Department of Education - Victoria

Cockatoo Primary School is located on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges, forty-six kilometres from Melbourne. The school draws its students from the immediate township of Cockatoo and the wider rural fringe areas. The community of Cockatoo is tight knit and renowned for offering support in times of crisis. In 2007 the community celebrated the school's centenary.

School facilities include an administration block, fourteen classrooms, the original rural school classroom, a multi-purpose room/ shelter in place, a resource room, an art room, canteen, breakfast club room, PFA room, library area, two ovals, three discrete adventure playgrounds, a fitness track, two covered sand pits. The converted army hut provides a reasonable space for the Out of School Hours Program.  

All teaching and support staff work collaboratively and are committed to having a shared responsibility for the emotional, social and academic development of every student. Teaching teams work in Professional Learning Communities. Strong, quality relationships provide a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment where opinions are valued and feedback is provided on a regular basis. The school values distributive leadership and professional collaboration. Cockatoo Primary School is committed to consultation, collaborative discussion and decision-making and whole-school planning.

Our school's vision is to prepare young people to become active, engaged and responsible citizens of the local and global community.  The school aims to prepare students to contend with a very dynamic 21st century in which creativity, cooperative work, connectedness to the world and adaptability are key features.

The school values of organisation, perseverance, getting along, confidence and resilience underpin all that is done at Cockatoo Primary School. 

At Cockatoo Primary School our purpose is:

• To provide a safe, friendly and caring environment that enhances learning, personal growth and wellbeing so that students are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to become responsible members of our community and the global society
• To create a stimulating and supportive environment for all staff
• To develop a partnership between staff, parents and the community to achieve common goals for student success.

The school currently runs fourteen classrooms supporting the current enrolment of 303 students. The teaching staff, together with our highly valued education support staff, provide a comprehensive, inclusive and engaging curriculum which caters for all levels of achievement. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore and develop their potential. High standards are expected and achievement is acknowledged and celebrated. Awareness and fostering of students' wellbeing is a priority.

 Literacy, Numeracy and student wellbeing skills are given a high priority. We also place importance on the nurturing of cultural, social, creative, physical and personal development of each individual. Students have access to up-to-date computer technology being iPads, notebooks and desktop computers with internet access. The school uses an integrated inquiry approach to learning. Specialist areas include Physical Education, Performing Arts, Visual Art and STEM. Our programs reflect the school's focus on providing students with a broad range of experiences.

 

To actively support these curriculum areas, the following is offered:

swimming, house sports system, camp programs, interschool sport, health and human relations, HPV Energy Breakthrough program, environmental program, student welfare programs such as prep buddies and peer support, `You Can Do It', restorative practices, transition program and Student Representative Council. The school employs a chaplain to support the wellbeing needs of the staff and students. Grade Five students have the opportunity to visit Arnhem Land and to experience the culture of a small aboriginal community. This arrangement is reciprocated when our community hosts visits of yolgnu students.

Cockatoo Primary School aims to develop in each child an ability to maximise their potential and develop respect for themselves, others and the environment. The ethos of this school is one of a sense of community where the welfare of students and staff is paramount.  Great emphasis is placed on caring for our students, staff and parents by:

• Providing an environment that is safe and secure
• Fostering a climate of mutual respect and cooperation
• Providing clearly defined behavioural expectations and procedures
• Fostering strong links within the school and the wider community
• Extending students to reach their individual potential by encouraging, recognising and rewarding achievement and effort
• Acknowledging the vital role that parents play in the education of their children and working in partnership with them to assist children in maximising their potential.

 

 

The school regards itself as an integral part of the community and works in active partnership with parents to nurture the academic and personal development of the children in a happy, secure and stimulating environment.

Parent involvement in the school extends from a very active and supportive School Council and PFA to direct participation in learning programs. The school actively promotes and values strong home-school partnerships. Parents are invited to attend Friday afternoon assemblies and many special events throughout the year. Parents are very active on School Council and on our fundraising subcommittee. We encourage parents and grandparents to assist in the classroom, on excursions, during sports days and to attend all special school events.

Cockatoo Primary enjoys membership of the well-established Emerald and District Education Cluster, which works actively to develop the links between our neighbouring schools and to provide collegiate support for both principals and teachers.

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.