Curriculum
Students engage in the Australian Curriculum Learning Areas of English, Mathematics, Technology, Science, HASS, The Arts, Languages other than English (LOTE), Technologies and HPE. For further information please refer to the ACARA (Australian Curriculum) website
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au
The Australian Curriculum includes the General Capabilities of: Literacy, Numeracy, Information and Communication Technology Competence, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Behaviour, Personal and Social Competence and Intercultural Understanding. It also includes the Cross-curriculum Priorities of: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia, and Sustainability.
The capabilities and priorities are taught within the learning areas. Our whole school curriculum priorities include:
- Ensuring access and engagement of all students in the Learning Areas of the Australian Curriculum.
- Developing solid literacy foundations with all students in the Early Years
- The interconnection between curriculum content knowledge and skills so that students understand what they are learning and why.
- Visible Learning Walls which make clear to students what they need to KNOW and DO to be successful learners.
Literacy
Mackay West State School Literacy Programme focusses on the explicit teaching of Phonological Awareness, Decoding and Comprehension (Prep – Year 6). The Programme is efficacy-based on research and is a priority to drive literacy improvement.
The programme also incorporates Explicit Teaching for spelling from Prep to Year 6. A third element of the programme is "Writing for Fun" (Prep to Year 3). This part of the programme encourages daily writing that is topic driven. It builds in specific skill development in editing, spelling correction and writing improvement.
The students are screened during each term in Phonological Awareness, Decoding, Comprehension and Spelling. This allows for students to be grouped according to their individual needs. Data is monitored closely to ensure teachers can focus on student needs with structured teaching and learning goals. Additional individual and small group intervention with identified students based on specific targets in spelling and reading intervention is also provided to support students.
Our MWSS Literacy Programme engages Resourcing Specialist Support – Speech Language Pathologist and a Literacy Resource Manager.
At Mackay West, teachers and administrators plan together identifying the literacy demands within the Australian Curriculum Units by applying the explicit teaching strategies and thinking processes learned. During these planning session reading strategies and comprehension processes in all Learning Areas are identified.
Inclusive Education
At Mackay West State School we believe that every student has the ability to learn and should be able to demonstrate progress in their learning. Our culture is one of ongoing improvement with high expectations, continual monitoring of student progress, and responsive teaching focused on student success.
A whole school approach to curriculum provision, using a continuum of support, provides increasing levels of personalised teaching and intervention to cater for the learning needs of all students.
Our support programs ensure that all students are participating in the Australian Curriculum through relevant, meaningful activities which are aligned to the same content as their peers.
Extensive support during the teaching of English is provided across all year levels. Appropriate learning adjustments are made to ensure all students can engage in the unit.
School Assessment and Reporting
Education involves the development of the whole child (i.e. their intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth). The child is best helped in this when there is understanding and cooperation between parent and teacher, home and school.
- Two opportunities are offered to all parents to attend a Parent/Teacher Interview at the end of Term 1 and the beginning of Term 3
- Report cards are emailed at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2
- Students complete continuous assessment of their progress, matching the Australian Curriculum Standards/ P – 12 Curriculum Framework.
- Assessment is completed to identify individual strengths and gaps in learning of students, in all Learning areas.
- Students in Years 3 and 5 complete the NAPLAN Test in May each year with detailed results provided for parents in August.
- Students also engage in various whole school assessment tasks in literacy, including PAT-S tests to monitor and respond to students learning needs.
- Parent/Teacher discussions: We encourage you to make contact with your student's teacher to discuss any concerns. Please arrange a mutually suitable time for these discussions.
Awards night
Our end of year awards night recognises Academic Excellence (Gold), Academic Achievement (Silver), Academic Effort, Cultural and Sporting Achievements.