At Our Lady Help of Christians School, our synthetic phonics-based literacy program is a cornerstone of our English curriculum, giving students the skills to listen, read, write, speak, create, and reflect with confidence, fluency, and purpose.

Key features of our program include:

• Daily 2-hour Literacy Block integrating reading and writing

• Literacy Intervention from Prep to Year 6 to support individual learning needs

• Ongoing assessment and monitoring through formative and summative tasks

• Dedicated Literacy Leader who supports teachers, monitors programs, and coordinates professional development
  

Our evidence-based approach ensures all students develop strong foundational literacy skills and the confidence to succeed across all areas of learning.

At Our Lady Help of Christians, Mathematics is an engaging, challenging and enjoyable part of the curriculum, designed to meet the diverse abilities of all students.

Program highlights include:

• Comprehensive maths resources in every classroom

• Mathematics Intervention from Prep to Year 6 to support individual learning needs

• Ongoing assessment and monitoring through formative and summative tasks

• Dedicated Mathematics Leader who supports teachers, monitors programs and coordinates professional development
  

Our approach ensures students develop strong numeracy skills, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, building confidence to succeed across all areas of learning.

At Our Lady Help of Christians, our Prep - Year 6 Religious Education program nurtures a loving relationship with God through prayer, Scripture, Church tradition, Liturgy and the Sacraments.

The program helps students develop self-awareness, empathy and a sense of community, while building knowledge and skills to actively practice their faith. Students engage in active participation in Liturgies and Church celebrations, experiencing faith in action every day.

Our approach goes beyond lessons, faith is lived across the school, reflected in the values we model and the behaviours we encourage.

Program highlights include:

• Pedagogy of Encounter

• Liturgies and Paraliturgies

• Sacramental Program

• Religious Education Leader guiding faith development
  

Through this program, students grow spiritually, ethically and socially, shaping them into compassionate, thoughtful members of the faith community.

At Our Lady Help of Christians School, every student is supported to reach their full potential. Whether they need extra help or opportunities to extend their learning, we provide targeted programs that challenge, inspire, and empower every learner.

Data-Driven Support We use assessment results, classroom observations and teacher insights to identify students who would benefit from additional support or enrichment. Regular monitoring ensures interventions are responsive, personalised and effective.

Intervention Programs Students needing extra support in literacy and numeracy access structured, evidence-based programs. Small-group and one-on-one sessions focus on building foundational skills, with progress tracked to celebrate growth. Classroom and intervention teachers collaborate to ensure learning is consistent and coordinated.

Enrichment Opportunities

Students ready to go further are challenged with differentiated tasks, project-based learning and external opportunities. These experiences develop critical thinking, creativity and a lifelong love of learning.

Student Voice is a key priority at Our Lady Help of Christians. We know that when students take an active role in their learning and school life, they develop confidence, leadership and a deeper sense of belonging.

Through authentic opportunities to collaborate, make decisions and contribute to school improvement, our students learn that their voice can make a difference both within our school and in the wider world.

Whether through the Student Representative Council, Social Justice Leaders, classroom discussions, leadership roles or whole school initiatives, we encourage all students to express their opinions thoughtfully, listen to others with empathy and take action that supports our shared values.

Student Voice is more than participation, it’s about partnership, empowerment and growing the leaders of tomorrow.

At Our Lady Help of Christians School, all students from Prep to Year 6 enjoy weekly Italian lessons, immersing them in the language and culture through songs, stories, poems, music and games.

The program is theme-based, helping students develop confidence in both spoken and written Italian, while also fostering a deep understanding and appreciation of Italian culture, history, customs, and traditions.

The Arts

At Our Lady Help of Christians School, students explore their creativity through weekly Visual Art lessons in our fully equipped, purpose-built art space, featuring ample bench space, storage, a wet area, and a printing press.

Our program covers printmaking, painting, 2D & 3D construction, sculpture, threads and textiles, drawing and seasonal projects. Every second year, students showcase their work in our Biannual Art Show, with opportunities to display pieces in the school garden and playground, celebrating creativity within our community.

