Why Elwood Primary

Elwood Primary School is an inner bayside school with students drawn from the Elwood area.  The school is located in a quiet, residential area close to other facilities such as public transport, beaches, shopping villages, kindergartens and crèches and a secondary college. 

The school population reflects the characteristics of the Elwood community with its diversity of socio - economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  The mix of professional, creative and performing artists, often with very flexible work arrangements, supports and enhances the school's learning and teaching programs.

A real strength of Elwood Primary School is the value placed on ‘community'.  Parents and teachers work in an educational partnership to support each child's learning journey. Parental involvement in the many aspects of school life is highly valued. 

The school's learning and teaching programs are designed to assist students in developing skills for life long learning.  The values which form the basis of our actions are: self esteem, cooperation, respect, integrity, organisation, persistence, and confidence.  They are based on the belief that students have the ability and the right to learn.  Thus, the school ensures that the environment is friendly, calm and orderly, safe, responsive to its community's diversity and celebrates success in all areas of student achievement.

Over the past few years we have specifically focused on high quality programs with a clear commitment to student achievement in English, Mathematics and the implementation of a comprehensive approach to implementing VELS across the school.  A key part of this strategy has been a significant amount of professional learning through a contemporary coaching model aimed at deepening teacher expertise in teaching and learning.  This program goes from strength to strength and is highly valued by teachers and was endorsed strongly in our Staff Performance and Development Program Accreditation process in 2008.

In 2007 the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program was introduced for all students in Grades 3 and 4.  The aim of the Kitchen Garden Program is based on pleasurable food education. Through a holistic approach the program endeavours to positively influence children's food choices.  Students experience firsthand the links between growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh, seasonal produce.

While the Kitchen Garden and the Kitchen are certainly key resources, Elwood Primary School also offers spacious playgrounds (including a park, half soccer court, cricket pitches and nets, asphalted basketball, volleyball and bat tennis courts, creative play areas and sandpits), a modern Library, Hall, garden classroom and Performing Arts Centre.  Classrooms have all been refurbished and have electronic whiteboards.   Computers are integrated into all learning and teaching programs.  Specialist teaching areas include Performing Arts, Physical Education and Sport, Art, Extension and remedial mathematics, Reading Recovery, Kitchen and Garden Instructors.

School Tours are conducted throughout the year; please contact the office for specific details.