Specialists
Creating, Moving, and Connecting Beyond the Classroom
Kitchen Garden
At Gladesville Primary School, we take an
At Gladesville Primary School, students participate in fortnightly Kitchen Garden classes, where hands-on learning comes to life. These sessions provide students with the joy and satisfaction of preparing, sharing, and enjoying food they have cooked themselves. Through guided experiences in the kitchen, students learn to work safely and hygienically, use tools and equipment correctly, and develop confidence in a range of cooking techniques.
Beyond the kitchen, students also develop a deeper understanding of where food comes from. Our thriving farm area features vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and compost bins, all of which are regularly cared for by the students. This real-life learning environment allows students to explore sustainability, seasonal growing, and the importance of fresh, locally grown produce.
Through these authentic experiences, students build life skills, teamwork, and a strong sense of responsibility. They begin to understand the connections between food, health, the environment, and community. The Kitchen Garden program is a unique and valued part of our curriculum, supporting our goal of developing capable, curious and environmentally aware learners.
Indonesian
Students at Gladesville Primary School participate in Language Other Than English (LOTE) sessions in Indonesian based on the Victorian Curriculum. We offer a weekly one hour lesson where they learn about the Indonesian language and culture.
During Indonesian classes, students engage in a range of learning opportunities including singing, dancing, role plays and games, as well as our pen pal program.
In addition to INdonesian classes, we incorproate Indonesian language culrute at other times whenever we can Each year we have an Indonesian performance visit the school.
Physical Education and PMP
The Health and Physical Education curriculum plays a significant role in building the knowledge, skills and understanding that apply to a range of health, safety and movement contexts.
At Gladesville Primary School all Foundation to Year 6 students participate in weekly one hour physical education lessons run by a specialist physical education teacher.
PE classes focus on developing fundamental motor skills, active participation, fairness, teamwork and co-operation, while also having fun.
Our Junior School students particpate in a Perceptual Motor Program, to develop the fundamental motor skills that are essential for participation in sports, games, and recreational activities.
Students in the senior school participate in inter-school sports for both a summer and winter season. This is a friednly competition between schools in our district.
At Gladesville Primary school, students participate in a range of whole school events such as Athletics Day, swimming program, The Colour Run and Jump Rope for Heart.
Visual Arts
At Gladesville Primary School, Visual Arts is an important part of our curriculum, aligned closely with the Victorian Curriculum requirements. Through weekly art lessons, students are introduced to a wide variety of techniques and materials that help them explore the world and express their ideas creatively. Students engage in activities such as drawing, painting, construction, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, weaving, sewing, and digital media, all while developing confidence, imagination, and individuality.
Our Visual Arts program focuses on two key areas: Creating and Making and Exploring and Responding to Art. In Creating and Making, students experiment with different art elements, processes, and techniques across multiple art forms. They are encouraged to be open-minded, use positive self-talk, and approach their work with creativity and curiosity. In Exploring and Responding, students look closely at traditional and contemporary artworks from a range of cultures and times. This fosters critical and creative thinking, as students learn to interpret, discuss, and reflect on both their own work and the work of others, using developing arts-specific language.
Our Visual Arts program is led by a passionate specialist teacher who continually engages in professional learning to enhance and extend their teaching practices, ensuring our students experience a dynamic, supportive, and inspiring learning environment.
Library
All students at Gladesville Primary School participate in a weekly one-hour Library session designed to foster a love of reading, research skills, and information literacy. During these sessions, students are introduced to a wide range of literature, including picture books, novels, nonfiction texts, and digital resources. They engage in activities that build their comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking, while also exploring different genres and authors.
Library sessions also focus on developing students' research and information skills, helping them to navigate l resources effectively. Students learn how to locate information, evaluate sources, and present their findings in meaningful ways. Through these sessions, we aim to instil a lifelong love of reading and empower students to become independent, confident learners.
Students also have the opportunity to borrow from our well stocked library. A highlight of many students week!
Technology
At Gladesville Primary School, the teaching of Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies is carefully aligned with the Victorian Curriculum to build students’ creativity, problem-solving skills, and technological literacy.
Through structured, hands-on projects, students explore the processes of designing, creating, and evaluating solutions to real-world problems. They work through the design cycle — investigating needs, generating and testing ideas, producing designed solutions, and reflecting on their outcomes.
In Design and Technologies, students work with a variety of materials, tools, and technologies to complete projects that blend creativity with critical thinking. They learn to plan and manage projects, considering the suitability of resources and the needs of the end user. Throughout, students are encouraged to collaborate, take risks, and develop resilience as they iterate and improve on their designs.
Our Digital Technologies program develops students’ understanding of computational thinking, digital systems, and data collection and analysis. Students engage in coding and programming activities using age-appropriate platforms, progressing from simple sequences to more complex problem-solving tasks. Coding is taught through both unplugged (offline) activities and digital tools, ensuring strong foundational knowledge before applying skills in online environments.
Across both subjects, the emphasis is on building students’ ability to think logically, work collaboratively, and use technology purposefully and responsibly.
Lunch time Clubs are some of the additional opportunities that support the STEM program at our school.