St Thomas Primary Drysdale Philosophy
At St Thomas, we believe there are core skills and attitudes that need to be nurtured and developed in children to become active, contributing members of the society in which they live. These include:
developing a relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, life experience and community participation.
respecting, appreciating and accepting themselves and others.
learning to think independently, critically and rationally.
developing the ability to communicate effectively and confidently.
understanding and applying newly acquired concepts and skills.
developing attitudes that are inclusive of all people, irrespective of age, race, religion, ability and gender.
respecting and caring for the environment.
developing a love of learning that is carried into adulthood.
Teaching, Learning and Multi-Age at St Thomas Primary Drysdale
AAt St. Thomas, we take a ‘multi-age’ approach to classroom organisation. A multi-age classroom is one in which children of different chronological ages are grouped together. In a multi-age classroom, children’s developmental diversity is celebrated, valued as a part of a natural community of learners and harnessed in subtle ways to support learning.
We have chosen multi-age as we believe it to be the best environment to foster a child’s individuality. It is one that supports our child-centred, developmental philosophy of learning. Students are accustomed to relating to older and younger students and develop a sense of family, which is further strengthened by the secure design of our home-units. It feels natural, as it is an extension of their own family at home – different ages and abilities interacting in a comfortable, happy environment.
At St Thomas’ school we believe that everyone has the right to be safe, feel safe and to learn and teach in a way which respects both their individuality and their ability to contribute to the life of our vibrant school community.
We are proud of the opportunities our students have to participate in the wider community whether that be sport competitions, Liturgical celebrations, local events or excursions to share in community celebrations. We work to see all our students develop the skills and understandings necessary to have a successful and fulfilling future.