Our Curriculum
Classes
In 2024 we operate six classes:
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Foundation and Grade 1
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Grade 2 and 3
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Grade 3 and 4
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Grade 4 and 5
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Grade 6
Our composite classes are a mixture of students from two different year levels. When considering class structures, the Principal considers age, maturity, girl/boy ratio, family groupings and teacher recommendations. Individual skills and development are catered for in each class.
Specialist Classes
We also run three specialist classes – Art, PE and Science. In the senior wing (34, 45 and 56) we run STEAM classes and Senior Sport session, whilst the F1 class do Developmental Curriculum. Across the entire school, we learn Gunditjmara Culture and Language in Schools program, with the guidance of our Language Support Officer, Jayden Lillyst.
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Classroom learning is also supported by the Tutor Learning Initiative and small group intervention across the school.
Victorian Curriculum
Our curriculum is dynamic with engaging learning activities designed to stimulate young minds. We adhere to the Victorian Curriculum and provide a rigorous focus on core curriculum learning areas – literacy, numeracy, science, inquiry, arts, music, PE and LOTE (Indonesian).
Children develop at different rates and progress is often achieved at different paces. At the beginning of the year, teachers undertake a one hour detailed 1:1 assessment on every student to set the benchmark for learning growth throughout the year. The use of Individual Education Plans guide students and teachers to achieve success. Just as no two children are identical, no two learning plans are the same.
Embedded in classroom learning is collaborative learning, inquiry learning, IT (class sets of iPads and laptops) and additional support for students with additional needs.
Within the curriculum, the school year is filled with additional activities to improve knowledge, skills or appreciation. These may include: Athletics, Cross-Country, Swimming programs, Winter Series competitions, cricket/golf/football/netball/basketball clinics, arts and music festivals, Clubs and visiting artists.
Camps are an important learning experience for a student’s personal development and we run two camps. In 2023, we will be having a 5-day camp to Melbourne for Grades 5&6 and a 3-day camp to Halls Gap for Grades 3&4. Grade 2s will continue to have an overnight sleepover and experience day.
Berry Street Education Model
In 2019 we introduced the Berry Street Educational Model to support all of our students in their personal growth, to meet their needs (academic, social and emotional) in a more positive and supportive environment.
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Since this introduction, we have reviewed and adapted our procedures and protocols across the school to allow all students to self-regulate, be ready to learn and develop communities across our school.
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We now start every day with Check-in circles, which allows students to identify and share how they are feeling, develop greater understanding of each individual (including students and staff) by sharing announcements, refocussing the day on our school values and pro-social skills by sharing the expectations of the day, developing skills of tracking the speaker and being reflective of the process.
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We also finish the day with a Check out circle to allow students and staff to reflect on the day and leave Heycon in a positive framework. It also allows classes to discuss possible improvements for tomorrow and discuss events for the following day.
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We use Brain Breaks throughout the day to allow students to be focussed and engaged in their learning through shortened time periods. Brain Breaks allows all to de-stress, participate in physical activity and have a fun positive brief experience.
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Students have developed Ready to Learn plans to identify changes in emotions and feelings within their bodies and what students and staff can do to regulate these emotions/feelings to become ready to learn again.
Clubs
The Clubs program is an initiative to encourage the whole school to work together in mixed-age groups. Students choose a Club from a range of interest areas and participate weekly for four/five weeks.
Clubs has included cooking, craft, games, fitness, Lego and others.
Teachers and Teacher Assistants conduct the Clubs programs and our senior students have the opportunity to step up and assist younger students achieve success.
It has been extremely pleasing to see other community groups join in with our Clubs program (Heywood Golf Club and Heywood CWA), as well as students from H&DSC running sporting opportunities during Clubs.
Hands-On Learning
The Hands-on Learning program involves learning and using very practical skills such as gardening, woodwork and cooking. Meaningful projects are designed so that students learn to work collaboratively allowing them to engage, grow confidence and achieve success at school.
Real Schools Partnership
In 2022, we have begun our 3-year partnership with Heywood & District Secondary College and Real Schools to build long term partnerships to actually shift, change, sustain and enhance productive School Culture. Cassie Kitani is our Real Schools expert facilitator.
Heylee, our Wellbeing Dog
In 2022, we used our allocated Mental Health Fund monies to initiate the process of having a Dogs Connect Wellbeing Dog.
In February 2023, we were fortunate to select Green Dog from a litter of 10 Groodle puppies.
We went through a rigorous process to select the name from 42 nominations. It was decided that she would be known as HEYLEE.
Mrs Watson (and family) are the main carers of Heylee.
Although Heylee has grown quickly this year, she loves being part of the classroom sessions. She adores all students throughout her days of attendance but loves to listen to stories being read to her by students (however this does generally put her to sleep).
Heylee celebrated her first birthday at the end of year concert, and we were also pleased to announce that we had passed her first-year accreditation.
