Junior School Teaching & Learning

The Prince of Peace Teaching and Learning Framework informs and ensures consistent and effective teaching and learning practices. This framework has been collaboratively developed and demonstrates our commitment to providing a caring Christ-centred environment and realising the Lutheran Education Australia Vision for Learners and Learning.

 

Academic Program

We believe each student’s educational experience should be characterised by three guiding principles that promote contemporary capabilities:

  • Excellence through honour: we want students to pursue personal excellence; to honour each other, their God-given potential and to give of their best
  • Learning with purpose: we wish to prepare all our students to become lifelong learners who are creative, critical thinkers, collaborators and communicators; who are multi-skilled, adaptable and innovative
  • Growth through challenge: we believe it is important that students are provided with opportunities to push themselves, to be challenged to develop mastery in a supportive environment.

We are very proud of the five key principles that underpin Prince of Peace’s Teaching and Learning Framework and direct planning, teaching, assessment and reporting at the College. These five key principles are:

  • High Expectations
  • Positive Relationships
  • Powerful Partnerships
  • Life-Long Learning
  • Responsive Teaching.

Each year level at the Junior School has a sequenced curriculum, drawn from a range of curriculum authorities. Our teachers use the draft Australian Curriculum  and Queensland Learning Essentials. Prince of Peace also follow the Lutheran Education Australia Religious Studies framework.

As the Australian Curriculum Assessment Reporting Authority continues to roll out new information each year, we will make adjustments to our whole-school curriculum planning.

Prince of Peace has also developed a Prep to Year 12 Agile Digital Learning Strategy: Unlocking the Potential, which outlines the College’s commitment to the development of ICT capabilities that support effective transformation of learning. Our goals are to:

  • ensure that the learner remains at the centre of teaching
  • personalise the teaching and learning process
  • provide opportunities for anywhere, anytime learning.

Further Information


HPE and Sport

Our Junior Campus Heath and Physical Education (HPE) team runs a developmental HPE Curriculum from Prep to Year 6. Basic to complex movement skills and sequences are developed year on year, leading towards participation in individual and team sports.

All students participate in our annual PoP inter-house sports events, which include cross country, athletics and swimming. These carnivals run in an inclusive manner, providing a range of events to encompass all abilities.

“Health and Physical Education teaches students how to enhance their own and others’ health, safety, wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts”. Australian Curriculum

Extracurricular Sports Opportunities

There are numerous extra-curricular sporting opportunities available for students throughout the year.

PoP is part of the Northern District—an association of 16 local Independent and Government Schools. High-level performers 10-12 years old can trial for District representative teams in a very comprehensive range of sports. They can then progress to Metropolitan North Regional and even Queensland State teams.

PoP is also a member of the Northern Independent School Sport Association (NISSA), a competition where students can qualify to compete at the Big 3 Carnivals; Cross Country, Athletics & Swimming, as well as all Year 4-6 student contest team-sports Gala Days.

Prep-Year 6 children have the opportunity to take part in various Sporting Schools Programs throughout the year. This initiative provides in-class sessions facilitated by qualified and experienced coaches in several different sports.

A range of sporting activities are available during lunchtimes as student initiatives, arranged by staff or student leaders. Importantly for their holistic development, these activities will involve communication and cooperation with classmates and teachers.

For more information on our College’s Junior Sports Program, please contact our Junior Campus Physical Education Teacher & Sport Coordinator.

Jessica Schneider
jschneider@princeofpeace.qld.edu.au


 

Music and the Arts

Thanks to the superb technical skills and infectious enthusiasm of our music team, classroom music is incredibly popular at our Junior Campus.

As students progress through the school they have the opportunity to learn a variety of instruments as part of the curriculum. Singing, dancing, clapping, using their bodies as percussion instruments and even skipping are all ways that music is brought into the lives of our students.

What a terrific job the Junior School music department is doing! Our son has started learning the guitar outside school, and his tutor is amazed at how well he can read music—he says he has never taught a child our son’s age who has such a good grasp on it. We have not taught our children any music, so that skill has come entirely from music classes at school. — Mrs J

 

Extracurricular Music Opportunities

Our Junior Campus choirs have a wonderful reputation in the local community, having recently performed at the 2015 Gaythorne RSL ANZAC Day parade and on ABC local radio. All students are welcome to join the Lower Junior (Y2-3) or Upper Junior (Y4-6) Choir and rehearsals take place before school. Both choirs have a busy performance schedule throughout the year.

Older students are encouraged to audition for the Chapel Band, which regularly supports our worship services.

Students also have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument of their choice either through group or individual lessons provided by our instrumental music tutors on a fee-for-service basis.

Our instrumental tutors offer weekly group or individual lessons for woodwind, brass, percussion, strings, voice, piano and guitar. Tuition is offered for the following instruments:

Junior CampusSenior Campus
Years 1–6woodwind
cellobrass
pianopercussion
violastrings
violinpiano
Years 2–6guitar
bass guitarbass guitar
guitar
Years 4–6 only
clarinet
euphonium/baritone
flute
percussion
saxophone
trombone
trumpet

All those taking part in the program are expected to participate in the College Ensemble program, to support and enhance their musical learning. The Junior Campus ensembles include:

  • Beginner Concert Band
  • Junior Concert Band
  • Junior String Ensemble
  • Lower Junior Choir (Y2-3)
  • Upper Junior Choir (Y4-6)
  • Honours Choir (Y5-6 by audition)

For more information on our Music program,  please contact our Junior Campus Music curriculum leader, Sherree Cudney