St Thomas' Curriculum

Religious Education

“The celebration of our life and faith through liturgy is an important and integral part of the life of our community.”

Religious Education underpins all the learning and teaching at St Thomas'. Christian values are the focus of our curriculum, our school and our community. St Thomas’ seeks to develop deep learning inspired by the Gospel and led by the Holy Spirit to act for justice and strive for the common good.

Our faith permeates all aspects of our lives, as we endeavour to build our Catholic identity through the charism of St Thomas the Apostle, in order to nurture a community of faith, learning and partnership. Social justice also permeates our learning and teaching and the way we interact with each other. Guided by the social teaching and values of the Church in charity and justice, students are provided opportunities for social outreach in collaboration with the Parish’s St Vincent de Paul Society and Caritas Australia.

Religious Education at St Thomas’ School is guided by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) framework, to engage the Catholic tradition and its relationship with the wider contemporary contexts that the students experience. The Primary Religious Education Framework provides a guide for teachers to plan their units. Students are educated, engaged and challenged with learning opportunities to inquire and the curriculum is explored through the following topics:

  • Jesus and Scripture
  • Church and Community
  • God, Religion and Life
  • Prayer, Liturgy and Sacraments
  • Morality and Justice

The Core Dimensions of the RE Framework include:

  • To enable a safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment
  • To connect and create nurturing and collaborative relationships
  • To engage and be motivated and empowered learners
  • To learn by explicit and innovative teaching

The Sacraments

The Sacraments are also a focus each year with students prepared for and celebrating the following:

  • Reconciliation (Year Three)
  • First Eucharist (Year Four)
  • Confirmation (Year Six)

The Sacramental program aims to deepen students’ formation and relationship with God, supported by school learning, parish and family engagement. The whole school also celebrates important events in the Church’s Liturgical calendar through participation in Masses and liturgies. Families are welcome at all of these events and we particularly encourage them to take part in the Family and Class Masses held throughout the year.

Each morning, classes participate in Christian Meditation and prayer with the purpose of building a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

St Thomas the Apostle School is a faith-filled community that embraces diversity. We endeavour to inspire confidence in all students to achieve, empowering them to prepare for the future, and contribute to our world, with a strong sense of kindness and respect. Our Mission is to promote quality education while developing an awareness of God in our lives with a sense of justice.


English

At St Thomas the Apostle, we are committed to ensuring that every student becomes a confident, capable, and enthusiastic reader and writer. Guided by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), our literacy approach is grounded in the science of how students learn best.

We use explicit instruction to build strong foundations in reading, writing, and oral language. This means our teachers carefully sequence learning, introduce new concepts in small, manageable steps, and provide clear explanations and modelling. Students are given regular opportunities to practise, receive feedback, and achieve mastery before moving on to more complex skills.

Our reading program is designed around the five essential components of effective literacy instruction:

  • Phonemic awareness – recognising that spoken words are made up of individual sounds
  • Phonics – understanding the relationship between letters and sounds to read and spell words
  • Fluency – reading accurately, smoothly, and with expression
  • Vocabulary – expanding word knowledge and understanding
  • Comprehension – making meaning from and thinking deeply about texts

At St Thomas the Apostle, we believe that every child can succeed when high expectations are combined with evidence-based teaching and strong support. Our teachers are continually engaging in professional learning to ensure consistency and excellence across all classrooms, giving our students the knowledge and confidence they need to thrive, both now and into the future.

Mathematics

At St. Thomas’ we are committed to implementing the Mathematics Victorian Curriculum from Foundation (Prep) to Year 6. Students develop increasingly sophisticated skills, language and an understanding of Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics and Probability concepts. We believe that students engage in Mathematics to develop the ability to apply these skills to all aspects of their lives.

At St. Thomas’, our teaching in Mathematics is directed by student learning needs. Pre and Post Assessments, PAT data, NAPLAN data, and teacher observations and assessments enable us to formally track growth. Student reporting is based on the Standards as set in the Victorian Curriculum.

