Specialist Learning Areas

The students at St Therese’s are fortunate to be able to participate in four specialist areas that include Physical Education, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Languages - Japanese.

Physical Education

Our Physical Education program incorporates the following;

  • Perceptual Motor Program (PMP) for Foundation students, this aims to develop students’ gross and fine motor coordination through a circuit of activities that involve climbing, bouncing, throwing and catching
  • Ball games such as Netball, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Football, and Softball are taught within the Physical Education program at F-6 levels
  • Students in the senior classes compete against other Catholic schools in the area in an Inter-School competition during Term Three
  • Lightning Premiership and HoopTime competitions are on offer to students to compete against other schools in the area, including the local state schools
  • A swimming program that focuses on swimming skills and water safety is held annually
  • A whole school athletics carnival at the beginning of each year at Casey Fields

Languages - Japanese

Japanese is an engaging and rewarding language to learn. Students participate in weekly one hour lessons that are culturally based. Lessons focus primarily on oral-based communication and understanding; the expressive and receptive components of language needed to communicate.  Student learning is often linked to Japanese Art and students enjoy expressing themselves through a range of artistic mediums, including pop culture anime. Students from Foundation to Year Six learn about the vibrant culture, fascinating history, ancient traditions and modern ways of life in Japan.

The program aims to develop the skills, understandings, and knowledge to ensure the students extend their intercultural capabilities and show a respect for diversity and difference, and an openness to various experiences and perspectives in an increasingly global world. 

The Arts - Visual Arts

Visual Arts includes the fields of art, craft, and design. Students create visual artworks that communicate, challenge and express their own and others’ ideas. 

The Visual Arts curriculum aims to develop students’:

  • conceptual and perceptual ideas and expressions through design and inquiry processes
  • visual arts techniques, materials, processes, and technologies
  • critical and creative thinking, using visual arts languages, theories and practices to apply aesthetic judgment
  • respect for and acknowledgment of the diverse roles, innovations, traditions, histories, and cultures of artists, craftspeople, designers, curators, critics and commentators
  • respect for visual arts as social and cultural practices, including industry practices confidence, curiosity, imagination and enjoyment, and a personal aesthetic through engagement with visual arts making, viewing, discussing, analysing, interpreting and evaluating.

Performing Arts

Performing Arts include Dance, Drama, and Music. Students from years F-6 are involved in weekly sessions with a specialist teacher to develop their creative and expressive capacities by learning about the different practices, disciplines, and traditions that have shaped the expression of culture locally, nationally and globally. 

Performing Arts contributes to the development of confident and creative individuals. Students express, represent and communicate ideas in contemporary, traditional and emerging art forms.

Students are given the opportunity to experience and express themselves through the use of dramatic plays, musical instruments, dance and movement. Concerts are held to showcase their learning.