Curriculum Overview

English

At Rupanyup Primary School we foster a love of literature and pride ourselves on an English Program which supports students to achieve personal success in their learning across Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.

We use a whole-school approach to reading based on the evidence bsed teaching and learning techniques. In Foundation to Year 2, we implement Phonics Plus to build strong early reading skills through structured instruction. From Years 3 to 6, we extend this learning with PhOrMeS, focusing on phonics, spelling, morphology, and word origins. This consistent approach ensures all students develop the skills and knowledge needed to become confident, capable readers. 

In our Literacy program, teachers support students with explicit teaching, focused on producing specific learning outcomes. We offer a wide range of opportunities to practice their skill development in whole class, small group, and independent learning. 

Students learn strategies to become competent decoders of text, explore new vocabulary, monitor their understanding, and read with fluency and expression. Families are involved with their child's reading journey with home reading expectations, our school library, along with the MARC van provides opportunities to read for enjoyment.

The writing model provides a clear whole school approach to enhance teaching and learning and improve student outcomes. Each writing session begins with teachers demonstrating and explicitly teaching the text type being studied and unpack associated text features, structures and vocabulary. Students are then given the opportunity to practise what has been modelled.

Mathematics

We offer a comprehensive Numeracy Program which provides students with strong foundations in mathematical skills, strategies and understanding. Our aim is to support students to understand and use mathematics effectively so they can successfully participate at school, at home and in the wider community. Our daily Numeracy program includes a  daily review of prior learning to promote mathematical fluency, explicit teaching of concepts and understandings, and opportunities to apply knowledge to problem solving situations.

Studnets take part in focussed teaching groups, complete independent work and conclude lessons with an opportunity to reflect on their learning.

LOTE - Auslan

We celebrate diversity and multiculturalism at Rupanyup Primary School and identified the official Australian Language for the deaf community, Auslan to be taught across all year levels. 

Library 

Our Library is a fantastic space for the children to tap into their imagination. With an extensive choice of books, which have been electronically catalogued, students are encouraged to regularly read, borrow, and discover new authors and stories.

The Arts

Our performing arts program is delivered in partnership with Amplify Music, supporting our teachers to provide a rich and comprehensive program across dance, music and drama. This structure ensures that all four strands of the Arts curriculum—visual art, dance, music and drama—are explicitly taught and assessed by a specialist Arts teacher across the school year.

Students engage in a sequential and skills-based program that builds confidence, creativity and performance skills over time. Learning is carefully planned to develop both practical skills and an understanding of the elements of the Arts, while also providing opportunities for collaboration and student voice.

Our classroom teachers work alongside the program to reinforce and connect learning, ensuring continuity across the curriculum. Each term builds towards a shared goal, culminating in our end-of-year concert performance, where all students showcase their learning and celebrate their achievements with the school community.

Mobile Area Resource Centre (MARC)

Rupanyup Primary School receives fortnightly visits from the Department of Education & Training mobile library. The Mobile Area Resource Centre (MARC van) is a small mobile library filled with picture story books, fictional novels, non-fiction books as well as teacher resources for students and teachers to borrow. MARC lessons allow students to share a book, discuss different aspects, think critically and explore issues in greater detail with an activity that integrates into other key learning areas.

Physical Education / Health

At Rupanyup Primary School, The Physical Education Program aims to provide a positive experience for all students encouraging them to be physically active, as well as gaining an understanding for the importance of overall health. Our aim is to foster exemplary sporting values and fairness and a culture of respect for other participants at all times. Our students enjoy participating in both competitive and non-competitive physical activity. The sport program is aimed towards building self-discipline, commitment and teamwork.

In both the Junior and Senior classes, all students are expected to be involved in the swimming program which takes place at the beginning of the year at our onsite pool - taught by our staff who are Swimming and Water Safety trained by Life Saving Victoria. Rupanyup Primary School is part of the Dunmunkle cluster, which competes against surrounding schools and districts in a wide range of individual and team sports throughout the year.

Technology - Design and Digital

We believe Design and Digital Technologies play an important role in supporting student engagement, creativity and problem-solving, while developing the skills needed for an increasingly digital world. At Rupanyup Primary School, students are provided with opportunities to explore both digital and physical technologies to enhance their learning and cater for a range of learning needs.

Students are explicitly taught about online safety through eSafety lessons, building their understanding of responsible and respectful use of digital technologies. In addition, students develop critical and creative thinking skills through the use of the design cycle, where they plan, create and evaluate both digital and physical solutions to real-world problems.

Our technology resources supports this learning, with the Junior students having access to 1:1 iPads and the Senior students having 1:1 notebooks, ensuring all students can actively engage in meaningful and purposeful technology-rich learning experiences.