Mildura West Primary School

About

Phone (03) 5023 1336 Email [email protected] Website http://www.mildurawestps.vic.edu.au/

Story

This page has been developed to enhance communications between the school and the school community. It is controlled, edited and updated by authorised Mildura West Primary School staff and school committee members.

Mission

MWPS Vision

MWPS provides an engaging environment where children are challenged and motivated to become the best they
can be.

MWPS Values
Resilience • Respect • Excellence • Pride
Our School
Mildura West Primary School is a vibrant and happy place to be.
It offers an excellent range of educational opportunities, programs, facilities and resources. The school has approximately 390 students from a diverse range of backgrounds and nations. This diversity is one of the characteristics that make it a great school.
Children learn best when parents/carers, teachers and students are partners in the education process. An ‘Open Door’ policy and regular communication ensure this happens. Parents trust that we take very good care of their children. The children at West are always placed first. All decisions are made with the student in the centre.
Our School Values, Resilience, Respect, Excellence and Pride, are
truly ‘alive’ and evident in all that we do.
Excellent Teaching & Learning
Our teachers strive to be the best they can be. They are ongoing learners, who read professionally to ensure they are up to date
with current educational research.
Every week, teachers collaborate in highly effective Professional Learning Teams. They engage in regular classroom observation, giving and receiving feedback to improve their teaching craft. Teachers plan together, ensuring the curriculum is robust and targeted, to meet the needs of all children. Our experienced
teachers coach their younger colleagues, building the capacity
of all; which results in excellent teaching and learning.
Student Voice
Mildura West has a strong commitment to genuine Student Voice. Students share their ideas and feelings informally every day but we also have many formal processes, which enable them to be heard.
We truly listen to our children and they know we value their opinion. Every grade has regular Class Meetings for students to voice their concerns and suggest ideas. These ideas are then taken to the Student Representative Council (S.R.C.).
Our S.R.C. is a proactive student group, meeting every 3 weeks.
This group discusses important aspects of the school and often makes changes as a result. They also plan special S.R.C. days
and have lots of fun in the process.
Every Thursday, eight students from the senior classes have lunch with the Principal or Assistant Principal. They discuss various elements of the school and make lots of suggestions. There is a great deal of lively discussion and debate. The Principal’s Lunch
is a really enjoyable tradition at our school.
Every Friday our students run the school assembly. Many parents come along and enjoy a variety of entertaining items. The ‘Star of the Week’ is also announced at this assembly. This is a prestigious weekly award for one student from each class.
We also have a wonderful Peer Mediation program, which is led by the R.R.E.P. team (Resilience, Respect, Excellence & Pride). This group of students organise lots of activities for children who come to The Friendship Zone during the lunch break. Each day many students can be found drawing, dancing, skipping and having fun in The Friendship Zone.
An Exciting and Engaging Curriculum
Our stimulating academic environment encourages all students to reach their potential. Student progress is closely monitored by classroom teachers and members of the School Leadership Team.
High achieving students are challenged and participate in extension programs and students experiencing difficulty are provided
with support.
We focus on the core areas of Literacy and Numeracy but we also equip our students for the 21st century. We do so by teaching our students to understand themselves as learners. They explore what it means to be an effective learner and how to manage their own learning. Teachers and students set regular goals together. We do this because our children

Our students learn to collaborate, to work independently and to be critical thinkers. They are also taught to be ethical and critical users
of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). All children have access to iPads or netbooks. Children in Grades Three to Six
are equipped with an individual iPad to enhance their learning.
We know that students learn better when they are truly excited about their learning. Consequently, we engage the students in an integrated approach to learning titled, Project Based Learning. This
is a student centred, inquiry based approach that really motivates
our children.
Our environmental programs are outstanding, receiving many awards at local, regional, state and national levels. Students are engaged in many programs which focus on the preservation of our environment. We also have a partnership with the Mildura Rural City Council and Mallee Catchment. Every week our Grade Five and Six Action Teams go out into the community to ‘take action’.
Students have specialist teachers for Science, Art, Physical Education and Chinese. These well-resourced programs include a new art room, science room, full sized gymnasium and extensive sporting facilities. The students in the early years are taught Chinese online from teachers based in China.
School Leadership
Mildura West School Leaders are passionate teachers who love
to teach!
They lead the curriculum planning and facilitate the majority of the professional learning for teachers. The Mildura West Leaders have a deep understanding of what effective teaching and learning looks like and this is essential in leading a great school.
Wellbeing
Students they bring with them a wide range of strengths and weaknesses that impact their learning. At West, we care for the ‘whole child’ because children are better able to learn when they are healthy, safe and happy. We nurture each student’s social and emotional development as well as their academic growth. We know that this is vital if children are to reach their potential. The wellbeing of each child is enhanced through:
• The Principal always has her door open for the children to pop in.
• Positive teacher, student and parent/carer relationships.
• A sense of ‘community’ in every classroom and throughout the whole school.
• Clear guidelines and expectations around school discipline.
• The Friendship Zone, run by the students every lunch time.
• The Primary Welfare Officer, who provides support and guidance for all students. As well as assisting individual children, she also facilitates small group