Puckapunyal Primary School

As a State Government School, every 4 years, the Puckapunyal Primary School signs an agreement with the Minister of Education, to deliver improved learning outcomes to all students over the entire range of the eight Key Learning Areas. This contract is called the School Strategic Plan......

The Strategic Plan makes specific reference to necessary implementation strategies and provides time frames for these processes to occur.
After the completion of each Strategic Plan the school goes through a review The review is called the Verification Process where school representatives and an independent reviewer designated by the Department of Education meet and make recommendations for the next Strategic Plan. As we have just completed the review phase, the next Strategic Plan is at design stage. It will emphasise the importance of English, Mathematics, I.C.T. and the transition of our mobile families. The Strategic Plan will need to be ratified by School Council and accepted by the Department of Education at the end of 2007. Family copies will be freely available at school or on our Web Site by the beginning of 2008.

However, yearly school goals have been set in the School’s Annual Implementation Plan for 2007. They can be summarised as the following:

Student Learning - to continually improve student achievement of literacy and numeracy. Even though our student performance results continue to be excellent, we will strive to aim high. In all areas, we aim to perform above state means.

Student Engagement and Wellbeing - to improve student engagement and well-being through the use of ICT. With new interactive whiteboards in 6 out of 10 classes (years 2 and above) staff will endeavour to use such a tool to maximise students’ participation in classroom activities. While it may be difficult to measure improved student engagement, since student surveys are very high in relation to teacher effectiveness and stimulating learning, we will endeavour to do so.

Student Pathways and Transitions -to improve student transition and learning opportunities from kindergarten to primary school, interstate primary school to Victorian primary school (and vice-versa) and primary school to secondary school. With the new kindergarten at Puckapunyal, there is now a need to continually improve transition from kindergarten to primary school. The school’s communication with the kindergarten has improved and new ideas for transition are being developed.

Currently, our school receives very little information about new enrolments since they come from other states, territories and countries. Our school aims to visit some of our main feeder schools in Northern Territory and Queensland to improve transition requirements. A new Digital Portfolio provided by the Defence is a great uniform approach that can be adopted nation wide.

Other Curriculum Areas
Information Technology and Physical Education are the 2 areas of the curriculum that we are particularly proud of. Our Computer Lab has 25 computers, all networked and holding a variety of software for all curriculum areas. As well, each classroom has an average of 5 computers. 6 of our classrooms in Years 2-6 currently have Interactive Whiteboards. They have been a terrific teaching tool in those classrooms.

A particularly strong PE/Sport program operates at all class levels with a variety of sports being catered for including athletics, swimming, football, netball, cricket, cross country, hockey, sofcrosse, t-ball, cycling. The Area Gym assists us with the triathlon, rock wall climbing, badminton and a ropes course challenge. The school affiliates with the Victorian Primary School Sports Association and competes at District, Zone and State level in many of the above sports.

Our Library and Art Room also have specialised staff who teach all grade levels. The language other than English (L.O.T.E.) offered is Indonesian. A strong focus on Australia in General Studies has been developed over recent years. Spelling and tables tests are conducted weekly. Maths provision Tests are conducted twice per term. Homework attempts to build a responsible attitude and a purposeful approach to work and achievement. Parents should provide their child with support, advice, time, space and encouragement.