Harmony Primary School, in Atwell
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| Harmony Primary School was planned and constructed in 2003 in response to the development of Harvest Lakes and Atwell Waters Subdivisions. There was quite a deal of concern from the Atwell PS community about overcrowding at Atwell hence the need for a new school. The school is located in the Harvest Lakes estate, the first 'Greensmart' land development in W.A. The local intake area for the school encompasses a catchment area bounded by Bartram Rd to the north, The Kwinana Freeway to the west, Rowley Rd to the south and Liddlelow Rd to the east. There are three main teaching blocks that includes an ECE building to cater for Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students. It also contains three ESC classrooms, one in each of the three teaching blocks. Each of the two remaining teaching blocks contains five open planned mainstream classrooms. There are separate music and art specialist's rooms as well as a stand-alone dental therapy unit. The school also has an Administration block, a covered assembly area, canteen facilities and a resource centre with an adjoining staffroom. Harmony PS is a unique school in that it has been specifically designed to meet certain sustainability principles. Its design makes use of the North Facing energy efficiency principle and it has a computer monitored and controlled ventilation system. The building materials used also allow for natural heating and cooling to take place. The design, materials and BMS (Building Management System) allow for buildings to be kept at a temperature of between 18-25 degrees for 9? the year. Part of the school's reticulation system makes use of grey water that has come from two reed containment ponds located within the school. The reeds help take the nutrients out of the water. The school also has four rainwater tanks that are used to supplement the use of scheme water within the school by flushing toilets. There is space set outside in the school grounds for a permaculture garden and a green waste recycling facility near the canteen. The Kindergarten and Pre-Primary play area has garden beds that have been set aside for the planting of herb gardens. Ethos To provide a welcoming learning environment that enables all children to achieve their full potential. Knowledge is growing rapidly and we cannot hope to teach all that is known, or will be known. Harmony PS will aim to equip students for the future by offering curriculum programs that empower students, teach them to life-long learners and the cater for individual student needs. Students graduating from Harmony PS should have a love of learning and a commitment to achievement of potential, social skills and competencies that encourage social and civic responsibility and a strong self-belief. They would show respect and concern for others and their rights and display environmental responsibility. Learning and Teaching Environments We are committed to providing Learning and Teaching environments that meet the needs of all students and enable them to achieve to their full potential. These safe, supportive and friendly environments encourage children to be responsible risk takers. Student input into decision-making is actively sort in all learning environments. Harmony PS promotes the Curriculum Framework fully. The school has worked closely with community representatives to develop an ethos and purpose statement that has an underpinning philosophy reflective of the seven principles of the Curriculum Framework. 1. An encompassing view of curriculum. The curriculum will encompass the learning environment teaching methods, resources, assessment systems, school ethos and the way students, staff and parents behave towards one another. 2. Core Values. These are explicitly taught and promoted. 3. Inclusivity. This means recognising and accommodating the different starting points, learning rates and previous experiences of individual students or groups of students. Education Support Centre on site. 4. Flexibility. The Curriculum needs to be adaptable to the particular needs of schools and communities. 5. Integration, breadth and balance. The education offered at Harmony PS will encourage students to see various forms of knowledge as interrelated and forming part of a larger whole. 6. A developmental approach. Students develop and learn at different rates and in different ways, constructing new knowledge and understanding in a way that links their learning to previous experiences. 7. Collaboration and partnerships. Education is the shared responsibility of students, teachers, parents, tertiary educators and the community. The above has been achieved with the school, students, parents and wider community working together to forge strong working relationships that are built on mutual trust and respect for each other and always have the best interests of children at heart. The developmental nature in which children learn best was promoted last year through whole of school strategies and approaches such as 1st Steps Literacy and Mathematics. Classes are structured using a MAG approach and the looping of students. There is also an emphasis placed on teachers working collaboratively in a team teaching environment. All key stakeholders (parents, students, staff, both teaching and non-teaching, administrative and the wider community) are required to promote a supportive, positive and welcoming working environment as we believe students work and learn best in this setting. Many support and school structural measures have been put in place. Staff at Harmony PS will need to adopt a flexible approach to meet the needs of students and school operations. There is an expectation that staff are accountable for implementing the 12 Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) principles from the Curriculum Framework in the classrooms. Staff are also required to work as part of a collaborative team. | ||||
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Date | Rating | The good... | The bad... | And overall... | ||
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| 2009-01-07 14:02:10 Added by Anonymous Report abuse
| Great environmental education programs and initatives,well located,modern,family orientated. | needs to award education achievement | good school. | ||
www.thisreview.com.au/Reviews/Education/Public-Primary-Schools/Western-Australia/Harmony-Primary-School-Atwell-Western-Australia
