Literacy
At Brunswick North West Primary School we believe that all students can succeed in literacy given sufficient time and support. We use a consistent whole-school approach to improve and maintain high student learning outcomes in literacy.

Students participate in a daily structured classroom literacy program:

One session of reading and one session of writing everyday prep - 6.

Working with the school library to provide or read books to children to inspire a love of reading and literature.

Developing a rich oral language through class discussions and assisting children to find their own expressive voice.

Parent participation in the daily literacy block is encouraged. All students in years Foundation to two, participate in the home reading program and take home a book to read every night.

A literacy support program provided additional assistance for students when required. Students who have English as an additional language (EAL) and who require extra support in learning English are assisted in classroom activities and in small withdrawal group activities by a trained EAL teacher.

Numeracy
Our numeracy program aims to engage students in rich activities that stimulate interest and spur independent investigation.

Together with explicit teaching, supported activities, and opportunities to explore concepts and experiment with ideas, students record their findings in a variety of ways and are encouraged to use appropriate language to explain their understanding and strategies. Games, hands-on experiences, and concrete materials are used throughout to support learning and as the foundation to more abstract thinking. Teaching and activities are aimed at each child’s ability, with opportunity for all to be challenged, supported and to succeed. Students are placed in fluid groups and work in a range of situations; in pairs, small groups and individually. ICT is incorporated into maths sessions as an extra tool to explore concepts, practise skills, and demonstrate understanding.

Integrated Curriculum
Subjects other than literacy or numeracy are taught with an integrated approach through topics. Topics are carefully selected with a different educational focus each term to ensure that students are receiving instruction in all essential curriculum areas. An inquiry learning approach is promoted, where students independently identify and investigate questions. In addition to this curriculum, students also receive explicit instruction in science, information communication technology and the Indonesian language and cultural program.


Information Communication Technology
The use of technology is embedded across all curriculum areas as well as being taught explicitly. There are computers in every classroom and a computer laboratory as part of the library, as well as a bank of laptop computers for student use and three interactive whiteboards. The school is beginning to introduce the use of iPads and tablets and has a long term commitment to ensuring that these resources are constantly being upgraded to keep up with rapidly changing technological advances.


Sustainability
At Brunswick North West Primary School we believe environmental education is a lifelong multi-disciplinary approach to learning that helps people to understand and appreciate the environment and their connection to and impact on it and prepares us for an ecologically sustainable future.

A specialist garden educator is employed to visit the school weekly. The aim of the garden educator is to foster students’ understanding of the environment as an integrated system and to develop attitudes and skills which are conducive to the achievement of ecologically sustainable development. Students participate in cooking using produce from the vegetable garden, whilst learning about environmental science.

Environmental education is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum P-6. What is learnt inside the classroom about environmental education is reinforced and supported by what happens outside the classroom. Teachers complement the garden program by providing a learning environment that supports students as they develop an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the natural and built environments. Brunswick North West Primary school has extensive outdoor spaces which are for teaching as well as recreational activities and acknowledges the benefits of this on student wellbeing and learning. Students are encouraged to engage in creative play with natural materials during recess and lunch times.

Children, parents and carers are actively involved in a diverse range of environmental practices such as recycling, animal husbandry (chickens are currently thriving in the schoolyard), vegetable garden and an urban forest.

Brunswick North West Primary School formally recognises the traditional owners of our land. Reconciliation and indigenous culture are incorporated into the classroom program and whole school activities.


Health and Physical Education
An extensive Health and Physical Education program is conducted at Brunswick North West Primary School. Through training sessions, P.E. lessons and games, students are supported in improving their motor skills, sports-specific skills, strategic thinking, teamwork and general health and fitness. In addition to Health and P.E. within the school setting, students will also be provided with the opportunity to participate in interschool sports events such as:

> Athletics Events
> Interschool Sports Days (grades 5-6)
> Swimming Program
> Sleepovers & Camps (Grades 1-6)

The Arts
Students participate in weekly sessions in both music and visual arts.

There are opportunities for students to learn the recorder, participate in Ukulele Club, BOITE choir and lunch time rock bands. Students are given opportunities to perform at assemblies, community events and the bi-annual school concert.

Students are actively involved in the visual arts with student artwork displayed prominently in the school, as well as student murals and outdoor permanent installations such as “yarn-bombing”.

Junior School Council
Students at Brunswick North West Primary School are encouraged to be active participants in the school decision making process through the Junior School Council (JSC). JSC tables a report at all School Council meetings.

Lunchtime clubs
A number of lunchtime clubs operate as extra-curriculum activities for children. These include Comic Club, Technology Club, Music instrumental and choir activities and an open library.