Wilmot Road PS 50 years

Wilmot Road Primary School celebrates

CELEBRATING FIVE DECADES… Wilmot Road Primary School is celebrating 50 years of providing high quality education to the local community. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

Educating a community IT WAS in 1967 that the doors first opened to what has become one of the many primary schools that have engrained themselves as such an important part of the Greater Shepparton region, and in just a couple of weeks, Wilmot Road Primary School will be celebrating its 50 year anniversary.

Wilmot Road Primary School started with 300 students and while over time those numbers have fluctuated from around 708 to the current enrolment of 295 students, each student has left after having been provided with the highest quality learning, support and instilled with skills to meet their future goals.

During the past 50 years many staff have passed through the school’s doors, each bringing their own talents to instil a love of learning in students.

Wilmot Road Primary School’s successive school councils, parents’ clubs and volunteers have guided and defined policy, actively raised funds and sourcing grants to expand the buildings and structures including a community hall, playground equipment and shade structures, state-of-the-art technology, new art room, maintained buildings and provided educational learning resources.

Principal, Jenny Manuel said, “The 50 year celebration is exciting as it means nostalgic memories to us all.

“Wilmot Road Primary School has always been a proud partner with its community and parents providing great learning experiences and opportunities. “Together we have assisted students to learn and grow into responsible citizens.

“We do not know what the future 50 plus years will bring but we do know that our school will be at the forefront of education and learning, positively and creatively servicing our community as it always has done.”

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1344 Wednesday, March 8, 2017 – Page 21

Wilmot Road Primary School celebrates

Family’s H strong S connection

ASSOCIATION SPANS THROUGH GENERATIONS… Local resident, Pauline West (back) attended Wilmot Road Primary School 33 years ago, and has had four of her children graduate from the school already, has three of her children currently attending (from left, front), 9 year old Ruby Cooper G4, 7 year old, Bridget Cooper G2 and 9 year old Bella Cooper G4 and has one yet to start prep. Photo: Alicia Niglia.

I T WA S 33 ye a r s ago t h at lo c a l resident, Pauline West attended Wilmot Road Primary School as a student and amazingly, her connection with the school has continued on, spanning through seven of her children, with one yet to start at the school.

Pauline said, “Four of my children have already gone through and now attend high school, I have three children currently enrolled and there is one more yet to start prep.

“Our family has a strong connection with Wilmot Road Primary School. We live close to the school and my kids really enjoy going there.

“The teachers have all been fantastic.

There have been teachers who have taught my children who taught me when I attended, which is a really special thing.”

‘A Pictorial History’ is an 80 page book highlighting

50 years of Wilmot Road Primary School and is available for $35 at the school.

Celebrations to ring out TO help the students and the wider community celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wilmot Road Primary School, there will be a range of activities held at the school over the coming weeks that will take students, teachers, parents and people of the Greater Shepparton region on a tour through past and present.

For further enquires on any of the activities, phone the school office on 5821 4953.

50TH YEAR REUNION On Friday, March 24 old friends, staff and any others who have been associated with Wilmot Road Primary School over the years will be encouraged to attend a ‘Get Together Evening.’ The event is adults only and will be held from 7pm to 11pm at the McIntosh Centre, Shepparton Showgrounds. BYO with finger food available. The cost is $25 per head. Tickets must be purchased prior to the night via the website www.wilmotrd.vic.edu.au or at the school. Memorabilia and tickets purchased prior can be collected on the night or at the school.

Page 22 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1344 Wednesday, March 8, 2017

FREE OPEN DAY On Saturday, March 25 from 10am to 2pm the school will host an open day which will see activities carried out such as a 10am opening ceremony, self guided tours of the school, photos and time capsule display, coffee van on-site and a collection of memorabilia on sale.

There will also be a raffle drawn at 1pm.

STUDENTS HISTORY DAY On March 21, students will have the chance to celebrate the past 50 years of education at Wilmot Road Primary School. This will involve going through old school routines such as the reciting of the Oath of Allegiance, singing of God Save the Queen anthem and teaching of the strict rules that were in place 50 years ago. Students will also be able to enjoy lessons in calligraphy, quilling, writing on chalkboards and using ink. Elastics, rhymes, quoits, string games with hands, marbles and a range of sports and games will also be played and staff will wear past outfits that were worn throughout the five decades.

