Sheldon College’s philosophy of Love, Laughter and Learning

is embedded throughout all aspects of life within the Primary College


Classroom environments are warm and welcoming, with emphasis placed upon the establishment of strong and positive relationships between teachers, students and families. Sheldon College’s unwavering behavioural expectations of Courtesy, Consideration, Co-operation and Common Sense, collectively known as the 4Cs, ensure that children are able to learn in a safe, respectful environment that is free from unnecessary distractions. Sheldon College is proud to offer a learning sanctuary for all its students, where traditional values are enriched by 21st Century learning opportunities. 

Teaching and Learning programs within the Primary College of Sheldon College focus upon developing and enhancing core literacy and numeracy skills, whilst additionally providing rich opportunities to develop skills to prepare them for occupations and workplaces of the future. Personalised, purposeful and engaging learning opportunities ensure students not only fulfil the requirements laid out by the Australian Curriculum, but additionally enable our students to learn to problem solve, work collaboratively and creatively, and to become passionate, resilient learners and thinkers of the future.

Technology plays an important role in complementing curriculum in all areas of student learning, with the use of technologies carefully designed to enhance and provide opportunities for learning that would not otherwise be possible. Every child in the Primary College has access to a personal device, with students in Years 1 – 3 provided with an individual iPad for use in school and at home, whilst students in Years 4 – 6 are a part of the College’s BYOD laptop program. In addition to personal devices, each classroom throughout the Primary College is fitted with state-of-the-art Smart Boards, whilst resources such as Green Screen and Audio Recording Studios, a university style theatre and a wide array of Virtual Reality, Robotics and Design tools are readily available to complement and augment each student’s learning. Devices at Sheldon College are used to enhance children’s learning opportunities.

YEAR LEVELS

YEAR LEVELS

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Year One

At Sheldon College, Year One marks the commencement of learning within our Primary College. The learning environment of each Year One classroom is warm and nurturing, filled with Love, Laughter and Learning and ensures that students are provided with a safe and comforting start to their journey through the Primary College.

In Year One there is a strong focus placed upon developing a solid literacy and numeracy foundation, supporting each child’s social and emotional development and igniting a love of learning. 

Students are provided with opportunities to learn through a range of hands-on experiences, small group activities, whole class explicit teaching and independent work with the support of our teachers and our exceptional Learning and Enrichment team. Each child in Year One is provided with an individual iPad that is used to complement face-to-face and paper based learning opportunities. Examples of how students use technology to enrich their learning in Year One include using the Green Screen to create images of imagined experiences such as trips into space and to theme parks to inspire creative writing. After exploring the natural and constructed features of a local parkland during an excursion students construct their own playgrounds using Sheldon College’s impressive Maker Space facilities, using Stop Motion photography to record the model playground in action, before writing persuasively about the need to care for parklands.

Throughout Year One students engage with learning in the following areas with their classroom teacher:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Geography
    • History
  • Visual Arts
  • Pastoral Care

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Technology
  • Drama
  • Library
  • Music
  • Health and Physical Education
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Year Two

Year Two at Sheldon College continues to provide students with rich and engaging learning opportunities, with a strong focus on consolidating and extending literacy and numeracy skills and understanding, whilst also providing rich, engaging opportunities for learning. Teachers work to ensure that the learning that occurs in Year Two is meaningful and engaging. Learning in multiple areas of the curriculum are purposefully woven together thus providing students with a context for their learning.

Throughout Term One, students engage in a unit of work called ‘Our Town’. Students are inspired by the story of ‘The Lorax’, by Dr Suess and develop their understanding of how resources are used in different ways and the importance of using them sustainably. They apply this understanding to collaboratively design and construct a town using digital design tools.

Another highly engaging unit of work that occurs in Year Two is ‘Uno’s Garden’, which is inspired by the book of the same name by Australian author Graeme Base. It ties together learning in Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, English, Visual Arts and both Design and Digital Technologies. Students study aspects of a wide variety of animals, reading and creating informative texts. They then apply their knowledge to design and create a model of a hybrid creature and use this creature as the foundation for their own realistic narrative. All the learning that occurs through this dynamic semester long unit of work is then showcased with families and the Sheldon College community.

Throughout Year Two students engage with learning alongside their classroom teacher in the following areas:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Geography
    • History
  • Visual Arts
  • Pastoral Care

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Technology
  • Drama
  • Library
  • Music
  • Health and Physical Education
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Year Three

Year Three at Sheldon College continues to provide students with purposeful and engaging opportunities to learn. Focus continues to be placed upon essential literacy and numeracy skills so as to further their development in areas such as reading comprehension, knowledge and application of spelling and grammar, as well their understanding of number and mathematical concepts through applying a broad range of problem solving skills and developing automatic recall of Maths facts. In addition to the focus on these literacy and numeracy ‘basics’, students continue to participate in highly engaging and meaningful units of work.