Mathematics lessons have a clearly communicated Learning Intention and explicit Success Criteria. Feedback, reflection and assessment are valued in the mathematics process. Hands-on experiences and the use of manipulatives are encouraged. We embed an ‘I do’, ‘We do’ and ‘You do’ approach to the explicit instruction of Mathematics concepts.

At St Thomas the Apostle, we believe Maths is more than just numbers — it’s about helping children become confident, curious problem-solvers. Using the Catholic Education Vision for Instruction and the Victorian Curriculum Mathematics 2.0, we design engaging, hands-on learning that encourages thinking, reasoning, and a “can-do” attitude.

In our classrooms, Maths comes alive through games, practical activities, and real-life challenges, making it both fun and meaningful for every student.

Families are a big part of this journey. The way we talk about maths at home makes a difference. Instead of saying, “I’m not good at Maths,” try phrases like “Let’s figure it out together” or “Mistakes help us learn.” Everyday activities like cooking, shopping, or measuring things around the house can be great opportunities to explore maths together.

By working together, we can help children see themselves as capable, curious learners who are ready to take on any challenge.

You can find some simple and fun ideas for exploring maths at home here: https://www.numeracyathome.com/11-ways-to-maths


Knowledge Units

(Science, The Humanities: Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, Economics and Business, Health and the Capabilities)

Knowledge units is crafted to expand and deepen students’ understanding of the world and their role within it. Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum, this approach fosters the development of knowledge, comprehension, and reflective thinking skills.

Students pose questions to explore key concepts such as:

  • Belonging
  • Change
  • Discovery
  • Investigation
  • Relationships
  • Curiosity
  • Knowledge
  • Sustainability

Our collaborative approach to learning empowers students to take ownership of their educational journey. By actively involving them in the planning process and employing explicit teaching strategies, we cultivate a sense of agency and self-empowerment. Students are encouraged to lead, reflect, and self-assess, all within a safe and inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are celebrated.

Through collaborative, rigorous, relevant, and personalised learning experiences, students are engaged and empowered. Our aim is to build personal confidence, self-esteem, and a profound respect for all.

Digital Technologies and STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)

The STEM program at St Thomas the Apostle offers a dynamic and supportive environment where students from Foundation to Year 6 can delve into the exciting realms of digital technologies and STEM. Each week, students engage in a 50-minute session led by a professionally trained Digital Technologies/STEM teacher, ensuring high-quality instruction and meaningful learning experiences.

STEM education is a fundamental part of the Victorian Curriculum, encompassing Mathematics, Science, Design and Technologies, and Digital Technologies, alongside critical cross-curricular skills such as ethical, critical, and creative thinking. Our program is crafted to tap into the natural curiosity of young learners, cultivating a positive and enthusiastic approach to these vital areas.

In the early years, when children's brains are developing rapidly and they are acquiring skills at an impressive rate, STEM education is particularly influential. Engaging in STEM activities helps students build problem-solving abilities, creativity, and teamwork skills. They learn to ask questions, explore innovative ideas, take calculated risks, and test solutions, setting a solid foundation for ongoing interest and success in STEM fields.

Supported by the Victorian Curriculum’s focus on digital technologies and STEM skills, our students have access to a diverse range of technological resources, including Chromebooks, iPads and other advanced equipment provided by the school.

From Foundation through to Year 6, students participate in STEM and digital technology lessons, including robotics, which further enhances their understanding and engagement. This hands-on approach not only strengthens their technical skills but also equips them to face future challenges and seize opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven world.

The Arts

At St Thomas’, the creative and expressive development of our students is supported by their engagement in The Arts. Our students express, represent and communicate their creativity through learning in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, including Drama, Music and Dance. As they engage in this learning, students are developing their confidence and communication as both artist and audience, developing their skills individually at times, and also collaboratively.

Visual Arts

The Visual Arts Specialist Program at St. Thomas the Apostle Primary School is designed to provide all students with a comprehensive and enriching education in the field of Visual Arts. Students participate in weekly, 50 minute art classes in a supportive, colourful, well-resourced and engaging art room. Our program aims to foster creativity, critical thinking and technical skills in young artists.

