Your school 2014

2014

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Page 2—‘Your School’, June, 2014

FROM THE MINISTER Major League Indoor Sports

Victorian Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Wendy Lovell at the 2014 Victorian Education Excellence Awards with awards finalist, the team from Shepparton Neighbourhood Schools.

Back: DR Peter Eastaugh, Di Matheson and Travis Eddy from Gowrie St Primary School and Ceil Morris from St George’s Rd Primary School.

Front: Simone Higgins and Jenny Manuel from Wilmot Rd Primary School, Dougie Souter from St George’s Rd Primary School and Minister Wendy Lovell.

Schools keep striving for excellence As Victoria’s Children and Early Childhood Development Minister, I have the opportunity of seeing first-hand the hard work being done by students and teachers in schools and early years services across the state.

I recently had the opportunity to thank and congratulate Victoria’s very best teachers and early childhood educators, along with Education Minister Martin Dixon, at the 2014 Victorian Education Excellence Awards.

These awards honour the remarkable people working in our schools and early years services who bring out the very best in our children.

I was so proud that three Shepparton schools and early years services — Gowrie St Preschool and St George’s Rd and Wilmot

Published by Shepparton News Sponsored by GMCU www.sheppnews.com.au

Rd primary schools, which formed Shepparton Neighbourhood Schools — were among the 41 finalists in the awards.

Each story of education excellence highlighted by the 41 finalists is not only a personal triumph in a particular school or early learning service; it also inspires their colleagues across the education sector.

For me, education is the dedication and passion of people working in our schools and early years services that inspires young minds to explore new possibilities, set ambitious goals and prepare for new and exciting learning experiences.

When visiting kindergartens, it brings back the wonderful memories of doing puzzles, painting and developing friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

Shepparton has a thriving education system with 42 schools and 32 funded kindergarten services educating more than 12 500 students.

Recently I had the pleasure of opening the extension to the Gowrie St Preschool for which the Victorian Government invested $300 000 towards the construction of a new play room, increasing the number of preschool places from 47 to 53.

These grants are part of the government’s $120 million investment in building and upgrading children’s centres across Victoria, including many in regional Victoria.

I’m sure you will be inspired by what you see.

Wendy Lovell Victorian Children and Early Childhood Development Minister

YOUR SCHOOL Contents St George’s Rd Primary Guthrie St Primary Shepparton Christian College Bourchier St Primary Mooroopna Primary Shepparton East Primary Congupna Primary Rushworth P–12 College Kialla Central Primary Kialla West Primary Mooroopna Park Primary Wilmot Rd Primary

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 10 11 11

‘Your School’, June, 2014—Page 3

St George’s Rd Primary Major League Indoor Sports

Programs nurture leadership St George’s Rd Primary School’s driving values of respect, responsibility, pride and excellence underpin its classroom programs and the students’ play.

Principal Kerrianne ‘Dougie’ Souter said these values linked into the way everything ran in the school, which created a safe, stimulating and supportive environment for students and their families.

The school celebrates its multicultural community.

“Our school is distinguished by high expectations and a commitment to creating a positive school climate which encourages students to be the best that they can be,” Ms Souter said.

St George’s Rd Primary School runs many school-based activities that encourages parents to come into the school, even before their children start their school lives. Early years programs for zero to five-year-olds include Sensory Play, Mother Goose, Paint and Play and multicultural and Indigenous playgroup sessions. The holistic wrap-around approach is enhanced by parent education programs and a paediatric clinic, where families work in a closely connected way with teachers, the paediatrician and therapists to ensure

positive learning and school experiences for all children.

Skills and talents are nurtured with a broad range of opportunities. There is also the Community Board Games program.

“This has extended into an after-school learning program.” Ms Souter said.

“The Kitchen Garden is a special environmental and life skills program that is enjoyed by all. There is also a craft and knitting club, which is supported by a wonderful group of volunteers.

“Programs such as these develop student leadership, collaboration, social development and sense of community connectedness.”

There are small acceleration and intervention groups for literacy and numeracy that cater for individual differences. The school offers specialised programs for performing and visual arts and multimedia.