At Sheldon College, we believe that students learn best when they have an authentic purpose and context for their learning. In Year Three students hold their very own Travel Expo, showcasing their geographical understanding and providing opportunities to write persuasively. 

Students design, create and edit their very own video, utilising the College’s impressive Green Screen, recording and editing facilities. Each child presents this video to an audience of family and friends as part of a stall showcasing their selected destination. 

Year Three students are also provided with the opportunity to play a string instrument, in addition to a weekly Music lesson. Furthermore, Year Three also participate in Scooter School. This highly anticipated part of HPE, sees children learning to safely manoeuvre scooters through a range of obstacles and scoot their way through the school grounds. 

Throughout Year Three students engage with learning in the following areas with their classroom teacher:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Geography
    • History
    • Civics and Citizenship
  • Visual Arts
  • Pastoral Care

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Technology
  • Drama
  • Library
  • Music
    • Classroom Music
    • Strings Lessons
  • Health and Physical Education
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Year Four

At Sheldon College, Year Four marks our student’s final year within the Junior College. This year students participate in the College’s BYOD laptop program and its extensive Camp Program for the first time. Toward the end of Semester One, students participate in their highly anticipated first overnight camp at Kindilan Adventure Camp located at nearby Redland Bay.

Students participate in a range of activities designed to develop confidence, independence and self-belief, whilst also having lots of fun! The Camp provides a stepping stone into Sheldon College’s impressive annual Camp Week program, which sees children from Years 5 to 12 simultaneously starting the academic year on adventure camps ranging in length from 3 days to full-week programs.

Throughout Year Four, students have the opportunity to either continue with learning the String instrument that they were introduced to in Year Three, or to try a band instrument. All students come together to play within the Year Four band each Thursday afternoon. 

Throughout Year Four students engage with learning in the following areas with their classroom teacher:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Geography
    • History
    • Civics and Citizenship
  • Visual Arts
  • Pastoral Care

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Technology
  • Drama
  • Library
  • Music
    • Classroom Music
    • Instrumental Music Program
  • Health and Physical Education
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Year Five

Year Five marks the commencement of a uniquely structured Middle College at Sheldon College, designed to meet the needs of students in the upper years of primary. Students in Year Five proudly step into a Middle College uniform and commence timetabled classes, providing supportive stepping stones to ensure that their transition to Secondary will be seamless. Much of the learning in Year Five is delivered by pair of core teachers.

One teacher delivers English and Humanities, and the second delivers Mathematics and Science. Social and emotional development of all students is a primary focus as students move into Year Five. Core teachers work in a close partnership to ensure that the pastoral needs of students are being met as they transition into this new model of learning. Core teachers additionally provide daily Home Group sessions and a weekly Pastoral Care session, known as Achieve. 

This important aspect of each week focuses upon supporting students and responding to the needs of individuals and the group. These sessions are targeted to support the unique Social and Emotional needs of students in the upper years of Primary.

In addition to lessons delivered by Home Group teachers, students additionally participate in weekly Technology, Chinese Mandarin, Health and Physical Education and Arts Rotation lessons with highly qualified specialist teachers. Through this unique model, students are afforded rich opportunities to develop their independence, confidence, time management and the management of their belongings, all in a caring and highly supportive environment.

Throughout Year Five students move into a Middle College learning model whereby they work with a pair of Core Teachers for:

  • Home Group
  • Achieve (Pastoral Care)
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities
    • Geography
    • History
    • Civics and Citizenship
    • Business and Economics

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Arts Rotations: Students complete a term each of:
    • Music
    • Visual Art
    • Dance
    • Drama
  • Chinese - Mandarin
  • Technology
  • Library
  • Health and Physical Education
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Year Six

As the final year within the Primary College, Year Six is pivotal in ensuring that students are prepared for their move into Secondary. At Sheldon College we understand the impact that confidence and a sense of belonging can have on a child’s learning. As such, Love, Laughter and Learning remain the cornerstone of all aspects of teaching and learning in Year Six.

Classroom teachers prioritise helping each and every child feel comfortable, connected and confident, within the learning environment. The school year commences with opportunities for students to get to know their peers and teachers through a range of school based activities, in addition to participation in an annual Camp. 

