Learning & Teaching
Curriculum Overview
At Holy Name Primary School, our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support and enrich every child’s learning journey. Guided by MACS’ Vision for Instruction and Vision for Engagement, we aim to develop learning environments where all students are empowered to grow into confident, curious and capable learners who take an active role in their own learning.
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We deliver a dynamic and inclusive curriculum aligned with the Victorian Curriculum F–10, designed to foster curiosity, confidence and deep understanding across a wide range of learning areas. Students actively engage in their learning, set meaningful goals, and build on prior knowledge through reflection, inquiry and critical thinking.
Our learning culture promotes essential life skills—such as problem-solving, independence, and adaptability—through rich, authentic learning experiences. Positive relationships and a safe, respectful environment support every learner to explore, question, and thrive, as we build the dispositions of being persistent, reflective, collaborative, risk-taking, inquisitive, and creative learners.
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Our specialist programs in Italian, Physical Education, Visual Arts, and STEM further extend and enrich each student’s learning journey. At Holy Name, we are committed to nurturing the whole child, preparing students not just for school, but for life.
Education in Faith
At Holy Name Primary School, Religious Education is at the heart of daily school life and underpins all that we do. As a Catholic school within the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) system, we are committed to nurturing the spiritual, intellectual, and personal growth of each student, helping them to encounter Jesus and live out Gospel values in their everyday lives.
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We use an Inquiry Approach to Religious Education, aligned with the MACS Religious Education Curriculum Framework, which encourages students to wonder, question, and explore faith in ways that are meaningful and relevant to their lives today. Our Religious Education program focuses on:
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Gaining knowledge and understanding of Catholic traditions, beliefs, and practices.
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Reasoning and responding in ways that foster critical and creative thinking about faith.
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Personal and communal engagement in spiritual and religious life, helping students to make connections between faith and action.
Our program also draws deeply from the Liturgical Year and the Sacramental life of the Church. Classes regularly celebrate the Eucharist through class, level, and whole-school Masses, including significant community gatherings such as the Beginning of the School Year Mass and Grandparents/Special Persons Day. These celebrations are integral to expressing our Catholic identity and strengthening our sense of community.
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Prayer is woven into the rhythm of each day, with opportunities for daily prayer, para-liturgies, and Christian meditation. These practices support students’ spiritual formation, encourage reflection, and create space to listen to God’s presence in their lives.
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As part of our commitment to supporting students’ faith journeys, Holy Name Primary School provides a school-based Sacramental Program. The celebration of the Sacraments is a significant expression of the faith life of our school:
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Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are celebrated in Year 4.
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Confirmation is celebrated in Year 6.
We recognise that parents are the first educators in faith, and we seek to work in partnership with families in the preparation of students for the Sacraments. These celebrations within our Holy Name community are a visible and joyful expression of our vibrant Catholic identity and mission.
Literacy
At Holy Name School, we believe that every child can become a confident, capable and enthusiastic reader and writer. Our Literacy program is underpinned by MACS’ Vision for Instruction, which emphasises high-impact, evidence-based teaching practices and a shared commitment to equity and excellence in learning and teaching.
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We prioritise explicit, systematic instruction to ensure that all students develop strong literacy skills that set the foundation in the junior school and develop and extend their thinking as they move into the senior school. Teachers use clear learning intentions and success criteria, model strategies, provide guided practice, and offer timely feedback so that every learner knows what success looks like and how to achieve it.
In the early years (Prep to Year 2), we implement Little Learners Love Literacy, a structured phonics-based program that builds children’s knowledge of the alphabetic code and develops confident, fluent readers. This evidence-based program is designed to systematically teach the foundational literacy skills that support all learners to become successful, confident readers and writers.
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From Years 3 to 6, students continue to strengthen their spelling and word knowledge through the SMART Spelling approach, which explicitly teaches spelling patterns, rules, and vocabulary in a way that is engaging, consistent, and connected to reading and writing.
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Across all year levels, our teachers focus on explicit teaching, differentiation and ongoing assessment to meet the needs of every learner. We foster a love of language, reading, and writing while ensuring every student has the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in a changing world.
Numeracy
At Holy Name, we believe that Mathematics is an essential life skill that empowers students to think critically, creatively, and confidently. Through Mathematics, students develop numeracy, decision-making, and problem-solving skills that they can apply in everyday life.
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Our Mathematics program is based on the Victorian Curriculum’s six strands: Number, Algebra, Measurement, Geometry, Statistics and Probability
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Teachers use explicit teaching to model and clearly explain mathematical concepts, ensuring students build a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding. Learning is further supported by ongoing assessment, allowing teachers to identify individual needs and provide differentiated learning opportunities in every unit.
We place a strong focus on the four mathematical proficiencies: fluency, understanding, problem solving, and reasoning. This enables students to confidently apply their learning in real-world contexts through engaging and relevant resources.