A school’s greatest asset ONE OF a school’s greatest assets is its teachers. The dedication and care they put into a child’s education can be priceless. At Wilmot Road Primary School, there have been many fantastic teachers come and go, each of who have had a great impact on the students they taught. Then there are some who are still there after many years. Cathrine Armstrong and Carol Davidson are two such staff members. children getting along together and playing CATHRINE ARMSTRONG Having been a part of the Wilmot Road happily.

“The best thing about the school would Primary School family for 39 years, Cathrine commenced as a parent of students at the have to be our wonderful staff that make school and has, over the years, been involved many sacrifices to help our students’ learning in the Parents’ Club (secretary), School and experiences pleasurable. I feel it is a social Council president (1989), worked as a caring place to work, with staff caring and community liaison officer, then in the office understanding of students’ backgrounds.”

CAROL DAVIDSON and today works as a class aid and first aider.

Carol commenced employment as a class Cathrine said, “I enjoy the kids and it’s been great to have such good contact with parents, teacher in 1989 and over her 27 years has students and privileged to work alongside such worked across most year levels. Over the caring and dedicated staff who go out of their past eight years she has been the arts teacher/ performing arts teacher. way to make children’s lives much better.

Carol said, “I have enjoyed teaching the “There have been changes in the school’s demog raph ic s. We’ve b e come more cohorts of students across the years. I have multicultural and it’s been successful with all moved to the arts as I have a flair and great

Wilmot Road Primary School celebrates

DEDICATED TO TEACHING… From left, long term staff members at Wilmot Road Primary School, Cathrine Armstrong and Carol Davidson. Photo: David Lee.

interest in this area.

“Over the years class sizes have decreased considerably and technology has enhanced children’s learning significantly.

“I love seeing the growth of students’ development, particularly in the arts as they progress through the years.”

Get to know what we have to offer THE REGULAR CURRICULUM Wilmot Road Primary School follows the Victorian Curriculum, and like all state schools includes as standard teachings in English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Physical Education, the Arts, Languages (Italian), Technology (with a huge emphasis on coding) and building student capacity in leadership, intercultural learning, civics and citizenship.

TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM Grade 5/6 students are working on digital technologies.

They have their own netbook computers that they use daily in their classrooms and are also involved in coding and computational thinking classes.

At present they are learning how to add scripts within a program called Scratch and will be showcasing their finished work later in the term. Children will then be able to further their interests by joining a global group called Code Club, which will be initiated at the school from term 2.

Junior grades are taught how to program simple robots and experiment with different coding language. They all have their own touch screen tablet/netbook device called an XO that they use in their classrooms every day as well as a weekly specialist technology session.

A big feature of the technology program

is an e-safety program, which involves all students learning about online and offline safety. Cyberbullying and internet safety are taught as well as the importance of the digital footprint. Children also learn about social media and the impact that over sharing can have.

The school also extends its safety unit to incorporate the Daniel Morcombe curriculum of child safety.

MULTICULTURAL INCLUSION Shepparton has always been multicultural and Wilmot Road Primary School opens its doors to each family regardless of culture including Greeks, Turkish, Italians, Arabic, Afghan, Samoan and African.

The school acknowledges every cultural group and holds celebrations across each culture such as Christmas, Easter, Eid and Ramadan to name a few.

PARENTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, PLAYGROUPS AND HOMEWORK Parent courses including learning English are run in partnership with ACE. The school offers a unique scholarship and junior ambassadorship program with 11 partners from the community, including businesses and education partners.

There is strong teaching and learning in literacy, numeracy and science with additional support programs for students requiring help and to extend gifted learners.

There are also three playgroups conducted, which are coordinated by a kinder teacher each week to assist families with the early learning skills of their 0-5 year olds. This program is also a social activity for mums.

Two weekly after school homework clubs are also run to assist students in completing learning and reading with adults trained to help.

The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1344 Wednesday, March 8, 2017 – Page 23