Our Learning and Teaching

St Matthews offers quality teaching and learning in Religious Education, English, Mathematics, History, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), Health and Physical Education, Science, Technologies, The Arts and Japanese.

Through these Curriculum areas, staff members endeavour to develop an atmosphere conducive to the development of the spiritual, intellectual, academic, physical, emotional and social growth of the students. Opportunities for each child to achieve success and to build upon positive aspects of learning are provided each and every day.

Extra-Curricular

Here at St Matthew’s we offer a number of extra-curricular activities and clubs that allow students to develop their knowledge and skills on personal interests while having fun and interacting with peers. This includes:

  • Games Club
  • Gardening Club
  • Guitar lessons offered by a peripatetic teacher
  • Creative Arts Club
  • ‘Engage’ Gifted and Talented Enrichment
  • Robotics Club and Robocup Junior Comp
  • Stitchers Club for those students interested in knitting and needlework of all types
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Sustainability

St Matthews has operated a Sustainability Program best known for its much loved chickens which are located in the internal courtyard. The chickens are fed from the food scraps which are collected by the children each day. The program also has strong links to our Science program with the initial selection of the chickens forming part of the Kindergarten curriculum.

Year Six Leadership Program

We believe that all students have leadership potential and therefore we consider all members of Year 6 to be Student Leaders. They are given many opportunities to learn about the display leadership qualities and earn the right to wear the School Leader shirt. 

Technology

Students have access to iPads and networked laptops. We have an Internet usage agreement, which outlines policy for usage and is required to be signed by parents and Year 3-6 students annually. We endeavour to integrate technology purposefully across all curriculum areas to enrich the children’s learning.

Book Club

Ashton Scholastic provides a ‘Book Club’ service for our school. This is organised by volunteer parents, who give generously of their time. This service is a good way to buy appropriate literature at reasonable prices for your child.

Library

St Matthew’s has a well-resourced library that is available for student use at all times. All classes have the opportunity to borrow library books weekly. The teacher librarian works with each class in a scheduled lesson each week on developing information skills. All children need a library bag to protect the books they borrow to take home. The borrowing period is usually for one week and previously borrowed books need to be returned prior to re-borrowing. Children may borrow over
the school holiday breaks with the exception of the Christmas period when the library closes in Week 8 of Term 4 for stock-take and administration. Children will also have the chance to visit the library during lunchtimes on specified days. During this time, they can return and borrow, read, play board games, work on research projects or draw. Parent assistance in the library is always welcome. Parents often assist with the shelving of books and the covering of new resources. Please see the Teacher Librarian if you would like to help.

Classroom Support

The Classroom Support Program supports and encourages those children in the school who, for a variety of reasons, require extra learning assistance. We recognise that some children require additional support in order to maximise their educational opportunities. Our Classroom Support Program offers learning support from Teachers and Learning Support Assistants. The most effective practice for helping learners with special needs is one which involves a concerted and collaborative approach between the class teacher, home and the Classroom Support Team. Flexible approaches are taken to address different student needs.