Profile and History

Profile

Wales Street Primary School is situated in Melbourne's northern suburbs and since 1891 has played a pivotal role in educating young children living in the Northcote-Thornbury area and beyond. The school grounds house two historic main brick buildings built in 1891 and 1915. The construction of a new library, art and music rooms, and a multi purpose building was completed in 2002 and there is also 1 large Light Timber Construction (LTC). The school grounds provide many open spaces for children to engage in outdoor activities in an attractive setting that allows for exploration, imaginative play and a variety of sports activities. The grounds are well maintained and it is a credit to volunteer help from parents.  

The local area surrounding the school is predominately housing. Approximately 25% of students come from families with a non-English speaking background. Of these families, just over half speak a language other than English in the home. A wide range of socio-economic conditions is typical of the local area with over 16 nationalities representing a microcosm of rich cultural backgrounds and traditions.

The school ethos is to continually identify and meet the educational, physical, social and emotional needs of all students and this is enhanced by encouraging open levels of communication with students, staff, parents, neighbouring schools, community groups and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD).
The school offers a broad and comprehensive range of curriculum programs. These include English, Mathematics, The Arts, Information and Communication Technology, Science, Studies of Society and the Environment, LOTE Chinese, Greek and Italian), Health and Physical Education. Teachers use an Integrated Curriculum planning model utilising Bloom's Taxonomy, Multiple Intelligences and Inquiry approaches as a means of developing higher order thinking skills in students. The school believes that this approach will ultimately develop in students' high self-esteem, the ability to think independently and apply their knowledge and abilities to the challenges that lie ahead with enthusiasm and confidence. All children have access to at least 3 computers in their own classroom.

The Arts form an integral part of the Wales Street curriculum. A Visual Arts specialist teacher provides classes to students in year levels Prep to Six and classroom teachers use the arts as a process area across the curriculum for developing confidence, artistic expression and appreciation. Physical Education and Music teacher specialists also provide a regular timetabled program with all students for Preps to Grade 6 having the opportunity to participate in class based activities. There are also a wide range of extra curriculum options available for students in these areas.

The school values - Humour, Creativity, Kindness and Empathy, Responsibility, and Respect provide a framework for the development of positive self-esteem, leadership, cooperation and positive role modelling. An essential part of the school programs are the Peer Support, Peer Mediation and Prep Buddy Programs which are highly valued for the senses of respect and responsibility they engender in our children. Through Personal Development programs students develop understandings about good health, nutrition, and the positive effects of leisure, physical activities and general well being. Wales Street also practices a Sun Smart program so that students have increased awareness of wearing a hat and applying sunscreen when outdoors. Integral to the Personal Development program is building resilience in young children and developing harm minimisation strategies that will enable them to make informed decisions regarding their own life journey and the community in which they live.

History

On October 1st, 1891 Wales Street Primary School was officially opened under the name "Prince of Wales Park State School", later becoming Northcote Primary School No. 3139 but being known to the school community as "Wales Street".  Built due to the population boom of the late 1800's in the borough of Northcote, it consisted of four classrooms, a headmaster's office and a bell tower.   Overcrowded classrooms (as many as 150 children in a room) led to the extension of the east wing building completed in 1913.  Land acquired in Speight Street saw the west wing building erected and opened in 1915.  In 1920 two nearby houses were purchased to provide more playing space and a caretaker's residence.

Through the years Wales Street has lived through a great deal of history including the visit by the Prince of Wales to Melbourne where Wales Street students took part in a huge display including maypole dancing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.  Depression in the 1930's saw many children coming to school without lunch or footwear and although the economy began to mend there was little time for recovery as war was declared in 1939.  Students at Wales Street raised money, knitted items and helped in many ways towards the war relief as they had done during the First World War.  Medals were presented to the children commemorating the Queen's coronation (1953) and visit to Australia in 1954.  In the 1960's as residents either passed on or moved away, migrant families began to move to the Northcote area and as a result a review of the school's policies was needed to provide for their needs and to help settle them into their new environment. By 1969 65% of the school's population had their origins in other countries.  In 1970/72 the timber building was installed to accommodate the extra student population caused as flats and units replaced the old homes in the area.

Wales Street has seen a great deal of change in the school way of life from classrooms with long desks, gallery style seating, ink wells, blackboards and slates to group seating, ergonomic chairs, whiteboards, biros and computers in the classroom.  Electronic alarms replaced bell monitors, time out and negotiation are far preferable to getting "the cuts", Monday morning assemblies are still the tradition however some of the observances have been removed such as flag raising, singing "God save the King" and reciting the oath.  Many of the games children play remain the same such as footy, cricket, skipping and hopscotch; some come and go over the years such as elastics, yoyos, hoola hoops, marbles and jacks; and some games sadly have disappeared altogether including top spinning, tip-cat and cherrybobs.  Happily the peppercorn trees still stand to give shade, shelter and a place to play for today's students as they have for so many other children over many years.

There are many ideals that have remained constant over time.  Over the past 100 years and more Wales Street has continually identified and responded to the educational needs of its students.  People continue to comment on both the "friendly feel" and the "strong sense of community" within the school.  Just as the community was the driving force for the beginning of Wales Street, so too the community continues to be greatly involved in projects today.