
Hillarys Primary School, having altered
the name from Lymburner Primary School in 2002, draws from families in the
suburb of Hillarys, which is close to the coast. The suburb is some
twenty-five kilometres north west of Perth.
Our school buildings consist of three main teaching areas, two separate
kindergarten
centres, a
library/resource centre, an administration centre, and an art room. One of
the teaching areas houses a computer laboratory of 17 computers networked to
the Internet. The computer laboratory has evaporative air conditioning. The
kindergarten section and one teaching block has air conditioning and we are
negotiating to install air conditioning in the pre-primary centres,
recently shifted under the roof of the school proper. The school grounds are
reticulated. There is an undercover assembly area with canteen, which has
earned the status of a four star rating with five star being the ultimate,
operated through the Parents and Citizens' Association, and that is open
daily for students' morning teas and lunches.
A four year old students' centre is located off site at Broadbeach Boulevard
in Hillarys supplementing our own four year old centre. A fitness trail around the school was constructed at the time of
Bicentennial (1988) celebrations. This is used on a daily basis.
The staff is experienced, well qualified and committed to the objectives of
the School Development Plan. Promotional positions include a Principal
(level 5) and two Deputy Principal positions (level 3). There are 15
Advanced Skills Teachers and their tasks are to develop programs of work
that assist the good functioning of the School Development Plan. The
specialist subject area is physical education and our Language Other Than
English (LOTE) is Japanese. Support is offered in literacy and mathematics,
and we have developed a very strong and effective Students at Risk program.
An Extension and Challenge program operates as extension for students who are
achieving very sound outcomes.
Non Teaching Staff consist of a registrar, school officer, library officer,
four early childhood teacher assistants, six special needs assistants for
children with fragile medical problems and one for behaviour management
strategies are employed at the school. A gardener is also employed at the
school. Our cleaners are now working under the auspices of the Department of
Education and Training. The school has weekly access to a school nurse and a
students services officer (School Psychologist).
Collaborative teaching is encouraged and mobility of students occurs each
day in certain lessons. Buddy classes at similar and dissimilar year levels
are encouraged. Buddy lunches, where younger students meet and socialise
with older students, take place on Fridays. Passive games are played on
these days.
The following activities have earned the school a positive reputation:
- Landcare management where the school nursery is used to provide native
plants to local residents as well as restocking our own gardens.
- School assemblies, organised by prefects, make for a happy friendly
environment.
- A daily fitness program is encouraged.
- Physical education has a high profile in the school with school teams
participating in swimming, cross country athletics, triathlon events and
winter sporting carnivals.
- Netball is also encouraged and a number of older girls represent the
school on Saturday mornings at the Wanneroo Districts Netball Association.
Teachers and parents coach these teams.
- The Oral Language Program is a feature with Speak Up Awards enjoyed by
students.
- An intensive reading program that achieves sound results for a number of
students, particularly those students who may be in danger of being left
behind.
- The use of computers across the curriculum has resulted in specialised
learning programs and a desire to explore the Internet for information and
knowledge. As a consequence a highly motivated learning environment has been
created within the school.
- Association with a Japanese School: Over the past couple of years an
exchange visit has been arranged with the Obama District High School in
Japan. Visitors from the school arrive from Obama during August of each year
and these people are cared for in participating Hillarys Primary School
parents' homes. In 2002 a small group of students travelled to Obama for a
reciprocal visit. As a result of that visit unicycles were introduced to the
Australian children.
- Parental involvement in each class with a parent representative assisting
teachers in the daily program of teaching.
Significant parent help is available to assist teachers in their various
lessons throughout the day, notably with language development, science
lessons, sports programs, excursions and camps. The majority are from
nuclear families, reflecting the multi-cultural society of Western
Australia. Students are keen to succeed and many take on extra curricular
activities after school and on weekends.
The Parents and Citizens' Association is active in assisting the school meet
its plan for the year by providing funds to assist the school budget, in
developing the school's grounds and ensuring that uniforms are available to
students.
Hillarys Primary School has a School Council consisting of seven parents and
community members, five staff members and the Principal. Meetings to
discuss, monitor and accept the School Development Plan, the budget and the
general functioning of the school are held each term.