The Department of Education and Training has released an app which is designed to help you better understand the curriculum we use to teach your children every day. The app, called SchoolMate, is available for free download now in the App Store for iPhones and iPads and in Google Play for Android phones and tablets.

SchoolMate gives you a general overview of the Victorian curriculum in each subject at each year. Educators from across the state from Victoria’s various teaching associations have worked with the Department to provide practical tips about what you can do at home to best support what your children are learning. Those teaching experts have also suggested books you may like to read with your child or that they may read themselves, and apps you can download that are related to what your child is learning.

Our school, like all other government schools in Victoria, uses AusVELS – the Australian Curriculum in Victoria – as the basis for the learning programs we run at school every day. Our teachers adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of our students and community, for example, designing learning programs around what your children are interested in, or around days or celebrations that are important to our community.  SchoolMate is designed to give you an overview of what children are expected to learn in Victorian government schools across every subject from Prep to Year 10.

I encourage you to download SchoolMate and to please talk with your teacher or the principal Mr Browne if you are interested to find out more about how our school teaches the curriculum. As SchoolMate is the first app of its kind, the Department would love to hear any feedback you have, and you can send this to online.comms.unit@edumail.vic.gov.au Feedback from parents and schools will inform any future updates to SchoolMate, so please get in touch if you have the time.