Welcome to Donvale Primary School where our students thrive in an environment of collective pride and achievement. Donvale provides an enriching education that commences with Foundation (Prep) and moves through to Year 6. As a ‘KidsMatter’ and ‘Respectful Relationships’ School, we ensure a secure, emotionally safe, and welcoming environment for all our students. Children are engaged and challenged in wonderfully bright and stimulating learning areas with classes led by a team of teaching professionals.
The school currently has an enrolment of around 300 students. Students are organised in Foundation, Year 1 / 2, Year 3 / 4 and Year 5 / 6 classrooms. Each area of the school is overseen by a team leader and teachers work in small teams to plan and implement curriculum. Our classrooms and teaching spaces are modern, large and extremely well equipped and resourced. We have dedicated rooms to support our expanding curriculum. Our most modern building houses the Year 5 / 6 classrooms (Senior School) and extensive learning and meeting spaces. Our senior school building hosts many school events such as Assemblies and Music performances which are regularly held there. We invite all our parents to attend such events when possible. Our students have a vast area in which to play, with many playgrounds, open area, passive sitting areas and shaded spaces for students to enjoy.
Donvale is a school dedicated to providing the best learning opportunities for each and every student. School Council, Parent’s Association and Staff are committed to providing the environment and resources that will empower all of our students with the skills and social competencies that will enable them to flourish as they grow up in this new century. We are committed to continuing the school’s tradition of providing excellence for all. We offer a curriculum that is both innovative and comprehensive. Our focus on high achievement is unrelenting. We hold the expectation that all our students will achieve high levels of Literacy and Numeracy upon completion of their educational journey with us.
There is a commitment to an integrated curriculum approach through inquiry learning. We acknowledge and cater for different rates and styles of learning. The development of higher order thinking skills, risk taking, adaptability, cooperation and sound communication techniques are fostered. The core Literacy and Numeracy curriculum is complemented with a very active specialist program where students experience learning within the Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Language other than English (Mandarin) and Physical Education areas. Experienced staff run engaging programs in each area and also offer a range of extra-curricular opportunities for our students. Additional program areas include sport (swimming, gymnastics, team competition); camps and excursions; cultural activities; music and performance (whole school concert, choirs, bands, instrumental tuition); Values program; Peer Mediation; and level support.
The Mandarin Language Program is an established area of our curriculum. Each child from Foundation to Year 6 has the opportunity to develop their knowledge of the language and their understanding of the Asian culture – all celebrated with our annual ‘Multi-Cultural Day’. Our inclusion of the Mandarin language into our curriculum strongly aligns with the new Victorian Curriculum’s Asian cross curriculum priorities and the Australian Governments expectation that all students are to have the opportunity to learn an Asian language.
The ongoing development of children with strong abilities is actively managed within the classroom with the inclusion of programs that provide opportunities for challenge and extension. Additional opportunities are also available through the implementation of a ‘High Abilities Practice Leader,’ who will actively coordinate higher learning opportunities for nominated students as well as providing professional learning for teachers in this area of teaching. The school also offers the ‘Gateways’ development program.
Donvale Primary School has access to innovative approaches to teaching and learning. We have implemented a 1:1 iPad and BYOID (Bring your own i device) program where our Years 3&4 and 5 & 6 students access iPad technology as part of their daily learning environment. IPads are accessed by all our students across the school in their learning with a ratio of 1:2 iPads in the junior school. Our classrooms also have access to a range of ICT equipment to enhance learning, including interactive SMART boards, notebook and desktop computers.
We encourage all parents and guardians to take an active role in the education of their child. Our staff welcome parent involvement in the classroom and on a range of school activities, including excursions. Parents and guardians can assist in their child’s learning and success at school by reinforcing the following: that students are at school every day, on time, in full school uniform and have all of the equipment required for a successful school day (including a healthy lunch!) If at any time you require assistance, or would like to chat about your child’s progress at school, please make inititial contact with your child’s teacher, who will then refer you to other support staff if necessary.
I would like to invite all who would like to visit our school to contact me to arrange a time for a personal tour. I would appreciate the opportunity to show you our wonderful school.
Thank you for visiting our website and welcome to our school.
Larissa Vesdrevanis
Principal
Larissa.Vesdrevanis@education.vic.gov.au
