History/Locations

Maffra Primary School is located in the township of Maffra within the Macalister Irrigation District, renowned for its dairy industry.  The original building was erected in 1867 and together with the grounds area, in particular the Peppercorn trees, are of historical significance. Although most of the students live in the town, population 4000, some are drawn from the farms and smaller settlements in the area.  The student enrolment in February 2007 was 294. Like many rural communities there is a considerable amount of unemployment in the area, despite this, there is still a particularly strong sense of local community with many organisations active in the town. There has been a decline in the number of primary aged children living in the town due to changes in demographics. The school enjoys a good working relationship with Maffra Secondary College, kindergartens and the other schools in the district. Transition programs from kinder to prep and from primary to secondary are particularly successful.

Guiding Principles

The future of the town and the nation is intrinsically linked to educational opportunities. There is a sense of excitement about the school's vision for its future as it brings special opportunities.

Values

At our school we value:

·         creating an environment in which students can experience success

·         setting high expectations of student learning and behaviour

·         actively promoting student self-esteem and confidence

·         challenging and motivating students through purposeful learning activities

·         responding and recognising individual differences and learning styles

·         team work and collaboration

·         maintaining a safe and healthy environment

·         recognition of and celebration of achievements

Programs

The school provides high quality, sequential learning programs in line with the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. Significant effort and resources are directed towards improving literacy and numeracy skills. Individual needs are catered for in a number of ways by offering programs that include:

Facilities

The school is equipped with the latest technological and child-centred teaching and learning aids The facilities are supplemented by a strong tradition of self-support at the school and in the community. The development and ongoing maintenance of buildings, grounds and equipment is apparent. We recognise the efforts of the School Council and Parents’ Club for their support. The Maffra community has for many years contributed significantly to the school's resources.