Primary Learning

An understanding of Mathematics is essential to everyday life. Our students are guided through regular problem solving, estimation and calculation skills to cement the key concepts and tools in their learning. Students are often taught in teams across grades with teachers employing fun and creative classes through the use of games, puzzles and interactive activities.

HSIE is a fun area of learning with many practical projects and excursions that introduce students to a variety of content areas, including history, geography and citizenship. Class discussions, use of maps and tools and the study of historical developments and natural environments in Australia all contribute to providing students with an awareness of society and the physical environment.

Students are encouraged as early as Kindy in developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This is fostered throughout Primary by the use of Bee-Bots, Blue-Bots and Sphero’s in Stage 1, Lego Robotics in Stage 2, and the M-Bots and Micro:bits in Stage 3. Students will create games using Scratch, design a laser-cut car using Adobe Illustrator, and make code to collect data such as an exercise step counter, or the temperature! From Year 3 onwards students also have the privilege of being provided with their own iPad to use in the classroom. This is particularly important as technology is integrated throughout all learning, not just in computer lab classes. The core philosophy is that technology is just one tool we can use to achieve deep learning as we explore the skills we need to live in our modern world.

PDHPE is essential for the learning and growth of every child, promoting positive relationships and healthy choices.

At Avondale School we place strong emphasis on developing new skills, keeping active and having fun by just joining in. Through PDHPE students swim from the infant years, run cross country and athletics and enjoy a multitude of sports including basketball, soccer, netball, t-ball, cricket and chess that refine and develop both fine and gross motor skills.

The Avondale School Primary Years are full of creative activities providing students opportunity to explore, express, communicate and make sense of the world around them. Students experiment with a variety of media and technologies in creating topical and expressive artworks related to themes of integrated units.

The Avondale Primary Performing Arts (APPA) is a club that meets weekly to provide a forum for students to explore, express and communicate individuality. Students acquire skills in drama sports, production and performance.

Students in Kindy participate in 30 minutes of music and dance each week. During this time they will be exposed to a variety of percussion instruments, drums, xylophones and metalophones, along with singing and dancing. As they move through Primary School, they will delve into the violin, keyboard, ukulele, bucket drumming, along with the opportunity to join a primary choir, ukulele club, brass band and string ensemble. Private tuition is also available for students wishing to grow their skills in instruments such as piano, voice, drumming, guitar, brass, wind and string instruments. 

Students utilise contemporary science resources to understand the foundations of scientific process. Through a range of hands-on experimental and practical applications they are encouraged to hypothesise, research and present their findings using logical processes.