Positive approaches to learning

Though the school is only small they have many full and enriching programs within their school and curriculum that not only teach the children about the community but about themselves as well. 

Wombat Public School focuses on students as individuals and teaches them skills that will benefit them now and in the future for when they become independent adults.

As a small school, Wombat Public School has the ability to cater for the individual needs of every student in its care.  

These emotional, social and educational needs are meet through a variety of programs and initiatives within the school.

The school employs teacher's assistants in the infant's classroom through the State Government Early Education Initiative, Early Action for Success. 

These assistants work with the infant's teacher to bring engaging and individually focused lessons in Literacy four days a week.  

Both the infants and the primary teachers are undergoing Professional Learning in L3 (Early Years Literacy Program) to ensure continuity in lesson presentation throughout the primary and infants years.  

Through classroom environments based on Early Literacy Education (L3) students have made outstanding individual growth.   

“Due to the Early Action for Success initiative and Professional Learning in L3 for both the infants and primary teachers, the school boasts a number of students working a year or even two years ahead of their chronological age,” infants teacher at Wombat Public School Mrs Renae Fairy said.

“This is able to be catered for at Wombat Public School as the year levels are fluid.  

“Students from the infant's classroom are able to move into the primary classroom for literacy lessons and individuals in the primary are able to achieve outcomes at higher levels along with their school peers,” Mrs Fairy said.

Another program the school has run now for a number of years with much success is the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. 

With a fully equipped three bay kitchen and extensive vegetable gardens, the students are able to experience and learn about self-sufficiency from the garden to the table.  

Each week the students either work in groups in the kitchen or the garden.  On a fortnight rotation, each group will spend their time in the kitchen preparing meals, jams, relishes, sweets and other delectable delights.  

Twice a term students prepare, cook and serve a two to three-course whole school lunch and once a term community members or individuals from the retirement village are invited to the school to share in a student cooked lunch.  

In the garden, the students develop and use their knowledge of plants and animals to grow produce that is used in the kitchens.  

“The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program has been running in the school for close to seven years and it is a very engaging way for students to access curriculum based outcomes as well as learning to provide and prepare food for themselves and their families now and into the future,” Ms Angela Bennett said.  

“Through the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education outcomes such as teamwork and cooperation, students work together to provide each other and community members with homegrown nutritious food.

“They also learn about healthy eating and participate in physical activity in the garden weeding, using shovels, picks and wheelbarrows,” she said. 

“Outcomes in mathematics and Literacy are also being met through the use of recipes, measuring ingredients and garden bed designs.  

“Recipes are sent home each week in the newsletter so students are able to cook their family a meal if desired,” Ms Bennett said. 

“This independence will be holding them in good stead throughout their lives ensuring a healthy lifestyle of self-sufficiency where possible.” 

Ms Bennett said the program hasn’t only been supported by students but by the community as a whole.

“This program is also very strongly supported by the school parent and community body with volunteers taking on a lot of the preparation and assistance in lesson development.  

It has brought the school community closer together in a relaxed and meaningful way,” Ms Bennett said.

Wombat Public School prides itself on a strong family environment which caters for the individual student in all areas.  

The school’s long history of community involvement and dedicated volunteers in the school each day makes the student’s education a shared responsibility. 

The school believes that the students thrive on the high level of attention to their needs.