Our Learning

St John XXIII Primary School Thomastown East

All essential learnings from the Victorian Curriculum are embedded into rigours and engaging learning experiences. We place a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy development across all levels of the school. Teachers plan for the whole class, small group and individual instruction. Each activity provides the basis for focused teaching and student learning is matched to their needs, enabling them to experience success and develop into lifelong learners. Best practice is adopted and implemented throughout the curriculum to ensure that our students understand what they are learning and to take ownership of their progress. Assessment is an important part of the teaching and learning cycle at St John XXIII.

We formally test each student in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening and Mathematics throughout the year using a variety of assessments. The information gathered is analysed by staff and students and then used to plan for future learning. We formally report to parents twice a year, assessing students using the Victorian Curriculum.

Visible Learning

At St John XXIII we are a Visible Learning School. Visible Learning is the result of research undertaken by Professor John Hattie to understand what provides the optimum success in learning. As a result, students know the purpose of learning and the ways in which they will achieve success. John Hattie defines Visible Learners as students who can:

Articulate what they are learning
Explain the next steps in their learning
Set learning goals
Sees errors as opportunities for further learning
Know what to do when they are stuck
Seek feedback

This is achieved through the application of shared Learning Intentions, developed from the curriculum. Students understand what success looks like and are able to give and receive feedback based on their personalised goals in a variety of curriculum areas.

Students also need to know what they are learning, and what is needed in the task to make them successful. These are known as : Learning Intentions "We are learning to..." and Success Criteria "I can…"

We believe that our students can embrace learning challenges by developing a Growth Mindset which sets them on the road to reach even higher levels of achievement.

Student Voice

At St John XXIII students have a wide range of opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to the school community.

Each classroom has a Class Captain who helps foster teamwork and responsibility among their peers. Our Student Representative Council (SRC) meets regularly to discuss what is working well, suggest improvements, and implement positive changes to enhance school life.

Students in Year 5 and 6 have additional opportunities to take on leadership roles, including:

School Captain & Vice Captain – Representing the student body, leading assemblies, and being role models for the school community.
House Captains – Leading and inspiring their house teams in sporting events.
Digital Technology Leaders – Supporting technology use across the school and promoting eSafety initiatives.
Visual Arts Leaders – Promoting creativity and helping with school-wide art projects.
Mini Vinnies – Leading social justice initiatives and supporting community outreach programs.

These leadership experiences empower students to develop confidence, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility while making a meaningful impact on our school community.