Through the Diocese of Ballarat's Awakenings curriculum, students engage with scripture, gospel stories, Catholic traditions and the teachings of Jesus in ways that are relevant to their lives and experiences. 

Our goal is not simply to teach about religion, but to create opportunities for students to reflect on their own beliefs, values and understanding of the world while developing knowledge of the Catholic faith.

Our approach is informed by Shared Christian Praxis, which encourages students to make connections between their own experiences and the Christian tradition. Through inquiry, discussion and reflection, students are invited to explore life's big questions, consider different perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of themselves, others and the world around them.

St Mary's also draws on the principles of the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) Project, recognising that contemporary Catholic schools serve communities with diverse beliefs and experiences. We strive to create an inclusive learning environment where every student feels respected, valued and able to engage meaningfully with Religious Education, regardless of their faith background.

A strong focus of our Religious Education program is helping students understand and live out values such as compassion, justice, respect, service and human dignity. Through learning about Catholic Social Teaching and participating in social justice initiatives, students are encouraged to make positive contributions to their communities and develop a commitment to the common good.

Prayer, reflection and liturgical celebrations are important aspects of life at St Mary's. Students participate in regular prayer experiences, school liturgies and Masses throughout the year. These gatherings provide opportunities to strengthen our sense of community, celebrate important moments in the Church year and reflect on the values that underpin our school.

Through Religious Education, students develop an understanding of the Catholic tradition while building the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to engage thoughtfully, respectfully and compassionately in an increasingly diverse world.

Students participate in a daily literacy block that includes reading, writing, spelling, oral language, handwriting, fluency development and rich literature study. Learning is carefully sequenced so that skills build progressively over time. Teachers explicitly teach new concepts, model successful strategies, guide students through practice and provide opportunities for independent application and review.

A key feature of our approach is Structured Literacy.  Students receive direct instruction in:

• Phonology – understanding the sounds of spoken language
• Orthography – understanding the written code of English
• Morphology and Etymology – understanding word meanings and origins
• Syntax – understanding sentence structure
• Semantics – understanding language and comprehension

We recognise that strong reading comprehension requires both accurate word reading and deep language understanding. As a result, literacy learning is enriched through knowledge-rich topics drawn from science, history, geography and the humanities. Students read, write and discuss meaningful content that builds vocabulary, background knowledge and critical thinking.

At St Mary’s, assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning. Teachers regularly monitor student progress through formal and informal assessments, using this information to personalise instruction, identify strengths and provide timely support or extension opportunities. Students who require additional assistance receive targeted intervention within a multi-tiered system of support framework.

Consistency is another hallmark of our approach. Across all year levels, students experience common routines, high expectations and proven instructional practices. This low-variance approach ensures every child benefits from high-quality literacy instruction regardless of their classroom or teacher.

Through dedicated literacy leadership, ongoing professional learning and strong collaboration among staff, St Mary’s continually refines and strengthens literacy practice. Our commitment is to ensure every student leaves our school as a confident, capable and successful reader, writer and communicator, prepared for future learning and life.

Our mathematics program is grounded in an explicit, direct instructional approach informed by the latest educational research and evidence-based practice. This means that teachers clearly explain new concepts, model mathematical thinking, provide guided practice and gradually support students to apply their learning independently. We believe that explicit instruction is one of the most effective approaches for improving student achievement in mathematics across all year levels and for learners with diverse needs.

At the heart of our approach is the use of student data. Teachers regularly analyse assessment information, classroom observations and student work samples to identify strengths, address misconceptions and tailor instruction to meet the needs of every learner. This ongoing cycle of assessment, teaching and feedback ensures that learning is responsive, targeted and focused on growth. We  know that effective use of assessment data alongside explicit teaching leads to stronger student outcomes and more precise instruction.

Mathematics lessons at St Mary’s are carefully sequenced to build knowledge and skills progressively. Complex concepts are broken into manageable steps, enabling students to develop deep understanding before moving to more challenging applications. 

While explicit teaching provides strong foundations, students are also encouraged to discuss their thinking, explain strategies, solve problems and make connections between mathematical ideas. Through this balanced approach, students develop fluency, confidence, reasoning and problem-solving capabilities that prepare them for future learning and everyday life.

Our goal is for every student to see themselves as a capable mathematician; equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to engage successfully with the world around them.

As students progress through the school, they learn to apply these fundamental skills in increasingly complex situations, including team games, sports, fitness activities and movement challenges. This strong foundation supports future success in sport while also encouraging lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

Health learning is delivered through a carefully planned sequence aligned with the Victorian Curriculum. Students progressively develop their understanding of personal health, safety, wellbeing, respectful relationships and community participation. Topics are introduced and revisited in age-appropriate ways, allowing students to build knowledge and skills over time.

