Learning | St Catherine's Catholic Primary School Lalor West

ST CATHERINE'S LALOR WEST

Approach to Learning

At St Catherine’s School, our approach to learning is grounded in a commitment to academic excellence, student wellbeing, and the development of confident, creative and resilient young people. Guided by the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Vision for Instruction and Vision for Engagement, we offer a learning environment where every student is known, supported, and challenged to flourish.

We believe students learn best when they are engaged, feel a strong sense of belonging, and are provided with explicit, high-quality teaching. Drawing from MACS Vision for Instruction, our teachers use evidence-based practices, including direct instruction, guided practice, and regular feedback to ensure deep understanding and mastery across all learning areas. Learning sequences are deliberately designed to activate prior knowledge, support cognitive development, and gradually build student independence.

At the same time, our learning environment is shaped by the principles of the MACS Vision for Engagement, which emphasises the importance of respectful behaviour, positive relationships, motivation, and mental wellbeing. We foster calm, inclusive and connected classrooms where students feel safe to take risks, contribute, and grow. A whole school approach supports students’ social and emotional development, while targeted strategies address individual learning needs and barriers to engagement.

St Catherine’s is not just about academic achievement, it is about nurturing the whole person. Our teaching and learning programs are enriched by a vibrant co-curricular offering, and supported by a wellbeing framework that places student growth and care at the centre of all we do.

Through this integrated approach, we empower students to become ethical and independent learners prepared to thrive in an ever changing world.

SCIENCE OF READING

Literacy

Reading

At St Catherine’s, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident, capable reader. Our approach to reading instruction is grounded in research and evidence based practice, ensuring that all students receive the high quality teaching they need to thrive. We know that when classroom instruction includes the key components of effective reading; phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, it can prevent and reduce reading difficulties.

We use the Little Learners Love Literacy program to provide explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics. This ensures our youngest learners build strong foundations for decoding and spelling, while also developing a love of reading. Across all year levels, our classrooms are motivating and supportive environments where reading is valued, modelled and celebrated.

Our teaching includes:

Phonemic awareness – recognising and working with the sounds in spoken words
Phonics – understanding the relationships between letters and sounds to decode words
Fluency – reading accurately, quickly and with expression
Vocabulary – building knowledge of word meanings in context
Comprehension – understanding and making meaning from text

By combining these essential elements with a rich, knowledge based curriculum, we aim to equip every student with the skills and confidence to read for learning and for pleasure.

Writing

At St Catherine’s, we are committed to developing confident, skilled writers who can communicate effectively for a range of audiences and purposes. Writing is taught explicitly and valued across all year levels and learning areas. We know that reading and writing support and strengthen each other, so our teaching integrates both skills to enhance learning in all subjects.

Our classrooms are motivating and supportive spaces where students write frequently for meaningful purposes. We provide additional scaffolding for students who need extra support, ensuring that every learner can succeed.

We teach the essential skills of writing through:

Handwriting and keyboarding – developing fluency with both digital and handwriting tools
Spelling and orthography – including morphology, etymology and phonology
Grammar and punctuation – taught in the context of purposeful writing
Word, sentence and paragraph construction – using explicit analysis and modelling
The writing process – planning, drafting, revising and editing with targeted feedback

We also believe that knowledge builds better writing. Our knowledge rich curriculum provides students with the content knowledge, vocabulary, and language structures they need to express and develop ideas effectively. We teach genre structures explicitly through modelling, guided practice and high quality examples, ensuring that students can write with confidence in a variety of forms.

Literacy

RESEARCH BASED DATA

Numeracy

At St Catherine’s, we aim to develop confident, capable mathematicians who can think logically, solve problems and apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. Our teaching is grounded in evidence-based practices, with a strong focus on building number sense, fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and a deep understanding of mathematical concepts. We use hands-on materials, visual representations and explicit instruction to make abstract ideas concrete, gradually releasing responsibility to students as their skills grow. Problem-solving and reasoning strategies are taught explicitly, and students are encouraged to explain their thinking using precise mathematical language. By combining conceptual understanding with procedural fluency, we equip our students with the skills, strategies and confidence they need to succeed in mathematics.

MEETING DIVERSE LEARNING NEEDS

Intervention and Support

At St Catherine’s, we are committed to ensuring that every child becomes a confident and successful reader. For students who need additional support, we offer MiniLit Sage), a small group intervention program designed for young learners in the early years. MiniLit provides explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, helping students build strong foundational reading skills. Sessions are structured, engaging and tailored to each child’s needs, ensuring they receive the targeted teaching and practice required to make progress. By providing this extra layer of support, we aim to help all students develop the skills and confidence to fully participate in classroom learning and enjoy the lifelong benefits of reading.

Learning Diversity

At St. Catherine's School, we are committed to creating a community where every individual is valued and supported in their unique learning journey. Our Learning Inclusion Program is deeply inspired and rooted in the principles of justice, equality, and inclusivity, as we strive to make adjustments and accommodations that empower all students to reach their full potential. Inspired by the teachings of Jesus and the life of St Catherine of Siena, we embrace acceptance, love, and the inherent dignity of every person. Together, we foster an environment where every learner is respected, celebrated, and given the tools to succeed.

Specialist Programs

Our specialist program offers a wide range of learning opportunities to develop students’ skills and interests:

Visual Arts: Encourages creativity and self-expression through diverse art mediums and techniques
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics): Focuses on problem-solving, innovation and critical thinking through hands-on projects
Physical Education: Builds fitness, teamwork and sporting skills while promoting lifelong healthy habits
LOTE (Italian): Introduces students to the Italian language and culture, fostering global awareness and communication skills

These specialist areas enrich our curriculum and help nurture well-rounded, confident learners.