mmg.com.au

Schools around the area are looking forward to providing students with an interesting and productive year in 2012. The Guardian asked the schools to provide a brief overview of enrolments and first term plans.

Tatura Primary School

Tatura PS had 230 students enrolled last Thursday for the first day of the new 2012 school year.

The Prep program will be focusing on providing a strong educational start to school life with its 31 new students being divided into two groups.

Principal Jane Lloyd said the school’s older students would also have the chance to develop and take on some responsibilities.

‘‘Our grade six children will be given leadership opportunities as house captains, junior school council members, buddies for the Prep students and to lead tours of the school,’’ Ms Lloyd said.

The first term will be busy on the sporting front with a swimming practice day on February 22 and a swimming carnival on February 24, plus and house athletic sports on March 23 and a district sports day on March 27.

The school will be holding a meet and greet evening next Tuesday, February 14 where parents will have the opportunity to meet teachers, attend information sessions and look around the school.

Sacred Heart Primary School

Last week Sacred Heart PS welcomed 34 new Preps among its total enrolment of 153 students.

School principal Jenni Hindson said she was very pleased with the big intake of Prep students.

‘‘With an increase to our student numbers we have also increased the number of class groupings and we will have seven groups this year compared to six in 2011,’’ Mrs Hindson said.

The school also has several new members of staff including Mrs Rachel Cheesman, who has moved to Tatura from Queensland, Miss Allison Konig who has taken on a full time teaching position, Mrs Irene Sgammotta who has joined in a part time role, and a new after school care coordinator Ms Katy Christopher.

During the holidays a new sandpit has been constructed under the playground shelter.

‘‘To begin 2012 all classes will engage in Inquiry Learning units based on our whole school aspirations of ‘being responsible, being respectful, being resilient and being our best,’’ Mrs Hindson said.

‘‘We are looking forward to another year rich in activity and authentic learning.’’

Harston Primary School

There were six new Preps among 22 students for the start of the new school year at Harston PS.

Whilst being a smaller school principal Owen Holleran said Harston was a fairly advanced digital school.

‘‘All students will start with a laptop and we’ll be introducing the iPad 2 this year,’’ he said.

‘‘There aren’t too many schools in Australia that have Preps using iPads and most of our work here is digital.’’

Harston students will be starting their day with literacy and numeracy and will also be involved with the school’s sustainability project which has been developed over the last 10 years.

‘‘We had quite a good bird hide built towards the end of last year which overlooks our channel and a small forest paddock area,’’ Mr Holleran said.

‘‘We’ll have kids out there observing and recording bird life with I-pads and cameras and then documenting their findings.

‘‘We’re also going to set up nesting boxes and feeding areas as the year goes on.’’

Dhurringile Primary School

Dhurringile PS has 16 students enrolled for the start of 2012 and the school is looking forward to an exciting year ahead.

With no new Preps for the start of the new year principal Jennifer Bannister said all of the school’s existing students are eager to continue their educational journey.

‘‘Our integrated learning theme for first term is ‘Communication’ and the children have already written secret messages in invisible ink,’’ she said.

‘‘Under the essential questions of how and why people communicate they will be able to choose areas of interest and report back to the the class.

Younger students at Dhurringile PS are also studying ‘sinking and floating’, as a highly relevant topic for the hot weather that often accompanies the start of the school year.

‘‘With small numbers, great student to teacher ratios and individual learning plans for all students, Dhurringile Primary School supports all students to be the best they can and better,’’ Mrs Bannister said.

‘‘Our motto is ‘Aim High’ and we hold high expectations for all of our children.’’