Parramatta West Public School

Parramatta West Public School has a long history in the local community. It first opened as Pitt Row in 1888. In 2013 we celebrated 125 years of excellent education for our community. Many children at the school are the children and grandchildren of past students. In more recent times, the school has grown to include newer arrivals to Australia and now has over 50 nationalities represented. Parramatta West Public School is a place which represents all that is wonderful in Australia. With over fifty languages spoken within the school population, we learn in a happy, safe and harmonious environment where strong values are taught. The "Positive Behaviour for Learning" ethos ensures that students learn and apply our core expectations of responsibility, safety and respect. The wellbeing framework ensures that the community is supported and student mental health needs are addressed alongside the academic. Support for our multicultural community includes a playgroup, a homework centre, bilingual learning support offiers and parent programs. Community information meetings provide information for parents across curriculum areas and all school activities. Parents are involved in the P&C and other school committees. Everyone has the convenience of a before and after school care centre on site. Starting school well is important. Our school has developed an excellent transition program for kindergarten children which runs over the end of Term 3 and the start of Term 4 and assists children and parents to become familiar with the environment and understand the expectations. Children attending this program settle in to school quickly and easily. There is also a "Beginning School Well" program for refugee parents and their children. Students at Parramatta West are provided with opportunities to excel in sport and the creative arts. Dance, recorder, violin, choir, drama, drumming and visual arts are areas of excellence. Additional extra curricula activities include science clubs, technology club, the tech team, the "Boys' Shed" and Peer Support. Our extensive leadership programs ensure students develop important social skills and community values. Parramatta West Public School provides a quality, meaningful curriculum in stimulating inclusive classrooms where students are engaged and valued as they develop into independent, resilient learners. Our school prides itself on the extent and quality of its teaching and learning programs in all key learning areas. Assessment for Learning is a tool we use to guide our teaching and to maximise our students' learning. Teachers and students discuss the skills and content to be learnt. The success criteria are created together and students learn to peer and self-assess. Teachers provide regular feedback so our children understand where they are going and how to get there. This process motivates students and gives them ownership of what they learn. We have high expectations for academic achievement. Our students are taught by expert class teachers, a variety of specialist teachers and support staff. Our programs enable all students to make excellent progress as they become confident in the English language. Support programs include English as an additional language, Reading Recovery and Targeted Early Numeracy. Teachers are continually developing their skills and work together to create programs based on best practise and current research. Focus areas include language development, comprehension and problem solving. Parramatta West is part of the Parramatta Learning Community (PLC), working with local primary schools to provide additional programs for students in debating and leadership, and for teachers in professional learning. All our classrooms have interactive white boards and are connected to the wireless network. Children have access to a technology hub equipped with computers and filming facilities, a connected classroom as well as an additional computer bank in our large well-resourced library. Since 2014 all students K-6 have had their own XO laptop for use in class across all key learning areas, as well as a supply of netbooks and ipads. Our digital learning programs are providing for 21st century learners so that they can connect, create and collaborate in the modern world. In addition to our mainstream classes, Parramatta West has three support classes for students with disabilities. These children are taught by specialist teachers and are integrated into our whole school activities and / or individual classes as appropriate. The school is situated in a safe and quiet residential area with a variety of outdoor spaces including large playing fields, a sheltered quiet protected area for our youngest children and a native outdoor learning area. The community is welcome to any of our school celebrations throughout the year or for a tour of our school and to visit our school website.