Hughes Primary School / Our Curriculum / School Programs

School Programs

Challenge Program
Competitions
Environment and Science
High School Liaison
Instrumental Music Program
Learning Assistance & English as a Second Language
Library
Music
Peer Support
Social and Emotion Education
Student Representative Council
Religious Education
Sports

Challenge Program

Challenge Program provides a range of extension learning options for students in Years 4-6 aimed at nurturing and developing strengths. The program is taught by a specialist teacher.

We believe that gifts and talents emerge at different times for different students and that teachers need to be able to recognise this and to develop classroom programs that assist the students to realise their full potential.

In the classroom teachers deliver a Differentiated Curriculum that develops higher order thinking, teamwork and independent learning. Students are presented with challenging activities which extend and develop them beyond the normal mastery stage. Provision for this to happen is built into units of work, and is part of every day classroom organisation (eg use of Blooms’ Taxonomy, critical thinking, open-ended questioning).

Students will also be offered opportunities to be involved in system and external challenges as they become available.

Competitions

Students are given the opportunity to participate in the Mathematics, English, Computer Studies and Science ICAS Competitions conducted by the University of NSW. Students' work is assessed in comparison with students across the State, and areas of strength and areas for further development are identified. Appropriate certificates are awarded.

Environment and Science Program

Hughes Primary School is proud of its reputation as an environmentally and socially responsible community.

The environment program links studies of society and environment and health learning areas. The program offers many different opportunities for the whole school community - students, parents, staff and friends of the school - to participate.

The school has a high quality environmental science classroom with an extensive garden and chicken enclosure. Students take part in lessons once a week to learn about ecology and a sustainable future. The school’s Environment and Science Centre was constructed in 2006 with funding from the Federal Government’s "Investing in Our Schools" Grant.

High School Liaison

Our local high school is Alfred Deakin High School. Year six students participate in a range of transitional activities, such as, an orientation visit during term two, workshops at either Hughes Primary School or ADHS, visits by high school students and teachers to talk about ADHS programs. Parent information nights are held for prospective Year 7 parents and meetings occur between Year 6 and Year 7 teachers.

Instrumental Music Program

The school has three bands - Year 5 and Year 6 woodwind bands and Year 3/4 fife and drum band.

What are the AIMS of IMPACT?

To enhance the education of children through their involvement in a quality music program.
To provide a strong motivation for children to continue to engage in music activities.
To develop cooperative learning, social interaction and performance skills.
To develop in children an awareness and appreciation of many musical styles and genres.
To develop instrumental and ensemble skills.
To encourage children to strive for excellence.
Please visit the Instrumental Music Program website.

Learner Assistance (LA) / English as a Second Language (ESL)

Specialist teachers work in conjunction with classroom teachers to assist students to develop skills for effective learning across the curriculum. The support teacher may work within the classroom or on a withdrawal basis as appropriate and focus on students with English as a second language.

The Star Reading Program caters for ESL students to support them with daily reading practice. Students borrow books daily to read overnight. They receive certificates of encouragement which are presented at school assemblies.

Library

The role of the library is integral to the school program. The school maintains a comprehensive, up-to-date, attractive and stimulating collection of resources. The resource centre program:

promotes an enjoyment of books, literature and libraries
develops independent research skills through Information Literacy

This enables students to:

identify and locate information sources
extract and organise information
develop necessary skills in both school and public library usage.

The current library was opened in 2010 through funding from the Federal Government’s Building Education Revolution project.

Music

Teachers work with students to teach the joys of music and singing in the classroom. In addition a specialist music teacher provides a weekly lesson to all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school has three bands - Year 5 and Year 6 woodwind bands and Year 3/4 fife and drum band. A specialist singing teacher is employed once a week by the P&C Association to work with students on singing for pleasure.

Peer Support Program

Year 6 students undertake training each year to become peer support leaders. They provide activities for students across the school to enhance friendship groups, raise self-esteem and improve communication skills. This is a highly valued leadership program for our year 6 students.

Social and Emotional Education

C.A.R.E. Values

The aim of our values program is to enable students to take responsibility for the choices they make in their lives. The C.A.R.E. Values are Co-operation, Attitude, Respect and Excellence.

These values underpin all interaction that occurs at Hughes Primary School.

You Can Do It Program Achieve

This program develops the potential of all students (academically, intellectually, interpersonally and emotionally) through instilling in students the Foundations - Confidence, Persistence, Organisation, Getting Along and Resilience - that research indicates as determining the extent to which children can achieve and experience social and emotional well-being.

Central to the development of the Foundations is explicit instruction in the Habits of the Mind:

I Can Do It, Accepting Myself, Taking Risks, Being Independent, Giving Effort, Working Tough, Setting Goals, Planning my Time, Being Tolerant of others, Thinking First, Playing by the Rules and Social Responsibility.

KidsMatter Primary

We are a registered participant with the KidsMatter Primary Program which supports a whole school approach to children’s mental health and wellbeing. For more detailed information please visit the Kidsmatter website.

Student Representative Council

The SRC gives students an avenue for participation in the decision making process and the functioning of the school. It comprises two representatives from each mainstream and Introductory English Class. The four elected Student School Leaders address issues raised by students at classroom level. Representatives report back to their class after each meeting.

Religious Education

The Christian Religious Education Program, EDEN, is offered to children by visiting lay people. The program operates at lunch time every Monday. Parents are asked to inform the school in writing if they wish their child to attend.

Sports Program

Each year students are offered many opportunities to develop sporting skills. Clinics are held at the school, which are run by representatives of various sporting associations.

Students take part in cross country, swimming and athletic carnivals, which can lead to district and territory representation. Students also represent the school in a variety of other sports.

The School Sports Houses are named after local mountains:

Mugga (Yellow)
Stromlo (Red)
Taylor (Green)
Forster (Blue)