To ensure every student is supported and challenged:
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A Mathematics Intervention Program assists students who require additional help.
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Extension opportunities, such as the Maths Olympiad, provide enrichment and challenge for high-achieving students.
Mathematics has beauty and romance.
It’s not a boring place to be, the mathematical world.
It’s an extraordinary place; it’s worth spending time there..
– Marcus du Sautoy
Intervention & Extension
At Holy Name Primary School, we understand that every child learns differently—and at different rates. To ensure all students reach their full potential, we offer a range of evidence-based intervention and extension programs that support and extend learning across all year levels.
Our programs are designed to:
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Support students who require additional help in developing core literacy and numeracy skills
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Extend and enrich learning for students working beyond expected levels
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Respond to ongoing assessment data to provide timely and targeted support
Highly trained staff deliver small-group and individual programs that are proven by research to make a measurable difference in student outcomes. These programs complement classroom teaching and ensure that all learners—whether they need support or challenge—are engaged, progressing, and achieving success.
Our commitment is to provide the right support at the right time, so every child grows in confidence, capability, and a love of learning.
Inquiry
At Holy Name, Inquiry units are designed to encompass various aspects of the curriculum such as Science, Civics and Citizenship, Geography, History, Health, and the Technologies. Interwoven within these units are the capabilities such as Ethics, Intercultural, Social and Personal along with Critical Creative thinking. As learners, our students investigate real-world topics and questions. The teacher acts as a facilitator, guiding students as they ask questions, conduct research, and develop their own understanding and solutions. This method aims to build critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and curiosity.
The Arts
Visual Arts
Visual Arts at Holy Name is a vibrant and inclusive program where every student is encouraged to explore, create and express themselves. Through weekly lessons, students are introduced to a variety of artists, artworks and methods. Lessons are sequential and aim to build on skills and processes, as well as knowledge of artists and artworks.
Our program allows students to explore a wide variety of artforms, including painting, printmaking, drawing, collage, modelling, textiles and construction. Students are given opportunities to explore a broad range of materials and mediums to create both 2D and 3D art works. Our program follows the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, with learning organised across four key strands:
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Exploring - students respond as artists and viewers to artworks, in addition to drawing inspiration from different sources
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Developing Practices - experiment with different materials, techniques, and processes
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Creating - students plan, identify and refine ideas to make artworks
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Presenting - consider how their art will be shown to audiences
We value and nurture creative thinking, self-expression, and problem-solving, while helping students to appreciate their own work and that of others.
Our school also celebrates student creativity by displaying artworks throughout classrooms, corridors, and community spaces.
Performing Arts and Music
We also have a bi-annual school production, where each class is given the chance to learn choreography, act and sing, as well as perform to an audience. For students who are passionate about Performing Arts, Holy Name also offers additional opportunities including individual music lessons and choir.
STEM
STEM is a learning approach that strengthens the understanding of the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as well as the interrelationship between them.
At Holy Name students across the school, participate in weekly STEM sessions whereby they are engaged in:
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problem solving
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critical thinking
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creativity
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curiosity
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teamwork
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and digital literacy.
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During STEM sessions, students work through the Design Thinking Process (Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test and Present) to innovate and invent new solutions to problems that are relevant in the world around them. Students have opportunities to utilise digital technologies, including robotics and 3D printing to enhance and communicate their ideas.
STEM education in the Victorian Curriculum includes the following learning areas: Science, Design and Technologies (including Engineering principles and systems), Digital Technologies and Mathematics.
Physical Education
At Holy Name Primary School our Physical Education program plays a vital role in promoting the health and wellbeing and overall personal development of our students. We believe an active lifestyle lays the foundation for lifelong fitness, mental clarity, confidence, teamwork and personal growth.
Through a diverse range of activities students learn the value of physical fitness, discipline, and perseverance. Our curriculum encourages students to challenge themselves, set goals, and celebrate progress.
Beyond physical skills, our Physical Education programs also reinforce sportsmanship, leadership, and collaboration. Students develop important life skills such as teamwork, respect, and resilience; qualities that extend far beyond the sports field and into the classroom and community.
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We aim to cater for all diverse abilities, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where every student can find an activity they enjoy and feel proud of their achievements.
Holy Name runs clinics with Sporting Schools Victoria, who deliver personalised coaching experiences for various sports. This gives our students the opportunity to try out several new sports, developing and improving their skill set.
Throughout the year, grade 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to compete against other schools in the Preston District in the following sports: t-ball, hockey, tennis, volleyball, cricket, soccer, AFL football and netball. Students in grade 3 – 6 have the opportunity to trial for District sports representations such as swimming, cross country, basketball and athletics.
Language - Italian
At Holy Name School, all students from Prep to Year 6 have the opportunity to study Italian, as a LOTE (Language other than English) Specialist Subject.
