Killarney Heights Public School

Killarney Heights Public School is located centrally within the suburb between Killarney Heights High School and Killarney Heights Pre-school, creating an educational precinct for the community's children from pre-school to Year 12. The school has experienced steady growth in recent years with strong community support, leading to an enrolment of 733 students. 68% of students live in a home where a language other than English is spoken. More than 30 languages are spoken, with French and Chinese languages used most frequently. The school has excellent traditions academically and emphasis is placed on Quality Teaching and continuous improvement of learning outcomes for all students. Killarney Heights Public School offers extra-curricular opportunities in sport and the performing arts, including band, choir, dance, public speaking and debating programs. A unique French/English bilingual program operates through the school's partnership with FANS (French speaking Association of the North Shore), which was recognised by the French Government with a Label Franc'Education in 2012. The bilingual program is a major focus with enthusiastic teachers committed to team teaching and collaborative planning to provide differentiated programs in both languages. The school is a member of the Australian Association of French English bilingual schools, which is a network of ten bilingual schools in Australia. A Mandarin teacher provides Mother Tongue Mandarin to eligible students two days per week. The school has strong student welfare programs with a proactive Learning and Support Team that meet weekly. Positive reinforcement and recognition of appropriate behaviour underpins our school expectations of 'Respect, Responsibility and Success'. Support programs are offered in reading, numeracy, and spelling. Our Gifted and Talented programs offer programs for selected students in writing, mathematics, drama, art, robotics, science, music, sport  and French. Our school belongs to the Warringah Community of Schools which provides opportunities for students and teachers across the schools. Programs this year for students are Student Leadership Camp and STEM projects. Opportunities for staff will be Early Career Teacher workshops, Quality Teaching Rounds, and a project on Visible Learning. Our parent body supports the school in a broad range of activities. Over the last three years they have raised funds for a total upgrade of Information and Communication Technology across the school with Interactive Whiteboards in every classroom, banks of laptops and ipads for students, laptops for all teachers and wireless internet. The P&C also raised funds in 2014 and 2015 to build a multipurpose court and a K-2 playground. There is a before and after school care operated by a company called Extend which also provides vacation care. Strong academic programs, dedicated staff and supportive and involved parents offer every child at Killarney Heights Public School the best opportunity for success.