Weetangera Primary School

Weetangera Primary School is a public coed primary school located in the suburb of Weetangera in Canberra, Australia. It caters for children in kindergarten to grade 6. The school's Principal is currently James Barnett.

Weetangera Primary School
Address
Southwell Street

Weetangera, Australian Capital Territory
,
2614

Australia
Information
TypePrimary school
MottoSuccessful learning through caring and sharing
Established1973 (1973)
PrincipalJames Barnett
GradesKindergarten-6
Enrollment415 (2014)[1]
Colour(s)  Navy blue   Gold
Websitehttp://www.weetangeraps.act.edu.au

History

Weetangera Primary School is named for the suburb it is situated in. The history of the school can be traced back to 1875 when the first school was built in the region about one kilometre from the site of the present school and called Weetangera School.[2] The first school was a stringy-bark hut measuring just three by four metres, with a fireplace but no windows.[3][4] One of the early school's longest-serving teachers was Ellen Clark, who taught at the school for 26 years.[5] The first Weetangera School closed in 1937, when enrolments dropped to just eight students.[6][4]

The present-day school opened in February 1973,[7] with an initial enrolment of 384 students.[2]

The enrolment at Weetangera Primary School in 1974, its second year in operation, was 563, despite accommodation providing for only 450 pupils.[8]

Between 1986 and 1988, Weetangera Primary School incorporated a Montessori primary classroom.[9] At the end of 1988, Page Primary School was shut down and pupils moved to Weetangera Primary School.[10]

Until the ACT Schools Authority banned the practice from 1988, corporal punishment was sometimes used at the school.[11][12]

In July 1990, then ACT Government Minister for Education Gary Humphries announced the Government would close Weetangera Primary School and six other schools.[13] Parents and students protested the decision,[13] and Hugh Hudson was appointed to audit and analyse the savings and impacts of the proposed closures.[14] The Hudson report cast doubt over the closure of Weetangera Primary and two other schools,[15] which were reprieved in the final government decision.[14]

In 1999, the school dedicated its Landcare garden to Barbara Fox, naming it the Barbara Fox Garden. Fox was the school's canteen manager and coordinator of the before and after-school care program.[16] The Landcare garden, featuring more than 300 native plants near the school's entrance, had been developed over several years through a long-term regeneration program.[17]

In 2006, Weetangera Primary School was awarded with a Silver Accreditation Certificate as part of an ACT Government program to encourage schools to reduce less healthy options and increase healthier options.[18] In 2012, SmartStart for Kids named the school its most successful cohort ever, after recording dramatic improvements in strength, flexibility and nutrition training across a group of students in kinder, year 1 and year 2.[19]

Principals
Period Principal
1973 − 1975 Terry Blythe[20][21]
1976 − 1985 Don Griffiths[22][23]
1986 − 1987 Jeannette O'Connell[24]
1988 − 1993 Gwyn Clarke[25]
1994 − 19? Margaret Clough
19? - 200? Sue Jose[26]
200? − 2013 Phil Gray[27]
2013 – present James Barnett

References
  1. Weetangera Handbook Information for families (PDF), Weetangera Primary School
  2. Weetangera Primary School, Our History, Weetangera Primary School, archived from the original on 16 December 2013
  3. Maher, Louise (5 August 2013), "Commemorating Weetangera's first school", 666 ABC Canberra, Australian Broadcasting Commission
  4. "Weetangera Public School in the School history database search". New South Wales Department of Education. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. Corbell, Simon (26 February 2014). "Weetangera park named after local school teacher" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
  6. "Sign of the times for pioneer schoolhouse". City News. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.
  7. Rhynehart, Brian (27 February 2008), Belconnen's History, Belconnen Community, archived from the original on 29 May 2014, Holt, Melba and Weetangera Primary Schools opened to their first intake of students.
  8. "Weetangera School decision criticised". The Canberra Times. 21 February 1974. p. 7.
  9. Feez, Susan (2013), Montessori: The Australian Story, New South Publishing, p. 176, ISBN 9781742246543
  10. Polglaze, Karen (20 August 1990). "School closure 'not on ACT Govt agenda'". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
  11. Zakharov, Jeannie (20 November 1987). "ACT Schools Authority decides to abolish cane". The Canberra Times. p. 14.
  12. Conkey, Howard (29 July 1984). "Obscene signs, swearing and assaults: Why the cane came out". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
  13. Hobson, Karen (31 August 1990). "Weetangera Primary 'will close' says Humphries". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
  14. Hobson, Karen. "Too much consultation on closures: Humphries". The Canberra Times. p. 9.
  15. Hudson, Hugh Richard (1990), A community divided? An examination of school closure policy in the ACT, Canberra: Independent Consultancy on School Closures
  16. Maack, Ingrid (27 October 1999). "Weetangera's "good Fairy" Honoured". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. p. 15.
  17. "The Pupils At Weetangera Primary School Have Green Thumbs". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. 11 November 1998. p. 10.
  18. "Weetangera Primary School achieves silver canteen accreditation" (Press release). 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009.
  19. Tucker, Breanna (22 February 2012). "Fitter, faster, stronger: the school that changed for good". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
  20. Terry Blythe, first teacher at Weetangera Primary School, 1973-1975, ACT Heritage Library, archived from the original on 12 August 2014
  21. Bailey, Debbie (23 August 1975). "'Carload' of cards for retiring headmaster". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
  22. "Farewell at school". The Canberra Times. 13 November 1985. p. 13.
  23. Don Griffiths, Principal at Weetangera Primary School 1976-1985, ACT Heritage Library, archived from the original on 12 August 2014
  24. Jeannette OConnell, Weetangera Primary School principal 1986-1987, ACT Heritage Library, archived from the original on 12 August 2014
  25. Gwyn Clarke, Principal at Weetangera Primary School, 1988-1993, ACT Heritage Library, archived from the original on 12 August 2014
  26. "Mixed feelings about benefits of multi-level school classes". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. 30 March 2002. p. 6.
  27. Power, Madeline (3 August 2012). "'If you like maths, it's easy to enjoy test'". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014.

Further reading
  • Clough, Margaret (2004), Spilt Milk: a history of Weetangera School 1875-2004, ISBN 0646440306

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