Primary School

DHARRA SCHOOL

Primary School

Junior School

Our educational journey is anchored in establishing a solid groundwork for lifelong learning. We are dedicated to nurturing good work habits and routines that set the tone for academic and personal growth. At this stage, the educational experience is designed around key pillars that include setting clear learning expectations, with an emphasis on understanding and practising learning, respect, and safety.  Our curriculum is robust, focusing on the core areas of English, Mathematics, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, and Personal and Social Capability. In each of these domains, we tailor our teaching to ensure that students are developing critical foundational skills.

Our teaching approach is play-based, recognising the natural curiosity and creativity of children. We leverage visual supports and clear routines to create an environment that is both structured and flexible, accommodating the unique learning pace of each child. 

This foundational phase is critical as it lays the groundwork for the subsequent years of education, and we take great pride in guiding our students through these pivotal early learning experiences.

All teaching and learning programs at Dharra School are based on the Victorian Curriculum.

• Literacy: Basic reading and writing strategies are introduced and practised, setting the stage for literacy competence.
• Numeracy: Hands-on mathematics concepts are explored to build a tangible understanding of numbers and their applications.
• Exploratory Learning: Introduction to Science and Humanities topics stimulate curiosity and broaden knowledge.
• Sensory Engagement: Sensory experiences are integrated into learning, catering to diverse learning needs and styles.
• Communication and Language: Through interactive and engaging activities, we foster language development, ensuring that every child is heard and understood.
• Alternative Communication: For students with additional communication needs, we employ strategies such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to support effective interaction.
• Excursions / Work Experience: Throughout the year, students engage in a variety of camps and excursions, e.g. Swimming Programs and Excursions aligned to our Inquiry topics.

Upper Junior

Ascending from the Foundation stages, our curriculum is a continuum where students deepen their academic and social skills. We build upon the solid base established in earlier years, propelling students into an expansive realm of knowledge and understanding. Our educational mission evolves to focus on the expansion of language and vocabulary, honing reading comprehension and mathematical concepts. Students learn to question, analyse, and synthesise information through our discovery units exploring science and humanities.  Social skills are a focus, giving them the tools to understand and interact with others thoughtfully and assertively.

Language experiences create opportunities within our learning, allowing students to develop their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. We encourage the creation of written texts from first-hand experiences, which not only bolsters their writing abilities but also develops their understanding of the world around them.

All teaching and learning programs at Dharra School are based on the Victorian Curriculum.

• Literacy: Reading & Viewing, Writing, Speaking & Listening
• Numeracy: Number & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry, Statistics & Probability
• Exploratory Learning:  Explore Science and Humanities topics to build curiosity and broaden world knowledge.
• Independent Learning: Rights, Resilience and Respectful Relationships (RRRR), eSMART (Cyber Safety, Respect Online, Digital Responsibility), School-wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB)
• Travel Education: Journey planning, getting about, behaving appropriately, staying safe; ongoing assessments including problem-solving and worry registers, excursion travel education checklists
• Excursions / Work Experience: Throughout the year, students engage in a variety of camps and excursions, e.g. Swimming Program, Travel Training to local shopping centres and Work Experience, where in, students volunteer their time in the community.