“We are proud of our students’ continued achievements in academic, sporting and visual and performing arts pursuits,” Ms Souter said.

The success of a comprehensive physical education and health program flows over into happy and inclusive play at recess and lunchtime breaks with competitive weekend

soccer, netball and football teams.

Students participate in a range of elective sporting opportunities including Active After-School Care program and Indigenous Before-School Games sessions weekly.

“Our performing arts productions incorporate multimedia, visuals arts, the school band, the choir, recorder and ukulele groups,” Ms Souter said.

“A recent addition to our performing arts prowess is our Didgeridoo Club.”

An extensive camps program and extracurricular excursions and events are an integral part of educating the “whole child”.

Arthur Mawson Children’s Centre is located on-site and provides three kindergarten groups and play and fun groups for children in the preschool age group. Ms Souter said it complemented the school’s early years initiatives.

The school has a second campus, Shepparton English Language Centre, which provides intensive English instruction for newly arrived/refugee students.

“We prepare our students for 21st century learning with the use of interactive whiteboards, podcasting and a netbook leasing program. The school has other digital resources such as cameras, iPads and

iPods along with the specialist multimedia area which every student experiences,” Ms Souter said.

“However literacy and numeracy remain our key focus in developing these foundation skills for success for the future.” n

Principal: Kerrianne ‘Dougie’ Souter Assistant principal: Cecelia Morris Address: 120 St George’s Rd, Shepparton Phone: 5821 3383

Fax: 5822 2481

Email: souter.kerri.a@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.stgeorges.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 370

Page 4—‘Your School’, June, 2014

Guthrie St Indoor Primary Major League Sports

In pursuit of personal best

Guthrie St Primary School is a school dedicated to learning and providing 21st-century resources and opportunities.

Young people at Guthrie St are nurtured and challenged to achieve their personal best. Their unique talents and gifts are valued and supported; creativity and imagination are encouraged and celebrated.

At Guthrie St learning is personal and social. Learning connects students and teachers not just to knowledge but to each other.

Principal Rob McCartney is passionate about Guthrie St. “We continually challenge our students to achieve their personal best and to make the most of every opportunity that life at school provides,” Mr McCartney said.

“We place a high priority on the core development of literacy and numeracy skills for all students.

“We are equally as focused on developing the emotional and social competencies that allow students to develop healthy relationships and to be positive and productive members of society.”

The students at Guthrie St are provided with an environment that suits the needs of 21st–century learners.

“A recent major building program has not only provided the school with an amazing new multipurpose centre but it has also allowed the school to redesign existing learning spaces,” Mr McCartney said.

“These new spaces allow all children to move outside their formal home-group for explicit numeracy instruction based at their individual point of need.

“Within all classrooms you will see students engaging in purposeful learning opportunities with laptops, iPads, iPods and interactive whiteboards at their fingertips.” n

Personal learning • Core development of literacy and numeracy skills • Emotional intelligence program • Fluid groupings for numeracy • AUSLAN as the LOTE choice • Use of technology – laptops; iPods; iPads; flip cameras; interactive whiteboards • Specialist programs – art, physical education, science, creative arts and library/multimedia • Student performances in music/drama Supportive programs • Student leadership • Junior School Council • One-on-one tutoring support in literacy and numeracy • Koori and ESL support programs • Speech support • After-school and weekend sports programs • Music lessons – singing, guitar, piano and keyboard (fee paying) • Camps, excursions and cultural performances • Kinder to Prep transition, Term 4 • Outside-school-hours care Facilities • Shepparton Deaf Facility for deaf and hearingimpaired students • Brand-new basketball stadium and multipurpose centre • Recently relocated library and resource centre • Renovated classroom spaces • Variety of playground equipment • Large oval • Expansive areas of Tiger Turf for ball games • Modern administration spaces

Principal: Rob McCartney Assistant Principals: Brendan Bicknell and Maureen Munro Address: Guthrie St, Shepparton Phone: 5821 1944 Email: guthrie.street.ps.shepparton@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.guthriestps.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 500

‘Your School’, June, 2014—Page 5

Shepparton Christian Major League Indoor Sports College

Learning backed by Christian values Shepparton Christian College is a vibrant, independent primary and secondary school in north Shepparton.