The Arts

The Performing Arts program includes Music, Drama and Dance, where students develop skills, literacy and confidence in each discipline. Every second year, students collaborate with an Artist in Residence for a whole-school production to refine and showcase their talents.

Through Performing Arts, students stimulate imagination, develop critical thinking, and engage with their school, community, and culture, enriching their artistic and intellectual growth.

Our Lady Help of Christians School also offers private music lessons during school hours in keyboard, guitar, drums, vocals and piano. Lessons are taught by external providers and are charged separately to school fees, giving students the chance to develop individual musical skills in a supportive environment.

At Our Lady Help of Christians School, Physical Education is key to developing healthy, active, and confident students. Our program equips children with the knowledge, skills, and habits to stay fit, participate in a variety of sports, and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Program highlights include:

• Specialist PE Lessons: Weekly lessons with a specialist teacher for all students

• Athletics Carnival: Where students represent their house in track and field events, led by senior Sports Captains

• Swimming Program: Term 4 swimming lessons with qualified instructors focusing on stroke development, water safety and survival skills

• Interschool & District Sport: Year 5/6 students represent our school in friendly competitions against neighbouring schools

• Outdoor Education Camps (Years 5–6): Activity-based camps promoting independence, teamwork, resilience and physical challenges

• Special Sports Days: Fun, skill-building sessions led by staff, visiting coaches and professional athletes in a range of sports
  

Through these programs, students build fitness, teamwork, confidence and a love of physical activity, preparing them to thrive both on and off the field.

At Our Lady Help of Christians, all students from Prep to Year 6 engage in our hands-on STEM program, exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in exciting, real-world ways.

Students collaborate, research, problem-solve and communicate as they investigate, experiment and take part in incursions, excursions and group discussions. Lessons integrate Mathematics, Science, Design Technologies and Digital Technologies, helping students think like scientists and innovators.

Through topics such as robotics, coding and green screening, our STEM program sparks curiosity, creativity and critical thinking, giving students the skills to thrive in a fast-changing world. With innovative tools and engaging experiences, STEM at Our Lady Help of Christians School is all about learning, discovering and doing.

At Our Lady Help of Christians, we prepare students to thrive in a digitally connected world. Technology is seamlessly integrated across the curriculum to enhance learning, spark creativity, and develop responsible digital citizens.

iPads (Prep–Year 2) In Prep to Year 2, students use class sets of iPads as a powerful tool to support learning across all subjects. iPads help young learners explore, create and engage with digital content in a structured and purposeful way, laying the foundation for digital fluency.

One-to-One Chromebooks (Years 3–6) From Year 3 onwards, every student has their own Chromebook, supporting collaboration, inquiry and personalised learning. Devices are used across subjects, fostering independence, critical thinking and engagement, aligned with the Victorian Curriculum: Digital Technologies.

eSafety & Digital Wellbeing Digital safety is at the heart of our program. Students engage in lessons that teach them to navigate online spaces safely, respectfully and responsibly.

We partner with Inform and Empower, whose live-streamed sessions cover online privacy, cyberbullying, digital balance, respectful communication and media literacy, tailored to each age group.

Our eSafety program is ongoing and proactive, reinforced through classroom learning, parent engagement and teacher professional development, ensuring students are confident and safe in the digital world.

At Our Lady Help of Christians, our Inquiry Curriculum sparks curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Students take ownership of their learning, investigating questions about the world and taking action to make a difference in their community.

Integrated units connect multiple learning areas, including:

• Health: Understanding the human body, healthy lifestyles and safety

• Civics & Citizenship: Exploring Australia’s history, culture and democratic responsibilities

• Humanities: Studying people, societies, environments and global connections

• Science: Investigating living things, energy, chemical changes and Earth & space

• Design, Creativity & Technology (DCT): Solving problems through designing, creating and evaluating
  

Through Inquiry, students develop thinking skills, personal learning styles, and real-world problem-solving abilities, preparing them to explore, discover and act with confidence.