On behalf of the staff, children and parents of Patterson Lakes Primary School, l welcome you and your family to our school community.

Learning for Life
Our school’s motto is ‘Learning for Life’. When you join our school community you will quickly become acquainted with the quality and richness of programs that are designed to meet your child’s needs. Our school values of integrity, respect and excellence are used in our everyday dealings with each other [colleagues, students and parents] and in the development of our programs and policies. These values form the moral purpose of our school and the foundation for ensuring the best school environment for all members of our community.

Starting school, or starting at a new school, is a very important event in a child’s life, and children adjust to school in different ways. We are keen to work with parents to ensure that each child settles quickly, easily and happily into school life at Patterson Lakes. The school will keep you informed about how your child is settling in, and I encourage you to provide us with feedback from home. Keeping an open communication process between school and home ensures transition to our school will be as smooth as possible.

I also encourage you to take advantage of the friendly community by getting involved in the school. Patterson Lakes offers you a range of opportunities for involvement through social, fundraising and community activities. In addition the school encourages you to join the Parent Helpers program to assist with class or school activities. For working parents there are occasional evening or weekend school and social events through which you can share and celebrate your child’s education, and develop friendships with other families. Through involvement in the School Council you assist in decision-making and the development of school policy.

Patterson Lakes Primary has a strong moral purpose and reputation for delivering high quality education in all disciplines of the Victorian primary school curriculum. Our curriculum is broad, relevant and dynamic. Students are actively involved in their learning, acquiring knowledge, skills, positive attitudes and values.

The school places a strong emphasis on the use of computers in teaching and learning. All classrooms contain computer pods with access to a range of information and communication technologies. The school also has a well designed Information and Communication Technologies Centre comprising 30 networked multimedia computers, interactive whiteboards, and its own radio station - 104.7 FM School of Rock. Through authentic learning activities students from Prep to Year 6 develop the skills, knowledge and processes for using a variety of word processing, publishing, multimedia, information, communication and educational software programs.

The school is proud of its staff for the commitment, effectiveness and professionalism with which they undertake their roles and responsibilities, and the care and concern they show for our students and families. Staff work together to provide a well managed, safe learning environment that caters to the learning needs of all students. They focus on developing in your children the life skills of confidence, persistence, organisation, resilience and the capacity to get along with others. Through our Student Leadership, Student Representative Council and House Competition programs, we provide opportunities for the development of teamwork, respect, responsibility and active citizenship.

At Patterson Lakes we look forward to working with you to ensure that your child obtains a high quality education.

Stan Szuty
Principal

There is early dismissal at 2:30pm on the last day of each term – and at 1.30pm for the Christmas Vacation.
PREP STUDENTS
*Prep students for 2009 commence at 10.30am on Monday 2 February 2009.
*All Prep children will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.00am - 3.30pm for the month of February. Wednesdays have been set aside as a testing day for individual Prep children.
*Week beginning Monday 2 March will be Prep children’s first week of full attendance [5 days].

YEAR 1 – 6 STUDENTS for 2009 commence at 9.00am on Monday 2 February 2009.

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VISION STATEMENT
Patterson Lakes Primary School - high quality education in a safe and caring environment.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. To provide a strong educational program that enables individuals to achieve to their potential
2. To empower all students to become cooperative, independent and resilient lifelong learners
3. To maintain a culture of continuous improvement focussed on student achievement and school performance
4. To ensure a community where each child is listened to, feels safe and is valued
5. To assist students to develop self esteem, respect for others and social responsibility
6. To maintain an effective partnership between staff, students, families and the local community.

