Yagoona Public School

Yagoona Public School is a centre for lifelong learning within our diverse community. It has an enrolment of 535 students in 21 mainstream classes, with one Deputy Principal and five Assistant Principals. The school hosts a Support Education Unit (SEU) of two classes for emotionally disturbed students, two multi categorical classes for students with moderate intellectual disabilities in addition to hearing, vision, autism or other diagnosed disability and one autism K-6 class. This unit has an Assistant Principal-off class, five classroom teachers and five School Learning Support Officers (SLSO).The school is 94% NESB with Community Language classes in Arabic, Vietnamese, Macedonian and Chinese. The school hosts Macedonian and Arabic weekend language schools. These language learning opportunities are strongly supported by the staff, students, parents and wider community. Our dedicated and professional staff work collaboratively to develop and implement quality teaching and learning programs. We have a strong commitment to positive welfare with clear and well understood rules and strategies which support appropriate student choices both inside and outside the classroom and we are a partner in the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program. Our library features networked ICT workstations, an interactive whiteboard (IWB), is one of two connected classrooms and has a wonderful collection of books and other media. All classrooms have an IWB which enhance learning outcomes and broaden student access to shared curriculum. Students participate in effective transition programs including Kindy-Start for incoming kindergarten students and a high school transition program which features Year 6 students from three primary schools and volunteer teachers from local high schools working within a high school style timetable over three days. The school has a Student Representative Council representing all classes K-6. The school is part of the University of Sydney Compass Program. The Compass program has provided students and staff with a number of high quality learning opportunities-visiting Sydney Barracks & Vaucluse House.  Yagoona Public School is located on the Hume Highway and has extensive grassed areas for playing and four covered outdoor learning areas. These COLAs provide large, shaded spaces for a range of activities including fitness and games, dance, table tennis and assemblies. Our comprehensive sports skills and fitness programs encourage physical activity. Students have access to sporting teams for girls and boys in many sports including Oztag, AFL, netball and soccer and can compete each year across the district in a range of team sports as well as swimming, athletics and cross country carnivals. Our students also have access to junior and senior dance groups, choir, public speaking competitions, debating and drama groups. Our school hall and associated canteen has permitted the school to hold K-6 Performance Nights which showcase student performance in Creative Arts. Additionally, students participate in the design and production of class artworks which are displayed in the hall prior to annual, stage based Art Auction events.We have established a kitchen for class and group use. In addition, enhanced access by parents to class, school and community hub activities is encouraged. In Term 1, the whole school participates in our Year 6 led Peer Support Program- building relationships and in Terms 2,3,& 4 we offer our "enrichment programs" on Tuesday afternoons. This a great opportunity for students who have specific interests and/or skills in certain areas such as Science, Mathematics, Technology and Art. Students in these programs have an additional hour of instruction, discovery or  inquiry based learning opportunities to further develop their knowledge and skills. The school's enthusiastic P & C Association assists with fund-raising for specific school programs and operates a healthy food canteen.The P&C is generating strong links with the local community through regular meetings and its support of whole school activities including annual events such as student discos, the Year 6 farewell dinner and dance, Performance Nights and Art Auctions and Stage 3 Fun Day. The school has access to a Before and After School Care centre which, considering our proximity to public transport, allows an increasing number of our parents and carers greater flexibility when returning to and continuing in the workforce. Yagoona Public School has an active Community Hub based on site which offers many of our school and community families a place to come, share ideas, learn new skills such as First Aid, Money Matters and women's well-being activities. Maria, our Hub leader organises our weekly playgroup sessions run by our parent volunteers and many more exciting opportunities. Please come along and join in.  Yagoona Public School-Embracing potential to empower learning.