Junior School (Reception to Year 5)

Camps and excursions provide students with practical, hands on experiences to coincide with their learning in the classroom.

Where possible camps and excursions may be offered in collaboration with the curriculum at Mannum Community College.

In relation to composite classes, the location of the camp / excursion will be determined by the school and needs of each class. Not all classes will attend the same camp.

The Junior School concert is held bi-annually (odd years). This is a very exciting time for students to showcase their learning and skills in the Arts curriculum area. Students are involved in Footsteps Dance lessons which is transformed into a truly magnificent production – new themes every concert. Parents are encouraged to become involved and support their child’s class in their production. The concert is filmed and families each receive a copy of the DVD.

Gala day is held bi-annually (even years). This is a whole school event with classes hosting games and food stalls to raise money for the school.

Our learning program is based on the Australian Curriculum. It places a strong emphasis on the explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy, as the children are encouraged to become creative and independent in their thinking and reflective in their learning. We provide an integrated approach with students working closely with their class teacher focusing on the core subjects of literacy, numeracy, STEM and HASS (History, Geography, Science, Civics and Citizenship) with support from specialist teachers in areas such as PE, LOTE, Design and Technology, Digital Technology and the Arts.

Students engage in a range of Literacy activities specifically designed for the needs of the individuals to build their skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing. Literacy blocks include strategies such as Guided Reading, phonics / phonemic awareness, all aspects of Comprehension and spelling skills.

Numeracy has a focus on teaching specific problem-solving strategies so that students can demonstrate their depth of understanding and ability to apply their knowledge. Students are encouraged to understand and describe their world by solving problems, making predictions and developing their abstract reasoning skills.

Higher Order Thinking and Questioning Skills (critical, creative and ethical) are explored in Junior school classrooms. Differentiation for advanced students is provided through encouraging the use of higher order thinking strategies and open-ended questions, problem solving and investigations which allow for deep exploration of a topic.

Whenever possible students are offered opportunities to be involved in real life learning through excursions. These can be local – for example – to the bakery, art displays, river etc. Students usually walk to local events and are covered in the general consent forms. Other excursions are further afield. You will be notified with all details and additional consent will be sought. Incursions occur when the students stay on site and the presentation comes to the school. Occasionally an additional charge may incur.

Students are effectively taught the appropriate skills to use the Junior School software and Internet. At Mannum Community College we value safety on the Internet and the students are taught cyber safety rules and are taught to use the Internet in a safe way.

Information and Communication Technologies are an important part of learning programs. Our ICT facilities in the Junior School include 1:2 ratio of laptops and Ipads, a suite of 30 computers, IWB document reflectors, scanners, and multimedia equipment. The iPads and laptops are utilised on a daily basis in each classroom for individual, group or whole class purposes. Teachers embed these technologies in everyday learning tasks so students use computers as tools and portals to further learning.  

Each classroom in the Junior School is equipped with Interactive Whiteboards and a pod of 6 computers for student use, enabling teachers to provide an even more stimulating, learning environment. These ICT tools lead to more meaningful classroom discussions, with students actively involved in their learning.

Our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) resources and facilities excel each year. Students are explicitly taught coding skills, problem solving, open ended investigations through critical and creative thinking strategies to build a deeper understanding and knowledge in these STEM areas.

Wi-Fi access is available all over the school, and our computers have the capacity to access the Internet, and a Responsible Users Agreement, signed by both students and parents is required before students can access Internet sites through the filtered DECD service.

Junior School teachers and students use the Seesaw app as a learning device between students, teachers and families.  Students can share their learning by verbally annotating their learning tasks and posting these to their parents. This enables families to have a snapshot of their child’s learning while also communicating with their child’s teacher when needed.

Teachers regularly communicate student learning, class / school notices and newsletters, important information and other relevant information for the class via this portal. .

Aboriginal Students

Aboriginal / Torrens Strait Islander students receive direct assistance with their literacy skills through an Aboriginal Support Worker who supports families and students with indigenous backgrounds.

One Child One Plan (Negotiated Education Plan)

These plans are provided for students who meet Department for Education (DfE) criteria for behaviour support or disability. These plans are developed to accommodate the student’s learning and usually involve special support hours that are provided for this purpose.

Student Leadership / Student Learning Community (SLC)

The Student Learning Community have a leadership role and promote powerful learning and achievement to the students of the Junior and Middle Schools. The members of the SLC are students from years 3-5 and are involved in attending Murraylands Partnership meetings with other schools once a term with specific learning goals which are ‘taught on’ to the classes at school. They also meet once a week as an Action Team. The team’s focus is to support and influence pedagogy through comprehension, Creative Body Based Learning (CBL) and decision making tasks which supports student learning in the classroom.

Students are involved in swimming lessons each year using the ‘on site’ pool.

Students are increasingly involved in a range of sporting opportunities as they move through the Junior School years. Sports Day is a highlight and enjoyed by students and parents alike.

Mannum Community College is committed to developing and maintaining positive relationships between parents/carers, staff and students in a happy, safe and secure learning environment.

We are working towards a common goal, helping your child to believe in themselves reach their true potential and to achieve to the best of their ability socially, physically, emotionally and academically.

The needs of individual students are catered for in a range of ways including BAM (Body and Movement) activities, horse riding, water therapy and targeted Interventions groups. These groups cater for students requiring extra support with their Literacy and Numeracy learning or Body and Movement (coordination, balance, fine / gross motor skills and multi-sensory).

From Kindergarten – The Junior School has strong ties with the Mannum Kindergarten. The teachers meet with Kindy staff regularly and visits by children are actively encouraged every term School transition visits commence early term 3 to ensure a smooth and successful transition to school.  Getting Ready for School transition sessions are held early term 4 and Phonemic Awareness / Jolly Phonics sessions are held early term 1 for parents to attend.

Our strong emphasis on Wellbeing aims to develop and support the social, emotional and academic skills that allow students to achieve their full potential.  The RIVER values of Respect, Integrity, Vitality, Excellence and Responsibility are the foundations on which the ethos of the school is built and underpin all we do. Our RIVER Values coincide with Play Is The Way Key Concepts and Values as well as MindUp program and these are the foundations for our Social Skills Program. MindUp is a social and emotional awareness program which enhances well-being and promotes academic success. It promotes and develops mindful attention to enhance tolerance, perseverance and resilience in learners.