THE summer holidays are well and truly over with hundreds of students returning to schools across Millicent and district on Tuesday morning.
At Millicent North Primary School, principal Graham Slarks was on hand to greet his 251 students including 32 new receptions.
A special welcome was extended to Millicent residents Ashlee Fensom and Sally Mueller who are beginning their teaching careers.
Mr Slarks said the school has committed to the smooth transition for the new Reception students by placing them in a class of 18 peers, with 19 others in a combined Reception/Year 1 class.
“Through the use of school support officers providing in-class support and small class sizes Millicent North is able to ensure all students achieve to their potential in their first year of schooling,” Mr Slarks said.
“In 2019 our phonics screening results for our Year 1s was one of the highest in the state, testament of the initiatives the school has implemented in the early year.
“The school decided to go to 11 classes in 2020 to ensure that we maintain small class sizes for all year levels.
“Our continual improvement in the NAPLAN and PAT testing has shown the benefits of small class sizes.
“This is quite a financial investment but one we are confident in helping us to develop closer relationships between the teacher and the children.”
The Millicent North Primary School principal said the vegetable garden was taking shape and would be up and running by the end of next week.
“Classes will be allocated a section of the garden to grow vegetables which will then be used in cooking at the school.
“An orchard will be established in the winter months.
“The school has spent over $50,000 in upgrading the IT in classrooms through the purchase of 50 new laptops and 10 new i-Pads.
“The internet connection speed to the school is being upgraded and the speed within the school is also being upgraded.
“The investment in improving the internet speed is over $45,000 which is being largely funded by the Department for Education and Children’s Services with the school contributing the rest.
“This will all be completed early February.”
Mr Slarks also said the girls’ woodwork centre would be completed by this time.
“All Year 7 girls will do a semester of woodwork where they will have the opportunity to build several projects.
“Retired teacher Leon Miels has built two large wood work benches and … the girls will embark on even greater projects than they were able to do in 2019.
“The lighting in the area has also been upgraded along with more power points to accommodate the extra tools.”
