Stage Based Learning
Holy Cross is a Stage Based Learning environment. Students are grouped in Stage classes for Homeroom and journey to different groups for Literacy and Numeracy, depending on their needs. The Stage Based Learning enviornment provides greater opportunities for the development of a Learning Community at Holy Cross through its promotion of collaborative planning at both the Stage and whole school level. Modification of structures has improved the quality of learning and teaching and facilitated the change to a more positive learning environment .
At Holy Cross we implement the Wollongong Diocese Religious Education Syllabus, which was developed in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Sydney.
Religious Education is taught as a separate Key Learning Area and permeates all aspects of the curriculum.
Daily prayer, Liturgical celebrations, Masses, Reconciliation and Benediction are an integral part of our Religious Education program.
The Sacrements of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation are taught and supported inconjunction with the Holy Cross Parish.
Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery is a program specifically designed to assist those students in Early Stage 1 who require extra support with their reading. Students are involved in an intensive acceleration program which is individual, daily and supplementary to the classroom literacy program.
Library
At Holy Cross the library is seen as an integral part of the learning and teaching program of all classes. The teacher librarian and classroom teacher work together to cooperatively plan, implement and evaluate aspects of the curriculum in order to best achieve the outcomes. The library is equipped with a Smart Board, allowing for interactive learning for students From Early Stage One to Stage Three.
Italian
Italian is taught from Early Stage 1 through to Stage 3 at Holy Cross. Students move between the Australian and Italian cultures gaining awareness of cross- cultural influences on languages and an understanding of significant cultural values & practices. They are taught the Italian language through listening, reading and responding to key ideas and written texts, by writing simple texts to convey key points of information and by speaking Italian words, simple sentences and phrases through interaction with others. Students play games, sing simple songs and complete puzzles and various activities to reinforce the cultural or linguistic knowledge gained.
Music
Music is taught at Holy Cross in a developmental program of basic music concepts combined with the ability to recall and produce organised patterns and sound. This is implemented by providing children with meaningful musical experiences focusing on rhythm, melody, improvisation and instrumental experience in an educationally challenging and rewarding environment. These musical learning opportunities provide balance with the established Art and Drama components of the curriculum.
Dance
Throughout the course of the year each Stage has dance lessons with an external dance professional. The lessons occur once a week for ten weeks. During this time students have experiences in composing, performing and appreciating dance. As the students learn various dances they engage as creators, performers and viewers of dance and recognise the purpose of giving physical form to ideas, feelings and moods skilfully and expressively in dance as a performing art.
Information Communication Learning Technology
Information communication learning technologies are an integral part of the learning and teaching environment at Holy Cross School. Each classroom has at least one iMac computer, access to a number of iBook and MacBook laptop computers and the opportunity to use two digital cameras, projectors and other peripherals.
The staff and sudents of Holy Cross have acces to MyInternet, a CasNet internet program which allows emailing, online classes and other online learning and teaching tools and activities.
Holy Cross has two Smart Boards for interactive learning and teaching. One is located in the school library and the other in the Kinder classroom.
