There are seven Key Learning Areas in the Primary Catholic School Curriculum in New South Wales.

These are:

• Religious Education
• English
• Mathematics
• Human Society and its Environment – History & Geography
• Creative Arts
• Science and Technology
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education

The Australian Curriculum is being developed progressively by ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders and has been introduced in some Key Learning Areas in 2014. State and territory education authorities are responsible for the implementation of the Australian curriculum. St Joseph follows the guidelines as set out by the NSW Board of Studies when creating learning sequences for the students.

At St Josephs there is a strong emphasis on developing student’s basic skills in Literacy, Numeracy and Religious Education. Students are encouraged to be independent learners and to develop critical learning skills as they journey through their primary education. Technology plays a vital role as a learning tool from Kindergarten to Year 6. Creativity is encouraged and fostered through Music, Drama and Visual Arts and students enjoy the stimulating activities in Science and Technology and Human Society and Its Environment.

Throughout the year students are exposed to extra curricular activities such as performances, sporting opportunities and community involvement.

St Joseph’s School aims to develop each child’s natural talents within a supportive, educational environment. Our programs are based around the belief that childhood is a unique and valuable stage of life. Staff at the school are committed to the care and overall development of every child.

Our programs have been developed to encourage and stimulate the children in a number of areas of their education. The classes are supported by excellent facilities, together with dedicated and committed staff who encourage children to explore and expand the limits of their abilities in all areas.

Religious Education

In the Diocese of Armidale Religious Education is the heartbeat of who we are as an education system. The embedding of Core Catholic Principles and Values is explicit in Religious Education learning and teaching activities, as it is in all other KLAs.

Religious Education reveals and deepens students’ knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures and of our Catholic Faith Story and Traditions. The development of comprehensive religious literacy enables students to enter more fully into the life of the Church.

Students are invited to respond in action to their learnings and be conscientious and caring citizens, who make positive contributions to our local and global communities. Celebration is an important aspect of Religious Education and the sacraments, prayer and liturgy are integral to the faith life of our school communities.

The teaching of Religious Education is mandatory across all schools in the Diocese of Armidale. Religious Education has primacy of programming and the minimum teaching time for Primary is 180 minutes per week, the minimum Secondary times are indicated in Stages, Stage 4 – 200 hours, Stage 5 – 200 hours and Stage 6 – 120 hours.

The Religious Education Curricula implemented in schools in the Diocese of Armidale is;

• Primary K-6 Celebrating Our Journey commonly called RE Online.
• Secondary 7-10 Faithful to God Faithful to People.
• Secondary 11-12 Studies of Religion I and Studies of Religion II are NSW BOSTES developed courses. Catholic Studies for 11-12 is a NSW BOSTES endorsed course.

The Religious Education Curriculum K-12 is supported by the To Know Worship and Love series of textbooks.

In K-2 the Storytelling process is central to developing students’ foundational understanding of the Scriptures, Liturgy and Traditions of the Church.

The pedagogical approach to teaching Religious Education in schools across the Diocese of Armidale is founded in the Emmaus Story (Luke 24:13-35), a post-Easter story where two of Jesus’ disciples encounter the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus.

Four stages are identified in the two disciples’ journey and these four stages are reflected in the learning and teaching activities.

• Making Sense – of life experiences,
• Gaining Access – through Scriptures and Church teachings,
• Celebrating – the life of the risen Christ and
• Responding – to God in their lives. Students are led to understand their own life experiences within a Catholic context.

A contemporary and meaningful understanding of the Scriptures and of our Catholic traditions, invites our students to respond to everyday life situations from a Christian perspective and celebrate God’s love.