St. Michael's curriculum planning, learning and teaching supports the development of children's knowledge,
skills, values and attitudes in the Key Learning Areas.
All children participate in the Religious Education
program at St. Michael's. Our school-based program ensures that all areas of faith are covered. Each year's
cycle includes whole school units that develop children's understandings and celebrations of the Sacraments
and the Church's year. Children are prepared for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist in Year 3 and
the Sacrament of Confirmation in Year 6.
We teach the content areas of Health, Science, Technology and Studies of Society and the Environment
through our P-6 Integrated Curriculum units that are based on an inquiry approach to learning. Units of work
are designed to ensure that children develop understandings about their world in a natural and holistic context.
Our English program covers the modes of reading, writing, speaking and listening. These modes
are taught as either stand-alone units of work or linked directly to our Integrated Curriculum units of work.
All children at St. Michael's are involved in a one-hour library lesson per week. This program has either
'literature' or 'information skills' as its focus, and is linked with the classroom program where possible.
In 2005 in recognition of achievement in raising the literacy levels for children St. Michael's was awarded
a "Highly Commended" National Literacy Award.
Our Mathematics program is taken from our P-6 Mathematics Scope and Sequence which stems current
Mathematics documents.
Our Health and Personal Development program is implemented weekly across P-6. This program includes
Program Achieve (a social skills and self esteem program); Drug Education; Health and Human Development; and,
Traffic Safety.
The Visual Arts and Music are the focus of our Arts program. Both programs are planned in levels
and taught by each classroom teacher.
A specialist teacher is responsible for implementing our Physical Education program. Currently
children in Years Prep to Six are involved in an intensive swimming program each year.
The Language other than English (LOTE) taught at St. Michael's is Vietnamese. Each class receives
one session per week. Where possible the LOTE program is linked with our Integrated Curriculum units of work,
otherwise stand-alone units are taught.
All children at St. Michael's have access to Information Communication Technology. Computers
are provided in all Learning Areas and a Computer Laboratory is accessed on a timetabled basis by all children
from Years Prep to Six.
Student progress is reported to parents in a variety of both formal and informal ways. The focus
of our Reporting to families is to communicate the learning and teaching that occurs at St. Michael's. Formal
avenues of reporting include Parent and Teacher Learning Conferences in Terms 1, 2 and 4. At our Parent and
Teacher Learning Conferences "My Learning Journey" folders that contains samples of work are discussed.
Weekly assemblies and newsletters are regularly used to inform families of what is happening in their great
inner city Catholic school.
At St. Michael's the Health and Wellbeing of all children is very important. In order to promote
a happy, safe and supportive environment 'school rules' are discussed regularly and consistently enforced.
Processes for identifying, assessing and addressing the behavioral, emotional, academic, and/or social needs
of children are implemented by all staff and monitored by St. Michael's Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.
Our Parent Support Group meets monthly to organise and plan fundraising activities that will
take place throughout the school year. This hardworking group organises such things as Special Lunch Days
and St. Michael's annual International Festival. A group of Senior Past Students, The Friends of St.
Michael's, meet monthly to organise fundraising functions that support the financial needs of the school
community.
St. Michael's conducts Out of School Hours Care. This consists of both Before and After School
Programs that have accreditation with the National Childcare Accreditation Council. Children are involved
in a range of supervised, age appropriate activities that encourage social interaction. Some of the
activities available are games, craft, sport, drama, dance, painting, cooking, reading and music. The
program is managed by an Out of School Hours Program Committee.
St. Michael's Parish Primary School
8 Brougham Street
North Melbourne 3051
Telephone: 03 9329 9206
Email: principal@stmlnmlb.melb.catholic.edu.au
Principal: Dr. Bernadette Summers
Deputy Principal: Mrs. Helen Smith
Secretary: Mrs. Maria Stricki