CURRICULUM

​​Religious Education 

All students at St Patrick's participate in Religious Education lessons. Not all of our families are Catholic or necessarily aligned with any particular religion. Our Religious Education program titled Awakenings continues to promote an approach to teaching and learning that encourages dialogue with one another and with the world around us. It seeks to understand and present the Catholic faith in the context of our current society.

Our teaching has several elements which help to increase understanding, personal development and spirituality. We encourage parents who are non-Catholic to speak to us about our Religious Education program and how we help all children to flourish at St Patrick's school.

Spiritual Development - Sacramental Program

St. Patrick's families are offered the opportunity to participate in the sacramental program of the Parish if they wish their child to recieve the sacraments offered - Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. These programs are run parallel to school across the school year. Children who are in Year Four and above may participate.

Core Curriculum @ St. Patrick's

In June 2024, Education Minister and Deputy Premier, Ben Carroll, announced that all Victorian government schools will be required to implement evidence-based Literacy teaching, including the use of a systematic phonics program from F-2 and a teaching method called 'explicit instruction'.

At St Patrick's, we have been meeting this requirement, and other recommendations of the Grattan Report 'The Reading Guarantee' since mid 2025.
In line with the best-available evidence about how children learn to read and with the support of Catholic Education Ballarat, we are in the process of updating our approach to Literacy instruction. We are aiming to embed an effective and consistent Structured Literacy methodology from Foundation to Year Six.

This means that we teach all the elements of literacy, including phonics, in a systematic and explicit way, ensuring that all our students have the foundational knowledge and understandings they need to become successful readers and writers.

You may notice some changes in the language we use to communicate student progress and you may notice some changes in practice. For example, our early readers will no longer bring home 'levelled readers', but will instead bring home 'decodable books', that have been chosen specifically to align with our teaching sequence. If you have any questions or concerns about these (or any other) changes, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Please be assured that these changes have been made after much careful consideration, consultation with world-leading experts and - of course - in the best interests of our children.

A ‘structured literacy’ approach to teaching reading is best. It draws on decades of research evidence, including cognitive science, by explicitly and systematically teaching students the key sub-skills needed for reading and writing. (Grattan Report, February 2024)

Literacy 

At St. Patrick's Literacy encompasses more than just reading and writing; it extends to understanding and interpreting language. It’s a foundational skill that empowers individuals to communicate, comprehend, and engage in society effectively. Our Systematic Synthetic Phonics and explicit literacy instructional approach includes access to knowledge, social connections, and participation in everyday activities. It is beyond being able to decode written words; it involves critical thinking, interpretation and the ability to analyse and evaluate information. 

Explicit instructions are clear, step-by-step directions that fully explain and demonstrate a skill or concept. This structured teaching approach involves the instructor modeling the task, providing guided practice, and giving frequent, targeted feedback until the learner achieves independent mastery. Key components include setting clear objectives, breaking down content into smaller steps, and using "I do, we do, you do" to move from demonstration to independent practice. 

Mathematics

Our Mathematics program is sequential yet flexible, providing children with a managed developmental approach which builds upon prior learning and allows each child to experience continued success. The mathematics program at St. Patrick’s is developed through levels and strands and activities that will move from the concrete to the abstract. Work at each level will be based on the integration of mathematical activities relating different areas of study.

As children engage in learning mathematical skills and processes they will acquire mathematical skills that will enable them to use maths confidently in a variety of situations. Problem solving and critical thinking is central to our mathematics program.

The Arts

At St. Patrick’s School, learning in the Arts takes several forms: art, dance, drama, media and music. All children will be exposed to a weekly lesson in Visual and Performing Arts with our specialist teacher Jacinta Molloy. Our dedicated arts room provides the space to run an excellent arts program. Through arts practice students learn to develop ideas by drawing upon experience, exploring feelings, observing and researching. In responding to the arts, students learn to analyse and interpret arts works. We value the arts as a major source of intellectual, physical, spiritual and emotional development, understanding and enjoyment.

Japanese

All students at St Patrick's Gordon participate in weekly Japanese lessons. Students are exposed to the culture, art, language and customs of our Asian neighbour with their teacher Denise Buttler. It is important that children are exposed to other languages in their primary years. Many students find that they have a special talent in this interesting learning area.

Inquiry(Knowledge) Learning

Inquiry Learning is where we can study about a major theme or school focus and incorporate learning outcomes from a variety of subject areas. At St Patrick’s School, Gordon we will give the students knowledge, skills and values to enable them to participate as confident, responsible and active citizens. Inquiry Learning involves project work and personal learning activities and may encompass study in The Arts, Geography, Science, Health etc.

Topics selected will be 'rich topics' that will enable the classroom teacher to assist their students in developing skills, knowledge, values and attitudes. The topics will be a “worthwhile exploration of meaningful content that relates to and extends students’ life experiences and understanding of the world” (1997 Murdoch).

STEAM

STEM is the study of the Science, Technology, Engineering, The Arts and Mathetics. At St Patrick’s School, Gordon we aim to provide a program which nurtures scientifically and technologically literate individuals, where students will be able to make informed decisions regarding the impact of their lifestyle on the environment. We recognise the need for STEAM to be relevant, as learning science through STEAM and its methods of investigation encourages students to develop curiosity and a spirit of inquiry and helps them to be open minded and to value objectivity.

The STEAM education program part of our weekly speciliats program which is then supported by our Scinece program which is part of our Inquiry Learning. The program will endeavour to assist the students to:

  • Acquire and use the skills of scientific investigation, reasoning and analysis to ask questions and seek solutions
  • Develop scientific attributes such as curiosity, critical reflection, ethical considerations etc.
  • Be able to interpret and communicate scientific ideas effectively
  • Appreciate the dynamic role of science in social and technological change
  • Acquire scientific skills and basic concepts of science
  • Recognise and understand the strengths and limitations of science

Health and Physical Education

At St. Patrick’s we support a lifelong involvement in physical activity and the pursuit of health and well being. Children participate in daily activity including morning exercise and one specialist PE class per week which develops fundamental motor skills, games skills, strategies and understanding of heath issues relating to sport and exercise. We promote the physical, social, emotional and spiritual health of individuals, families and communities.

The children are given the skills to identify the harms associated with particular situations and behaviours and make them aware of good nutritional habits. They will be encouraged to develop values regarding rights and responsibilities of individuals and communities so that they can make informed decisions about their own and others’ lives, as they form effective relationships with families, friends and groups.

Interschool sport involvement in Years 3/4 and 5/6 provides opportunities for children to meet children from other schools and to enhance their games skills in a safe competitive environment. Developing good sportsmanship is a valued part of the inter-school sport experience. This takes place across the school year.

Swimming and Gymnastics programs are offered to all children in Term 2 at the Ballarat Aquatic Centre. School camps are an important aspect of our Health and Physical education curriculum and take place in years F-2 (Late Stay Back), Years 3-4 (2day/2 night camp) and Years 5/6 (3 day/2night camp).

They will be encouraged to take a proactive role in the safety of themselves and others, through participation in a number of programs. Students participate in Life Education every second year.