School Life
Bilingual Education
High proficiency in more than one language is a huge asset living in our interconnected global society. We recognise that students who become proficient in a second language often develop greater mental agility, a sharper memory and are likely to be more alert and perceptive later in life. Such children also develop a broader appreciation and adaptability in a variety of social and cultural contexts.
The School has adopted a bilingual immersion approach where students spend approximately 50% of the week learning in English, and 50% learning in Mandarin. In achieving this goal, the School has adopted the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach to bilingual education with teaching in Key Learning Areas delivered in Mandarin.
Why mandarin?
Chinese is the language of communication of approximately one-quarter of the world's entire population.
The School’s education will l prepare students for life in a 21st Century world in which the relationship between China and Australia will continue to assume wider and deeper importance.
Benefits of a BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Learning a language:
- Fosters greater appreciation for the diversity of God’s creation, and understanding that all people are equally loved and valued by God.
- promotes connectivity between cultures and helps students' have a better understanding of the world
- develops students' critical thinking and problem solving skills
- enhances employment and career opportunities
- improves memory and develops decision making skills
- supports children to maintain strong ties with their family, culture and community
STARTING SCHOOL
Kindergarten is an important year of schooling as children formally begin to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. It is our whole school community's aim to help your child adjust and make them feel safe so that they are ready to learn.
when to start kindergarten?
Your child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn 5 on or before 31st of July in that year. By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their 6th birthday.
Preparing for Kindergarten?
Parents and caregivers can do a lot to help prepare their child for Kindergarten before their first day at school. Please use this only as a guide.
Language
- Give your child simple, then two and three-step instructions to see if they can follow them correctly
- Use books for enjoyment, ask your child to make predictions and pay attention to simple sight words on the page
- Connect different characters and situations in books to real life experiences. Encourage your child to talk about their experiences and how they are similar to or differ from the book.
- Use different ways to write the alphabet e.g. paint, oil pastels, use fingers to write in sand, play dough etc.
- Sing familiar songs and recite rhymes and poems
Numeracy
- Count household objects
- Recognise numbers in everyday objects e.g. signs, cookbooks etc.
- Group similar objects together e.g. toys with wheels and toys that make sounds
- Identify different shapes and talk about how they are different
- Find patterns and make patterns with objects e.g. red marble, blue marble, red marble, blue marble
Social/ Emotional
- Toilet trained
- Can say their own name and address
- Can tidy up after playing with toys
- Encourage sharing and working cooperatively with other children
- Encourage sitting still and listening to a story for a short period of time
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Practise cutting in a straight line
- Enjoy playing both indoors and outdoors
- Can put on their jumper, socks, shoes etc. independently
- Draw simple shapes such as circles and squares
- Throw and catch a ball
SCHOOL CURRICULUM
At International Chinese School, we provide a carefully balanced learning program to cater for individual needs, following the NSW Education Standards Authority’s (NESA) Key Learning Areas.
Learning in Primary is structured in stages. For each learning stages there are skills, knowledge and a level of understanding that each student should develop.
- Early Stage 1 - Kindergarten
- Stage 1 - Year 1 and 2
- Stage 2 - Year 3 and 4
- Stage 3 - Year 5 and 6
ENGLISH
- Speaking and Listening
- Writing and Representing
- Handwriting and using Digital Technologies
- Reading and Viewing
- Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary
- Spelling
- Thinking Imaginatively and Creatively
- Expressing themselves
- Reflecting and Learning
MATHEMATICS
- Number and Algebra
- Measurement and Geometry
- Statistics and Probability
- Working Mathematically
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- Living World
- Material World
- Physical World
- Earth and Space
- Digital Technologies
CREATIVE ARTS
- Visual Arts
- Music
- Drama
- Dance
HUMAN SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT
HISTORY
- Personal and Family Histories
- Present and Past Family Life
- The Past in the Present
- Community and Remembrance
- First Contacts
- The Australian Colonies
- Australia as a Nation
GEOGRAPHY
- Place
- Space
- Environment
- Interconnection
- Scale
- Sustainability
- Change
LANGUAGES - MANDARIN
- Using Language
- Making Linguistic Connections
- Moving Between Cultures
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
- Personal Identity
- Building Resilience
- Respectful Relationships
- Movement skills
- Movement challenges
- Factors to a Healthy Lifestyle
- Protective Strategies
- Games & Sports
These Key Learning Areas are further enriched through a variety of other co-curricular programs.