Principal's Welcome

Welcome to Glen Katherine Primary School!

 

Glen Katherine Primary takes great pride in providing a nurturing and supportive environment where every student is a quality learner. Our students are recognised for their strengths. We have high academic expectations for all students, and we always strive to be our personal best.

 

My name is Gerard Fay, and I am the proud principal of this fantastic school. The school is renowned for having a great reputation while a culture of care in a positive environment.

 

The school operates on a philosophy of respect and the value of being a lifelong learner. Our Values Education program is based on three values: Be Brave, Be Kind, Be Curious – Be Your Best! This program is supported by our Restorative Practices and a tiered approach to wellbeing strategies.

 

We are passionate about specifically teaching ‘your child’, rather than just teaching the ‘curriculum’. Literacy and Numeracy are our school priorities using best practice to deliver a differentiated curriculum that is tailored to your child. Guided Reading, Phonetic Codes program, consistent writing strategies and Explicit Maths teaching are just a few of the programs/approaches we use to engage our students and teach them at their points of need, always providing challenge and extension. I have an emphasis on slowing down to improve performance – to let things sink in! We are in a fast-paced world, where instant results are often expected. We want our students to be strong, confident learners in literacy and numeracy, with student voice and agency embedded into the learning process. Our program provides extracurricular opportunities, all encompassed in a caring, supportive, and positive environment.

 

We strive to support Prep/Foundation parents and preschool students through our transition to school and offer a consistent transition program including sessions run during the year. Our transition brochure is available at the beginning of the school year and outlines all the exciting events and activities to make the transition to school a safe and happy one.

The school offers specialist programs in the areas of:

 

  • P.E.
  • Visual Art
  • Performing Arts (dance, drama, music)
  • Science
  • LOTE- Mandarin
  • Sustainability and Cooking
  • Library
  • Music (in class and external)

 

A comprehensive Physical Education program is delivered by a specialist Phys Ed Teacher. All senior students are involved in weekly Inter School Sports programs, while junior and middle school students have opportunities to participate in sports days, carnivals, and tournaments. A whole school swimming program is also offered at an external venue annually.

 

Our school values student wellbeing. We believe happy kids learn. Our school has a student wellbeing coordinator, supported by an amazing team of education support staff, to focus on students’ wellbeing. We also offer intervention programs for students identified requiring extra academic and social/emotional support.

 

Our school buildings house 26 classrooms, a purpose-built library, visual arts classroom and multi- purpose room, music room, science room, the famous GK Gully outdoor learning area, 2 gymnasiums and school kitchen. The school runs a Bring Your Own Device program for students  in Year 4 to 6 and is supported by classroom TVs, a well-equipped library, plus a cluster of notebooks and iPads for student use. Our iPad program has been a wonderful learning tool for our students from Year P-2 using Seesaw. ICT promotes, supports, and inspires our Literacy, Numeracy, and creative online activities.

 

Our grounds are extremely spacious and include four adventure playgrounds, cubbyhouse areas, two sand-pit areas, basketball and netball courts, undercover areas, an international standard soccer pitch, a vegetable garden and more!

 

The school also operates its own Outside of School Hours and Holiday Care program with spaces available.

 

I am delighted to lead the Glen Katherine Primary School community and would like to extend an invitation to prospective families to visit the school so that they can receive more detailed information about the innovative, supportive, and individualised programs that the school offers as well as experience first-hand the caring community atmosphere that exists at the school.

 

We are now taking enrolments so please contact us for any further information or to arrange a school tour.

 

Come and see us!

 

Kind Regards,

 

Mr. Gerard Fay

 

Glen Katherine Primary School