At St Joseph’s we believe that transitions in schooling are most successful when:
- Relationships are positive
- Children are viewed as capable
- Diversity is acknowledged and valued
- Information is shared
- Children feel safe
- Student expectations are explicit
- Curriculum programs build on prior knowledge
In the Early Years, the five contexts for learning are utilised:
- Play,
- Investigations,
- Real Life situations,
- Focussed Learning & Teaching,
- Routines & Transitions
Prep Program
St Joseph’s offers a full time Prep program. Children need to have turned five years of age by June 30 in the year they are enrolled in Prep. The school hours are 8.45am to 3.00pm. The uniform for Prep children is the school sports uniform. A school hat and black sports shoes are required.
Our Prep program offers:
- An exciting, fun, inquiry and play-based curriculum,
- Specialised facilities and equipment,
- Qualified, dedicated teachers and committed support staff,
- Faith and values development integrated into the curriculum
- Close partnerships with parents, families and community
- Commitment to the growth and development of the whole child – spiritually, intellectually, physically, culturally, socially and emotionally
- A safe environment and caring community
- Integration within the wider school community enabling a smooth transition to Year 1 and beyond.
Year One and Two
Our Year 1 and Year 2 learning community is designed to nurture the whole child through a collaborative, engaging, and developmentally appropriate approach to education. We recognise that young learners thrive when they feel supported, connected, and inspired, and our multi-age Year 1 and 2 structure provides rich opportunities for students to learn alongside and from one another.
Grounded in an Early Years philosophy, learning experiences are designed to be hands-on, purposeful, and connected to children's natural curiosity about the world around them. Through play, investigations, real-life contexts, focused teaching, and everyday routines, students are encouraged to explore, question, create, and develop a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy while building confidence as learners.
Wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. We place a strong emphasis on social and emotional learning, helping students develop the skills they need to build positive relationships, manage emotions, resolve conflicts, and contribute positively to our school community. Research tells us that strong relationships are central to both learning and wellbeing, and our classrooms are intentionally designed to foster a sense of belonging, inclusion, and success for every child.
We believe that education is most successful when schools and families work together. Our teachers develop strong partnerships with parents and carers, maintaining open communication and working collaboratively to support each child's academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. By partnering closely with families, we create a connected learning community where every child is known, valued, and supported to flourish.
At St Joseph's, our Year 1 and Year 2 structure provides a caring and engaging environment where children develop the foundations for lifelong learning while growing in confidence, independence, and resilience.
Curriculum in Prep - Year 2
Learning in Prep to Year 2 is guided by the Australian Curriculum and is designed to support the academic, social, emotional, spiritual, and physical development of every child. Through engaging, hands-on learning experiences, students build strong foundations across a broad range of curriculum areas.
Our students participate in learning across:
- Religious Education (RE) – nurturing faith, spirituality, and an understanding of Catholic beliefs and values.
- English – developing skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing.
- Mathematics – building confidence in number, problem-solving, reasoning, and mathematical thinking.
- Science – encouraging curiosity, investigation, and discovery of the world around us.
- Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) – exploring history, geography, communities, and our place in the world.
- Health and Physical Education (HPE) – promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and personal wellbeing.
- Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) – developing coordination, balance, movement, and motor skills through structured physical experiences.
- Digital and Design Technologies – fostering creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and digital citizenship.
- The Arts – providing opportunities for self-expression, creativity, and appreciation of visual arts, drama, and performance.
- Music – developing musical skills through singing, listening, movement, rhythm, and the exploration of a variety of musical styles.
Across all learning areas, our teachers create rich and meaningful learning experiences that are engaging, collaborative, and tailored to the developmental needs of young learners, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning.