Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten operates for three full days weekly (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays) and engages our youngest students in a rich programme based on the Early Years Framework, Belonging, Being and Becoming. While enjoying their own designated learning and playing areas, our Kinder children develop positive connections with all other students in the College. The flexible design of the Early Years classrooms encourages a sense of connection within an active learning community. Kinder students participate in Music and Physical Education lessons run by specialist teachers.

We support children and families in the pre-Kinder months (Term 4) by conducting a weekly preparation programme called “Little Stars”.

Primary

In attractive, flowing and functional learning areas and with access to an open gathering and learning space, the Nagle Gallery, our Early Years and Years 3-6 students enjoy a full programme of learning drawn from the Australian Curriculum.

At Star of the Sea, we adhere to the Learning Areas of the Australian Curriculum, as well as the Good News for Living Religious Education Curriculum of the Tasmanian Catholic Archdiocese.

These are the Learning Areas:

  • Religious Education
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Health and Physical Education (HPE)
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences – History and Geography
  • The Arts [which can consist of Music, Visual Arts, Drama and Media]
  • Technologies (Digital Technology and Design & Technology)
  • L.O.T.E.

Secondary

Introduction

Our Secondary school takes advantage of the personalisation, responsiveness and flexibility inherent in a small school and we are able to offer a continuation of all the core subjects.

Years 7 and 8 study the following mandatory core subjects:

  • Religious Education
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Humanities and Social Sciences: History and Geography
  • Science
  • Health and Physical Education
  • The Arts
  • Visual Arts
  • Music
  • Performing Arts
  • Design and Technologies

Years 9 and 10 study the following core subjects:

Religious Education holds central place as an area of learning at Star of the Sea Catholic College. Through the Religious Education program our students are given the opportunity to investigate and reflect on enduring questions of faith and life. All students participate in a Religious Education program based on the Archdiocesan Good News for Living Framework.

Through teaching, prayer, lived experience and immersion in the rich traditions of our faith, we strive to lead our students to depth of understanding towards the fullness of life to which Jesus calls us: Underpinning the study of Religious Education in our College is an intention for our students to engage fully with the idea of the flourishing of the whole person, body, mind and spirit as envisaged and enabled by Christ.

“I have come that you may have life and have it to the full”  John 10:10

We hold that the study of English is central to the learning and development of all young Australians. It helps create confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens.

It is through the study of English that individuals learn to analyse, understand, communicate and build relationships with others and with the world around them. The study of English helps young people develop the knowledge and skills needed for education, training and the workplace. It helps them become ethical, thoughtful, informed and active members of society.

The Australian English curriculum is built around the three interrelated strands of Language, Literature and Literacy. Together the strands focus on developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills in listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing and creating.

Learning Mathematics creates opportunities for and enriches the lives of all Australians. The Australian Mathematics Curriculum provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. It develops the numeracy capabilities that all students need in their personal, work and civic life and provides the fundamentals on which mathematical specialties and professional applications of mathematics are built.

In the Secondary school students develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of mathematical concepts and fluency with processes, and are able to pose and solve problems and reason across all strands of Mathematics.

Science is a dynamic, collaborative and creative human endeavour arising from our desire to make sense of our world through exploring the unknown, investigating universal mysteries, making predictions and solving problems. Science provides a way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world.

The Australian Science Curriculum forms the basis of our teaching and learning programs across the following areas:

  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • Earth and Space Sciences
  • Physical Sciences

HASS: Humanities and Social Sciences

Students of Humanities in Year 7-10 are engaged in inquiry learning and supported to bring to their study the skills of critical thinking and making connections. Under this approach, students are encouraged to gain understandings about matters studied, to apply their understandings and skills in their own lives and to actively explore, make sense of and contribute to improving the world around them.

At Star of Sea Catholic College we follow the Australian HASS Curriculum, which is comprised of History and Geography.

Students of Humanities in Year 7-10 are engaged in inquiry learning and supported to bring to their study the skills of critical thinking and making connections. Under this approach, students are encouraged to gain understandings about matters studied, to apply their understandings and skills in their own lives and to actively explore, make sense of and contribute to improving the world around them.

At Star of Sea Catholic College we follow the Australian HASS Curriculum, which is comprised of History and Geography.

 Health and Physical Education teaches students how to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts.

The Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum is delivered to students through classroom lessons and through active sessions outdoors, or in our Star (Sports) Centre, where they learn the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and the skills required to participate in a range of sporting/recreational activities.

The Arts

The Australian Visual Arts Curriculum aims to develop visual arts knowledge, understanding and skills, and an appreciation of Art. Art elements and principles are explored in depth using a wide variety of media and techniques. Students are encouraged to develop individual strengths through creatively solving problems, risk taking; exploring their own art making ideas and having an appreciation of artists in history. Areas of study include: painting, drawing, printmaking, construction and ceramics.

A key part of artistic expression is the presentation to an audience, achieved for our students through the display of works as part the College Art Exhibition in in Term 4.

Music is exploring, performing, creating, listening and responding to sound and silence. In music, students engage with music from diverse cultures and places.

When delivering the Australian Music Curriculum students learn the language, skills, techniques and knowledge of music in increasing depth and complexity with ongoing and disciplined practice. They work with the elements and materials of music to develop musicianship, critical thinking and aesthetic understanding.

From the early years of their Primary education at Star of the Sea Catholic College our students receive a gradual introduction to the formal elements of group participation in movement and dramatic presentation. Drama operates as a class curriculum area until Year 9, at which stage it becomes an elective area for students.

The Years 9 and 10 elective students present a biannual production to an external audience, often offering levels of involvement in performance to a number of students from other year levels.

Technologies

Digital Technologies develops knowledge and understanding of information systems: digital systems and representation of data. It also focuses on developing skills to create digital solutions to problems and opportunities. In these lessons, students participate in a range of activities including coding, the collection, representation and interpretation of data, using algorithms to solve problems and the development of computational thinking.

Design and Technologies at Star of the Sea gives students opportunities to develop knowledge and confidence to critically analyse and creatively respond to design challenges. They do this through participating in Woodwork and Food and Textile lessons.