What St Gabriel's has to offer:

Reading Recovery 
Reading Recovery is a one to one early intervention program that provides an opportunity for students who, after one year of schooling, have not yet established effective reading and writing processes.

Students in the Program receive a daily thirty-minute Reading Recovery lesson in addition to the regular classroom reading and writing program.

The Reading Recovery Program for each student continues until they have developed strategies that will allow them to participate effectively in the reading and writing activities in their classrooms. This usually takes between twelve and twenty weeks.
At St Gabriel's Carol Livesey is the Reading Recovery Teacher.

For more information check out the following web site: www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/eys/rr/index.htm

Arts

Weekly creative arts lessons with Arts specialist, Jane Mitchell allows students to participate in a wide variety of artistic and creative experiences.

 


The school's music program, both instrumental and vocal, encourages a love of producing music whilst providing opportunities for performance.

R.E.

The school exists as a Catholic institution to meet the spiritual needs of the growing child and the religious education program is designed to develop the faith of each child.  

Each child is instructed in prayer, Scripture, religious knowledge, morals and church tradition.

Catholic children are prepared through school and home-based programs for the following Sacraments:

  • Reconciliation - Grade 3

  • Eucharist - Grade 4

  • Confirmation - Grade 6

Parents are encouraged to be fully involved in the religious education programs including the liturgical celebrations.  A class mass is celebrated each Thursday  at 9.15 and parents are encouraged to attend. 

The Family Life program based on Christian values is presented in the Parish every second year.  It aims to promote the worth and dignity of each child, the expression of love and the development of healthy relationships.  

Literacy

We have a strong emphasis on English in our curriculum. The acquisition of skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking are vital to all other areas of learning. 

Each class devotes a daily block to literacy and parents are encouraged to become involved in the classroom activities.

Children are taught the skills of English and how to use these in a variety of ways for different purposes.  We encourage children to think critically about what they hear, read and view.

Our aim is not only that the children be skilled in literacy, but that they use their skills for enjoyment and with confidence.

Pastoral Care

We have a strong focus on student welfare and offer a range of pastoral care programs from Year Prep through to Year Six. Our whole school approach to student welfare ensures all students' needs are catered for in a safe, secure learning environment

Student Welfare

The Pastoral Care and Student Welfare programs are designed to foster the well being and development of each student and make the school a happy and safe environment for all.

The program emphasis's the Christian values of self esteem, respect for one's self and others, and self‑discipline.

Children are encouraged to develop self‑control and a personal value system that emphasises positive attitudes towards one's self and those in authority.

If children use bullying or physical violence they will be put on detention immediately. Children are encouraged not to resolve disagreements by the use of violence.

The school provides grieving children with access to programs that are designed to rebuild self-esteem and acceptance of changes in their life.

Once a year children receive information from the Life Education program on the adverse affects of drugs, and are encouraged to adopt a positive approach to life that does not rely on drugs.

Every second year grade 5 and 6 students are visited fortnightly by members of the Police Schools Involvement Program who encourage good citizenship, explain rights and responsibilities, and discourage crime. 

Integrated Curriculum

Integrated Curriculum Studies involves the children in active enquiry learning. Through hypothesizing, investigating and interpreting findings, the children develop skills leading to a greater understanding of the societal, physical, technological and natural world they inhabit.

Maths

At St Gabriel's we endeavor to ensure all students are given every opportunity to develop the skills, concepts and processes of mathematics, as well as the confidence to apply these to everyday experiences. Our teachers are committed to fostering an interest in and enjoyment of mathematics by providing a wide variety of challenging learning experiences.

Buddies

The Buddies Program helps to develop relationships between different year levels. through a variety of fun, learning activities.

L.O.T.E. ( Language Other Than English) Italian

Our L.O.T.E. at St. Gabriel's is Italian. The program is fun-filled without sacrificing grammatical content. All students, from Prep to Year Six, are introduced to the workings of the language through son, rhyme and a variety of games. This leads the students to composing their own writing in the Italian language.

Aspects of travel, cultural festivals and places of interest are a part of the program, creating excitement and curiosity. Learning a L.O.T.E. develops an understanding and appreciation of different cultures. Italian Week, held annually in November, provides an opportunity for all students to be immersed in the richness of the Italian culture.

Physical Education

The sports program at St Gabriel's provides students with opportunities to participate in a range of activities, both competitively and, importantly, in a skill-building environment.

Throughout the year all children participate in a comprehensive Swimming program as well as our annual Athletics Carnival.

Some other activities that are year-level specific include Winter and Summer Interschool Sports, Table Tennis, PMP, Camps Program and Bike Ed.

St. Gabriel's has a reputation of fostering talented individuals in their sporting pursuits. In 2001 we have sent students to State and National Primary Swimming Carnivals, State Cross-Country and Athletics and our Winter sports teams are in the process of qualifying for state carnivals.

Our school's successes include:

  • Premiership in the State Primary Football Competition

  • Quarter-Finalists in State Primary Netball Competition

  • Quarter-Finalists in State Primary Basketball Competition

  • Current holders of the District Swimming Shield

Year Preps participate in the P.M.P. (Perceptual Motor Program) program twice a week.

Swimming Program

All students from Prep to Grade 6 are involved each year in a 10 day swimming program at the Traralgon Indoor Pool. Grades 3 to 6 will attend their program from 31 January 2005, and Prep to Grade 2 will attend from 3 October 2005. The cost of the swimming program will be $45 per child

Library/ Technology Centre

The new Library/Technology Centre is indeed an inviting place to visit. Students regularly attend this stimulating environment. Library sessions provide a literature appreciation and skills program, including information skills - searching on computer terminals, CD-ROM's and the Internet. Computer skills are taught in the technology room using a large screen projector; such skills are then transferred into the classroom.

Teaching Programmes

The teaching program of the school consists of nine main subject areas:

  1. Religious Education

  2. The Arts including instrumental music and school choir

  3. Mathematics 

  4. Science 

  5. English 

  6. Languages other than English ( Italian) 

  7. Studies of Society and the Environment 

  8. Health and Physical Education

  9. Technology

The teaching staff have prepared a detailed curriculum with sequential development in each subject area, using guidelines prepared by the Ministry of Education and the Catholic Education Office. The curriculum is constantly evaluated and revised, and children's work is assessed regularly.

Parent participation in the school is valued and encouraged, especially in assisting their children with homework, attendance at specific school activities and assemblies, and as classroom and sports assistants.