing the English and Mathematics programs are our STEAM project and problem based inquiry units, which require students to inquire and explore, collaborate and interact with others and participate in shared problem solving and group decision making.
Literacy
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Numeracy
Cheltenham Primary School has an enriched numeracy program that promotes problem solving, open ended strategies, challenges, a growth mindset attitude and real world experiences. Numeracy sessions are aligned with the Victorian curriculum and are organised around the three content strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability.
Our Numeracy program begins in the Early Years with many ‘hands-on’ experiences that cater for diverse learning styles. Students explore mathematical concepts using a range of manipulatives to support their learning.
Students are encouraged to be reflective and identify the characteristics of being an effective learner. They are guided to develop a repertoire of strategies to use when they are feeling uncertain about a task. They begin to recognise that learning from mistakes is an important attribute of being a good learner and to encourage challenges with enthusiasm. Children also learn about number in explicit Numeracy sessions; counting, shape and measurement and most importantly learning how Mathematics connects to our everyday life.
As the students move up through the years they start to focus on more challenging open ended tasks with less explicit guidance. In the middle years the students work through challenging and consolidating tasks as a way of engagement with mathematical ideas (with minimal prompting by the teacher). Students gain persistence through experiences that are challenging which require some degree of risk taking by the students. To build these networks of ideas it is necessary to process different concepts simultaneously, comparing and contrasting concepts and considering their use in different contexts. Students are required to explain their strategies, thinking and understandings to each other.
In the senior school they are ready to utilise all the strategies they have in their mathematical backpack, confident to learn from mistakes and use multi-step strategies to successfully engage in tasks. They select strategies that they feel most comfortable with and take on open ended tasks with resilience and determination. Senior school students are focused on academic excellence and the development of socially capable individuals.
We are dedicated to developing the 21st century skills that our students need to acquire in order to prepare them for their preferred future. We promote global and digital citizenship within our students by embedding the skills of problem solving, creativity, collaboration and a global mindset, to operate and successfully navigate through whatever the future may hold.
Physical Education
Our Health and Physical Education Program at Cheltenham Primary School aims to engage students in physical activity, mindfulness, games and interschool sport. Our focus is to develop healthy lifestyles that lead to life-long participants in physical activity and sport. Each student at Cheltenham Primary School participates in one Physical Education class per week.
Junior School
Foundation to Year 2 students are introduced to and develop their Fundamental Movement Skills including; running, dodging, throwing, catching and kicking, through a range of skills and modified games. Mastery of these skills pave the way for success in future sporting pursuits therefore it is of vital importance for each student to get as much exposure to these skills during their formative years.
Middle School
Years 3-4 students extend their Fundamental Movement Skills by participating in small sided and modified games during Physical Education.
They begin to develop their tactical awareness of game based situations.
Senior School
Students in Years 5-6 are given opportunities to develop their individual skills set through a range of familiar sports (Football, Basketball, Netball and Soccer) while being exposed to some foreign and unfamiliar sports (European Handball, Rugby and Ultimate Frisbee). This mixture of familiar and unfamiliar sports allow students to develop solutions to movement challenges.
House Sports & Cross Country
Students in Years 3-6 participate in House Sports. These events are inclusive to provide opportunities for students to participate in and feel part of a team. Every student that competes, scores points for their House and the top performers go on to represent our school at our District Sports.
Students compete in House Cross Country, House Athletics and House Swimming each year.
Interschool Sport
In Term 1, students in Year 6 compete in a Friday morning Summer Interschool Sport Competition. Sports on offer are; Cricket, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
In Term 2, students in Year 6 compete in a Friday morning Winter Interschool Sport Competition. Sports on offer are; Football, Netball, Soccer and Softball.
*** Depending on numbers, students in Year 5 may be offered Interschool Sport opportunities, too.
These sports provide our students with the opportunity to learn good sportsmanship and teamwork while creating friendships in the wider community.
