Learning at our school

Kindergarten is an important year of schooling as children formally begin to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. Our whole school community will help your child adjust to school and help them to feel comfortable.

When to start school

Your child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year. By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.

When to start your child at school is an individual decision. You may want to discuss this with us or with your child's preschool teacher, carer or doctor.

Transition to school

We have a set of planned activities to assist your child to make a smooth transition to Kindergarten. Research indicates that children who settle quickly into school are more likely to be socially competent and achieve better results. Contact us to find out about our activities and how you can be involved.

Preparing for Kindergarten

You can help your child prepare for Kindergarten and be organised for the first day. Visit our school to help your child feel more comfortable and to start getting to know people there.

Best Start Kindergarten Assessment

The best start assessment is a tool to help teachers assess your child's skills as they enter school, and to tailor teaching to their individual needs. Teachers will sit with your child when they start school to assess your child's literacy and numeracy skills so that they can develop an appropriate teaching program that caters for your child.

Your child begins Year 1 with familiar faces and school routines.

Year 1 is the start of Learning Stage 1 and will continue until the end of Year 2. This year students become more involved in school routines and continue to develop their social skills as they interact with other children in the classroom and playground.

Your child is in the final year of Learning Stage 1.

Students in Year 2 build on their basic reading, writing and maths skills through a variety of activities.

Your child has taken the significant step from infants to primary school and into the first year of Learning Stage 2.

Getting involved

There are great opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. These include competitions, exhibitions, sport, performances and special events. Student leadership programs provide many activities that broaden your child's experience at school.

This is the first year your child sits for the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test held in May. There are four tests covering numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

You will receive a report of your child's achievement in the tests. The results tell you how your child is progressing in these areas and can guide the learning support you give your child at home.

Getting involved

There are great opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. These include competitions, exhibitions, sport, performances and special events. Student leadership programs provide many activities that broaden your child's experience at school.

Opportunity classes

An opportunity class placement test is open to all Year 4 students to assess eligibility for opportunity class places. Opportunity classes are available for academically gifted and talented children in Years 5 and 6 at identified schools. If you would like your child to sit this test, please ask us for an application package available from May. The test is held between late July and early August. If successful you will be offered a place in another school.

Your child has progressed to Learning Stage 3, the final stage of primary school.

National test

All Year 5 students sit for the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test in May. It involves four tests that cover numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, punctuation and grammar. See NAPLAN - literacy and numeracy (also in community languages).

The results of the NAPLAN test help teachers meet the individual literacy and numeracy needs of students. You will receive a report of your child's achievement in the NAPLAN test. The results tell you how your child is progressing in these areas and can guide the learning support you give your child at home.

Getting involved

There are great opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. These include competitions, exhibitions, sport, performances and special events. Student leadership programs provide many activities that broaden your child's experience at school.

Selective high school application

Students wishing to be considered for enrolment in a selective high school will need to complete an application this year. Application packages are available in October and the entry exam is taken when your child is in Year 6. See selective high school placement test (also in community languages).

Middle years

At the end of primary school and into high school the needs of young adolescents in the middle years (aged 10 - 15) are integrated into our teaching.

Year 6 is the final year of primary school and an exciting time as students can take a leadership role in our school. We work together with high schools to assist our Year 6 students to have a successful start to high school.

Getting involved

There are great opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular activities. These include competitions, exhibitions, sport, performances and special events. Student leadership programs provide many activities that broaden your child's experience at school.

Selective high school test

This year applicants can sit for the selective high school placement test if they are interested in applying for entry to a selective high school. The test has reading, writing, mathematics and general ability components.

Preparing for high school

Here are some helpful resources for students and parents:

• Starting high school and How to have a great year at high school View videos of Year 7 students introducing primary students to high school life, plus great tips on making friends and getting organised.

Carlingford West offers a very successful band / strings program providing opportunities for students from Years 3 to 6. In most cases students join the program at the beginning of Year 3, however, students may join in years 4, 5 or 6 should they choose to. Generally younger K-2 students are not invited to participate in the program, however, if a student has exceptional talent and advanced knowledge and skills, they may be able to start before year 3. Please contact the Deputy Principal if you feel this may be your child.

