Curriculum

Religious Education

“Growth in religious understanding and faith occurs throughout life. The Catholic school, through its defining culture, its curriculum and its classroom-based religious education programs, plays an important formative role in support of families in the religious education of those to whom it ministers.” (p. 4 Diocese of Sale Religious Education Curriculum)

Religious Education is the heart of the curriculum at Don Bosco. The school uses the Sale Diocesan Religious Education curriculum “To Live in Christ Jesus.” Students are educated, engaged and challenged with learning opportunities to inquire about the Triune God, the Life and Mission of Jesus, the Sacramental Church, Christian Life and Catholic Social Teaching. These strands of the curriculum are explored through scripture, Church tradition, Christian prayer and liturgy and religion and society.

At our school, we provide regular opportunities for students to celebrate communal prayer of the Church.

All classes participate in celebrating the Eucharist (Mass) and students who have received their first Reconciliation are given opportunities to receive this Sacrament throughout the year. Levels celebrate with the parish community mass on most Wednesday mornings. The school community gathers to celebrate the Eucharist on certain feast days within the different seasons of the Church, as well as other significant events in the life of the school community.

Prayer occurs at the beginning of each school day and at different times during the week with the purpose of building and developing a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting

At Don Bosco, we use the Victorian Curriculum as a progression of learning.  Evidence of student learning is gathered in multiple ways (assessment and observation) and teachers work in a collaborative planning team to identify where students have grown in their learning and where they are at in relation to the curriculum.  Future learning is then planned next to meet them at their point of need. 

The Victorian Curriculum is framed around learning standards and capabilities as listed below.  Each of these have learning descriptors that identify the content, skills and processes students are required to learn right through to the Victorian Certificate of Education.  

To ensure the students have access to the domain curriculum areas of Science, The Arts, Physical Education and Languages; teachers trained specifically in these areas meet the children weekly for a one hour lesson.  Our current language is French.  

For those students who require support with learning English, the English as an Additional Language Curriculum is then implemented and reported alongside the other standards in the Victorian Curriculum. Students who require additional adjustments made to the learning environment, how the learning is presented and taught, will receive this support.  Should there be a formalised process of adjustment coupled with school or external professionals, parents would work with our Inclusive Education staff and engage in Parent Support Group Meetings. 

Students are reported against the standards twice per school year (End Terms 2 & 4).  In addition to this, Student Conferences are held with the Students, Parents and Teachers in Terms 1 & 2.