Specialists
Physical Education
In Years F-2 students practise a wide range of Fundamental Motor and Locomotive Skills. Skills including Rolling, Underarm Throwing, Overhand Throwing and Catching, Bouncing a ball (dribbling), Kicking, Punting, Running, Dodging, Forehand Strike, Two-handed Sidearm Strike, Jumping and Leaping are introduced and consolidated with students focussing on developmentally appropriate skill components at various stages in these early years. Students also explore other movements using different equipment (such as scooter boards, skipping ropes, obstacle courses, parachutes), whole-body gymnastics skills (including various rolls and balances), and different travelling movements (e.g. skipping, galloping, marching and different crawling techniques e.g. bear, crab, commando). Students also learn to work cooperatively, move safely within boundaries and use equipment appropriately, and follow activity-specific rules and instructions.
In Years 3 and 4 students consolidate their skills during increasingly complex activities while being introduced to variety of game-sense strategies which are applied in small-sided games. Students learn different skills and strategies integral to Invasion Games (e.g. Soccer, Netball, Basketball), Striking and Fielding Games (e.g. Cricket, T-ball, Kick-ball), Target Games (e.g Mini-golf, Bocce, Quoits) and Net/Court/Wall Games (e.g. Tennis and Downball). In each of these areas, students will focus on using a wide-variety of equipment, combining object control and movement skills, while learning different strategies for success. Students participate in a Gymnastics unit where they learn, consolidate, sequence and synchronise a variety of movements including different body rolls, jumps, shapes and balances. Students in these years will also be introduced to different Athletics disciplines involving running, jumping and throwing, and have the opportunity to try out for the Interschool Athletics team. Year 3 and 4 students also take part in our House Running Carnival which provides an opportunity for them to qualify for the Interschool Cross-Country Carnival.
In Years 5 and 6 students are provided with various opportunities to participate in interschool sporting teams, carnivals and gala days. Students have the opportunity qualify for Swimming, Cross-Country, Athletics and Soccer days and also participate in weekly Summer (Basketball, T-ball or Volleyball) and Winter (Australian Football, Netball or Volleyball) Interschool sporting teams. Students are explicitly taught the skills, strategies, movement concepts and rules for these sports during PE lessons across these years. They also take part in additional units/topics including Circus Skills and Fitness, as well as Ultimate Tag and Ultimate Frisbee using the SEPEP model which provides opportunities to participate in organised sporting competition within their classes while undertaking different roles such as referee, coach, scorer, time-keeper statistician, photographer and equipment manager.
STEM
Art
The study of The Arts is a unique, expressive and creative form of communication that hopes to engage all. Students are given the opportunity to Explore, Express, Pracitce, Present, Respond and Interpret their own and other creative work. The Arts promotes creative problem solving, self-expression and imagination in a range of different forms.
During visual arts sessions the students explore many different art elements such as line, shape, colour, texture, tone and pattern. Through the creative fields of drawing, painting, printing, collage, modelling, construction, and textiles, students develop their skills and explore the creative potential of a wide variety of visual art materials. They study Artists’ work from all around the world including local Australian artists, considering the artists’ backgrounds, inspiration and techniques.
Each Art activity aims to develop children’s individual creative and artistic skills, while using a vast variety of materials and techniques. Students are encouraged to reflect upon their own artworks and give constructive feedback on the artworks of their peers.
Italian
At Keilor Heights Primary School, students enjoy learning Italian through fun and engaging activities including songs, games, stories, and movement.
Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, our Italian program develops students’ confidence in using everyday words and phrases while building their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Students also explore Italian culture, traditions, food, music, art and landmarks, developing curiosity, respect, and an appreciation of different cultures. We hope their learning inspires a lifelong interest in languages and the world around them and perhaps encourages them to use their Italian when visiting Italy one day.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts curriculum incorporates Music, Dance and Drama. At Keilor Heights Primary, Performing Arts provides every student with the opportunity to express themselves creatively and to plan, play, create and perform. There is a focus on audience behaviour where students watch each other and give feedback regarding their performances.
In Music the students are given the opportunity to use both untuned instruments, as well as percussion instruments to learn about the many elements of music such as beat and volume. They also are given the opportunity learn simple musical notation.
A variety of Dance styles are taught in the program including set routines and creative movement. This develops student confidence and coordination. The elements of dance include body awareness, action, space, time and energy.
In Drama, the children enjoy simple role plays and improvisations using props and costumes to create characters and tell stories.
In addition to the Performing Arts class program we also offer instrumental lessons in keyboard. Inquiries are welcome at the office. Students are welcome to join the school choir & join rehearsals weekly. The choir performs at school assemblies, school picnics and external concerts as opportunities arise. Previous performances have included the State School Spectacular.
