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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-07-22 Daily Xml
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FAIRVIEW PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:40): I had the great pleasure yesterday of attending the Fairview Park Primary School with the member for Makin, Tony Zappia, a great local member and someone who is very active up there. He officially opened the new library facility at the Fairview Park Primary School, which was built using the federal government's Building the Education Revolution money.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

Mr ODENWALDER: I know that it is much maligned by those opposite and has caused them much angst, but, as I go around my electorate, I do not hear any complaints about these new buildings. I do not hear any complaints from Salisbury Heights Primary School about its 12 new classrooms, and I certainly did not hear any complaints from Fairview Park Primary School yesterday about its excellent new library facility.

However, I am not going to talk about the Building the Education Revolution. What became clear at yesterday morning's ceremony is that leadership development is very important at this school. The school prides itself on developing their kids and, in turn, developing future leadership in their own community.

It is a small school and it does manage to hang onto its students in the face of some pretty stiff competition from private providers around the place. The way that works is that the principal, Vanessa Mortimer (and I have to congratulate her on this initiative), invites all 26 year 7 students to apply to be team leaders in what the school calls its 'enterprise teams'.

These positions are hotly contested amongst the year 7s. Applications go to a panel of staff representatives, including the principal and their year 6 peers; so, they are voted in by their peers and by the staff. The selected eight leaders work with students from years 3 to 7 in eight teams and report to Vanessa Mortimer and the deputy, Graeme Fenton, every fortnight.

The eight teams and leaders are as follows. The leader of the public relations team, a year 7 student called Beth Pontifex, did an absolutely fantastic job heading the ceremony yesterday. She basically ran the show, and Vanessa Mortimer calls her her 'little PA'. She ran the show yesterday and introduced Tony and me.

Dr McFetridge: Did you get your name on the plaque?

Mr ODENWALDER: I did not get my name on the plaque, unfortunately. I allowed Tony to cut the ribbon.

Mr Pederick interjecting:

Mr ODENWALDER: It was generous of me, I know. The principal speaks very highly of Beth; clearly, she has a lot of leadership potential. Another group is the student action team, which works with the assistant principal to address a positive and safe school climate. They run lunchtime activities and wear special peer mediator vests and support activities in the yard. Younger students learn new games and have the support to feel safe in their environment.

The web and weed group helps to manage the grounds of the school and also manages the school website. There is a school displays group and there is also an art group, which plans art exhibitions throughout the school, including some for fundraising in the local community. They also contribute to the general amenity of the school through the visual arts.

The information and communication technology group works with the learning and technologies coordinator to manage IT across the school; the healthy lifestyles group coordinates special events to promote health and wellbeing; and, finally, the sports team helps the specialist sports teacher with equipment. They are currently planning the sports day themselves.

So, there is leadership from the school in terms of planning school activities and really contributing to their community. The development of leadership skills at such a young age is, I think, something to be encouraged. I have nothing but admiration for the work that the principal and the Fairview Park School community, in general, are doing to promote leadership, teamwork and community spirit.

Time expired.

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