Our School Curriculum
At Dominion Road School, we are focused on building strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, and inquiry-based learning. Our school curriculum is relevant, challenging and exciting.
With the support of their teachers, students regularly reflect on their achievements and share their learning with their whānau through our weekly sharing assemblies, newsletters, Seesaw and Facebook page.
Our smaller class sizes allow for more personalised learning, and progress is carefully monitored to ensure students are reaching their potential. Where additional support is needed, we provide targeted teaching and resources to meet individual needs.
English
We use a structured literacy approach to provide every student with a strong foundation in reading, writing, and oral language. This is complemented with a range of rich literature resources and a well stocked library that enables teachers to share a love of reading with all children. Our students build their confidence as oral communicators through real-world opportunities such as presenting to an audience in school productions, plays, school and team assemblies and sharing their pepeha with others.
Students develop their writing through engaging and authentic experiences with explicit teaching to support the development of handwriting, spelling and written language skills.
Mathematics & Statistics
We use the Maths — No Problem! resource to build strong number sense and mathematical thinking. This structured, research-based approach aligns with the New Zealand Maths & Statistics Curriculum and supports students to become confident mathematicians who have an enjoyment of Maths.
Science
Science is taught throughout the school and children get the opportunity to carry out scientific investigations, using an inquiry approach to explore the world around us. Our Garden to Table programme naturally incorporates many Science concepts in an authentic and engaging context and all students get the opportunity to experience all four seasons in the garden and the kitchen.
We utilise experts in our community to work on local projects including the monitoring of our local waterway, Te Auaunga. We are proud to be a Silver Enviro School and prioritise sustainability practices, using real life contexts to empower students to become kaitiaki of the natural world.
Social Sciences
Our local curriculum ensures students get the opportunity to explore the history, people, and stories of our region, including an understanding and awareness of Te Ao Māori and the role it plays in our rich and diverse history. Importance is placed on students developing an understanding of different perspectives, thinking critically about the past and present, and making connections between local, national, and global contexts within Aotearoa New Zealand.
Digital Technology
Every student from Year 3-6 has access to digital technology and there are Chromebooks and some ipads in each room. These are used under teacher direction and for organised tasks and research. Online safety is explicitly taught to students in Years 3-6 at the beginning of each year.
The Arts
Our whole school incorporates the Arts throughout the year and through our inquiry approach. Each year, students produce work for our annual art exhibition and every second year we have a whole school production, which is a highlight for our school community. We have strong Kapa Haka, Pasifika and Bollywood student groups which practise each week and perform at school and community events, including our school’s Cultural Festival at the end of the year.
Learning Languages
Te Reo Māori is incorporated into daily classroom programmes. We have a part time Te Reo and Kapa Haka teacher who introduces new waiata and language for our tamariki to learn alongside what teachers are already using in their teaching and learning programmes.
Health & Physical Education
Physical activity is a priority for our students' physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing. There are many opportunities for a wide range of sports and zone events each term as well as friendly lunchtime sporting events with local schools. Classes take part in fitness on a daily basis and a range of skills are taught at each year level in the Physical Education programme.
Our school uses the Mitey programme to actively teach skills to support resilience, positive relationships and wellbeing. We have a school pool and water safety skills are taught each summer. Throughout the year, we run Wheels Days and other whole school events that tie in with real world and cultural events, such as the Commonwealth and Olympic games, Ki o Rahi etc. We use a range of external providers to support our Health and Physical Education Curriculum including St John, NZ Police, Sport Auckland, Life Education and Firewise.
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC)
We provide regular EOTC opportunities for our students. Every two years our Year 5/6 students attend a three day camp. Throughout the year there are trips and educational opportunities that provide valuable hands-on learning experiences in real-world contexts.