Curriculum
Individual needs are catered for within well-developed sequential curriculum plans with the school guiding learning from Prep to grade 6 in the key Learning Areas of The Arts, Mathematics, English, Science, Health and Physical Education, Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE), Technology and LOTE.
Morwell Park provides a comprehensive literacy strategy to meet the individual needs of students in years P-6. Detailed assessments and ongoing monitoring of students’ progress determines individual needs and a variety of teaching approaches are used to meet these needs.
Teacher development is also seen as a priority with maths, literacy and writing coaches used to develop student and teacher skills and guide curriculum development. Professional Learning Team activities work to ensure these skills and innovations are implemented across the school in a consistent manner and support teacher skill development.
This year all teachers in grades P-3, as well as our literacy coaches, have undertaken intensive 'Sounds-Write' training to help teach students the necessary phonics skills to improve their spelling, reading and writing.
Aboriginal Culture & Perspectives
We place high importance on embedding Aboriginal perspectives into our curriculum across Prep to Grade 6. We work closely with our local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, with a dedication to the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan, reforming our curriculum to ensure greater acknowledgement of Aboriginal people, history and events, fostering a whole-of-school understanding of Koorie perspectives and cultures. In 2020, we were finalists in the Outstanding Koorie Education category of the Victorian Education Awards.
Sports and Physical Education
Morwell Park has an extensive Physical Education and Sports program with weekly lessons conducted by a specialist teacher. This is supported by a weekly sport program for grades 3-6. MPPS is a member of the Morwell District Sport network and children are given the opportunity to further develop skills and participate at District, Zone and State level in athletics, swimming, cross country, winter and summer sports. Teams have reached the state finals in athletics, swimming and netball.
The school participates in the RACV Energy Breakthrough event for HPV's (human powered vehicles) with students able to elect to be involved in grade 5&6. The Human Powered Vehicle project also encourages students to develop their fitness and allows them to see the benefits of this in a very practical way. Bicycle riding is promoted through this and our Bike Ed program and we have excellent bike facilities and equipment. Students are actively encouraged to ride to school. The school also offers school camp experiences for students in grades 3 to 6 at a variety of venues in Gippsland.
Information Communications Technology
At MPPS, we know that digital technologies encourage creativity, collaboration, curiosity and problem-solving in our students. Therefore, a significant commitment has been made to develop facilities, resources and programs in Digital Technologies. Every student in grades 3-6 has their own school-provided device which is used daily across all curriculum areas. There are iPads in all year levels equipped with apps to foster creativity. Classrooms are equipped with Smart TV's and interactive devices, and Robotics and Coding activities are being implemented across the school. In addition to this, students in the upper year levels have been exploring and participating in Minecraft: Education Edition on their devices, with fantastic feedback and high levels of student engagement.
Performing Arts
The 3 years prior to Covid has seen grade 6 students writing the entire script for the grade 5/6 school Production, which is held at the Morwell Performing Arts Centre. Students are heavily involved in the entire process, with student roles including co-directing, sound engineers, principal cast, minor roles, chorus and backstage crew. We look forward to getting our School Production under way again this year!
LOTE (Languages other than English)
In 2023, AUSLAN will be taught in all classrooms from Prep-6, following a successful program trial in 2022.
