Athelstane Public School

Athelstane Public School is located near the airport in the leafy suburb of Arncliffe. Approximately ninety-six per cent of our students are from language backgrounds other than English. The school also has five support classes for students with special needs. We have a reputation for developing innovative programs to support students who may have a range of learning needs. We are committed to building an inclusive school community that provides quality education to all students. The school's shared vision is to: provide an accepting and inclusive environment for all students; value all members of the school community; facilitate student achievement in all areas of the school curriculum; recognise and celebrate achievements of the school community; increase student engagement in learning and support them in taking responsibility for their own behaviour. There is a strong focus on the development of students' skills in literacy and numeracy. The school is involved in the National Partnership on Literacy, aimed at bringing about sustainable improvements in the literacy achievements of students in NSW schools. It provides extra programs, support and resources to schools. At Athelstane the literacy program which has been adopted to help facilitate change is 'Focus on Reading'. It is a comprehensive reading program which supports teachers in teaching the techniques for deconstructing text as well as supporting effective, evidence-based teaching, developing strong leadership and whole school engagement in literacy. Specific performance targets have been set for the two-year pilot program and already the school has made progress over and above those initially set. As part of the school wide focus on literacy the school is attempting to read 10,000 books in a year. The school places great emphasis on reading, so the newly refurbished library, along with its wide range of resources supports this challenge. The library is also the technology hub of the school, where students have access to a wide range of resources including the fully equipped Mac lab, which allows students to explore the web and utilise the latest technologies. The school is a partner school in the University of Sydney's Compass - find your way to higher education program. This is a partnership between the University, the NSW Department of Education and Training and selected secondary and primary schools in Sydney. The key goal of the program is to build attainment and aspiration. Amongst the many activities undertaken, students have been to the University on 'taster days' where they are exposed to the facilities and resources provided at university. Along with literacy and numeracy, student welfare is a priority, with a number of innovative programs developed to address students' social, physical and emotional well-being. The school has a strong emphasis on developing students' personal responsibility and accountability for learning and behavioural choices.