A unique Sydney Catholic Schools support structure is in place to optimise learning for all students. High-quality inclusive education is provided for students with diverse learning profiles relating to: giftedness, speech, language, communication, vision, hearing, literacy acquisition and post-school pathways. Central office diverse learning teams work with our classroom teachers to enhance their capacity to maximise learning outcomes for students. Specialists in these teams collaborate widely to consolidate an inclusive approach to learning. Each school also has dedicated learning support staff.

Sydney Catholic Schools provides reasonable adjustments to assist and support students with disability to successfully engage in learning. All Sydney Catholic Schools engage in the annual Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for School Students with Disability. Students with moderate intellectual disabilities and complex developmental needs may benefit from the educational program at Eileen O’Connor Catholic College Lewisham or our Specialist Support Classes located onsite at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Hoxton Park and Good Samaritan Catholic College, Hinchinbrook.

Gifted Education Naturally Embedded

Gifted Education Naturally Embedded (GENE) is a Sydney Catholic Schools professional learning program available in schools across the archdiocese to provide specific improvements in learning outcomes for gifted students.

St Joachim’s has the Amadeus Music Education Program, providing students with a high quality music education program offering students expert classroom music lessons, small group instrument tuition where children learn to play a string, woodwind or brass instrument and Ensemble Rehearsal where students play their instrument in a string ensemble, orchestra or concert band.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

Decades of research shows that learning an instrument and playing in a musical ensemble strengthens neural pathways in the brain and can:

  • significantly improve student academic success in areas including language and mathematical development; and
  • significantly improve student engagement, short- and long-term memory, attention, self-discipline, and coordination.

The Amadeus Music Education Program offers:

  • Classroom music lessons led by a specialist music teacher (Kindergarten to Year 6);
  • Small group student instrumental tuition (Years 3-6); and
  • Student instrumental ensemble lessons (Years 3-6).
  • Students are provided with a classical musical instrument, starting with a string instrument in Year 3.

Diverse Learning Teams/Specific Learning Support

Through expert support and resources from Sydney Catholic Schools, we collaborate and deliver personalised plans for students who have cognitive or developmental disorders, sensory disability, autism, physical disability, and speech, language and communication disorders. These plans focus on specific educational goals and adjustments related to areas such as curriculum, communication and social skills.

Reading Recovery is a short-term preventative early literacy intervention that provides extra help to Year 1 students who are identified as the lowest achievers in literacy. It helps students catch up to the average reading and writing level of their class and become independent readers and writers. Reading Recovery is delivered by a specially trained teacher.

Students learning English for the first time are supported by dedicated staff within our school, staff from the Sydney Catholic Schools’ central offices, and programs for new arrivals.

We are committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families to ensure students obtain a high-quality education as a platform for achieving their full potential.