Elder Electorate Schools

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (15:34): Today, I rise to talk about just three of the great schools in my electorate of Elder. Over the past few months, I have had the pleasure of hosting a number of school groups and, of these schools, all have their own unique richness and culture. They are part of the dynamic network of school offerings in my local area complementing one another. The three schools I mention today are Clovelly Park Primary School, Edwardstown Primary School and Suneden Special School. Each school planned their Parliament House tour to supplement the understanding of the studies they were undertaking in the school curriculum.

Firstly, Clovelly Park Primary School, which is a school of great variety, incorporating mainstream by way of a range of core subjects, special education and intensive English language classes. The intensive English language program, which is designed to assist new arrivals, as well as the special education classrooms, are assimilated into mainstream classrooms, with students embracing diversity within the school.

The school offers a number of avenues for students to pursue their interests, including performing arts and sporting teams. Just recently, around 80 students from reception to year 7 participated at Wakakirri, telling the story of acceptance through props, music and dance. The school's values of respect, tolerance, responsibility, cooperation and persistence are lived and palpable.

The strong focus on developing positive and caring relationships within the school community is evidenced through the partnership that sees the community garden within the school grounds flourish. It was both fun and a great pleasure to host teacher Vicki Faulkner with just over 40 energetic year 6/7 students, who asked amazing and inquiring questions.

The second school I hosted not long ago, thanks to teacher Christie Evans, was the Edwardstown Primary School, and that involved around 50 vibrant year 6/7 students,. The group of well-mannered, enthusiastic students asked many great questions. Edwardstown Primary School has a community of caring and dynamism that is supportive of learning underpinned by its strong values. The learning programs across the school reflect the school's values of respect, care and consideration, and doing your best.

The strong parent and community culture culminates in many events, with a standout being the annual Strawberry Fair, which the whole school community pitches in to run food and fun stalls. This year, it will be held on Sunday 1 November, and there is always a great turnout. It is a well-known local community event. Edwardstown Primary School offers a specialised curriculum in performing arts and French, and builds on the wide variety of enrichment programs that include concerts, camps, junior and senior choirs, English as a second language, and Greek mother tongue preservation.

The third school I give a big mention to is Suneden Special School, as I welcomed Leanne with a group of her students aged between 13 and 16 years. The group were excited to be in Parliament House and enjoyed sitting in the seats of the Speaker, Premier, and many of the ministers. Founded in 1943, Suneden is a non-government, low-fee paying, nondenominational school for children with intellectual and multiple physical disabilities aged from five to 21 years.

The school is located in a quiet part of my electorate in the suburb of Mitchell Park. It is a warm and welcoming school catering for around 65 students, providing by way of small class sizes a caring and educationally stimulating environment. It has excellent facilities and a high staff-to-student ratio. A range of educational programs supported by the school's onsite speech and occupational therapist are tailored to suit the needs of individual students. As you enter the school, you are instantly met with warmth and sincerity based on Suneden's philosophies of a safe and caring environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and that needs are met on an individual basis.

Suneden also enjoys an award-winning sensory play space. At this year's Australian Institute of Landscape Architects 2015 South Australian Design Awards, WAX Design were rewarded for their tireless work in designing a sensory play space that enhanced the experiences, cognitive learning and enjoyment of students with physical and intellectual disabilities. Having been at the awards night, I learned that the play space exceeded the expectations of staff and parents and is now a place of fun and excitement which remembers and celebrates Georgia, a student who passed away in 2013. Suneden is well known in the local area for its annual art show of brilliant and vibrant art created by the students.

I loved showing all these school students through Parliament House, and I enjoy visiting them in their schools and seeing the commitment of the schools and their teachers as they positively mould, nurture and guide these students to become the best they can be.

Time expired.