Its Prep to Year 12 students learn in a positive, creative, challenging and caring environment supported by biblical principles and Christian values.

The school’s broad range of programs focus on helping its young people grow with strong academic, practical, social and spiritual knowledge.

Chris Aiton, who has been the school’s principal since the beginning of the year, said the curriculum was designed to meet the requirements of the Australian Curriculum with an integrated biblical world view.

“We focus on developing the God-given gifts and talents of our young people. We recognise differences in gifts and abilities and want to see every young person do their personal best,” Mr Aiton said.

The college achieves this by having a strong academic environment and co-curricular activities, which engage and challenge students.

Capping classes at 24 students in each means all students get individual attention to help them flourish.

Shepparton Christian College offers VCE, VET and VCAL pathways through senior school, which provides a variety of post-school options including tertiary studies at university, TAFE, traineeships and employment.

Students also have opportunities to engage in a wide variety of co-curricular programs, including instrumental music tuition, concert and chapel worship bands,

intra-school and interschool sports and student leadership programs.

The people of Shepparton Christian College have impressed Mr Aiton since he became principal.

“We have really wonderful, committed teachers who are passionate about the school. The students are a great bunch of young people from all over the Goulburn Valley.

“Our students are respectful and engaged. They care for each other.”

Benefits of a Prep to Year 12 environment include younger students looking up to the older students, and older students looking out for the younger ones. Continuity between primary and secondary school strengthens the school’s community.

Mr Aiton said Shepparton Christian College fostered strong relationships between students, parents, teachers and the church.

“We have a partnership with parents in raising young people. Parents obviously have the lead role but school and church play an integral part in helping them grow.”

The school’s 9 ha of well maintained grounds and facilities — which include modern classrooms, sport courts, oval and stadium — enhance the learning environment. The school is on the same site as Encounter Christian Church but has separate boards of governance.

“The school aims to serve the broader Christian community of Greater Shepparton and surrounds,” Mr Aiton said.

“We have a wide range of churches and denominations represented in our school community.” n

Principal: Chris Aiton Address: 155 Verney Rd, Shepparton Phone: 5831 7790 Fax: 5831 7793 Email: admin@scc.vic.edu.au Website: www.scc.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years Prep–12: 205

Page 6—‘Your School’, June, 2014

Bourchier Primary Major LeagueSt Indoor Sports

Respect, Responsibility, Integrity

Space to learn and play Bourchier St Primary School has a long tradition of academic excellence. We believe academic success is important, but so are the values that go with it.

Our curriculum is broad and challenging, designed to help students explore their own identities and strengths.

We encourage students to take part in school activities which nurture their growth —academic, social, spiritual, cultural and physical. Developing natural curiosity and channelling it towards discovery allows our students to explore the full range of their abilities.

Academic excellence A commitment to ensuring every child is literate and numerate • Outstanding resourcing in wholeschool literacy and numeracy program supported with up-to-date computer and information technology resources • Literacy and numeracy, school data at or above state averages

• Additional support: Reading Recovery, Making a Difference 3 to 6 and additional individualised learning programs • Quality ESL program, qualified English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher • Speech and articulation • Social skills development ensuring a safe, orderly school environment for all children: Bounce Back, Restorative Justice philosophy Special interest programs An opportunity for all to shine • Health and physical education — including athletics, swimming, camping and Saturday sporting teams • Creative arts including drama, dance and music • Visual arts • Music programs — school band, choir, singing, dance • School productions • Active After-School Care programs which have included karate, calisthenics, dance, football clinics, ball skills

Student support services • Full-time student wellbeing teacher • School chaplain • Breakfast program • Buddy program Prep to Year 6 • Diverse opportunities for students to be involved in leadership roles • K Kids Kiwanis Club School facilities and resources • Extensive ovals and playground spaces • Comfortable air-conditioned buildings • School canteen • After-School and Vacation-Care programs

BEST ALWAYS

Principal: Judy Park Assistant principal: Denise Howley Address: Cr Bourchier St and Balaclava Rd, Shepparton Phone: 5821 3488 Fax: 5821 5680 Email: bourchier.street.ps.shepparton@ edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.bourchierps.vic.edu.au

Parent involvement • Parents and Friends • School council • Sporting programs • Classroom helpers • Canteen helpers • Camps and excursions • Play group

Enrolments Years P–6: 628 students

‘Your School’, June, 2014—Page 7

Mooroopna Primary Major League Indoor Sports

Preparing for tomorrow

Mooroopna Primary School is committed to providing a safe, happy and nurturing environment for its students.

Children at the school are encouraged to: • develop proficiency in an integrated curriculum with emphasis on literacy and numeracy • acquire decision making, problem solving and critical thinking skills • respect all members of the school community and their property • communicate freely and work co-operatively with others • develop a commitment to complete their work to their maximum potential • improve their skills and fitness level through a well-balanced physical education and sport program.

The school has committed, approachable and professional staff who work in a co-operative and supportive manner, planning and providing a seven-year integrated program for each student in all curriculum areas.

In addition, Mooroopna Primary School provides a number of special Curriculum Support and Enrichment programs that have been developed to cater for the local needs of the students.

Breakfast and Active After School Care programs further support our students.

Mooroopna Primary School provides specialist programs in art, music, performance and technology. Literacy and numeracy support is offered throughout the school.

Mooroopna Primary School is endowed with excellent facilities including a modern library with computerised borrowing system, art room and hall.

The new building has provided an open learning environment that promotes 21st century learning.

Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 are able to participate in our one-to-one Netbook program.

Strong home-school relationships are maintained and regular communication and parental involvement is encouraged.

Mooroopna Primary School promotes and acknowledges positive student engagement in all learning areas. n

Principal: Steve Rogers Assistant Principal: Karen Goodwin Address: 16–18 O’Brien St, Mooroopna PO Box 279 Phone: 5825 2060 Fax: 5825 1303 Email: mooroopna.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.mooroopna.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 253

Page 8—‘Your School’, June, 2014

Shepparton East Sports Primary Major League Indoor

By learning, we grow

Situated just 4 km from Shepparton Marketplace, Shepparton East Primary School is a friendly, happy school which embraces learning and individual talents.

“Our school provides a quality education with a strong emphasis on literacy, numeracy, physical education and the performing arts,” Shepparton East Primary School principal Trent McCrae said.

“We strive for excellence in teaching and learning while providing a safe, stimulating and positive environment for our students.”

With high expectations and providing a range of opportunities, programs offered include science, LOTE (Italian), art, performing arts, library, sport and a perceptual motor program (PMP).

Support programs also provided by Shepparton East Primary School include Reading Recovery, student leadership development, a Ready, Set, Prep program for new Prep students, and the use of literacy and numeracy specialists. A school chaplain is also employed, providing support for families, working in classrooms and running the breakfast program.

“The school strives to meet the

individual needs of students, catering for those who require assistance as well as fostering talents and interests,” Mr McCrae said.

“When combining our small class sizes with our high quality educational programs and teachers, individual education needs are always catered for.”

Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as camps and excursions, weekend sport, swimming, Active After School, choir and guitar, piano and singing lessons.

Parental involvement and participation in these and other school activities is encouraged, particularly hearing reading in the mornings and with the school concert held at the end of each year.

“We understand that children learn best when parents are involved in their education,” Mr McCrae said.

“Parents help us instil in our students the school’s values of caring for ourselves, others, our learning and our school.’’

He said there was a high standard of information communication technology throughout the school.

“All classes have their own interactive whiteboards, netbook computers and

digital cameras and our Years 4 to 6 students have their own iPads.

“In addition to our formal maths and literacy sessions, we also offer developmental curriculum and inquiry-based learning programs across the school, allowing students to learn at their own pace, based on their strengths and interests.”

Mr McCrae said Shepparton East Primary School used a buddy program to support students.

The school had also received recognition for its behaviour management and positive acknowledgement systems, and was leading the way for other schools in the region.

“We are a Mentor School for the School Wide Positive Behaviour System,” he said.

“As part of that we now mentor 10 schools in the Campaspe cluster; we visit their principals, review their school systems and provide advice and support.”

Shepparton East Primary School boasts a range of open-learning buildings and facilities, complementing its spacious grounds, ovals and eating areas.

Mr McCrae would love to show interested people around the school. n

Principal: Trent McCrae Address: Benalla Rd, Shepparton East Phone: 5829 2426 Fax: 5829 2683 Email: shepparton.east.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.shepeastps.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 176

‘Your School’, June, 2014—Page 9

Congupna Major League Primary Indoor Sports

School is proudly part of community Just a seven-minute drive north of Shepparton in a picturesque setting, Congupna Primary School is a small school where teachers, specialist staff, children and families enjoy the serene country atmosphere and an intimate and caring community.

Congupna Primary School is one of the region’s most respected rural schools, priding itself on connectedness and a personalised approach to learning that enables all students to reach their full academic potential.

Principal Rosemary Hepworth said the peaceful atmosphere and engaging facilities including a refurbished senior learning centre, sensory garden, extensive playground and sporting fields promoted practical engagement.

“One of the key features of our school is that we have the opportunity to provide an absolutely holistic learning environment,” Ms Hepworth said.

“Children have the freedom to explore and question what can be, and then they can link that to formal classroom practice.”

Ms Hepworth said the most important value underpinned at Congupna was ‘shared respect gives us freedom of choice’, which students developed and embodied during their formative years.

Congupna Primary School offers rich literacy and numeracy learning opportunities for students, and math journals are a key feature of the senior section.

“This is an extraordinary program in our

school, where children come up with an idea, investigate, create, report and evaluate it,” Ms Hepworth said.

“It is learning by doing and it develops an understanding that maths has a key purpose in everyday learning.”

Each of the 67 students has their own Netbook which is accessed every day in whole-class learning tasks; blending information technology is acknowledged as an important skill.

Interactive learning is enabled through innovative communication technology, which allows the school to engage with other schools worldwide.

“The connection to the broader world allows the children to take their learning across every subject area in a confident manner and to practise their craft with students around the world — it is amazing,” Ms Hepworth said.

Regular communication is maintained between parents and the school via phone calls, newsletters, the web page, emails and parent-teacher meetings, but most importantly personal conversation.

Parent participation is warmly encouraged and parents can contribute through the school council, Parents and Friends, curriculum support and fundraising activities and can also attend school assemblies and annual major excursions.

“It is so important to have parent participation in the classroom and we have a great parent reading team that come in and share reading with the children from Monday to

Friday,” Ms Hepworth said.

Students are involved in environmental learning and can work with the Landcare group in the pony paddock, or in the student-run vegetable garden and chicken coop.

“Every child that comes to the school plants a native Australian tree in the pony paddock; that builds a sense of responsibility for taking care of our fauna,” Ms Hepworth said.

“It brings the pony paddock to life for the children and it gives a great purpose.”

Ms Hepworth said this hands-on learning approach catered for all learning styles, and children developed an understanding for caring for animals through practical engagement, including handling and feeding.

Garden produce is used in delicious recipes made in the school’s kitchen for the whole school to share and enjoy.

“When we harvested the potatoes last year, we had the most fantastic baking day where the children made curly fries - it all serves a really practical purpose and they really love it.”

This physical skill-building is strongly linked to academic learning at Congupna.

There is an embedded focus on academic, personal, physical and emotional student and community health.

After-school care is provided Monday to Friday through Stepping Stones.

Active After School is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. There is the opportunity for

children to build skills in soccer, football, netball, tennis and athletics, which encourages participation in the broader sporting community later in their lives.

Congupna Primary School also runs a welcoming playgroup for children from birth to school age every second Friday morning, from 9.30 am to 11 am.

Ms Hepworth said Congupna Primary School was at the heart of the community, which embedded the values of fairness, respect and trust and formed the foundation for children to become conscientious adult members of society.

“Congupna Primary School is where community means everything, and our passion for learning and teaching thrives.”

Principal: Rosemary Hepworth Address: 3580 Katamatite Rd, Congupna Phone: 5829 9286 Fax: 5829 9091 Email: congupna.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.congupnaps.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 67

Page 10—‘Your School’, June, 2014

Rushworth P–12 Sports College Major League Indoor

Catering for all learning styles Engaging classrooms and a range of high-reliability teaching strategies encourage students to reach their full potential at Rushworth P–12 College.

Principal Brad Moyle said supportive staff provided a nurturing learning environment and aimed to ensure a year of academic growth was achieved from each student every calendar year.

He said high value was placed on student leadership and the nature of the Prep to Year 12 college offered a fantastic opportunity for senior students to act as role models.

“It is the best of both worlds; it gives our senior students the chance to be ambassadors for other students, and the younger students have mentors who care

about them and who they can look up to,” Mr Moyle said.

“Our students are really responsive and have a genuine level of care and concern for other members of the community.”

Leadership is further developed through a range of activities including the Student Voice program, Student Representative Council, and the Year 9 Youth Empowerment program, and a week-long leadership summit for two students each year in partnership with Bendigo Bank.

An award-winning Community Involvement program where CFA volunteers train students in firefighting and team skills is also offered to Year 9 students.

Rushworth P–12 College has outstanding facilities including small class sizes and

Kialla Central Primary

Encouraging lifelong learning Kialla Central Primary School offers a safe environment where students are encouraged to develop a sense of pride, self-esteem and personal identity.

Principal Debbie Humphries said the school fostered positive relationships within the community and with parents, which contributed to the nurturing atmosphere within the classroom and playground.

“Our school, in partnership with our community, is committed to educating all students, encouraging them to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens within our rapidly changing society,” Ms Humphries said.

The values of respect, trust, learning, teamwork, excellence and sense of community underpin the school’s learning environment.

Staff work with the children on an individual level to ensure they achieve academic and social development, while

also teaching them to show care and concern for other people and property.

A wide range of student interests are catered for including keyboard and guitar lessons, sporting activities and school excursions — which support learning outside the classroom.

Ms Humphries said final refurbishments of the school’s outstanding facilities were nearing completion.

A playgroup is held each fortnight, and the school also has an Outside of School Care program, which has operated under the care of the same co-ordinator for nearly three decades. n Principal: Debbie Humphries Address: 128 Central Kialla Rd, Kialla Phone: 5827 1373 Email: kialla.central.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.kiallacentralps.vic.edu.au Enrolments: 62

caters for a wide range of student interests and abilities, with the breadth of VCE subjects expanding to include geography, outdoor education and information technology.

Prep to Year 6 students enjoy the benefits of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, from weeding to watering and harvesting vegetables to cook and eat.

Mr Moyle said a positive school culture was key to a great learning environment, and students were encouraged to embody the values of respect, responsibility and resilience.

“These qualities can be applied to all areas of life; whether it be as a good student at school or a supportive family member at home — they are applicable anywhere.” n

Principal: Brad Moyle Address: Heily St, Rushworth Phone: 5856 1230 Email: rushworth.p12@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.rushworthp-12.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–12: 180

Kialla West Primary

Engaging students creatively The values of resilience, excellence and pride underpin the learning environment at Kialla West Primary School, located just a few minutes’ drive south of Shepparton in a peaceful country setting.

Principal Wes Teague said a strong community connection combined with parent engagement created a unique atmosphere at the school.

“Our school has a notion of not only learning together, but also caring for one another,” Mr Teague said.

Kialla West Primary School staff work collaboratively to plan the learning for children at each year level, and nurture each child as an individual.

Junior school students engage in investigative learning which provides a great introduction to the school curriculum.

“These are creative sessions where the students make things and develop literacy and numeracy skills, as well as general

reading and writing abilities,” Mr Teague said.

He said the school also prided itself on offering an up-to-date curriculum, with the use of the latest technology.

Students in Years 3 to 6 have the opportunity to engage with Kialla Central Primary School students on combined school camps, allowing them to develop their social skills.

An Outside School Hours Care program operates each school night from 3.30 pm to 6 pm, providing supervision for children whose parents are working or are unable to collect their children at 3.30 pm due to appointments. n Principal: Wes Teague Address: 7370 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla West Phone: 5823 1333 Email: kialla.west.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.kiallawestps.vic.edu.au Enrolments: 207

‘Your School’, June, 2014—Page 11

Mooroopna Park Sports Primary Major League Indoor

Creating opportunities for excellence Mooroopna Park Primary School’s dedication to creating bright futures for students in a positive learning environment has been supported through continual growth in enrolments.

The school has a strong focus on encouraging students to strive for excellence.

Principal Hayden Beaton said the school was expanding in technology to include more iPads and Netbooks for students, and a new Polycom unit, which would enable communication with other schools around the world.

Mr Beaton said parents were encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education, and this was facilitated through parent/student lunches held every second Thursday from 12.20 pm to 1 pm.

“The students love their parents coming to the school, they are so enthusiastic when mum and dad are here and they want to show-off what they have worked on,” Mr Beaton said.

He said the lunches also connected the school to the broader community and were a great way for parents to form networks as well.

Students will soon be able to grow their own fresh produce in a new vegetable garden, which is being constructed with the support from the Community Fund.

“The idea is that they will be able to use the produce in their cooking, which leads back into other areas of the curriculum, such as numeracy,” Mr Beaton said.

Excellence in academic learning is

supported through a number of activities, and students can also participate in the “Build a Bike” program, run through the Mooroopna Kiwanis Club.

Physical education, art, music, science, library and information technology programs are also on offer.

Mr Beaton said the school would soon have a new smart phone application to make communication simpler.

“It will help us engage with parents, we will be able to send out notifications and reminders via the application,” he said.

Being part of the community is at the heart of the school, which has utilised its resources through partnerships with other schools in the region to continue improvements for the future. n

Wilmot Rd Primary School

Excellence for all Wilmot Rd Primary School is situated in south Shepparton with an enrolment of 270 students, with 65 per cent coming from diverse cultural backgrounds. Our focus is on the four Ps — Precision, Personalisation, Professional Learning and Partnerships — to ensure we have a whole-school approach to using data to better inform our teaching and learning.

Our school has comprehensive support programs including literacy and numeracy class intervention, Maths and Literacy Acceleration, Reading Recovery, Shepparton English Language Centre Outpost, ESL Tutor and intervention programs. Up to 170 students gained individual intervention in 2013 alone. Our school has sustained strong student improvement in both literacy and numeracy throughout the past four years.

School principal Jenny Manuel believes these results show the success of the practices that are in place to support students’ learning.

“We know the students need to be strong in these areas to fulfil their aspirations for the future,” Mrs Manuel said.

The school’s food science garden provides students the opportunity to grow, eat and

appreciate healthy food.

Arabic, Afghani and Koori Family Liaison Officers continue to provide communication and access to services for our parents. This has now extended to adult learning sessions for the parents of our students.

Mrs Manuel said the school hosts a paediatric clinic every three weeks to support family access to health and wellbeing services.

Over the past two years, the school has strengthened its Early Years programs by offering three playgroups throughout the week that are facilitated by a qualified Early Childhood Educator.

The school has a strong focus on technology, and all foundation and Year 1 students have a personal laptop. All Year 4 to 6 students access their learning via a personal netbook.

The staff and students also have access to iPods, iPads, and flip cameras to further complement the learning experience.

A breakfast program runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and a learning club runs each Tuesday and Thursday after school. The Active After School physical education program runs twice a week and the school also has keen soccer teams which compete on Saturdays. n

Principal: Jenny Manuel Assistant Principal: Simone Higgins Address: 84–90 Wilmot Rd, Shepparton Phone: 5821 4953 Fax: 5821 1885 Email: wilmot.road.ps.shepparton@ edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.wilmotrd.vic.edu.au Facebook: www.facebook.com /WilmotRoadPrimarySchool Enrolments years P–6: 270

Principal: Hayden Beaton Address: MacIsaac Rd, Mooroopna Phone: 5825 3856 Fax: 5825 3738 Email: mooroopna.park.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.mpps.vic.edu.au Enrolments Years P–6: 110

Page 12—‘Your School’, June, 2014

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