Welcome to Somers Primary School!
Somers Primary School provides a comprehensive education in a warm and friendly environment. The rural setting provides an ideal place for children to grow and learn to be the best they can be. We focus on the provision of programs which build the children’s academic, social and life skills.
The academic curriculum is comprehensive, with a focus on Literacy and Numeracy. Our programs provide for the range of abilities with additional support provided to children where required. There are programs in both Literacy and Numeracy to assist children who are not achieving to the best of their ability and extension programs to encourage children to achieve to the best of their ability. These programs begin in Prep with screening of children for Phonemic and Phonetic awareness. These are two key skills which assist young children to become effective readers. For those who need assistance to develop these skills, additional support is provided by a Speech Pathologist employed by the school. For children in Year 1, the school runs a Reading Recovery program which provides one on one support for half an hour a day for up to twenty weeks. In addition support is provided to children with delayed language development. Support programs in Literacy run up through the School so that children who have difficulty acquiring literacy skills are supported. These programs allow children to develop the key skills needed to become successful readers. For those who find reading easy, additional support is provided to extend their literacy skills. These include Book Circles which encourage more advanced readers to develop mature reading skills and introduces children to classic literature. Reading circles are run by volunteer parents.
The development of Mathematics is also designed to assist children to achieve to the best of their potential. Children who need additional assistance are supported with small withdrawal classes which focus on the areas of difficulty. Frequent testing ensures that children’s progress is regularly monitored and that support is provided. In Mathematics, extension programs are also provided to allow children to explore Mathematics and develop a love of learning.
The School also provides a comprehensive Visual Arts program with all children receiving access to specialist Art classes. Somers Primary School runs a highly successful Arts Fair each year which is well supported by the local and wider community.
Science is also a feature of the School with all children from Years Prep to Grade 6 receiving science lessons. The Science Program underpins the School’s Sustainability Program which encourages children to conserve water and electricity and which promotes recycling. As part of the Sustainability Program, the children participate in activities which build the environment and which give them a clear idea of the importance of the preservation of ecosystems in the school and local environments. Somers Primary School has achieved a number of awards for its work in sustainability.
All children at Somers Primary School study German as a Language Other Than English (LOTE). Children are encouraged to appreciate other cultures and to understand the world from different points of view.
Physical activity and sport is an important part of the School’s program with children having access to weekly Physical Education and Sports programs. Prep children have a Perceptual Motor Program which builds the children’s co-ordination skills. Senior children participate in interschool sport in a variety of sports.
Our children are encouraged to be good citizens and to contribute to the wider society. Each term the School runs a Citizenship Assembly which recognises the contribution of children to the School and to the wider community. The Student Wellbeing program promotes a harmonious environment and a calm place for both learning and play. Achievement awards are presented to children as assembly who have demonstrated excellence in their work and relationships. The children have a Junior School Council and leadership positions which encourage children to develop skills which will empower them in their secondary and tertiary education. The School runs regular leadership programs for the Year 5/6 children which teach the children the skills of leadership, public speaking and organisation.
Somers Primary School also provides a range of out of hours programs designed to broaden the children’s interests. There is a before school Running Club which encourages fitness and is run by a dedicated group of parents. The Active After School Communities Program is government funded and gives children access to a range of programs such as Dance and Soccer. Our Horizons Program operates at lunch time in terms 2 and 3 and provides children with a wealth of choices of programs ranging from Electronics to Scrapbooking, Computers, Dance and Library activities.
The School operates an After School Care Program which provides support to working parents who need to leave for work early or return late.
Parents are encouraged to actively participate in their children’s education by assisting in classrooms, in out of hours programs and through School Council. The ideas and views of parents are most welcome and contribute to future development of the School.
David Ingham
Principal
