CHILDREN back at school this week are in for a few new changes following the seven weeks summer holidays.
From new playgrounds to waterwise systems, and new exercise programs to Language Development Centres, schools around the Peel and Murray region are kicking off the school year to a good start.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the developments at local schools.
• Ocean Road Primary School has had new playgrounds installed in the Kindergarten and pre primary sections and is having air-conditioning installed in two blocks.
The staff will also be doing extra training in collaborative planning and coaching as part of the Australian Government quality teacher program.
• Pinjarra Primary School will be having a Language Development Centre built in the school to cater for children with speech difficulties.
They have also had new playground equipment installed as well as updating the previous equipment, and students this year can take part in the Blue Earth physical activity program which will help the students to stay fit and healthy.
• Halls Head Primary School will be trialing some daily fitness programs across the school as part of the National Strategy for Physical Fitness
• North Dandalup Primary School will be using several grants to build an undercover assembly area, put in waterwise toilets and reticulate the front of the school with automatic timing as well as installing a rainwater tank.
They will also put in nesting boxes for possums and bats and the students will be monitoring the mammals on their land trail with the help of the Jarradale Landcare Centre.
• Mandurah Primary School has been awarded a grant to upgrade the classrooms and repaint them.
The students are also starting off the year with a brand new uniform that will give them the option of either having a yellow shirt or a green one which displays their new slogan ‘In Learning We Grow’.
The students will be learning the 9 National Values designed to create a good value system in the younger generation of students.
• Glencoe Primary school is focusing on priority areas this year and hopes to progress in literacy and numeracy with a special focus on science
They are also looking at improving shade provision and have improved the grounds with new pathways and drainage to prevent flooding this winter.
• Coodanup Community College has had a makeover with many of the classrooms freshly painted with new carpets.
The online teaching and learning system has been upgraded with a major focus on information and technology.
All computers in the school are new or less than a year old and they have two school laptops so students can have access to computers in class.
Principle Digby Mercer said there were also plans for the school to become an Australian Rules football specialist school and music specialist school, and extend the learning enrichment centre which caters for children that are either ahead or behind their fellow peers in class.
• Frederick Irwin Anglican School is still anticipating the completion of the new performing arts building which has all the side panels up and is in the process of having the roof installed, but isn’t scheduled to be completed until the end of this year.
The school has also updated their waterwise solutions with waterless urinals to the boy’s toilets, flow restrictors on taps, and updated dual flush toilets which is expected to save 20% of the school’s water usage.
Three science labs have been refurbished and there is new furniture for the year 6 and 7’s classrooms.
• Mandurah Senior College will be introducing an engineering program with Certificate 1-2 available for high achievers who would be in year 10 who aim to become engineers.
The Bilyidar program will be coming into effect for students who have dropped out under the age of 16 and would like to return to schooling, and will be run out of the Billy Dower Centre.
There is also a new commercial kitchen that has been installed to increase opportunities for those learning hospitality.
• Foundation Christian College has two new buildings for the early learning centre (kindergarten and pre primary) and for the senior school students.
There are plans to a new science lab and home economics facility built.
Classrooms will now have interactive whiteboards that allow teachers to link them to their laptops for more effective education.
New TEE courses that will be implemented this year include Physical Education Studies, Physics, Chemistry and Psychology.
There will also be an Active Healthy Community Program involving the students in an hour’s physical activity twice a week after school.
• Halls Head Community College will be installing air-conditioning in all classrooms within the next few months, beginning with the general teaching classrooms.
• Living Waters Lutheran College is having a new chaplain starting for the year.
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