EMMAUS CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Emmaus Way
VISION FOR INSTRUCTION
Our rich curriculum is grounded in the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Vision for Instruction. We are committed to explicit, high-impact teaching that makes learning clear, purposeful and achievable for every student.
Through structured instruction, teachers carefully model new concepts, break learning into manageable steps, and provide regular practice and feedback. This approach builds strong foundations in literacy, numeracy and across all learning areas, ensuring students develop deep understanding, confidence and the skills they need for future success.
We hold high expectations for all learners and provide the support and challenge needed so every child can grow and thrive.
ENGLISH
Literacy involves students reading, writing, speaking and listening. All learners are supported by explicit and scaffolded evidence based teaching practices in these areas. Our teaching and learning programs are underpinned by research in the field of the Science of Reading. Our structured literacy sessions include specific skill development in each of the “Big 6” components of reading; oral language, phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. During spelling and writing lessons students are explicitly taught the various text structures, syntax, punctuation and morphology. Ongoing assessment, monitoring and evaluating are vital to the planning and teaching of our literacy program and teachers maintain high expectations of all students. We believe in equality for each student, therefore literacy teaching is personalised to ensure that each student reaches their full potential. Through our Multi Tiered Systems of Support framework students who are requiring additional support engage in a range of evidence based interventions to ensure every student receives the appropriate level of support, instruction and adjustments to be successful. Students are encouraged to engage fully in their learning and we believe this empowers our students to become life-long learners.
MATHEMATICS
At Emmaus our students are engaged in a minimum of five hours of mathematics per week. We explicitly teach the concepts and skills needed for students to be proficient mathematicians. We apply the principles of Explicit Direct Instruction to our teaching and learning in mathematics. Ensuring that all students build upon their conceptual understanding and mathematical fluency. A key part of every mathematics lesson is our daily review. Through gradual, sustained, and interleaved practice, essential skills are revisited and strengthened over time, helping to secure them in long-term memory and develop true mastery. As children become fluent and automatic in recalling number facts and mathematical concepts, their working memory is freed to focus on deeper problem-solving and mathematical reasoning.
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE
At Emmaus Catholic Primary School, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) from Prep to Year 6 builds students’ understanding of the world, their community and their role within it. Our HASS program is knowledge-rich, carefully sequenced and aligned with the Victorian Curriculum. Students develop strong foundations in History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, and Economics and Business through explicit teaching and purposeful inquiry. Across P–6, students: • Explore Australia’s history and diverse cultures • Develop an understanding of geography and our connection to place • Learn about democracy, citizenship and active participation in community • Build financial literacy and economic understanding Through engaging texts, discussion, critical thinking and real-world connections, students are equipped to think deeply, ask questions and become informed, responsible citizens. Our HASS program reflects our commitment to developing curious learners who understand the past, engage thoughtfully with the present and are prepared to shape the future.
SCIENCE
Our Science program provides a clear, knowledge-rich learning pathway from Foundation to Year 6. Lessons are carefully sequenced so students build strong scientific understanding over time. Students explore key areas of science, including biological, physical, chemical and Earth and space sciences. Through explicit teaching, discussion and hands-on investigations, they develop curiosity, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world around them. This approach ensures all students gain strong scientific knowledge and the confidence to think and learn like scientists.
