Foundation College
Pacific Lutheran College’s early childhood program provides a strong foundation for young learners. The Foundation College, from Kindergarten to Year 2, provides a warm, stimulating and nurturing learning environment.
Pacific’s Foundation College is characterised by:
- Age appropriate, engaging learning activities that are focused on literacy, numeracy and problem solving;
- A learning environment which is based on Christian values, enhances students emotional and physical wellbeing and aims to foster imagination and creativity;
- Strong parent partnerships to support and facilitate each child’s learning and development;
- Dedicated teacher aides for each classroom; and
- Specialist early childhood teachers who engage in collaborative planning across year levels to ensure a seamless transition for students.
Prep: Nurturing and Stimulating Inquiry
Prep is the first formal year of schooling at Pacific Lutheran College. Students are engaged in stimulating and developmentally appropriate activities in a vibrant environment. Creativity is nurtured and acknowledged, to foster confidence and independence.
Prep students are challenged and supported to develop the skills and attributes to achieve their goals and passions. The Australian Curriculum forms the basis for lessons in English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and the Arts. Pastoral Care teaches the key skills that aid intellectual and social development.
The Teaching for Understanding framework underpins the teaching philosophy at Pacific. Through differentiated and supportive programmes, each child develops a range of complex skills pertinent to their individual level of maturity and ability. Play is enhanced in an imaginative and flexible classroom and playground environment.
The support of parents in their child’s education is welcomed and valued. A positive student, parent and teacher relationship is a vital component in attaining successful learning outcomes.
As students enter the College, they bring with them a wealth of experiences and a range of understandings. Our academic program caters for all levels of development, allowing students to progress through the teaching and learning process in a rewarding manner.
Each Prep class has one teacher and a trained learning assistant, who works closely with the teacher to support both the academic and the social and emotional development of each student.
Prep students participate in specialist lessons in Music, Japanese and Physical Education and visit the Library weekly.
By the end of the Prep year, students will have gained independence, developed positive friendships and are equipped with valuable skills to support them in their learning journey.
Years 1-2: Opening Exciting New Worlds Together
This exciting period is characterised by rapid development. Building on learning already attained in Prep, Year 1-2 students experience a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment. Enthusiastic about learning, new worlds open for children as they begin to explore and develop the foundational skills of human learning. With a strong focus on literacy and numeracy, children also develop knowledge, skills and understanding of Science, HASS, the Arts and Technology including introductory coding. The nationally developed Christian Studies program grows student understandings of Christianity and lays the foundation for knowledge of other world religions.
At this stage of a child’s learning journey, partnerships with parents are particularly critical. Once formally trained, parents are welcome to assist teachers in the classroom on a rostered basis. Through guidance from teachers, parents are expected to support their child’s development of literacy and numeracy skills through individualised practice at home. To assist this process, parents have the opportunity to be trained to support their children’s development of literacy and numeracy skills through formal courses offered by the College. Regular and detailed reporting to parents also enables them to monitor and support their child’s learning.
Specialist staff in Health and Physical Education, Japanese and Music enrich each child’s learning. Involvement in activities such as sporting carnivals, concerts, excursions, and extra curricular activities further expand the child’s learning opportunities. Linkage with older students and specialist staff in the Middle and Senior College provides opportunities for exploration not often encountered in the Foundation Years.