School Vision:

Lakes Entrance Primary School aims to promote the development of students as independent, life long learners.  The prime focus of our school is to provide a comprehensive learning program for every student enabling them to achieve their social, emotional and academic potential.

 

Values:

Lakes Entrance Primary School community values:

• The treating of others and ourselves with respect and dignity.
• The special and unique qualities of each student.
• Teachers, students, parents and the wider community working in partnership to provide a safe, stimulating, learning environment.
• The development of student self esteem so that they confidently strive to achieve their potential.
• A culture that recognises individual strengths and strives for continuous improvement of all staff and students.
• The displaying of pride in the school by everyone associated with it.

 

Context:

Lakes Entrance Primary School services the coastal township of Lakes Entrance in East Gippsland where the major economic activities continue to be fishing and tourism.  The town is 320 kilometers (4 hours by road) east of Melbourne, while Bairnsdale, 37 kilometers to the West, is the major economic centre for the district.  The nature of the local industries provides a diverse and often transient population.

 

Established in 1886, the school was opened on the present site in Myer St. in 1926.  It is the only state primary school in the town of Lakes Entrance and five other small primary schools are located within 20km.  A Catholic primary school and a government 7–12 secondary college are also located in the town.  The Lakes Entrance Secondary College introduced the Victorian Certificate of Education in 2005.

 

The majority of the 328 students currently enrolled live within the township which contains 3 main housing areas.  Family backgrounds vary with the percentage of students eligible for the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) dropping to 56% in recent years.

 

School Facilities

Five out of the 15 classrooms are permanent with buildings of various ages, well maintained and the large school grounds providing an attractive setting and sporting facilities.  Key features of the physical attributes of the school include – a vibrant Art Room, Performing Arts room and a locally funded large library which houses extensive teaching and learning resources.

Our classroom teaching and learning program is supported by a strong outdoor program based around traditional school sports and sailing and school camps.  As the school is located in the centre of the town, there is ready access to many local sporting facilities including swimming pool, football, cricket, netball, basketball, sailing.

 

School Programs

Where student enrolments allow, it is the preference to organise class structures in the following manner – Prep, Grade 1/2, Grade 3/4, Grade 5 and Grade 6.

The aim of all school programs is to provide a stimulating and challenging learning environment.  As part of our Charter Priority a particular curriculum focus will involve the use of rich learning tasks with an emphasis on developing students understanding of how they learn and how they can apply their knowledge.

A broad teaching program is offered in the curriculum areas with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards currently being implemented.  Specialist programs are offered in The Visual Arts, Library and Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Physical Education and Performing Arts.  

Literacy support is provided through a Literacy Coordinator and Reading Recovery teachers.  Additional support for Koori students is accessed through participation in the Indigenous Tutoring Assistance Scheme (ITAS).  The importance of ICT skills is emphasised via use of classroom sets of computers and the computer pod in the library which is the major resource centre for student learning.  Evidence of our commitment to outdoor education can be seen through the highly valued sequential camping program which culminates in a yachting camp for the students in year 6.  Participation in inter-school sporting events such as swimming, athletics, cross country run, winter sports and golf are actively encouraged.  

Each program undergoes an annual evaluation process as a prelude to the setting of new goals and learning outcomes establishment within sound budgets.

During the past 3 years participation in the Arts has been a major focus within our established Art Program; including the introduction of Performing Arts to our curriculum, the formation of the School Choir, the involvement of Year 5 & 6 students in the Healthy Living Program and performances of these programs to the wider school community. 

 

Community engagement

Our school considers education as a partnership.  Student participation in the wider school community is fostered, encouraged, recognised and rewarded in our Civic and Citizenship award ceremonies. 

Student Leadership is actively promoted in the school with the student nomination of School Captains, House and Sports Captains, Junior School Council presidents and our Koori Leader.

 

The school welcomes parent and community participation in all aspects of school operations.  Active participation of the wider school community is integral to the success of individual and whole school programs.  The School Council follows collaborative decision making processes and utilises the skills of the local community representatives to enhance school developments.  School Council is active in governance of the school and the planning and completion of ongoing projects which enhance the physical environment of the school.  The School Council manages a monthly community market in the school grounds with fundraising to support the schools programs.  An enthusiastic Parents Club helps to generate much needed funds for special projects and parental support for teaching programs is encouraged and provided on a daily basis.

 

The vision of School Council and staff is that the school will continue to foster and develop greater ties with the local community to maximise the physical attributes and resources of the school and our student’s educational outcomes.