The music program runs for a minimum of 34 weeks across the 4 term school year. Generally the program commences in Week 4 or 5 of Term 1 and finishes in Weeks 9 or 10 of Term 4.

The music program consists of weekly:

- 2 X 60 minute joint rehearsal with the band or 

- 1 X 60 minute with the string ensemble.

All students in the music program are also expected to be attending a private tutorial. These private tutorials are to be directly organised between tutors and parents of students. 

All students who participate in the CWPS Music Program are required to sign the Music Contract. This contract outlines the expectations of students taking up the offer of a placement in the program. These include expectations of behaviour, attendance (90%), care of instruments, performance participation, a one year commitment and responsibility for fees.

Today it is so important for our children to be healthy. It is crucial that they have the best start in life with their health and fitness. 

At Carlingford West Public School children will have the opportunity in 2016 to take part in PDHPE lessons each week by a specialised Physical Education Teacher. Children are individually assessed and graded allowing the program to be aimed at their needs.

We provide 2 hours of fitness, strength, health and nutrition each week. This is just a part of the program that incorporates every outcome in the PDHPE syllabus. Our sport program incorporates regular fitness, skill coordination and regular nutrition lessons that are all structured to achieve the best for your child.

Carlingford West provides a variety of sport programs which include soccer, netball, cricket, AFL, tennis, basketball and modified softball. Accredited coaches give children the best opportunities to find sports that they enjoy. 

Why should kids be active?

Physical activity increases children's fitness allowing more oxygen in the blood improving concentration levels. It helps children to feel more confident and happy and they are able to sleep better. Furthermore students achieve better results in the classroom. 

Carlingford WestPublic School has a major focus on sport and fitness. The initiative is to increase every child's fitness level, their ability in a variety of games and sports and to develop their knowledge and awareness in having a healthy and active lifestyle. Our program is focused on children achieving their PERSONAL BESTS. They will be involved in a variety of fitness, health and sporting activities on a regular basis.

The program is designed to promote physical activity, improve fitness levels and provide children with the knowledge to make positive health choices. All classes will participate in a fitness session and a variety of cardiovascular and basic muscular activities assisting their coordination and fundamental movement skills on a weekly basis. The fitness activities vary according to the children's age and ability levels. Each class will have regular discussions on lifestyle, health and nutrition choices. All activities and topics are in accordance with the PDHPE syllabus.

The program in physical education is designed to:

• be broad, balanced and include games, sports, gymnastics, dance and swimming (grades 2-6);
• take account of pupils' prior learning and special educational needs;
• be enhanced by professionals in sport, dance and outdoor pursuits and include community contributions from external providers e.g. AFL Australia;
• focus clearly on teaching the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding;
• offer opportunities for choice within the program or through extracurricular activities;
• provide a clear framework of what is to be covered at each stage to ensure continuity and progression in pupils' learning;
• incorporate advice about learning and teaching approaches, including direct teaching and learning through purposeful activity.
• have challenging but achievable tasks which provide success and personal satisfaction;
• provide good opportunities to develop their own ideas, co-operate and share equipment in small groups. 

Students don't have to be school captains or house captains to be considered leaders. We encourage our students to be leaders in the classroom and playground, through their support for other students, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or community events and projects.

At Carlingford West Public School, the staff develop wellbeing practices to ensure students are engaged with learning, are successful in all their pursuits, and are encouraged to connect, succeed and thrive in all aspects of their learning. Our behaviour management & reward systems are designed to ensure students are engaged and successful in their education, with reward systems encouraging appropriate behaviour and motivating students to succeed. Our behaviour management systems are designed with set expectations for student behaviour. 

School expectations

Our School Expectations and Rules are designed to promote positive relationships between students, teachers and families. The School Expectations have been created to be clearly and consistently communicated across all classes K-6, with individual classes then linking their own class rules to each of the four expectations;
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Be kind         Show respect          Try your best          Be safe

Reward systems

The Key Reward System is designed to motivate students to follow the school rules and recognise students who model school expectations. Also within our system, as students mature, they are also taught the importance of intrinsic motivation.