By connecting to the real world of students’ lives, authentic learning enables students to become lifelong learners who contribute to society and the wider world as active and discerning citizens. Authentic learning is central to our work as Catholic educators because it promotes the continual growth and wellbeing of the whole person — spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.
At St Columba’s Catholic Primary School Leichhardt North, our school wide pedagogy aims to empower all children to strive for individual excellence in learning in a collaborative environment so that they can be active and critical thinking members of the world.
In a field of opportunity we:
- Explore: In an environment where learners are individual in nature and practice, learning experiences are engaging and purposeful and promote risk-taking and a sense of achievement.
- Challenge: The learning environment promotes intellectual quality through higher-order and creative thinking, investigation and problem-solving.
- Create: Our collaborative learning community offers opportunities for innovation and critical reflection based on best practice.
- Thrive: Inspired by the Gospel values of faith, hope and love, learners develop strong and respectful relationships that enable them to make connections with, and contributions to, their ever-changing world.
At St Columba’s Catholic Primary School Leichhardt North assessment is a critical component of the teaching and learning cycle. It is used to identify individual student needs, to create work that is challenging for each student and to measure learning growth. Students are assessed using teacher-devised assessments and standardised assessments such as NAPLAN and Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT Tests), and some children also sit the external ICAS competitions.
Our students participate in many academic, sporting and creative pursuits both inside and outside of the classroom. These include:
- Participation in the National History Challenge. In the last four years a student from St Columba’s has placed first in their respective category in NSW.
- Tournament of the Mind.
- Students who have been selected for the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Drama Ensemble.
- Students who have represented at state and national levels in the art and sport.