Hills School Verdun Primary Education

PRIMARY SCHOOL

a place to FLOURISH

HILLS Primary is a learning community that is endlessly fascinated by the infinite potential that is within every child.

As a partnership between home and the school, our dynamic team of educators is committed to facilitating inspiring educational experiences that nurture the curiosities and interests of students as they become independent learners. We aim to provide a learning environment that champions personal success for every student – academically, physically, spiritually, socially and emotionally.

Our educators work collaboratively in year level teams to plan, review and assess developmentally appropriate ways to engage students in learning, in accordance with the Australian Curriculum. The Australian Curriculum is a contemporary curriculum designed around key areas of learning, with the addition of Christian Living that has a focus on teaching students about the Bible narrative of God’s love for the world.

A key focus of all learning at HILLS is the development of skills and learning dispositions that are intended to prepare students for learning, living and working in a wide range of 21st Century contexts. Our educators are passionate about nurturing positive learning mindsets, and actively model strategies that enable students to build confidence and begin to view themselves as active participants in their learning environment. Students’ personal and social responsibility is developed through service, challenge, and a growing awareness of the world around them and their capacity to make a difference. Our buddy system is a long-standing tradition and culture within our school, in which our students are encouraged to understand the importance of not only caring for themselves, but for their friends and the environment around them.

At HILLS we understand that every child is unique, and learning can be experienced in a multitude of ways. Our educators are intentional about facilitating learning experiences that provide students with a multisensory approach as they develop new skills and understanding. We believe that learning can take place anywhere, and should not be confined to the four walls of a classroom. Our natural environment provides students with unique opportunities to engage with authentic learning experiences, including the planting and cultivation of vegetable plots and Indigenous food gardens, construction of cubby houses and shelters. In addition, there is ongoing monitoring of natural animal habitats and the water quality of the Onkaparinga River that passes through the school.

With a focus on student wellbeing, leadership development, and together with a wide range of sporting, cultural, and arts-based activities, our aim is to provide students with a range of experiences, building on their current skills and learning to ensure their personal success.

 

the rivermont experience

a place to thrive

The Rivermont centre and gardens are immersed in our stunning natural environment and is the transition centre between the Primary and Secondary School.  The Rivermont nature-based educational experience is steeped in a rich culture of community, sustainability and is quite unlike anything else. When entering the nurturing ambience of our learning space, you can appreciate the unique opportunity that students have to participate in something very special.

The Rivermont Experience encompasses a forward-thinking approach to modern education that harnesses the power of individual learning styles and whole child wellbeing to achieve academic, personal and spiritual development. We are passionate about supporting and assisting students to develop vital skills that can be applied universally, wherever they go in life. We provide a rigorous curriculum that is creatively and seamlessly integrated with nature-based adventure activities. The curriculum is rich in teamwork and collaborative experiences, whereby a deep connection with ourselves, each other and our precious Earth are established, as seen in our Garden to Kitchen Program. Students are encouraged to continually explore and develop their creative and innovative skills. They are supported whilst stepping out of their comfort zone to take risks, to expand their experiences and continue to aspire to becoming the best version of themselves.

The Rivermont Experience is a truly enriching experience unlike any other and provides a solid foundation of independent, lifelong learners with a full repertoire of contemporary life skills, resilience and knowledge.