This enables them to express themselves through various mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture and digital art. Our students' amazing talents are showcased through our whole school Art Show, enjoyed every second year.

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts program at St Thomas provides a vibrant and nurturing environment where students from Foundation to Year 6 explore, learn and shine through Music, Dance and Drama. Each week, students enjoy a lively 50-minute session that encourages creativity, confidence and self-expression.

Through music, students experience singing, playing instruments and composing. Dance builds coordination, balance and creative flair, while drama develops imagination, communication and teamwork. These activities allow children to express themselves, build confidence and develop lifelong skills.

Our school community celebrates student creativity each year through major events. We present joyful Christmas Carols annually and a Whole School Production every second year. All students can audition for speaking roles, and every class performs with song and dance.

Beyond the classroom, free lunchtime opportunities are offered in Hip Hop Dance and Choir. These groups allow students to further explore their interests, build friendships and share their talents with the school community.

At St Thomas, we are proud to offer enriching Performing Arts experiences that inspire imagination and bring our community together through the joy of performance.

Languages - Italian

Students in Prep through Grade 6 enjoy weekly Italian lessons, each lasting 50 minutes.

Our Italian program focuses on enhancing communication skills, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

Through a variety of engaging activities such as games, songs, performances, images, cooking, flashcards, and more, students immerse themselves in both the language and the culture.

The Italian language program is a vibrant and highly popular part of our school’s curriculum.

Physical Education & Sport

Our Physical Education program helps to teach the students the importance of an active lifestyle, while it also teaches them lifelong skills about teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play which they will use in their everyday life on the playground and beyond.

Sporting Opportunities at St Thomas the Apostle
When arriving at St Thomas', each student is welcomed into one of our four House Teams. We have an annual House Athletics and Cross Country carnival where all students participate, which encourages school spirit and teamwork. Parents and families are invited to attend and support the children and house teams. Students from Years 3–6 also participate in an end of year House Swimming Carnival.

Our Year 5/6 students participate in Summer and Winter interschool team sports within the Blackburn District Sports Association. It provides all students with the opportunity to experience being part of a team and to further develop their sporting skills.


Extra Curricular

Choir

The St Thomas School Choir is a new and exciting initiative that gives students the opportunity to share their love of singing and perform together as a community.

Our choir aims to bring joy and connection through music by performing at school Masses, parish celebrations, assemblies, the Christmas Carols evening, and our bi-annual school concert.

Students learn to develop their voices, listen and blend as a group and build confidence as performers. Through regular rehearsals, they experience the fun and teamwork that come with making music together.

As our choir continues to grow, we look forward to becoming a vibrant part of the musical and faith life of St Thomas.

Hip Hop

Hip Hop is an exciting lunchtime activity that gives students the opportunity to explore movement, rhythm and self-expression.

Classes are open to all year levels throughout the year, with each term featuring a different group. Students learn choreography, build coordination and teamwork skills and develop confidence as performers.

Each group has the opportunity to showcase their routines at the end-of-term assembly, celebrating their effort and creativity with the whole school community.

Digimaker

Digimaker teaches computer science concepts in a fun and engaging manner to children, leveraging programming environments including Scratch, Small Basic, Python and JavaScript.

Develop Life Skills:

• Creativity
• Logical thinking
• Problem solving
• Learn new things
• Computer science concepts
• Programming fundamentals (Loops, Events, Randomness & more)

MusicCorp – Instrumental Music Lessons

Lessons are held on Mondays during class time. Instruments available include guitar, drums, keyboard, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet and trombone.

Instruments are included in the term tuition fee and everything needed is provided. If your child is interested in learning an instrument at school, we encourage you to sign them up today!

To enrol or learn more, contact Musicorp at 1300 858 911 or visit: https://rent.musicorp.com.au/tuition_online_eo/

Tennis Lessons

Tennis lessons are available each Friday during recess. Lessons are run by accredited coaches.

For further information: gctenniscoaching2@gmail.com