About Us


Demographics

 

Puckapunyal Primary School is a unique schoolinAustralia. Children of Defence Force Personnel, stationed within the Puckapunyal 

Military Area, comprise approximately 65% of our enrolment, and annually up to 50% of the children transfer interstate and overseas. The new arrivals come from a diverse range of educational backgrounds (each State and Territory of Australia, UK, Canada, U.S.A., New Zealand, Malaysia and Germany). 
Of note is the increasing number of children enrolling from the surrounding communities with around 35-40% of students now coming from non-defence families. The high level of mobility has a significant effect on the continuity of school programs, and it is a challenge of the school to minimise the impact of this on student achievement and wellbeing. 

 

 

December 2020 School Fire

Having lost 80% of our school during a fire in early December 2020, we are currently operating from a series of demountable buildings on a vacant site adjacent to the previous site. Plans are underway to rebuild the school with an expected completion date of January 2023.

 

Teaching and Learning at PPS

Despite our challenges, we have embedded a strong learning culture within our school where high expectations are the norm and academic success is valued and celebrated. Staff deliver a stimulating and differentiated learning program backed by evidenced based learning programs such as the Writer’s Workshop model, 6 Traits of Writing program, Goodger Mathematics, and the SMART Spelling program. Students are active participants in their learning, are explicitly taught metacognitive strategies and supported to set and strive for personalised learning goals.

 

In addition to building academic skills, we emphasise the importance of nurturing the whole individual and deliver a comprehensive wellbeing support program underpinned by our 10 school values. We focus on developing student voice and agency as well as fostering the social and emotional intelligence of all our students. We provide authentic leadership opportunities to our students and are significantly involved in our local community such as through Commemorative services: eg Dawn Service, Shrine of Remembrance observances, Remembrance Day.

 

Physical education is a major focus and we are proud of the diverse sporting opportunities we provide to our students. Triathlons, Swimming, Cross Country, Basketball, Bike Rides, etc.

A Specialist Visual art program is delivered weekly, and students also participate in weekly LOTE (Indonesian) lessons.

 

Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Teachers work in close partnership with colleagues, with team planning common practice across the school. Weekly Professional Learning Communities are facilitated, which allow staff to share and build professional skills and knowledge, through a collaborative inquiry approach.

 

Location

Puckapunyal Primary School is located within the Puckapunyal Military Area, 10 km west of Seymour in Central Victoria.  The school is easily accessible and within walking distance of all homes on the Base.  A balance of innovative and traditional curriculum programs is provided in a caring, well-disciplined environment, using the many excellent established school facilities and community resources.

Our school zone is available on findmyschool.vic.gov.au. Findmyschool.vic.gov.au hosts the most up-to-date information about Victorian school zones for 2020 onwards.

 

Students residing in this zone are guaranteed a place at our school, which is determined on the basis of your permanent residential address.

 

The Department provides guidance through the School Placement Policy to ensure that students have access to their designated neighbourhood school and the freedom to choose other schools, subject to facility limitations.

 

You can find more information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Department’s website under School zones.