Quality teaching is provided by exceptional educators at St Francis Xavier’s and is well resourced in terms of equipment and support personnel. St Francis Xavier’s provides learning support services and special needs programs, including access to specialists in psychology, occupational therapy and speech pathology.
Providing a meaningful and inclusive learning program, St Francis Xavier’s caters for the intellectual, spiritual, emotional, social and physical dimensions of each student. It fosters the wellbeing of all students and other members within its school community so that each person is empowered and challenged to become lifelong learners with optimism and hope for the future.
St Francis Xavier’s aims to provide a fully inclusive mainstream learning environment that reflects the principles of the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and the Disability Standards for Education (2005). All students are included in the activities of the school community are given opportunities and responsibilities that recognise their value to the community and provide positive learning and social experiences. Our commitment to the practices of purposeful inclusion reflects the Gospel values of respect, equality and social justice.
Within a Christian framework, we provide a learning environment that is supportive and responsive to individual needs and differences and that recognises and celebrates the individual student’s abilities and strengths.
Personnel
Class Teachers
The classroom teachers implement the NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum in all KLAs, providing explicit teaching and learning experiences which develop positive values and attitudes towards the use and study of each subject.
The Learning Support Teacher
The Learning Support Teacher assists in the assessment of students’ literacy and numeracy levels and will support the classroom teacher so that opportunities for curriculum differentiation are implemented to ensure all children have access to the curriculum and that individual literacy and numeracy needs are being met. When required he/she will also assist with the development of special programs for students with disabilities.
The Learning Support Assistants
The Learning Support Assistants support the class teacher within the classroom context or on a one-to-one or small group basis, following programs devised by the class teacher and/or LST.
Teacher Librarian
The Teacher Librarian supports the teacher through provision of programs of work to complement what is being taught in the classroom and by providing further opportunities to develop skills in information technology.
The Library Assistant
The Library Assistant supports the development of literacy by assisting in the retrieval of resources and assisting children to locate suitably levelled books.
Parents and Community
St Francis Xavier’s is blessed with a strong and vibrant school community that is made up, not only of parents, but also members of the students’ extended family, including grandparents and siblings.
Volunteers are valued at our school and are encouraged to assist classroom teachers during the day in activities such as reading groups in the English and Mathematics teaching sessions, art and science activities and so on. Learning goals in English and Mathematics are communicated with parents and activities are provided to assist with practise of skills at home. Volunteers also assist in the library, the canteen and transporting children to and from excursions and sporting events, as well as assisting with fundraising events throughout the year.
