Education

Goals Curriculum Co-Curricular Student Support

Goals

At Epping North Public School we aim to develop fully the capabilities and talents of all students. In particular, students will aim to:

become worthwhile citizens and make life better for others
be enthusiastic learners
pursue academic excellence
be effective communicators
maintain healthy lifestyles
care for the environment.

Curriculum

Students are taught within these six Key Learning Areas (KLAs) set by the NSW Board of Studies (BoS):

English – talking and listening, reading, writing
Mathematics – working mathematically, number, patterns and algebra, measurement and data, space and geometry
Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) – change and continuity, cultures, environments, social systems and structures
Science and Technology (SciTech) – investigating scientifically, designing and making, the natural environment, the made environment
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
- fundamental movement and physical activity, healthy choices, self and relationships
Creative and Practical Arts (CAPA) -
visual arts, music, dance and drama

At Epping North PS, specialist teachers teach Music, Drama and Science during class teachers’ allocated Relief from Face-to-Face (RFF) time. Specialist sports teachers are also employed to teach some sports skills.

Some student drama and music work has been published to YouTube:

Grandpa’s Slippers – a play by 5W 2011

Year 6 music video clips 2011

More information on each KLA is provided on the Board of Studies website.

Stages and Grades

The curriculum is taught in developmental stages. Apart from Early Stage 1, each stage covers two grades. The stages are:

Early Stage One (ES1) – Kindergarten

Stage One (St 1) – Years 1 and 2

Stage Two (St 2) – Years 3 and 4

Stage Three (St 3) – Years 5 and 6

Foundation Statements

These statements are published by the NSW Board of Studies (BoS) and answer the question ‘What must be taught?’ in the statewide curriculum. The foundation statements, together with syllabus content and outcomes, guide the programming of teaching and learning activities for our students. They are available here.

Co-Curricular Activities

Various opportunities which enhance the curriculum are provided to Epping North students within and outside of school hours. Some are organised by Epping North staff and others by P&C committees. Co-ordinators for each activity are listed on the Parents page.

Bands – The Training, Concert and Senior Bands rehearse
before school. Students also attend 20-30 minute tutorials once a week held after school as private lessons. Students may hire instruments from the school. The bands perform at functions at school and at local festivals. Parents are expected to assist with band supervision duty once a term and transporting equipment. Costs are $350-$400 a term. The band committee manages their own band website to provide information to parents. A Percussion Group is run during lunch times by the school’s music teacher (see below).

Chess – Chess Club for Years 1 to 6 runs on a Friday and is taught by a teacher from the Sydney Academy of Chess.
In Term 2 competition teams are selected to play against local schools. Parents are requested to assist with transport occasionally. Lessons are $6 each so costs are $60-$70 per term, slightly more if involved in the competition.

Dance – Dance groups are available for students in Years 1 to 6. There are boys’, girls’ and co-ed groups. Rehearsals are before school. They perform at school functions and external festivals and concerts. Parents are expected to assist with dance class supervision once or twice a year and occasionally at performances. Costs are $45-$55 per term.

Environment – The school has an active environmental program led by a class teacher and elected Environment Monitors, two from each class. Activities include native gardening, vegetable gardening, composting and recycling. Find out more here.

Percussion – The percussion group for primary students rehearses one lunchtime per week with the school’s music teacher. Students do not need to be a member of a band to join this group and need no prior musical experience.

Public speaking – Debating teams and activities are organised and coached by class teachers. Teams compete in debating competitions held at local schools. Students also are given opportunities to compete in local public speaking competitions.

Singing - Vocal Enrichment Groups (Senior VEG, Junior VEG and VEGemites) are run by teachers at lunch times or within school time. These groups perform at choral festivals and special school events.

Sport - A varied program of sports is provided to all students and includes gymnastics, athletics and games. The program is run by both external specialists and class teachers. Senior students also participate in the local PSSA sports competition held on Friday afternoons. Teams are selected on ability and are coached by class teachers. Teams are also selected for local knock-out competitions.

Student Support

School counsellor

Our school counsellor is an experienced teacher who has a degree in psychology and post-graduate qualifications in school counselling. She is available to work with students of all ages and their families. Our counsellor is at Epping North one day per week so it is necessary for parents or carers to make an appointment by contacting the school.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

The ESL teacher works with students whose first or main language is not English. Through either team teaching or small group withdrawal, English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills are developed.

Learning support

Students experiencing learning difficulties are referred to the Learning Support Team (LST). This team, comprising executive, teaching and support staff, meet weekly to discuss the learning needs of students who have been referred to them. The Support Teacher: Learning Difficulties (STLD teacher) works with some of these students.

Reading Recovery

The Reading Recovery program identifies students experiencing reading and writing difficulties after their first year of school and provides intensive one to one teaching by a specially trained Reading Recovery teacher. This early intervention program provides intensive daily instruction for these identified Year 1 students.

Gifted and talented programs

Various opportunities are provided for students who have been identified with talents in particular areas. These include in-school programs, inter-school competitions and regional and statewide gifted and talented programs. Examples of such opportunities are debating and speaking competitions, zone and regional carnivals, band camp and dance camp.

Performing Art opportunites and closing dates are on the DEC’s Performing Arts Unit website.

Peer support and buddies

All older students at Epping North are buddied with a younger student. A popular introductory activity undertaken between buddy classes is the joint construction of Easter hats or baskets for the annual Easter parade.

A peer support program which focuses on social skills and anti-bullying is run in small across-grade groups led by Year 6 students for a term each year. All Year 6 students are trained as Peer Support Leaders.

Restorative Justice

Epping North has adopted the Restorative Justice approach to dealing with student conflicts and issues. The main focus on Restorative Justice practice is respectful and fair practice, repairing harm and restoring relationships. Through the practice, children learn to talk to each other in healthy and respectful ways with the aim that restitution is reached and relationships restored. More information here. The practice can also be used at home. Below are the sets of questions that can be asked.

When things go wrong, restorative questions to ask are: