[ While enrolments peaked at 1200 in the middle of last century [2, 6] , there are currently just over 210 students at the school.]Buildings
The original school building consisted of the two wings. The building, ground and equipment cost a total of 5334 pounds. Another building was built and opened on 21 September 1918. Then, due to the high number of enrolments, another two-storey brick building was constructed on the southern side and officially opened on 25 July, 1925. [2] Wooloowin State School is a school of cultural significance which was entered on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1996. [8]
Motto
The Wooloowin State School motto, since 1914, has been “Manners Maketh Man”. [6]
Fire in 2003
On Sunday 31 August 2003, the school was subject to an arson attack, which damaged the office, pre-school, tuckshop, School’s Out and library. As the school was heritage-listed, the buildings could not be knocked down or raised but had to be carefully repaired. Two demountables were erected on the oval as replacement classrooms while the school was rebuilt. On 11 September 2004, at a cost of $AUS 4 million, the school was officially re-opened by Liddy Clark, MP. The main block, library and pre-school were totally re-furbished and a new tuckshop and uniform shop were built near the pool. School’s Out, originally located under the library, used one of the demountable classrooms originally used as temporary classrooms.
Curriculum
Wooloowin State School teaches the eight key learning areas in the Queensland curriculum, inlcuding The Arts, Health and Physical Education (HPE), English, Languages other than English (LOTE), Mathematics, Science, Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE) and Technology [ [http://www.wooloowinss.eq.edu.au Wooloowin State School website] ]
Extra Curricula Activities
Japanese Dancing & Drumming
Mrs Gloria Marais, LOTE teacher, encourages students to learn more about the Japanese culture through dance and drumming. Students wear traditional clothing and perform at the school and at Lutwyche Shopping Centre.
chool Camp
Every year, students from Grades 5, 6 and 7 have the opportunity to attend a week-long camp at either Coolum or Moreton Island. The camps enable the students to participate in many different sorts of activities such as sand tobogganing, fishing, snorkelling and horse riding and to get to know the teachers and each other on a different level.
Recorder Band
The Recorder Band was formed in 1980 by teacher, Mr Michael McDade [1&3] . It is a marching band with recorder players and percussionists from Grades 3 to 7. The band annually participates in a massed school band demonstration at the RNA Show, as well as performing at Band Tattoos and the school fete. Band members practice throughout the week to perform for their fellow students at the weekly school parade.
Instrumental Music Program
The Instrumental Music Program is currently run by Kedron State High School teacher, Mr Rudy Van Berkum. A range of musical instruments (flute, clarinet, trumpet, percussion) are available to students. They also have the opportunity to participate in a Jumpstart program (beginners) and the Northside Junior or Senior Music Camps.
Choir
Students from Grades 3 to 7 may join the Wooloowin State School Choir which is conducted by the school’s music teacher, Mrs Janette Pawsey. The choir practices weekly and performs at the Lutwyche Shopping Centre and the school fete.
Uniforms
The students’ uniforms are navy blue polo shirts with a stripe of light blue and white down the right hand side. Beneath the shirt, the boys wear navy blue shorts and the girls have a choice between navy blue skorts or net ball skirts. In 2008, the P & C brought in the option of a light blue checked shirt for the boys and a light blue checked dress for the girls. The uniform also consists of a navy blue broad brim hat and in winter, a navy sweat shirt with the school logo.
Facilities
wimming pool
When Wooloowin State School’s pool opened in 1916 [3] , it was 42ft long, 16ft wide, 5ft deep and the cost, including the showers, was 344 pounds [2] . In 1925 [4] , the pool was remodelled to approximately 23 1/2 metres long and then in 1954, a concrete apron, new seating, lighting and a brick dressing shed were added. [2]
In 2004, Education Queensland made an artist-in-residence grant of $20,000.00 to be used to bring “life” back to the school after it had been damaged by fire the previous year. Kylie Farrelly and Geoff Prior, local artists and parents of students at the school, worked with the school community, on the painted chessboard and a series of murals to brighten up the pool area. There was a pool party to celebrate the official unveiling on Sunday 14 November 2004. [7, 9] The pool is used for PE lessons in Terms 1 and 4, underwater hockey, weekend “Family Swims” and for learn-to-swim and squad training after school. As Holy Cross Catholic School does not have a pool, students are allowed to use Wooloowin State School’s pool.
Library
Due to smoke and water damage caused by the 2003 fire [14] , all the library books had to be destroyed. The library was then completely re-stocked, with a lot of the new books being generously donated by other schools. It is now better than ever and has four sections, Junior Fiction, Fiction, Non–fiction and the computer lab. Students from Grades 4 to 7, who have passed a test to become Library Monitors, assist the Librarian and Assistant Librarian during lunch hours.
Basket ball Court
At the back of the school, there was a bitumen basket ball court. In 2007, the hoops were knocked down to make way for the four big water tanks. During the 2007 Christmas holidays, the basket ball court was rebuilt, at a cost of $4000.00.
chool’s Out
Wooloowin School’s Out is a quality, supervised, out-of-school-hours care centre for prep and primary aged children. All staff members are fully qualified with appropriate experience. They create a caring and safe environment with a range of activities appropriate to age, skills and interests. