Shepparton East Primary School Program develops the whole child

With the resources of a large school yet the close-knit community of a small school, Shepparton East Primary School embraces the individual.

Just a few minutes drive from Shepparton with wide open spaces, the school community is one big happy family.

Principal Les Walsh said Shepparton East was a welcoming place with an emphasis on parent involvement.

“We have a great country feel. You walk around our school and people are happy and friendly,” Mr Walsh said.

“We have a really strong school community; we actively encourage parent involvement by running a Parent Education Program where parents are trained to be helpers in the classrooms.”

Shepparton East is continuing its partnership with the Resilience Project, which teaches students about gratitude, empathy and mindfulness. It is one of 20 schools in Australia that have been sponsored to run the Resilience Project.

The school has a comprehensive literacy and numeracy program complemented by inquiry-based learning programs, and Mr Walsh said this allowed students to learn at their own pace and develop their strengths and interests.

“It’s about preparing them for the future to be well-rounded individuals,” he said.

“The school strives to meet the individual needs of students, catering for those who require assistance as well as fostering talents.”

In addition, Shepparton East o ers Art, Performing Arts, Library, Sport, a Perceptual Motor Program and Science.

Teachers have been upskilled in the teaching of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, including two teachers who specialise in science.

Mr Walsh said the inquiry-based programs tied into students’ interests.

“It promotes student engagement, develops oral language and has direct links into our formal literacy

Principal Les Walsh | Foundation to Year 6 | 250 students

Benalla Rd, Shepparton East | 5829 2426 sheppeastps.vic.edu.au and numeracy lessons.”

The school is continually adding new resources and opening further learning opportunities, including the addition of a robotics program in the Year 5/6 area.

Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as camps and excursions, weekend sporting teams, swimming, choir and guitar lessons.

Mr Walsh said it was all about developing the whole child.

The school uses a buddy program to support students and has also received recognition for its behaviour management and positive acknowledgement systems.

“The culture of our school really sits under that framework of caring for yourself, caring for others, caring for your learning and caring for your school,” Mr Walsh said.

“To do that we explicitly teach what those values are and what those behaviours and actions look like, so students know how to care for their learning in a reading session, or out on an excursion.”

A school chaplain is also employed, providing support for families, working in classrooms and running the breakfast program with parent and sta helpers.

Before-school and after-school care is provided each day during school terms.

Mr Walsh said being an eSmart school meant there was a high standard of information communication technology and cyber safety processes.

“All classes have their own interactive whiteboard as well as iPads. The junior classes each have their own sets and our Years 3 to 6 students have their own iPads.”