Learning

Religion

At St Mary of the Cross we deliver the Religious Education Curriculum Framework.  This Framework  has three strands of learning:

• Knowledge and Understanding
• Reasoning and Responding 
• Personal and Communal Engagement

 Five content areas:

• Jesus and Scripture;
• Church and Community; 
• God, Religion and Life; 
• Prayer, Liturgy and Sacrament;
• Morality and Justice.

These each have content descriptors and achievement standards.  We also offer a Sacramental Program to all students.

English

Reading and Viewing, Writing and Listening and Speaking are all taught in line with the Victorian Curriculum and guided by the Horizons of Hope framework developed by Catholic Education Melbourne. 

Student learning is achieved through a well-balanced literacy program, which encompasses a range of approaches and experiences that fosters students to take increasing responsibility of their learning. 

Teachers regularly gather and use data to inform teaching and learning that is focused on student’s point of need. Assessments are completed regularly throughout the year.

Big Writing is an approach to teaching writing and raising writing standards that focuses on:                                         
●  The importance of TALK and oral rehearsal                        
●  Accurate basic skills – spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting.                        
●  Regular and meaningful assessment and target setting.    
●  High expectations for all pupils.           
●  Giving writing a purpose and making it fun! 

Big Write and VCOP.

Big Writing is an approach to teaching writing and raising writing standards that focuses on:

• The importance of TALK and oral rehearsal
  ●  Accurate basic skills – spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting.
  ●  Regular and meaningful assessment and target setting.
  ●  High expectations for all pupils.
  ●  Giving writing a purpose and making it fun!

If they can’t say it, they can’t write it” Ros Wilson

Through games, activities, writing tasks, conversations and discussions, students learn the steps they need to take, in order to continue to improve upon their writing.

VCOP stands for Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation.

In Big Writing it is taught through V.C.O.P which is:

• Vocabulary – The range of vocabulary the child has and can use, including ambitious vocabulary (Wow Words!);
• Connectives – The use of a wide range of connectives including conjunctions, connecting adverbs and prepositions;
• Openers – The range of ways a child has for opening sentences relating to the genre
• Punctuation – The range of punctuation the child uses, including punctuation for effect or Power Punctuation (? ! …)

Mathematics

At St Mary of the Cross we teach the proficiencies of Understanding, Fluency, Problem Solving and Reasoning and they are applied across the three strands of Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry and Statistics and Probability.  We teach these strands using a spiral curriculum to ensure that each concept is built on throughout the year.  This supports our students to make deeper connections and continue to build on their understanding.  

Digital Technologies 

Students at SMOC have access to digital technologies in all subject areas.  Our Prep and Year One students use iPads.  All students in Year Two to Year Six have access to school chromebooks.  All students at SMOC learn how to be safe online.  

Useful links

Specialist subjects offered for 2023:

• STEM
• Art
• Music
• LOTE Japanese
• Physical Education