ENVIRONMENT
Patterson Lakes Primary School opened in 1979 and is located in the residential corridor between the Frankston Freeway and Port Phillip Bay, 33km SSE of the Melbourne CBD. The school is surrounded by a series of interconnected canals around the Patterson River waterway.
The school has modern buildings, grounds and facilities that have the flexibility of both open plan and regular style classrooms. During 1997 the school completed a major upgrade and refurbishment project. Features include a visual arts room, library, learning technologies centre, administration block and extensive undercover areas. The grounds include a large oval, grassed playing areas, adventure playgrounds and basketball courts. A covered walkway provides access to two multi-purpose areas in the Patterson Lakes Community Centre.

SCHOOL POPULATION
The school has a stable enrolment of 525 students, which is expected to increase marginally over the next 5 years. Although more than 62% of students live in Patterson Lakes, 38% live elsewhere, mostly in neighbouring suburbs. There is no significant gender difference in enrolments.

CURRICULUM
At Patterson Lakes Primary School, all students participate in a comprehensive curriculum. The breadth and richness of curriculum offered allows students to be actively involved in their learning, acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes and values. Our curriculum is based on the Victorian Essential Learning Standards [VELS] which describes what students should know and be able to do in key areas from Prep to Year 10.
VELS is based on 3 core interrelated strands of learning:

1. Physical, Personal and Social Learning
This includes physical, personal and social skills such as being active and healthy, developing self confidence, managing personal learning and working with others.
2. Discipline-based Learning
This includes knowledge and understanding from the key subjects of English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages and The Arts.
3. Interdisciplinary Learning
This includes other essential skills that apply across curriculum areas such as thinking, design, problem solving, communicating, and using information and communications technology.

PROGRAMS
Emphasis is placed on the provision of effective literacy and numeracy programs that cater for all students with science and student wellbeing nominated as additional focus areas. Learning outcomes for students are maximised by whole school planning and program implementation, ongoing professional development for staff, appropriate resource provision, special needs assistance, comprehensive assessment and reporting practices and regular evaluation of all school programs.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS
The school offers programs to support students with specific learning needs including Reading Recovery, a Year 3 - 6 Enrichment for All program, a Prep and Year 4 Buddy Program, a successful Integration program and a Special Needs program. Supporting programs, which complement the Key Learning Areas include a networked Learning Technologies Program, Life Education, Swimming (Prep, 1 & 2), Inter-School Sport (5 & 6), Concert (Prep to 4),Year 5 & 6 School Production, Perceptual Motor Program (Prep), Camping Program (Years 3, 4, 5 & 6), Chess Tournament, Bike Education and Police in Schools. A range of excursions, incursions, visitors and speakers, and involvement in a range of events such as Robotics,Solar Powered Boats and Tournament of Minds to further enhance learning experiences for students.

STUDENT WELLBEING
At Patterson Lakes there is a strong emphasis on developing social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing in all students. The school supports the development of student wellbeing through a comprehensive approach through a range of wide and varied classroom programs and extra curricular activities.

School Environment The school has an environment that is caring, positive, orderly and safe. It is conducive to learning, nurtures individuals, celebrates strengths and differences, and reflects expectations for reasonable and responsible behaviour. School leadership, teachers, students, parents and families work together to successfully manage the learning and physical environment. They jointly foster pride in the school and a healthy school spirit.

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THE 2008- 2011 SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN
The School Strategic Plan sets out the school’s strategic direction for the next 4 years, including the school’s purpose, values and environmental context, as well as goals, targets and key improvement strategies in three student outcome areas:
* Student learning
* Student pathways and transitions
* Student engagement and wellbeing.

The School Strategic Plan is informed by the information gathered and directions identified throughout the school self evaluation and school review processes, and through staff, student and parent consultation.
Copies of the 2008 - 20011 School Strategic Plan are available from the school office.

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Patterson Lakes Primary School has a reputation for delivering high quality education in the Essential Learning Areas of the Victorian primary school curriculum. Our curriculum is broad, relevant and dynamic. Students are actively involved in their learning, acquiring knowledge, skills, positive attitudes and values.

The School Council, Principal and Staff ensure that quality teaching and support programs are provided across all year levels.

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