OUTDOOR DISCOVERY
At Emmaus, sustainability is a way of living and leading rooted in Pope Francis’ Laudato si’. This teaching calls us to an "integral ecology," recognising that caring for our "common home" is deeply connected to how we care for one another. Through our Outdoor Discovery program, students move beyond the classroom to engage in hands-on environmental stewardship and Indigenous ways of caring for Country. Our student-led expansion focuses on a self-sustaining ecosystem: • Composting: Transforming waste into rich soil to teach the beauty of natural renewal. • The Orchard & Patch: Growing fresh produce to explore food security and natural cycles. • Biodiversity: Maintaining our Frog Oasis—a habitat designed and built by our students to provide sanctuary for local wildlife. By fostering these connections, we are shaping the environmentally conscious citizens of the future.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
At Emmaus, Design and Digital Technology empowers students to move from being passive consumers to creative problem-solvers who use innovation for the common good. Currently a learning area under expansion, we are growing our capacity to provide students with the critical thinking and technical skills needed to design solutions for a rapidly changing world. Our students engage with a variety of digital tools, robotics equipment, and hands-on resources to bring their ideas to life. We utilize a range of digital and physical technologies, including: • Robotics & Coding: Using Spheros and Makey Makeys to explore logic, electronics, and interactive programming. • Creative Engineering: Leveraging 3D printers, iPads, and relevant software applications to prototype and design real-world projects.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
At Emmaus, our Physical Education program focuses on developing confident, competent, and active learners. We believe that physical literacy is the foundation for a healthy life, providing students with the skills and mindset to stay active and engaged. Our structured curriculum ensures a smooth transition through the year levels: • Junior Years: We focus on Fundamental Motor Skills , teaching the essential building blocks of movement through explicit instruction and play. • Middle & Senior School: Students progress to modified games, where skills are explicitly taught and then applied in strategic, team-based situations. Beyond the Classroom We provide numerous pathways for students to challenge themselves and represent our school community. Our students have the opportunity to participate in district swimming, cross country, and athletics competitions, fostering a sense of sportsmanship and school pride. In the Senior School, students also engage in interschool sports with neighbouring schools, building social connections and applying their skills in a competitive yet supportive environment.
VISUAL ARTS
In Visual Arts at Emmaus, we believe that every student has a unique creative voice waiting to be discovered. Our curriculum is designed to move students from foundational understanding to confident self-expression through a structured, hands-on approach. Our Learning Journey Our program focuses on the intentional development of artistic literacy: • Explicit Instruction: We explicitly teach the elements of art (such as line, shape, and color) and the principles of design (such as balance, contrast, and rhythm). • Artistic Inspiration: Students explore a diverse range of artists and artforms, analysing the unique techniques and historical contexts that shape the world of art. • Skill Application: Once skills are mastered, children transition into the creative phase, applying their knowledge to produce high-quality artworks. Individual & Collaborative Art We celebrate both the personal journey of the artist and the power of a collective vision. Students engage in: Individual Masterpieces: • Developing personal style and technical stamina through solo projects. • Collaborative Works: Working together on large-scale pieces that foster teamwork, communication, and a shared sense of pride within the school community.
PERFORMING ARTS
The Performing Arts program at Emmaus is a vibrant space where students explore their creative potential through sound, movement, and technology. Our curriculum is designed to build musical literacy and confidence, ensuring every child finds their unique rhythm. In the Classroom Our students engage in a diverse range of musical and performance-based experiences, including: • Musical Literacy: Learning to read and interpret rhythmic notation, providing a strong foundation for all musical pursuits. • Instrumental Exploration: Hands-on practice with a variety of percussion instruments to understand tempo, beat, and ensemble playing. • Digital Music: Utilising modern technology to compose, mix, and create original digital soundscapes. • Voice & Movement: Developing self-expression through singing and choreographed movement, building both physical coordination and vocal confidence. Community & Connection Our passion for the arts extends beyond Performing Arts lessons. Our popular Lunchtime Choir Club offers students a dedicated space to refine their vocal talents in a collaborative environment. The Choir plays an integral role in our school’s spiritual and social life, regularly sharing their talents with the wider community during significant events, including Sacramental celebrations and school liturgies. Through performance, our students learn the value of service and the joy of sharing their gifts with others.
LOTE ITALIAN
2022 saw the Emmaus community embarking on a new language journey as we embraced the Teachers as Co Learners (TCL) pedagogical approach to language learning. In a TCL approach all teachers and students are learners of the target language, which in our case is Italian. Time is allocated everyday to ensure frequent exposure to, and learning of, both Italian and English. The aim of our language program is to encourage all community members to develop the skills to converse in Italian. Our Italian coach, Signora Paula, meets with teachers weekly to teach them new words and phrases and provides coaching and resources for teachers to use during their daily language lessons. Signora Paula visits each class once a week to model how we can use these words and phrases to speak to one another in Italian.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
At Emmaus, learning and connection extend well beyond the classroom. Our students enjoy enriching experiences such as: • Year 5 and 6 camps • Interschool sport for our senior students • Engaging excursions and incursions • Book Week celebrations • Book Fairs • Our School Mini Fair • Athletics Carnivals • Colour Runs • School Feast Day • Meaningful social justice initiatives. These opportunities build community, nurture student voice and bring learning to life in joyful and purposeful ways.