Swimming
All students from Foundation to Year 4 have the opportunity to participate in an Intensive Swimming Program. Students participate in 2 weeks of swimming lessons. During these sessions they learn about water safety and stroke technique. They are taught by qualified instructors in small groups.
Senior School students (Year 5 and 6) participate in a Beach Safety Program which is run by a local Lifesaving Club. This program provides a great opportunity for the children to practice their skills in an open water environment. The program gives students a chance to experience the local natural environment and enjoy some time participating in fun activities with their peers.
Middle School Sport
Students in the Middle School (Years 3 and 4) participate in a weekly sporting competition. Students play a range of modified games to improve their skills they have developed during Physical Education classes. During Middle School Sport students are introduced to game style situations to improve their skills in friendly competition.
Extra Curricular Activities
Running Club
Students in Years 3-6 have the opportunity to attend a before school running club once a week. This is available for any student that wants to improve their fitness and in preparation for Cross Country and Athletics. Students participate in a range of technical running drills, play running based games and train for sprints and long distance running
Basketball Club
Students in Years 5-6 are given the opportunity to participate in a 3 on 3 lunchtime basketball competition. There are both a girls and boys competition and students select their own teams. Games are played once a week and it always draws a big crowd of spectators
We love our sport at Cheltenham Primary School and we aim to develop students who are passionate, fair and driven to achieve their best in sport!
German
From Foundation to Year 6, all students at Cheltenham Primary School learn the German language and about German cultural celebrations. Classes are timetabled weekly with our two specialist teachers, Frau Barker & Frau Hewson.
Our focus in the language program is acquisition of immediately useful oral language alongside exposure to a broader curriculum. This includes cultural understanding and grammar. As the students transition into the Senior school, they begin reading and writing in the German language.
Songs, games and video clips are incorporated into the lessons to encourage ‘hands-on’, practical experiences with the language. Where possible, topics from across the Victorian Curriculum are integrated into the German program, to increase engagement and provide a real life focus to language study.
ImmerseMe Games
Since 2020, our school has taken part in the annual ‘ImmerseMe Games’, an international language competition. Since beginning the ImmerseMe Games, Cheltenham Primary School has earned a variety of impressive awards both as a community and some students have also achieved significant results on an individual level.
Creative Workers in Schools
In 2021, our German program was fortunate to be selected for Regional Arts Victoria’s ‘Creative Workers in Schools’ program. Our Senior students had the amazing opportunity to work alongside professional actors to create movies in the German language. Students were involved every step of the way in the creation process and acted and voiced all parts.
German Traditions at CPS
At CPS we practise some German traditions in the school year, such as the custom of celebrating starting school where the new Foundation students receive a special welcome gift from their Year 6 buddies. The Year 6s make and fill a special ‘Schultüte’ (a decorated paper cone) and present it to their Foundation buddies early in Term 1 to welcome them to school life in general and to Cheltenham Primary School in particular.
Visual Arts
The Visual Arts program at Cheltenham Primary School allows students to explore their creativity through the use of multiple artistic mediums in our vibrant, colourful and light-filled art room space.
Students are introduced to the works, styles and techniques of past and present artists to spark their individual creativity, while also being encouraged to explore their own unique perspectives and ideas. They make connections between their individual experiences and the world around them, and explore different ways to express themselves through paint, sculpture, drawing and collage.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts program at Cheltenham Primary School provides students with an inclusive environment to create, explore and achieve across all areas of the performing arts.
Students from Foundation to Year 6 are active participants in the learning of music, dance and drama. They build fundamental skills in rhythm, pulse, use of voice, movement, expression, gesture, coordination and teamwork, and develop self-confidence, problem-solving skills and creative thinking through authentic performance opportunities.
All students are encouraged to have voice and agency in their performing arts classes, with each class structured around learning key skills while facilitating student creative input.
This leads to the creation of inclusive, relevant and hands-on experiences that are meaningful for all students, and beneficial in developing personal agency.
Ceremonial occasions throughout the year are also marked with musical performances, for example, ANZAC Day, Year 6 Graduation and our community Christmas Carols Evening.
