Contemporary Learning

Contemporary learning is powerful teaching and learning. It supports and enables the students to engage in a contemporary world.

Emmaus Catholic Primary School is a learning community. 

All members of our community are learners – children, parents and teachers.

We acknowledge the capacity of all members of our community as learners and teachers. Celebrating the expertise and talents of the individuals in our community is recognised and encouraged through various opportunities. 

As educators we know that each student is unique and it is our responsibility to have a strong knowledge of each child in order to provide appropriate learning opportunities. Our students are assessed both formally and informally against curriculum documents and developmental domains including social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

Teachers at Emmaus are committed to engaging in a continuous professional development cycle where needs are identified, professional learning is undertaken and reflected upon and then this learning is applied to the planning and delivery of teaching programs for our students.

We believe that effective learning and teaching occurs when:

  • Individual differences in knowledge, skills, abilities, needs and motivation are catered for.
  • Explicit links are made to the students’ prior knowledge.
  • Students have daily opportunities to retrieve and review previously taught knowledge and skills.
  • Students are taught strategies to transfer skills and conceptual understandings to new situations.
  • Students are taught strategies which enable them to take greater responsibility for their own learning.
  • Teachers work collaboratively to provide evidence informed systematic teaching and guidance.

Learning Opportunities are

  • Relevant
  • Rich in assessment
  • Personalised
  • Explicit and scaffolded
  • Equitable

Learning Environments are

  • Connected to local and global networks
  • Collaborative
  • Secure and safe
  • Flexible
  • Supportive of innovation
  • Inquiry focused

Core knowledge, skills and understanding are developed through

  • Reflecting and planning
  • Thinking and working creatively
  • Communicating and collaborating
  • Exploring, experimenting and creating new knowledge

Contemporary Literacies involve students through

  • Culturally relevant practices
  • Valued literacy practices
  • Creating and interacting with print
  • Engaging in a multimedia world
  • Communicating in a range of social contexts

Developing deep understandings about themselves, others and the world

  • Exploring different perspectives
  • Considering religious, social, cultural, historical, political and ethical influences
  • Experiencing and analyzing issues

Building Relationships through

  • Connecting and learning with others in and out of the classroom

Contributing to Community through

  • Taking responsibility for themselves
  • Taking action for the good of the community
  • Serving others and having a sense of ‘Social Justice’
  • Developing working relationships with other schools and organisations
  • Active actions as citizens of Australia