At Dowerin District High School, our curriculum is guided by the Western Australian Curriculum, which incorporates elements of the Australian Curriculum. It is structured to support students from the early years through to Year 10 and includes:
- Early Years Learning Framework
- Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines
- Pre-primary to Year 10 Curriculum, which draws from both the Australian Curriculum and the Western Australian Curriculum Framework. As the national curriculum continues to evolve, it will progressively replace the existing framework.
Whole-School Approaches
We implement consistent, whole-school approaches in English and Mathematics, with a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy across all learning areas. These are particularly prioritised in the early years (Kindergarten to Year 2).
Our secondary specialist teachers support the delivery of Science, Humanities (History and Geography), and Physical Education in the primary school, ensuring subject expertise and continuity across year levels.
Specialist Programs
Students from Year 1 to Year 10 participate in a dedicated Visual Arts and Music program. In addition, students have opportunities to engage in specialist Clarinet lessons.
Technology and Enterprise
From Pre-primary to Year 6, Technology and Enterprise is often integrated into other learning areas to provide meaningful, project-based learning experiences. A highlight of this program is the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, offered in the upper primary years.
Auslan
Auslan is the official sign language of the deaf and hard of hearing community and has been adopted by Dowerin District High School as part of our commitment to the teaching of languages. From Years 3 to 8, students learn signs from a number of relevant topics such as greetings, colours, home and school words, animals and more. They also enjoy learning a language that requires movement and expression and are able to quickly build a large vocabulary. Learning Auslan as a second language also allows students to engage with a different culture and to enhance understanding of their own language and culture. This is essential in our increasingly diverse and changing world.
Secondary Learning Opportunities
Students in Years 7 to 10 have access to a range of specialist subjects, including:
- Home Economics (Cooking and Textiles), delivered by a specialist teacher
- Design and Technology (Woodwork and Metalwork)
- Visual Arts, delivered by a specialist teacher
- Music, delivered by a specialist teacher
Kindy Readiness Program
One of our cornerstone initiatives, the Kindy Readiness (KR) Program, is designed to build strong early connections between families and the school community. This program helps children begin their educational journey with confidence, supported by a nurturing and responsive environment. The KR Program runs in Semester 2, on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
For more information about the Western Australian Curriculum, please visit the following links: