Curriculum

The staff at Lesmurdie Senior High School have collaborated and formed a consensus decision that we value and adhere to the following principles of teaching and learning in our day to day work with students.

Teaching and Learning must be:

• Relevant and Meaningful
  The teaching and learning process is most effective when it is applicable to the real world, and prepares individuals for life at and beyond school
• Respectful
  The teaching and learning environment is most effective when all stakeholders accept responsibility for their own actions and progress, and consequently are courteous, cooperative and non-threatening in their relationships with others
• Engaging
  The teaching and learning process is most effective when all stakeholders interact and learn from one another. The technologies and instructional practices must be appropriate for the learners’ level of prior knowledge, cognitive abilities, and their learning and thinking strategies
• Organised and Safe
  The teaching and learning environment is most effective when all stakeholders have developed and established a structured and trustful learning environment. The sharing of ideas and active participation in the learning process creates the learning community.

STRUCTURE OF THE CURRICULUM

All students have the opportunity to demonstrate outcomes in eight (8) Learning Areas. Each Learning Area has a dedicated Manager (Head of Learning Area – HoLA) who is responsible for the course offerings, curriculum delivery, staff management, student behaviour and engagement in learning in the various curriculum areas.

If parents/carers have any concerns regarding their child’s progress in a particular Learning Area their first point of contact should be the Classroom Teacher. If further assistance is required the next point of contact should be the Head of Learning Area.

1. Whole school approach to Literacy and Numeracy
2. Career Development
3. Work Ethic – focus on demanding high standards by explicitly stating expectations in terms of academic engagement and performance, behaviour, dress and language
4. Respect with an added emphasis on ensuring that students understand the oral protocols expected in social situations e.g. using appropriate language
5. Being prepared for class and as such learning
6. The integration of IT into curriculum

The ‘Be Prepared to Learn’ Strategy

To ensure students are prepared to engage in the learning process the following equipment will be required and checked at each lesson:

• Diary
• Pencil case
• File and appropriate equipment

Parents/carers will be notified where students are consistently not prepared for classes.

REPORTING STUDENT PERFORMANCE

Feedback to parents/carers in relation to their child’s progress at school will occur in a variety of ways including:

• Information Sessions
• Interim Report
• Parent Interview Days
• Parent Nights
• Telephone conversations
• Letters home
• Formal written reports at the end of Semester 1 and Semester 2