Across their years at St Mary’s, students learn about:

• Personal health, safety and wellbeing
• Emotional regulation and resilience
• Respectful relationships and social skills
• Healthy lifestyles and physical activity
• Decision-making and help-seeking strategies
• Contributing positively to their community

Our approach ensures that students develop strong health literacy skills and the confidence to make positive choices that support their wellbeing now and into the future.

Through health and physical education, St Mary’s aims to develop students who are active, resilient, respectful and confident learners who understand the importance of caring for their physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

To ensure comprehensive coverage of the curriculum, science is taught through a two-year cycle. In one year, students explore biological sciences and earth and space sciences, investigating living things, ecosystems, our planet and the wider universe. In the alternate year, students study chemical sciences and physical sciences, developing their understanding of matter, energy, forces and the properties of materials. This approach enables students in multi-age settings to engage with a broad range of scientific concepts across their primary years.

Alongside developing scientific understanding, students actively engage in the Victorian Curriculum's Science Inquiry Skills. They learn to ask questions, make predictions, plan and conduct investigations, collect and analyse data, evaluate evidence and communicate their findings. Through hands-on experiments and real-world investigations, students develop curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied across all areas of learning.

At St Mary's, we believe that science is more than learning facts. It is about nurturing wonder, encouraging exploration and empowering students to make sense of the world through evidence-based thinking. Our specialist science program fosters confidence, creativity and a lifelong appreciation for scientific discovery.

We partner with Meg Languages to deliver an innovative and engaging Mandarin programme. Students participate in live online lessons with a qualified teacher based in China, providing authentic language learning experiences and direct connections to Chinese culture. Through these interactive Zoom sessions, students develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills while engaging with real-world cultural contexts. The program is fully aligned with the Australian Curriculum and is carefully sequenced to support student growth over time.

Language instruction is complemented by a dedicated cultural learning component that helps students explore Chinese traditions, customs, celebrations and contemporary life. This intercultural focus encourages students to appreciate diversity and develop an understanding of the wider world.

To further reinforce learning, students access the Journeys platform, an AI-powered and gamified learning environment. Through interactive challenges, language games, pronunciation activities and immersive cultural experiences, students can practise and apply new learning at their own pace. The platform provides instant feedback and adapts to each student's point of need, ensuring an engaging and personalised learning experience. 

By combining expert instruction, authentic cultural experiences and innovative technology, St Mary’s provides students with a dynamic Mandarin program that builds language proficiency, confidence and a lifelong appreciation of other cultures.

Our approach is grounded in a commitment to ensuring that every student receives instruction at their point of need. Through high-quality classroom teaching, regular assessment and ongoing monitoring of student progress, we work to identify and respond to individual learning needs as early as possible.

St Mary's utilises a Response to Intervention (RTI) framework to provide targeted support for students across a range of learning profiles. This framework ensures that all students have access to evidence-based instruction and appropriate levels of intervention. Classroom teachers, learning support staff and specialist personnel work collaboratively to provide increasingly targeted support when required, while maintaining high expectations for all learners.

Our inclusive practices enable students to access the curriculum through differentiated teaching, reasonable adjustments and personalised learning goals where appropriate. We recognise that students learn in different ways and at different rates and we strive to create learning environments where every child feels valued, supported and challenged.

As a welcoming Catholic community, we embrace students of all abilities and backgrounds. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every student is known, respected and encouraged to reach their full potential. By working in partnership with families and external professionals when required, we ensure that each child receives the support they need to flourish academically, socially and emotionally.

At St Mary's, 'inclusion' is a reflection of who we are as a learning community.

Students learn how digital technologies work by investigating hardware, software and networks while developing practical skills in coding, programming and digital design. Through hands-on projects, students create digital solutions to real-world problems, applying logical thinking, creativity and collaboration.

A strong emphasis is placed on digital citizenship. Students are explicitly taught how to use technology safely, responsibly and ethically, including online safety, privacy, respectful communication and the responsible use of artificial intelligence and digital tools.

Technology is also integrated across the curriculum to enhance learning in literacy, mathematics, science, humanities and the arts. Students use a range of digital platforms and applications to research, create, communicate and demonstrate their understanding.

By the end of Year 6, students have developed a strong foundation in digital literacy and technological thinking; preparing them to navigate and contribute positively to an ever-evolving digital world.