Gillwinga Public School

Gillwinga Public School is a modern well equipped school with exemplary facilities. These include ten permanent classrooms, hall, library, technology room, canteen, administration areas and extensive playing fields including playground equipment. Although in the centre of South Grafton, the school is set in a quiet street in a scenic bush setting, providing a calm, serene environment allowing for maximum learning opportunities. The school provides quality academic, cultural and sporting programs to students from South Grafton and surrounding areas. There is a strong focus on delivering academic excellence through outstanding educational programs. Our school-wide initiative of employing specialist teachers through the Priority Schools Funding source has enabled our school to provide enrichment and extension programs for high achieving students. This has resulted in achievement of distinction and credit awards across all academic areas in the International Competition and Assessment for Schools program, which is delivered by the University of New South Wales. Our students are taught explicitly and systematically in the academic areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Computer technology. They are provided with opportunities to challenge their thinking skills through participation in the Maths Olympiad, regional public speaking, debating and chess competitions and the Premier's Spelling Challenge. Literacy and numeracy support programs are funded through the Priority Schools Funding program and cater for those students requiring extra assistance. The reading recovery program is part of the Year 1 literacy session and the highly acclaimed Quicksmart numeracy program is implemented across Stage 3. The school has an established creative arts program with individual musical tuition by qualified staff as part of this program. The band, choir and Jump Rope for Heart demonstration skipping team receive accolades and awards when performing at local eisteddfods and community events. A specialist teacher is employed to explicitly teach visual arts and this has seen students awarded prizes in state and national art competitions. The students' high level sporting skills are also catered for with specialist teachers employed to implement sporting programs in rugby league, netball and athletics. Representation of teams and individuals at state level has been a result of these innovative programs. A preschool literacy, numeracy and technology program is implemented for ten weeks prior to children starting Kindergarten. This program recognises the need to support parents and children before enrolling at school and has resulted in improved school readiness skills for our first time students. As an innovative school, we meet the growing changes and challenges in today's society by drawing on the wealth of talent and expertise of staff and community members, balanced with traditional educational priorities and values of respect and responsibility.