Junior School Overview

Covenant Christian School Sydney is a private Christian School providing a caring and nurturing environment for students. We follow the NSW State Government Curriculum, teaching from a Christian perspective.

We believe in providing an extensive education academically, socially, physically and spiritually. Passionate teachers, combined with a variety of subjects, excursions, activities and involvement in our school musicals create a rich learning environment for each child.

All Primary School students start the day with devotions and participate in weekly Biblical Studies lessons that help children to grow in relationship with God.

LANNA Scores are in most cases well above the national averages. Results for 2007 and 2008 are in the school's Annual Report.

Kindergarten – Year 6 Curriculum covers the following:

English	Reading - oral, vocabulary, comprehension, novel studies  Writing - handwriting, spelling, creative writing, grammar Talking and Listening - public speaking, debating, news
Mathematics	Number Space & Geometry Measurement Tables Working Mathematically Patterns, Algebra and Data
Science and Technology	Science and Technology Computer Studies
Human Society and Its Environment	Human Society and Its Environment (Social Studies)
Creative and Practical Arts	Music Visual Arts Craft Drama
Health	Personal Development & Health Physical Education Sport Daily Gross Motor program in Kindergarten
LOTE (languages other than English)	Introduction to Italian (Year 6)
Other Activities	Training Band (Years 4-6) Junior Band (Years 4-6, for students who have been playing for at least a year) Choir (Years 3-6) Dance (Years 3-6) Drama (Years 3-6) Speech Giving Assemblies Grandparents and Grandfriends Day  Japanese Conversation Classes Chess Tournament of the Minds Gardening Club Maths Olympiad String Ensemble Prayer Group (Infants to Primary) Various academic competitions (eg UNSW Mathematics, Science)
Sport	Swimming & Athletics at School, Zone & State levels Interschool competitions in Baseball, Softball, T ball, Soccer, Netball, Walla Rugby & Cricket Optional training for students interested in improving skills in athletics Gymnastics and Cross Country at School & State levels A variety of in-school sport options
Music Tuition	Tuition is available from private tutors during or after school hours. A limited number of instruments (eg trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute) are available for hire each year.
Excursions	An active incursion and excursion program, integrated with the curriculum, operates throughout the Junior School. All classes from Years 3 to 6 attend an overnight camp each year.
Musical	A musical is performed by the Junior School every two years

Homework for K-6

Guiding Principle – At Covenant we believe Parents should have control over what happens in the home.

As a result of this belief we offer parents options with homework for their child.
Research suggests homework in the junior years has no measurable effect on achievement. Given that homework can sometimes have a significant impact on family life, we would like to offer parents more freedom with what happens in the name of homework. Yet, we will still be setting structured homework that the teachers will be attending to. You may feel the school set homework is just what your child requires. On the other hand, you may feel that say… gardening or learning Spanish is a better option. Fantastic! The choice is yours.

What does this mean for you?
K-4 will have the option of Set homework OR Alternative homework.
In order to make this manageable, we will be requiring an indication from parents which option they would prefer so that we can cater for the correct numbers.

Set Homework

• will be set by teachers on Monday
• will be marked by the teachers in class
• will be monitored by teachers
• will largely address fundamental skills of reading, writing arithmetic
• students who do not complete the set homework will be followed up unless they have a note from their parents

Alternative Homework

• will be set by parents
• may include anything from classical guitar to free play (we have a booklet available containing a number of suggestions)
• will be monitored by parents
• students may do set work but parents will need to monitor that homework

Y5-6 will have 40 minutes of required homework per night

Required Homework

• will be set by teachers on Monday
• will be marked by the teachers in class
• will be monitored by teachers
• will address fundamental skills of reading, writing arithmetic

Teachers Intent
In the spirit of the guiding principle above, we would like to reinforce out intent for parents choosing the set/required homework…

• if the set/required homework is too difficult we are always willing to make modifications
• should Aunty Joan come to visit, feel free to skip homework that night merely send in a note
• if your child is too tired, please feel free to jot this down on a note, we will understand
• if you feel the content of the HW is missing the target, please let us know
• teachers do not want to make life difficult but support you in establishing discipline and routines
• you are welcome, in fact encouraged to try some of the alternative homework suggestions