Curriculum

The school’s curriculum is provided through the implementation of the Victorian Curriculum. This statewide framework has eight learning areas, seven general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities that are embedded in all learning areas.

ENGLISH/LITERACY

English/Literacy includes the study of texts and aspects of language – understanding, features and strategies in reading, writing, speaking and listening. The love of reading and appreciation of literature is encouraged and the skills of handwriting, spelling, grammar and punctuation are an integral part of our program.

MATHEMATICS/NUMERACY

Mathematics/Numeracy is a core element of our school program and children are taught to understand maths through use of concrete materials, problem solving, real life situations and risk taking. Each child will develop skills in space, number, measurement, chance and data, working mathematically and structure.

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Health & Physical Education is a broad curriculum and includes the topics of Movement and Physical Activity and Health Knowledge and Promotion.

Our program includes:

• Swimming - all children have the opportunity to participate in a program during term 3 or 4. The program is conducted by qualified staff.
• Bike Education - students participate in Bike Education each year. Our students leave their bikes at school in the shed and are able to ride them during break times. A qualified staff member runs weekly Bike Education sessions and selects a team each year to participate in the local competition.
• Athletic School Sports - our Rural Athletic School Sports day is held in term 1 between the local rural schools. All grades participate with an emphasis on involvement.
• Cross country- this is held at Chairo Christian School in Drouin in Term 2.
• PMP (perceptual motor program) - this fitness program is used with the junior students to develop skills in body awareness, visual and spatial, communication, balance and gross and fine motor.

THE ARTS

The Arts includes dance, drama, music and visual arts. Our students have weekly Music and Art lessons. They learn a range of instruments and showcase their skills at the end of 4th term at our school concert. Every second year we have an Art Show where all students display their own art work.

AUSLAN

Auslan is the native language used by many Deaf people in Australia. It is a visual-gestured language that uses distinct movements called "signs". These movements include shapes made with the hands and arms, eyes and facial expressions, and head and body postures. The language is supplemented by finger spelling which is the spelling of words with the fingers representing letters in the alphabet. Auslan, just like any other language - oral or written - is a communication tool. 

Sign language can:

• enhance children’s educational and personal development 
• increase memory retention and motion processing1 
• stimulate brain development and mental flexibility 
• increase enjoyment in communicating for both hearing and deaf children. 

SCIENCE

Science includes developing observation and recording skills through investigations of Biological Science, Chemical Science, Earth and Space Sciences and Physical Science.

HUMANITIES

Humanities develops an appreciation of local and broader environments by studying History, Geography and Economics.

INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

We aim for all children to leave Bona Vista with sound computer skills and the ability to use ICT to create presentations, animations and to represent and organise their thinking. The provision of appropriate resources in our classrooms is a priority at our school.

MARC VAN

MARC Van is a mobile library from our area which visits the school each week. Children borrow 2 books to take home and read. Mr Child conducts literature based lessons which develop library skills and the appreciation of books.