Syndal South Primary School

Syndal South Primary School is situated in the suburb of Mount Waverley, Victoria, east of the city of Melbourne. The school was founded in 1964, and serves about 380 students. The school's motto is "Together Towards Tomorrow". [ [http://www.syndalsp.vic.edu.au/About%20Us/About%20Us.htm School Profile] , accessed May 9, 2007.]

Green initiatives

Syndal South has been widely recognized for its environmental activities as "a great example of how environmental education can enrich the lives of students and the wider community". [ [http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/45439b275bfd890dca256f3a007eeae4!OpenDocument THWAITES CONGRATULATES SYNDAL SOUTH PRIMARY SCHOOL ON OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD] , Victoria Minister of the Environment press release dated October 27, 2004. Accessed May 9, 2007.] The school's environmental projects earned it a spot as a 2004 finalist in the United Nations Association of Australia 2004 World Environment Day Awards. [ [http://www.newstext.com.au/docs/WGV/2004/get.jsp?docid=WGV-20040601-1-039-4157946V11@VIC-LEADER-2004-2003 "School has turned green"] , "Waverly Leader", June 1, 2004. Accessed May 9, 2007. "The school was recently announced as a finalist in the United Nations Association of Australia 2004 World Environment Day Awards for its range of environmental projects. Earlier this month, the school was also nominated for the Monash Council World Environment Awards and the State Government sponsored savewater Awards."] Syndal South was recognized by the Victorian Environment Minister in 2004 for its environmental initiatives, exemplified by its selection in the Monash Council's World Environment Day Award in the community and leadership categorys. [Tullberg, Julie. [http://www.newstext.com.au/docs/WGV/2004/get.jsp?docid=WGV-20041102-1-016-4015241V8@VIC-LEADER-2004-2003 "Green school heaps praise"] , "Waverly Leader", November 2, 2004. Accessed May 9, 2007. " SYNDAL South Primary School has received generous praise from Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites for its environmental initiatives... Mr Thwaites said Syndal South had featured in several prestigious awards, recently winning the community and leadership category of the Monash Council's World Environment Day Awards."]

The school was recognized with the 2005 savewater! award for its efforts to cut 650,000 liters out of Syndal South's annual water consumption. [ [http://www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=226 Syndal South Primary School 2005 savewater! awards winner] , accessed May 9, 2007.] In 2007, the school was selected as a winner of the Innovation and Excellence Award as part of the 2006 Sustainability and Waste Wise Schools Awards. [ [http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/www/html/1870-waste-wise-schools-awards.asp 2006 Sustainability and Waste Wise Schools Awards] , accessed May 9, 2007.]

Facilities

Buildings

The main two buildings are light timber and pebble buildings USED TO BE called the Senior Building and Junior Building. The Junior building had Prep to Grade 2 classes and the Senior building had Grade 3 to Grade 6 classes. Due to the number of students, in 2008 the grades were put in a range of classrooms. Now the buildings are referred to as the north and south buildings. With the growth in the school community, two portables are located at the front of the school to accommodate 2 of the Grade 5/6 classes. The North and South buildings are connected by a covered walkway. The South building includes the Music Room/After-School-Care room and the North building includes the Office, Principal's Office, Staff Room, Computer Room and Library.

The hall is another pebble building which is used for indoor assemblies (if it is raining, otherwise assemblies are held on the asphalt between the South and North buildings). It's also used for PE lessons and for community activities such as Guides in the evening.

Art lessons are held in the Art Room which has its own kiln for firing clay.

A Science room is located south of the hall.

Grounds

Syndal South Primary School has extensive grounds and lots of native vegetation. The Waverley Federation Circuit is a 1-km track that runs around the perimeter of the school, which the community and school uses for exercise. Each 100 metres represents 10 years since Australian Federation, and each 100 metres there is a sign saying what happened in that decade, as well as a "fitness station" (a sit-up bench, climbing rope, climbing wall, etc.).

Notable alumni

*Marina Prior, singer.

References

External links

* [http://www.syndalsp.vic.edu.au School website]