Instrumental Lessons
The instrumental music program at Cheltenham Primary School runs each week on Wednesday and Thursday. Due to current restrictions, lessons are available on guitar and piano during school hours, from Years 3 to 6.
We anticipate that with the easing of restrictions in the future, we will be able to increase the range of instrumental lessons and ensembles.
Science
Students at Cheltenham are naturally curious- so we have a purpose built programs for all students, from Foundation to Year 6, to nurture this curiosity and boost their understanding of the world around them.
Our Science program encompasses all elements of the Victorian Curriculum, with a focus on building knowledge that helps students understand how and why things work, as well as laboratory experiences that help develop critical thinking, problem solving skills and teamwork. Our program enables students to not only identify problems in their world, but empowers them to be the solution.
Over the course of their primary schooling, students explore a broad range of concepts across Biological, Chemical, Physical, Earth and Space Sciences. They build towers, recreate the water cycle, whip butter and explore their unique fingerprints! They pose questions and make predictions, they design investigations, and collect, analyse and present their findings.
Science lessons are timetabled weekly for each year level in our STEAM Innovation Centre.
STEAM
Students are also engaged in classroom based STEAM projects that provide opportunities for students to engage in scientific investigation, using their literacy, numeracy and interpersonal skills in a real world context. Each project is celebrated with a community STEAM Expo! Knowledge and skills required for these projects are introduced through the ‘Backwards by Design’ approach, in the term preceding their inquiry.
I Sea I Care- Marine Ambassadors
Each year, our Science Captains and Marine Ambassadors take part in the I Sea, I Care program that is specifically designed for senior students with a passion for our bays and waterways, and the many issues they are facing. Students attend workshops run by the Dolphin Research Institute and return to school ready to inspire our community with new knowledge and solutions for our local bay area. Our yearly Swim with the Dolphins Boat Trip is the highlight of the year!
Digital Technologies
As a 21st Century Learning Community, we strive to broaden our students’ learning by developing their digital competencies and creativity through the provision of a range of digital technologies. Through the use of technology we are also able to personalise student learning.
From Foundation through to Year 6, a variety of Digital devices are used. Students have access to iPads, Laptops, Desktops and Robots. They also have access to a range of gaming accessories which can develop their knowledge of the hardware further.
We are an e-smart school that supports the cybersafety framework. ‘Developed for Australian schools, eSmart is an easy-to-use, evidence-based and tested system to help schools manage cybersafety and deal with cyberbullying and bullying.’
At Cheltenham Primary School every classroom has access to an interactive whiteboard. This technology exposes our students to the most innovative and interactive teaching practices. The interactive whiteboard allows children to access content both visually and interactively by allowing students to manipulate content. All classrooms also have access to Airplay. This allows for a community of learning, where students can share what they have done on their device with the whole class.
Junior School
Within the Junior School, children have access to iPads or Desktops. During the first few years of their schooling, students are taught how to navigate the various digital platforms. They also use them to support the learning in their classroom. Our Foundation students can often be seen using our Osmos. The Osmo allows the students to complete Literacy and Numeracy tasks independently, as it guides them whether the numbers or letters placed are correct.
Middle School
Throughout Years 3 and 4, our students continue to utilise the iPads, Laptops and in some cases, the Desktops. As their digital competencies strengthen they begin learning to touch type and use cloud based systems such as Google Drive to store and organise digital content. As part of their digital technologies focus, our Middle School students often utilise the Sphero. The Sphero is a robot which can be coded to navigate a range of set ups requiring careful calculations of angles and distances.
Senior School
Year 4 marks the beginning of our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program. This program encourages students to bring an iPad to school as an educational aid. Its portable format and fast load-up time has made it possible for them to be used easily in the classroom. They offer new opportunities and educational choices, and unprecedented access to services and resources. Once they enter the Senior School, students have access to our Robots Dash and Dot. Dash and Dot are an extended version of the Sphero, requiring coding for movements, actions and voice commands. Dash and Dot come with an interactive map whereby students can complete self-paced learning.