Bindoon Primary School offers a depth of curriculum that caters for the varying ages, interests, and capabilities of all children from Kindergarten to Year 6.
The Western Australian Curriculum is the basis of all learning content, while additional extension and support programs are provided where the learning focuses on individual needs. Bindoon Primary School has ensured a whole school consistent pedagogical approach, ensuring that teaching and learning is balanced, purposeful and targeted whilst ensuring that creative and problem solving pursuits are also valued.
At Bindoon we implement a whole school approach to teaching Literacy as outlined in our Literacy Operational Plan, which is updated annually. We have developed a lesson design that incorporates evidence-based teaching strategies, including learning intention and success criteria, reviewing prior learning, explicit teaching and gradual release model of responsibility.
Promoting Literacy Development (PLD) provides an Australian, evidence-based approach to Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) for primary schools. Aligned with the Science of Reading, PLD’s SSP approach extends from the junior primary years through to upper primary years and thereby facilitating a whole school approach. PLD’s method is derived from the disciplines of speech pathology, occupational therapy and education.
As part of the Literacy Block Structure, Talk for Writing program is used from K-6, enabling children to learn how to write a range of texts where teachers first model what is required. Students participate in various reading activities including Guided Reading and the CARS and STARS program that teaches comprehension strategies.
Teaching and learning programs are balanced and integrate the three strands outlined in the West Australian Curriculum: Language, Literature and Literacy.
Numeracy is a school priority in 2024. Bindoon Primary School has adopted a whole school approach to teaching Mathematics through Paul Swan resources and strategies. The gradual release model of responsibility enables students to develop increasing sophisticated and refined mathematical understanding, fluency, logical reasoning, analytical thought and problem-solving skills. He Lighthouse Maths program supports a collaborative approach to learning problem solving.
Numeracy Blocks are designed to include learning intentions and success criteria, teaching of mathematical vocabulary, basic facts and mental maths strategies, daily reviews to support long term memory, and the use of the gradual release model to learn and practice new concepts and skills.
Students participate in exciting learning activities and teachers provide activities to differentiate instruction within each lesson and across school years.
Science at Bindoon Primary School is taught by a qualified Science teacher. Reflective of the world-wide science arena, our science room is predominantly a digital classroom, where students use iPads to record their learning, both written and visually. Lessons revolve around practical hands-on activities, enhancing students’ curiosity. Our aim is to prepare students for Science learning in high school.
A double session each week allows for the various areas of the Science curriculum to be covered, including:
- Science inquiry skills
- Science as a human endeavour
- Science understanding – biological, chemical, physical, and Earth and space
We offer a specialist Physical Education program that allows students to develop fundamental movement skills, game skills and fun competition. Students are involved in school swimming lessons, swimming carnival, interschool sporting events, cross country and athletics carnivals.
Our children learn Auslan as part of our language program. Auslan (Australian Sign Language) is the language of the Deaf community of Australia). Auslan and other signed languages around the world are fully-fledged languages that are visual-gestural in nature. The Auslan curriculum builds on children’s interests and sense of enjoyment and curiosity, with an emphasis on active, experiential learning and confidence building. There is an emphasis on developing language to enable learners to participate in class activities such as storytelling and games.
Digital Technology is embedded through all curriculum areas with a focus on enhancing student learning experiences and outcomes. We aim to provide meaningful and enriching experiences with technology that develop students 21st century learning skills in order to contribute to a modern and advancing technological world.
We are proud of our sustainability initiatives that shape positive community attitudes and behaviours about in local and wider environment. Sustainability is a cross-curricular priority, meaning all students learn about the importance of sustainability across all subject areas, with particular emphasis in Science and HASS. We have a group of students from Years 3-6, called the Planet Protectors, who meet weekly to discuss sustainability in the school and act as leaders to drive the message and complete many jobs around the school. We are a WasteSorted accredited school and have received a grant to help develop our sustainability program. With a recycling and compost program and vegetable garden already in place and a worm farm soon to come, our students are involved in ensuring sustainable practices educate our community.
The arts in the school are highly valued by the local community and are an opportunity for children to develop their creativity. Students from Year 1 to Year 6 are engaged in both music and visual arts lessons. Students produce artwork that is displayed throughout the school and in music students are involved in singing, making music and dance. The school choir sings at various school and community events each year.
A focus on the mental health and wellbeing of our students is a priority at the school. We start by developing respectful relationships between staff, students and community.
Our Positive Behaviour Program, along with social and emotional learning, sets the culture of the school, All classes participate in the Promoting Alternative Thinking Skills (PAThS) which is an evidence based social, emotional learning program. This internationally acclaimed program facilitates the development of self-control, emotional awareness, and interpersonal problem-solving skills in children.
Bindoon Primary School has the services of a school psychologist and a school chaplain.
Students from Year 6 are elected by peers and staff to become Student Councillors and Faction Captains.
In these roles students are expected to take on responsibilities, make decisions about the school, organise special days and represent the school in the community. Leadership camps for the Year 6 Student Councillors are held regularly conducted by The School Chaplain.
Other student leadership opportunities include:
- Library Monitors
- Choir Captains
- Planet Protectors
