The major quality indicators that guide the development and delivery of the curriculum at APS include the following:

• Child-centered education, where individual children’s educational and social needs are addressed
• Communication skills that include the ability to read, write, speak, spell, and listen
• Numeracy skills
• Curriculum that is taught in an interdisciplinary manner
• Emphasis on both content knowledge and process skills
• Provision of learning experiences, which allow children to construct knowledge through inquiry.

We believe an integrated approach to teaching and learning along with the use of 21st century technologies is the key to providing powerful learning experiences for children. An integrated approach (the main aim is to look for natural and meaningful opportunities) to curriculum delivery will provide students with rich learning opportunities, real life contexts, a wide range of learning experiences, as well as involving the community in the learning journey. While we believe this to be important, we will continue to teach our core curriculum in a structured and scheduled manner to ensure each of the curriculum areas receives equal coverage.

Using the strategy of guided inquiry, students explore specific units of study related to Science, Technology, Social Sciences & Health. These units are developed around the following universal themes:

• Who We Are
• Where We Are in Place and Time
• How We Express Ourselves
• How the World Works
• How We Organize Ourselves
• How We Share the Planet

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Arts
• Physical Education & Health

Excursions and incursions are linked in closely with the curriculum and as such are seen as an essential part of the learning process.

The importance of excursions / incursions for students are to:

• provide first hand experiences that are difficult to achieve in the classroom.
• widen the student’s horizons of interest and understanding of the complexities of the environment about them.
• learn about and live in co-operation with others.
• develop the skills of observation, note taking and the reporting of events.

Before a student is taken on any excursion it will be necessary for him / her to return the permission and medical form which must be signed by their parent or guardian. If for some reason, there is a financial concern, parents may be able to negotiate other arrangements for payment. This arrangement is to be made with the Principal.