The school was established in March 1873. However, the oldest building on site is our historical Abbott Room. This building was obtained in 1934 from the Diamond Hill School (near Kangaroo Flat) to be used as a shelter shed at Strathfieldsaye.
In 1995 the administration block was redeveloped and refurbished. In 1997 the portable classrooms were replaced by a modern teaching complex of six classrooms, specialist teaching areas and a canteen.
Our school facilities were extended in 2001, with the provision of two new permanent classrooms. In 2010, under the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER), we constructed 6 new classrooms and an open learning complex, which complements our excellent facilities.
The school is a modern teaching and learning facility incorporating a comprehensive computer network to support the provision of information technologies for our students future education. This is being extended as part of the exciting Netbook project to provide students in grades 5 and 6 with 1:1 computers.
The School Council has developed an excellent netball facility and three large adventure playgrounds. There are two shade cloth protected sand pits for Junior School students, as well as the covered basketball and tennis courts providing a venue for all weather outdoor P.E, sport and assembly purposes. Being adjacent to the Strath Sports complex allows us continued access to community ovals. The natural treed setting at the rear of the school attracts abundant varieties of native birds, and provides a stimulating play and learning environment for our children and a centre for our sustainability garden, propagation area and chooks.
This school endeavours to develop the whole child by providing learning experiences aimed at students pursuing excellence in all areas of the school curriculum.
At Strathfieldsaye Primary School we provide a number of specialist programs including Visual Art, Music, Library, Early Literacy, Physical Education, LOTE, Multi Instrumental Music and Choir. Students who are considered “at risk” in Literacy are catered for in intensive small group programs—Reading Recovery and Supporting Early Literacy Learning (SELL).
Our philosophy is firmly based on the belief that the best educational outcomes are achieved when school and home work are combined together to ensure the social, physical, emotional and intellectual development of the student is met.
Parental support and involvement is an important priority for the school. We receive excellent support to classroom programs at all levels from parents, School Council, Parent Club and school community. We aim to provide an open friendly atmosphere that welcomes parents and families to the school and treats their concerns seriously.
The school also has a philosophy of providing a caring and supportive environment in which students are actively encouraged to learn and grow in self-confidence and esteem. The Behaviour & Wellbeing Code of Conduct balances the rights of students, with their responsibility for the care of others.
The Junior School Council provides a forum for students to be actively involved in the decision making process of the school.
In all, the school provides a comprehensive education in a safe and mutually respectful environment.
The school has grown in recent years, with enrolments increasing from 293 in 1999 to around 500. Our students come predominantly from the local area and travel by car, bike or walk to school. We have two main bus runs bringing students from outlying areas, as well as the local community bus service.
The demographic profile of Strathfieldsaye has also changed significantly during recent years. A number of new subdivisions have been established with a rapid increase in the land available for housing. Land use within areas of Strathfieldsaye has changed from low density rural residential to residential, with allotments varying in size from 500sq metres to 1200 sq metres.
The school is conscious of the impact of future growth and we have undertaken site works to accommodate additional students. This has included relocation of buildings, shedding and services to allow us to develop our grounds with the confidence that any works undertaken will not be disturbed as the school grows.
We look forward to working co-operatively with our community to provide the best quality of education possible for the students of Strathfieldsaye.