Learning another language, in addition to English, extends a student’s literacy repertoire and their capacity to communicate. It strengthens a student’s understanding of the nature of language and the processes of communication, not just in their new language but also in English. Learning languages broadens students’ horizons in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. It develops intercultural capability, including understanding of and respect for diversity and differences and an openness to different experiences and perspectives.
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All students have regular LOTE classes, for one hour each week. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated LOTE classroom, which is well equipped with resources to create a stimulating, fun and engaging vocab-filled learning environment.
During LOTE classes, students actively participate in interactive dialogue through classroom routines, greetings, conversation time, songs, games and shared activities to familiarise themselves with frequently used Italian words and simple phrases. The program also aims to extend their speaking skills using oral strategies, such as repetition, choral reading and repeating correct pronunciation associated with written words. Using familiar language and structures, students also read and create short written texts related to the topics being studied. All students are encouraged to use as much Italian as possible when sharing ideas and working with each other. Through their immersion in a LOTE, students notice similarities and differences in the patterns of the Italian language compared to English and other familiar languages. Units of work are developed around engaging topics such as themselves, their family, friends, school life, day to day life, hobbies, interests and basic concepts. The cultural aspects are interwoven into the units. Certain units are dedicated to developing cultural awareness, knowledge and appreciation, such as Religious Celebrations like Easter and Christmas, Carnevale, and particular points of interest such as, famous landmarks, famous Italians and geographical knowledge.
They increasingly notice the many similarities and differences that exist between the Italian and Australian cultural practices and also extend to their own family backgrounds. The LOTE program extends the students’ understanding of themselves, their own heritage, values, beliefs, culture and identity. Together students learn to recognize, appreciate and respect these cultural differences as they grow in their understanding of each other and see themselves as learners of Italian and as global citizens.Every year we celebrate Italian Day as a whole school celebration, which acknowledges our learning of Italian and the Italian Culture, but also encourages the celebration of the many cultures we have at our school. Dressing up in Italian themed clothes is a highlight of the day. On the alternate year, our Italian Day celebration focuses on Carnevale and the children come dressed up in colourful Carnevale style clothes and wear the beautiful mask they have made for the occasion during their Specialist Art sessions. We have a traditional parade in the morning when parents and families are invited to join us. On Italian Day the children are engaged in fun, interactive, learning activities, including an Italian incursion and House Colour group activities, such as a Soccer Tournament. They also enjoy a delicious Italian lunch, which usually includes pizza, lasagna, gelato and cannoli that is organised and catered for with the help and support of our wonderful Parents and Friends Association.
Learning Italian at our school is a wonderful way to foster the love of learning other languages whilst helping them to understand English better, to encourage awareness and appreciation for different cultures and to develop respect and tolerance for differences between cultures and people.
Digital Technologies
At Holy Name, digital technology is an exciting and integral part of our students’ learning. We are committed to preparing students for the future by integrating technology across all curriculum areas in meaningful and engaging ways.
Students use iPads, Chromebooks, and a range of robotics technologies to become creative producers, critical consumers, and confident communicators in a digital world. Technology is embedded through Google Apps for Education and a variety of online programs tailored to different learning needs and styles.
Our digital learning program equips students with the skills, creativity, and confidence they need to thrive in secondary school and in the world beyond.
Technology allows teachers to personalise learning, support different learning styles, and provide access for all students, including those with additional needs. Through carefully selected programs, students can learn at their own pace while being supported and challenged.
We are an eSmart school and place a strong emphasis on responsible digital citizenship and cybersafety, working in partnership with families to help students develop responsible online behaviour and balanced technology use. Through explicit teaching and ongoing practice, students learn how to navigate the online world safely, respectfully, and ethically. We partner with parents to ensure students develop healthy, balanced technology habits.
Beyond the classroom, our students engage in innovative digital experiences such as robotics challenges, coding showcases, and cross-curricular STEM projects. These opportunities inspire curiosity, teamwork, and a love of learning.
Camp
Our Year 5 and 6 students are given the opportunity to experience a three day, two night camp at Phillip Island Adventure Resort, where they take part in a number of memorable experiences.
In preparation for the Phillip Island Camp, our Year 3 and 4 children enjoy a long day out. The children attend the camp site and participate in camp activities for the day and come home after school hours.
Swimming Program
Our Year 1 and 2 children experience a swimming program. This is an intensive program, where children attend for consecutive days.
Gymnastics Program
Our Prep, 3 and 4 students take part in a gymnastics program. An external provider and instructor come to the school, with children taking part in a gymnastics program.
Production
Our Production occurs on a rotational basis with other extra curricula activities. Our children undertake a series of dance lessons throughout the term which then accumulates in a production. While only a small group of children have a leading role, all other children regardless of age support this group through dance.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
