The outcomes in the syllabus describe the knowledge, skills, understandings and strategies that students demonstrate when learning to talk, listen, read and write. They also specify the knowledge and understandings students develop when learning about talking, listening, reading and writing.

St Kevin’s School has a high population of students who come from a non-English speaking background, which means we concentrate on developing talking and listening skills as a precursor to writing.  Explicit use of language is modelled and taught and students have access to an ESL / Literacy specialist three times per week.

The School's ‘Literacy Plan’ documents our beliefs, strategies and processes for effective teaching and learning in this Key Learning Area. 

READING CHALLENGES

St Kevin’s also offers the “Read with Me” scheme which encourages children to read with or to their parents for a minimum of ten minutes a day.  Children receive “Reading Reward” certificates at various levels and choose a book to keep when they reach the each 100 level.  This program runs from K-6 and is incorporated into the school homework policy. 

We also encourage children to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. 

WRITING COMPETITIONS

We encourage our students to participate in writing competitions offered outside the school environment.  We believe this allows our students to extend themselves by considering and writing in different styles and for a larger audience.  Some of the competitions we have been involved in are the Nestle writing competition, the Zip tales writing competition and the Warringah Council / Warringah Mall Environmental story-writing challenge.   

POETRY

As part of the English syllabus, children at St Kevin’s are involved in poetry reading and writing from K-6.   

Students take part in the ‘Dorothea Mackellar’ poetry competition and the NAIDOC Week “Why we should say sorry” poetry competition each year. 

PUBLIC SPEAKING / DEBATING

St Kevin’s students are involved in public speaking from K-6. At the end of every term all children make oral presentations to their peers in the classroom.  As well as oral presentations, students learn and practice debating skills as part of the English curriculum, linking especially to persuasive language.   

Students in Years 3 and 4 are involved in mock council meetings with the local council as an introduction to debating, and this is further developed in the upper primary years of 5 and 6 who take part in the Parliament Education program in Canberra.   

In Term 3, Year 6 students also take part in the Peninsula Public Speaking Competition, which involves both a planned speech as well as an impromptu speech. In Term 4, Year 6 students take part in the Peninsula Debating Competition, covering a wide range of topics.

DRAMA

Drama is incorporated into the English, Religious Education and Creative Arts curriculum. Some of the activities our students participate in are Readers’ Theatre, Echo Mimes, Hot-seating, as well as traditional plays and dramatic presentations. Our students also enjoy presentations from visiting performers.