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ENGLISH
Literacy is a key feature
of our school and many programs have been put into place to support
the development of literary skills. These are in line with the NSW
State Literacy Strategy. As well as its own specific focus, English
is integrated with all other key learning areas and particularly
supports Human Society and Its Environment and Science and
Technology. The Key Learning Area of English encompasses
 reading
writing
talking and listening
The school has extensive teaching-learning
resources provided by both the Department of Education and Training
and the school's parent community. Literacy materials are also
provided by Book Club and Book Fairs.
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A
spacious library provides access to technology resources in addition
to a range of printed texts. In addition to extensive
classroom and support programs, opportunities are provided for
students to participate in extension activities including English
competitions, public speaking programs and poetry and story writing
competitions.
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MATHEMATICS
Learning of Mathematics at
Hornsby North Public School focuses on a sound understanding of
mathematical concepts and the acquisition of good language skills
for the effective communication of mathematical ideas and
experiences.
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Aspects of Mathematics are
Number - numeration, addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division,
fractions, money, chance
and data.
Space - two and three dimensional shapes, position
and graphs.
Measurement
- length, mass, area, volume, temperature and time.
Thinking
Mathematically - the application of
mathematical processes
in problem solving
situations.
Students in Kindergarten,
Years One and Two are involved in the Count Me In Too program. The
learning program is problem-based and students are routinely engaged
in thinking hard to solve arithmetical problems which, for them, are
quite challenging.
Hornsby North students are
all challenged to achieve at a level of accuracy and excellence
appropriate to their particular stage of development.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Science and Technology is
a well-nurtured and loved Key Learning Area at this school. We have
a specialist science teacher who runs a hands-on program in the
school's well equipped and stimulating science room. Children learn
the basic principles of science through co-operative learning by
carrying out a diverse range of activities such as making circuits,
designing bridges, making magnets and innumerable other activities. |
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Students also
benefit from science enrichment activities using Lego Robotics.
Science and Technology is also integrated into other KLAs.
Excursions are also
undertaken to places such as the Children's Science Museum, the
Australian Museum and Questacon.
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HUMAN SOCIETY AND ITS
ENVIRONMENT
In this key Learning Area
students develop knowledge, understanding, skills and values and
attitudes about people and their social and physical environments.
Students develop skills
that enable them to acquire information, use an inquiry process and
participate in social and civic life.
Values and attitudes
relate to social justice, intercultural understanding, ecological
sustainability, democratic processes, beliefs and moral codes and
lifelong learning are incorporated into the outcomes and content of
the syllabus.
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To also enhance students'
abilities to communicate, increase their
cultural awareness and cross-cultural understanding and assist them
to develop a greater understanding of their own language and
culture, children study Italian throughout the school.
Excursions
and Performances
Excursions and
concert performances are organised to complement the program of work
within the class and the school.
Overnight
excursions are organised for students in Year 5 (Bathurst) and Year 6
(Canberra).
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CREATIVE ARTS
Programs of
learning are provided in the creative arts areas of art, craft,
music, dance and drama.
Art and
Craft
Enrichment activities in weekly
lessons from Kindergarten to Year 6
provide students with the opportunity to make, design, construct and
develop individual pieces of work. These allow students to use
cognitive and creative processes.
Music
Singing and percussion activities are introduced from Kindergarten
and strongly emphasised throughout the school. Apart from classroom
music activities, children at Hornsby North may perform in Choir,
Bands and other instrumental and speech ensembles. Opportunities
for performance in district festivals and community and school
functions play a prominent role in our music program.
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Enrichment
Activity - Band
The school has both a training band
for beginners and two concert bands. The band program is
available to students in Years 3-6. The Band Committee of supportive
parents organises the hire of instruments, tutorials and has regular
meetings with the Band Director. The Bands participate in
Eisteddfods and Music Festivals.
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Dance and
Drama
Children participate in regular dance activities such as Folk
Dancing and aerobics. Students are encouraged to develop skills in
drama through school talent nights, Easter and Christmas concerts
and weekly assemblies.
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Enrichment Activity - Dance
A comprehensive
dance program is offered to students with a
special talent in dance to enable them to further enhance their
abilities. Rehearsals three mornings and three lunch times a week
prepare students to participate in many performances at both
competition and festival level.
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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT,
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Hornsby North Public School makes a unique contribution to the
development of skills in Personal Development, Health and Physical
Education (PDHPE). The school provides programs of learning in the
health priorities for young people of drug education, fitness and
physical activity, child protection and nutrition.
Sport
Students are involved in many sporting opportunities throughout the
year to encourage them to participate in a variety of sports and
acquire the necessary skills. The school has encouraged students to
compete individually or in teams in
Cross Country Running
Athletics
Ball Games
Swimming
Netball
Soccer
AFL (Paul Kelly Cup)
Cricket
The school also
participates in Jump Rope For Heart (fundraising for the Heart
Foundation). |
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Fitness Activities
Students in Years K-2 undertake morning fitness activities to
promote locomotor and non-locomotor skills, hand-eye and foot-eye
skills as well as skill-based games. Fitness at the Year 3-6 level
is part of the normal Physical Education curriculum which also
includes school sport. These activities are programmed at specific
times during the week.
Swimming
During the year, an Intensive Swimming Program organised by the
Department of Education and Training is available for children who
are not competent swimmers. This program is targeted at students in
Years 2 and 3, though places are usually available for students in
Years 4-6. Vacation swimming classes are advertised to parents
during the year.
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LANGUAGES
All students in Years
K-4 participate
in weekly Italian lessons as part of the school's total curriculum. Students
in Years 5 and 6 undertake a study of French language and culture.
Click the button to see some of our
Italian work and photos.
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COMPUTER EDUCATION
The school has a computer
laboratory in which all students develop computing skills. Each
classroom has at least two networked computers loaded with a variety
of software appropriate to the students' learning needs to enrich
classroom learning activities and provide a platform for the
school's intranet. The School Library is also equipped with
computers to assist research (CD-roms and lnternet) and the locating
and borrowing of books.
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