Six of the Bungaree region’s youngest residents will have a massive impact when they start school next year.
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The six new starters will be the biggest prep class in Bungaree Primary School’s recent history and make for an exciting future for the school according to principal Catherine Barnes.
With three grade six pupils graduating to high school this year out of a total school population of 12, the prep class will make up almost half of the school next year.
”We’ve had a couple of fundraisers recently and the whole community is excited, there’s a really positive vibe around our school in town and we are getting great feedback about how successful the school is,” she said.
Five of the six pupils starting foundation next year have younger siblings who Ms Barnes hopes will follow their big brothers and sisters through the school gate.
“All these new families coming to Bungaree PS will set us in good stead for the future,” Ms Barnes said.
By the time they start next year the youngsters will be well-versed on “big school” after taking part in six transition sessions aimed at settling them in to school life.
Annika was so excited to attend their pirate-themed transition day on Friday that she even wore her school uniform.
“It’s going to be huge,” said junior teacher Jan Westlake.
The school draws its student population from Bungaree, Springbank, Wallace and Millbrook and prides itself on being more like a family.
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“The children are like one big happy family,” Ms Westlake said. Parents, grandparents and carers finish the transition sessions with a morning tea to help them connect with the school community.
“We invite the parents, carers and grandparents for morning tea to build the community and community spirit around the school. There’s not a lot of places where you can come together in Bungaree, so we can come together in school to talk and catch up,” Ms Barnes said.
“Small schools are great school and that’s our point of difference. I’ve taught in schools of 1500 pupils and it’s a totally different dynamic.”
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