Teaching and learning in Year Six continues to focus upon consolidating and extending core literacy and numeracy skills. Teachers work to ensure that the needs of all students are met; balancing rigour and challenge, with the reinforcement of fundamental skills. Engaging and purposeful units of work provide opportunities for students to work collaboratively, develop persistence, problem solve, and develop and reflect upon solutions to real world problems. Students are encouraged to consider their role as global citizens through opportunities such as designing housing solutions in response to a natural disaster, and developing a proposal to distribute foreign aid to take action after investigating an issue impacting upon a nation within South-East Asia or the Pacific. 

Throughout Year Six, students at Sheldon College work within a Middle College learning model whereby they work with a pair of Core Teachers for:

  • Home Group
  • Achieve (Pastoral Care)
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Geography
    • History
    • Civics and Citizenship
    • Business and Economics

Specialist teachers support children in the following areas of their education:

  • Arts Rotations: Students complete a term each of:
    • Music
    • Visual Art
    • Dance
    • Drama
  • Technology
  • Library
  • Health and Physical Education

SPECIALIST LESSONS IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY EACH CLASSROOM TEACHER, OUR PRIMARY COLLEGE STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN DEDICATED SPECIALIST LESSONS EACH WEEK.

These lessons are taught by teachers who are specialists in each of these areas, encouraging the development of a skill base in these subject areas from a much younger age:

Technology (Design and Digital), Music - Year 3 includes additional time dedicated to an instrumental String Program and Year 4 includes additional time dedicated to an instrumental immersion program, Health and Physical Education, Drama, Learning Support and Enrichment, Library and Information services.

In addition, students in Years 5 and 6 are taught lessons by specialist Academic teachers in the following subject areas:

Languages – Chinese, Visual Art, Dance.

Learning and Enhancement


Extension Classes

Catering for the diverse academic needs of all students is a key priority at Sheldon College, with differentiation occurring in every classroom, in every lesson, of every day, for every student. A key element of our approach to differentiation is the delivery of targeted extension programs from Years 3-6. These classroom-based programs group students who share a need to be provided with enriched and accelerated leaning opportunities. Their learning environment and the opportunities that they are provided with are carefully designed to provide a catalyst for learning, thereby enabling students to reach their academic potential, in a supportive and nurturing classroom atmosphere.

Teachers running the Extension classes work diligently to provide rich opportunities for students to engage with learning that is both rigorous and individually challenging, whilst ensuring that the social and emotional needs of students are being catered for. Such differentiation is much more than simply providing harder questions or being offered more work once the regular classroom work is completed. Instead, teachers at Sheldon College seek to differentiate the content that is being taught, the processes used to learn, the products that children design and create, and the environments in which they learn. The practice of teachers at Sheldon College is informed by research, including the work of Françoys Gagné who has conducted significant research in the area of gifted and talented education. Teachers at Sheldon embrace his suggestion that programs which effectively meet the needs of students requiring extension will be representative of what has become known as the Four D’s. Such an approach provides opportunities for students to work with concepts and ideas at greater depth, for there to be greater density in what is being taught, enabling students to move through concepts faster than they might be able to in a mainstream classroom, offering greater diversity in the concepts being explored, in addition to being provided with tasks of greater difficulty. Whilst the Extension class program at Sheldon College is only a part of the comprehensive differentiation programs that operate throughout the College, these classes are a key element in ensuring that the needs of all students are being met.

Lit Intervention

As part of our focus on improving Literacy outcomes for all students, Sheldon College runs a number of programs within the Primary College under the MultiLit banner.

MultiLit stands for Making Up For Lost Time in Literacy (MultiLIT), a research initiative of Macquarie University, New South Wales. It is a contemporary approach to best practice literacy instruction as identified by International reading scientists. The two programs offered to eligible Sheldon College students are MiniLIT and MacqLIT.

MiniLit is an evidence-based, effective early literacy program for Years 1 - 4 students. It is a practical, systematic, and explicit model for teaching reading skills to students who have not yet mastered the strategies they need to be successful readers. MiniLIT targets the bottom 25% of students and is specifically aimed at struggling readers and those lacking confidence in their own ability. It is a two-tiered school-based small group program with up to four students per group led by an Academic or Learning Enhancement Staff Member.

MacqLit is an explicit and systematic reading intervention program for small groups of Years 3 - 6 low-progress readers. It provides a comprehensive sequence of lessons that includes all the key components necessary for effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. It is ideal for students who fall in the bottom 25% of a standardised reading test or curriculum-based measure, and who have particular difficulties with word recognition.