Specialist Areas
Visual Arts
The aim of the Visual Arts Program is to develop student self-confidence, enjoyment and understanding of The Arts. We provide them with opportunities to develop a range of ways to express themselves and their individual creativity. Students engage with and develop their knowledge of visual arts, skills, techniques and processes, and use materials as they explore a range of forms, styles and contexts.
Students learn specific skills related to drawing, painting, construction, clay, paper craft, threads and textiles to learn about the elements of art (line, shape, space, form, texture, colour and value)
Auslan
Learning a second language and culture gives children the opportunity to reflect on their own language and culture.
Rochester Primary School provides a language program for students from Prep to Year 6. The Auslan program runs for 50 minutes each week. Within each session, the specialist teacher delivers a practical and engaging language program aimed at teaching basic communicative language skills With the support of the classroom teacher, skills will be reinforced in the classroom between weekly sessions.
Learning Auslan:
- Improves memory, attention, and visual–spatial skills
- Supports early literacy and oral language development
- Helps some students (especially neurodivergent learners) access learning more easily
This program promotes inclusion, strengthens social-emotional learning, enhances cognitive development, and aligns powerfully with the Victorian Curriculum and inclusive education priorities.
Science
Science at RPS is based on a two year rotation. During even years, students in Grades one to six study Chemical Sciences for one semester. They learn about ‘The Three States of Matter’ - Solids, Liquids and Gases, and their properties. The other semester student focus on the Physical Sciences, this includes a term each on Forces and Light or Heat.
In the Foundation or the Prep year students cover an area of Science each term, beginning with how ‘Living things have a variety of Internal/external features. Looking at some of the important internal features of our body, and moving on to learn about our five senses - sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. During the other three terms student cover units Chemical Science, Materials - What Is It Made of?, Earth and Space Sciences – The Weather In My World and Biological Sciences, How Does Our Garden Grow? Paddock to Plate.
Throughout all units and across all year levels, students are continually being encouraged to develop their Scientific Understanding of ‘How Science fits into our daily lives’ and to develop their Science Inquiry Skills.
