Academic Programs
At Glenelg Primary School, we believe that our students learn best when they are engaged in a learning environment that is safe and supportive so that they develop a positive sense of self-worth and desire to learn.
Literacy
At Glenelg Primary School, we implement a cohesive, school-wide approach to teaching literacy, based on high-quality learning design and assessment.
At Glenelg Primary School, we implement a cohesive, school-wide approach to teaching literacy, based on high-quality learning design and assessment. Our teachers ensure consistency with the Australian Curriculum and Department for Education requirements for grades Foundation to Year 6. We use High Impact Teaching Strategies to enhance learning and engagement, integrating literacy across all subjects. Targeted support ensures continuous academic development, helping all students reach their full potential.
Mathematics
At Glenelg Primary School, we believe that all students can be powerful numeracy learners and part of a community of numerate thinkers, with the confidence to use mathematical knowledge and skills in a variety of future-oriented contexts.
Our teachers encompass the knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions that students need to use mathematics in a wide range of situations. It involves students recognising and understanding the role of mathematics in the world and having the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully.
Our Specialist Team
Performing Arts
Music, Drama and Dance are taught in all classes across the school as part of the specialist program. Students develop their skills as performers and as an audience. They annually get the opportunity to be involved in and attend a visiting professional performance as well as the end of year whole school concert, providing real life purpose for learning.
Choir is an opportunity for students in years 4 – 6. Year 4 students can attend a 2 week trial, before deciding if they want to commit to weekly rehearsals in school time as a member of the Holdfast Choir. They perform throughout the year to many local community groups, including being part of the Holdfast Minifest.
Year 5 and 6 students make up the Festival Choir, and are selected via audition, also sharing the joy of singing with local community groups. Their weekly rehearsal during school time, prepares them to perform in the Festival of Music at the Festival Theatre in Term 3.
Instrumental Music: The Department for Education’s ‘Instrumental Music’ program provides free weekly lessons for violin, viola and cello from year 3, and brass, woodwind and percussion from year 4. Strings lessons are provided at Glenelg Primary, while all other instruments are learnt at the Beachfront Hub based at Brighton Secondary School. The hire of instruments is supported by Glenelg Primary if required. All instrumental students strive to be part of either the GPS String Ensemble or the Beachfront Hub Concert Band. All lessons are provided in school time – Strings on Tuesdays and Beachfront Hub on Thursdays.
Science
Our weekly science lessons spark curiosity and critical thinking by developing key scientific inquiry skills.
Japanese & Cultural Studies
All classes in the school are involved in the Japanese program which includes learning the language and investigating the Japanese culture. An important aspect of this program is broadening students’ horizons.
We help students to understand that the world is bigger than just the local area and that the world has a wonderful array of different cultures. A hiragana club is held weekly and some of our more enthusiastic students get the chance to compete against students from other schools with their Japanese knowledge and skill.
Physical Education & Sport
Every child has a specialist P.E. lesson once a week. Children develop co-ordination and ball skills through fundamental movement skills. As well as gain an appreciation for sports theory, game sense and tactics as children get older.
Sports Day is a major part of our annual events calendar. Year 6 students have the honour of nominating to be a house captain where they assist and lead their team on the day and throughout the year in other events such as PE week activities.
SAPSASA
Students aged 12, 11 and 10 or turning 10 in year of competition, have the opportunity to participate in swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals. SAPSASA opportunities are competitive and children need to meet the qualifying requirements for their age group.
In Years 5 and 6, in addition to the three above carnivals, students are also eligible to trial for specific SAPSASA district sport teams such as netball, football, soccer and cricket.
Digital Technologies
This curriculum area is designed to equip our students with essential skills for the digital age, focusing on creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Library
The library is run by a qualified Teacher Librarian who works with classroom teachers to plan units of inquiry and develop information literacy skills.
First Nations
First Nations education at Glenelg Primary School is aimed at ensuring our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students grow in their own culture, while bringing an understanding of, and respect for, the world’s oldest surviving culture to the wider school community.
First Nations students gather as a group each week to build their own cultural understanding, and these students also participate in a weekly Kaurna language program. In addition, our school is part of a pilot program teaching Kaurna language in primary schools, and our goal is for every class in the school to receive at least one term of Kaurna language lessons each year. Our Kaurna language teacher is a Wiradjuri person who has studied Kaurna language for nearly three years through Tauondi Aboriginal College and teaches the language with the permission of the Kaurna people.
