Colton Electorate schools

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (15:38): On Monday 15 February, cabinet met in my electorate somewhere in Kidman Park. This cabinet meeting gave me the opportunity to invite our Minister for Education to visit two of the excellent learning institutions in the seat of Colton. I have to say that I was very pleased to have the minister attend the Barbara Kiker Memorial Kindergarten (not spelt the same way as my name) in the morning, and later that day visit Kidman Park Primary School. I can also say that the Barbara Kiker kindergarten and Kidman Park Primary School are indicative of the outstanding schools and early learning centres located in my electorate.

At the Barbara Kiker Memorial Kindergarten the minister and I met with its director, Steven Cameron, and two of the parents. This kindergarten was established when the Kidman Park area was opened up. Kidman Park, like so many other areas, is being reinvigorated and rejuvenated through this regeneration. Historically, it was an area of primarily Housing Trust houses and of course there is some development going on in that area.

We toured the kindy, seeing firsthand the work that has been done internally and also the relationship between the internal learning facilities and the outside learning areas. Under the auspices of the director, Steve, and with the support of the teaching staff and the kindergarten community, the grounds have been overhauled with the planting of a native nature garden and, at the other side, an orchard. It was pleasing to see the linking of the natural environment to the children's learning.

We all know how important the early childhood centres are in providing the foundation for lifelong learning. To me at least it is obvious what makes a good kindy or school a great kindy or school: excellent teaching staff, a conducive and engaging learning environment and, importantly, a supportive and active school or kindy community. Barbara Kiker Memorial Kindergarten has all these ingredients, making it the great kindergarten it is.

In the afternoon, we visited Kidman Park Primary School and were accompanied on that visit by the Minister for Disabilities, who toured the school and the facility with us. Kidman Park Primary School is an outstanding primary school and it is operating, I think, at capacity. Regrettably, Principal John Clarke, a very good principal who was deputy principal before becoming the principal some time ago, was involved in an accident a week or so earlier. Despite the fact that he tried, he was unable to get there, but he was ably represented by the Deputy Principal, Karen Duval, whom I first met when she was at Grange Primary School. She, like John, is an outstanding educator and administrator.

Our guides were the year 7 school leadership group—all outstanding young students. Like me, the ministers were certainly impressed with our visit to an area they call PEARLS located in the former art room. Originally, it was called the Joy Room and it operates under the auspices of teacher Desy Pantelos. PEARLS stands for 'positive education assists real life skills' and it is, I think, an outstanding program. We have seen significant improvement in the behaviour of the students. The number of students on year 7 detention has plummeted from nearly 100 a few years ago to fewer than 10, I am told. It is simple but effective; it is about being respectful, being nice and saying nice things.

Deputy Speaker, I know you are used to receiving nice things said about you, but you yourself would know that it is also nice to say nice things to other people and that is the basis of it. It is good to receive compliments, but it is just as good to be a person giving compliments. It is an outstanding room which the children go to even during their breaks. I was lucky enough to wear the 'grateful glasses'. You put them on and you say what you have been grateful for on that particular day. I was very grateful to be at a school that is doing so much for young people and grateful to be hosted and shown around by some of the young students who were there. It is an outstanding school in that regard.

To finish off, we also attended the learning unit for students with severe and multiple disabilities and to see the work being undertaken there under the auspices of what is called 'conductive education', which was outstanding. What is equally important is the involvement of the broader school community in the support that is provided to these young people with what are the most severe disabilities that any young person can have. I had a great time as, I know, the minister did and we are very proud of the schools we have in our area and our state-based system.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, I would be grateful if you would write up that concept of the glasses for our suggestion box. Member for Hartley.