SMCS Downloads

Document Name		PDF
SMCS Brochure
SMCS Fees Information
SMCS Enrolment Form
SMCS Annual Report
SMCS Vision & Mission Statements
SMCS Statement of Faith

K-6 General Information

All students in Years K-6 are taught from all six Key Learning Areas (English, Mathematics, Science and technology, Human Society and Its Environment, Personal Development, Health and Physical education, and Creative Arts. All students are also taught Biblical Studies, a subject focused on Christian belief and practice. There is one Kindergarten class which has a small and personal size of 12 students. All other year levels are combined into the Board of Studies Stages – Early Stage 1 (Year K), Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) through to Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6). Early Stage 1 currently has 12 students, Stage 1 currently has 20 students, Stage 2 has 29 students and Stage 3 has 22 students. Music throughout the school is taught by a specialist teacher and children have access to the SMCS Music Program for individual tuition in various instruments. Children are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities outside the normal academic curriculum, e.g. Debating, Choir, Chess, Bands.  Each class has a computer for students to use in the classroom and students from Year 1 work in the Computer Laboratory once a week to develop their computing skills.

Curriculum

Snowy Mountains Christian School follows the set recommendations and outcomes for the each key learning area as set by the NSW Board of Studies syllabus.  Whilst the primary school is part of the Christian Schools Australia franchise, the school is registered and accountable under the New South Wales Board of Studies.

Snowy Mountains Christian School curriculum differs from most primary schools in several ways.  Firstly, it is strongly based in its presuppositions from a Christian perspective and rooted in the vision of the school – to develop a Christian world view within the students.  Staff have developed Biblical Outcomes for each stage, and each KLA, in the SMCS curriculum.  In order to fulfill our vision, it is imperative that as Christian educators, we begin our thinking with God.  Our curriculum is therefore based on Christian texts and philosophies which build upon this foundation.  The Spalding method used to teach spelling, reading and writing, for instance, is based upon teaching clear phonemic building blocks, moving to words, spelling rules, sentences and then grammar concepts.  The SMCS maths program is based upon the same basic principles with students in younger grades learning their number facts through rote learning, then having the foundations to build into higher level conceptual maths in later grades.  Such a philosophy encompasses a God of order, and appeals to the way that we as people, have been created to learn.  In this way, our curriculum works with individual learning styles and gifting.

Parent Involvement

The school regards parents as having prime responsibility for the education of their children, so staff work co-operatively in partnership with parents. Each class has a Class Parent who works with the teacher and liaises with other parents to help with reading, computer use, excursions, sports and camps. 

Sport and Outdoor Education

SMCS is a member of the Primary Schools Sports Association and Christian Schools Sports Association and participates in a wide range of sports. Through the generosity of Commonwealth funding, the Stage 3 class has been able to participate in sports and outdoor camps for the past 2 years, including the Narabeen Sports and Recreation Camp as well as a coastal camp down at Tathra in 2008.  Classes plan at least 2 excursions a year to help enrich the educational development of all children from K-6.

Resource assistance is provided for students needing extra help with the basics of literacy and numeracy. Those who demonstrate advanced skills are extended through involvement in the various extension programs or participation in writing competitions and other challenges.

Reporting

Full written reports are provided at the end of each Semester (at the end of term 2 and Term 4). Parents are invited to participate in Parent/Teacher Interviews in Term 1 and in Term 3. Staff are always available for interviews and discussions throughout the year to foster our parent/teacher partnership.

A Christ-Centred Education

At Snowy Mountains Christian School (SMCS) our focus is on preparing children for the journey of life, with a Christian world view. We provide a Christ-centred education, in a school community that lives Christian principles and values.

In Partnership with Students and Families

SMCS serves families in the Monaro region who desire a Christian-based education for their children. Our staff are experts in their field who bring a passionate commitment to the school, working in open partnership with students and families.

A Nurturing Learning Environment

Students at SMCS are welcomed as individuals, each with their own special gifts. Enveloped in our nurturing learning environment, children are encouraged and empowered to develop skills for life, for future study and for the work force. We want them to be able to contribute to their world; to make a difference.

Achieving High Academic Results

High standards in literacy and numeracy education are priorities at SMCS. The accelerated numeracy curriculum introduced in 2002 continues to demonstrate successful results. SMCS teaches literacy at all primary levels using the Spalding Method, an outstanding phonetics-based system of learning reading, spelling and writing. LANNA (National benchmarking exams for literacy and numeracy) results continually display how every student greatly improves in their own averages for literacy and numeracy. Most results are above national averages.