Mathematics
Explicit teaching of Mathematics lessons at PSS are designed to provide students with essential mathematical knowledge, skills, procedures and processes in six interrelated strands: number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability to:
• Become confident, proficient and effective users and communicators of mathematics,
• Develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of mathematical concepts and fluency with processes, and are able to pose and solve problems, reason and justify in number, algebra, measurement, space, statistics and probability.
• Recognise connections between the areas of Mathematics and other learning areas and appreciate Mathematics as an accessible and enjoyable discipline to learn and,
• Acquire specialist mathematical knowledge and skill that underpin numeracy development, leading to further study in Mathematics.
Science
At PSS students have Science opportunities for students to develop an understanding of important science concepts and processes, the practices used to develop scientific knowledge, of science's contribution to our culture and society, and its applications in our lives. The curriculum supports students to develop the scientific knowledge, understandings and skills to make informed decisions about local, national and global issues and to participate, if they so wish, in science-related careers.
Science understanding
The science understanding strand comprises four sub-strands. The content is described by year level.
- Biological sciences
- Chemical sciences
- Earth and space sciences
- Physical sciences
Students build Science knowledge and skills via “Science as a human endeavour" and “Science inquiry skills" by:
- Questioning and predicting
- Planning and conducting
- Processing and analysing data and information,
- Evaluating and,
- Communicating
Technologies (Design and Technologies & Digital Technologies)
Students at PSS learn Technologies to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure that, individually and collaboratively, students:
- investigate, design, plan, manage, create and evaluate solutions
- are creative, innovative and enterprising when using traditional, contemporary and emerging technologies, and understand how technologies have developed over time
- make informed and ethical decisions about the role, impact and use of technologies in the economy, environment and society for a sustainable future
- engage confidently with and responsibly select and manipulate appropriate technologies − materials, data, systems, components, tools and equipment − when designing and creating solutions
- critique, analyse and evaluate problems, needs or opportunities to identify and create solutions.
The Arts
Students at PSS through “The Arts"- Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music and Visual Arts develop:
- creativity, critical thinking, aesthetic knowledge and understanding about arts practices, through making and responding to artworks with increasing self-confidence
- arts knowledge and skills to communicate ideas; they value and share their arts and life experiences by representing, expressing and communicating ideas, imagination and observations about their individual and collective worlds to others in meaningful ways
- use of innovative arts practices with available and emerging technologies, to express and represent ideas, while displaying empathy for multiple viewpoints
- understanding of Australia's histories and traditions through the arts, engaging with the artworks and practices, both traditional and contemporary, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- understanding of local, regional and global cultures, and their arts histories and traditions, through engaging with the worlds of artists, artworks, audiences and arts professions
HASS
Through HASS STUDENTS LEARN:
Who we are, who came before us, and traditions and values that have shaped societies?
Students explore their own identity, Australia's heritage and cultural diversity, and Australia's identity as a nation in the world. They examine the significance of traditions and shared values within society.
How societies and economies operate and how they are changing over time.
Students learn about Australian society and other societies in the world, both past and present; and how they function socially, culturally, economically and politically. Students examine developments that have resulted in or are bringing about change.
The ways people, places, ideas and events are perceived and connected.
Students are provided with opportunities to explore different perceptions of people, places, ideas and events. They develop an understanding of the interdependent nature of the world and the interrelationships within and between the natural environment, human communities and economies. They explore how people, ideas and events are connected over time and increasingly interconnected across local, national, regional and global contexts.
How people exercise their responsibilities, participate in society and make informed decisions
Students examine how individuals and groups have participated in and contributed to society past and present. They examine the rights and responsibilities of individuals and groups over time and in different contexts. They develop an understanding of the need to make decisions, the importance of ethical considerations and being informed when making decisions, the processes for decision-making and the implications of decisions that are made for individuals, society, the economy and the environment.
HPE
Students at PSS develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable students to:
- access, evaluate and synthesise information to take positive action to protect, enhance and advocate for their own and others' health, wellbeing, safety and physical activity participation across their lifespan
- develop and use personal, behavioural, social and cognitive skills and strategies to promote a sense of personal identity and wellbeing and to build and manage respectful relationships
- acquire, apply and evaluate movement skills, concepts and strategies to respond confidently, competently and creatively in a variety of physical activity contexts and settings
- engage in and enjoy regular movement-based learning experiences and understand and appreciate their significance to personal, social, cultural, environmental and health practices and outcomes
- analyse how varied and changing personal and contextual factors shape understanding of, and opportunities for, health and physical activity locally, regionally and globally.
LOTE- Japanese
Students at PSS develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure students:
- communicate in the target language
- understand language, culture, and learning and their relationship, and thereby develop an intercultural capability in communication
- understand themselves as communicators.
These three aims are interrelated and provide the basis for the two organising strands: Communicating and Understanding. The three aims are common to all languages.