Our specialist programs encourage inquiry-based learning that is rigorous and inclusive of all students.
Our students are encouraged to problem-solve, be critical and creative thinkers and understand the connections between how their learning integrates with the real world. Loreto Nedlands teachers are responsive to the needs of each student and employ a wide range of practical strategies to optimise learning.
Visual art teaches young learners to develop better social skills and creates emotional well-being. It further teaches students problem-solving techniques that help them view the world in new ways through creative access.
Many academics believe Visual Arts improve motivation, thinking processes, and academic achievement. An arts-integrated curriculum allows students to become critical thinkers and creative learners while providing opportunities for personal growth and self-expression, which are essential aspects of holistic education.
Lessons within the Loreto Nedlands Visual Arts classroom focus on various strategies, skills, and techniques. As students progress through each year level, they build on the skills and techniques learned in previous years and the elements and principles used in creating their bodies of work. Students cover drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media, ceramics, and 3D works, using a variety of mediums to express these artworks. These bodies of work are exhibited in a K-6 Art exhibition. Students also have the opportunity to have works exhibited at shows such as Angelico and also throughout the community.
‘Visual Art to me is essential in life for all to explore and express. It is the greatest form of communication and assists children in fostering transferrable skills and boost overall academic achievement.’
– Stephanie Hantzis, Visual Arts Specialist, Loreto Nedlands
Activities in the music classroom focus on performing (singing, playing an instrument), composing, moving, playing, listening to and analyzing music, as well as reading and writing musical notation through playing tuned percussion (xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels) and untuned percussion instruments (drums, triangles, tambourines, castanets, rhythm sticks, maracas and much more). Students learn essential life skills and well-being strategies through partaking in the Performing Arts.
‘My teaching style which is very hands – on, fun and of a play – based approach and foster important life skills such as risk taking, grit, confidence building, teamwork skills and general wellbeing. Every child needs Music as there are a myriad of benefits to children’s brains from playing and performing music. Research shows, learning Music creates strong pathways between the left and right side of a children’s brains which supports academic excellence.
– Sarina Davey
Performing Arts
Exciting events include our annual Performing Arts Festival.
The Musical Theatre program thrives at the school and includes a rotation of Year One to Year Two and Year Five to Year Six school musicals on a biannual rotation. Other opportunities for music performance include the Catholic Performing Arts Festivals, Independent Primary Schools Heads Association. In addition, students can showcase their musical talents at our school’s concerts, soirees, assemblies, and other events and functions.
Ensemble Groups and Private Tuition
Please view the instrumental booklet for details about our program and download the Loreto Nedlands Private Instrumental Enrolment Form.
Mrs Sarina Davey co-ordinates the Instrumental Program, and all queries should be directed to sarina.davey@cewa.edu.au.
Students are able to participate, through invitation in the following Ensemble Groups throughout the year:
LORETO CHOIR
CHORALE
ROCK BANDS
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SINFONIETTA
Individual tuition in voice and instrumental studies is offered on campus by professional Music Tutors for Pre Primary to Year Six.
‘I enjoy trying to get the best out of all of my students whether it is in a team environment or individually through positive education’
– Scott McCallum, Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing Specialist
Physical Education includes an extra-curricular fitness and sport program, swimming, cross country, athletics and participation in the Independent Primary Schools Heads of Australia (IPSHA) organisation, Catholic Primary School PE Association (CPSPEA), and State School WA competitions.
In Physical Education lessons, all Pre-Kindy to Year Six students are exposed to a variety of sports throughout the year, as well as fun and engaging fundamental movement games and activities. Edu-Dance is also a popular school-wide dance program that is incorporated into the curriculum where students learn new performances each year.
During the school year, students are involved in the Year Three to Six Swimming Carnival (Term One), Kindy to Year Six Cross Country (Term Two), Kindy Sports Carnival (Term Three), and the Pre-Primary to Year Six Athletics Carnival (Term Three). Following on from these school sport carnivals, Year Three to Year Six students who have qualified then have the opportunity to represent Loreto Nedlands at the Year Three to Year Six CPSPEA Interschool Competitions. Other sport competitions throughout the year include the IPHSA Winter Carnival, IPSHA Basketball Competition, IPSHA Cricket Competition, internal Basketball Competition (Alexander Guest), and attendance at various State School WA competitions during the year.
There are also external sport programs through Sporting Schools and companies facilitated on school grounds. Redhage Basketball (Tuesday afternoons) and Tennis Factory (Wednesday mornings) operate each term for Year One-Year Six students. Mr McCallum conducts exciting and enjoyable before-school sport and running programs each term as part of extra-curricular activities.
At Loreto Nedlands, it is essential that all students have the opportunity to thrive, achieve goals and feel successful. Speaking and Listening, Reading, Writing and Spelling are all essential modes to communicate effectively in English.
Across the school, students identified as requiring further support in reading and spelling, receive small group support in a Synthetic Phonics program using decodable texts. This evidence-based approach explicitly teaches the relationship between hearing, reading and spelling sounds.
Our English support program also assists students who are learning English as an additional language in the EAL/D program. This incorporates both in-class support for a range of curriculum areas and individual and small-group support with a focus on vocabulary and oral language development.
