School Life

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.

• 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

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.

• Download Kindergarten Stationery List

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

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

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

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Living World
• Material World
• Physical World
• Earth and Space
• Digital Technologies

CREATIVE ARTS

• Visual Arts
• Music
• Drama
• Dance

LANGUAGES - MANDARIN

• Interacting
• Accessing and responding
• Composing
• Systems of language
• The role of language and culture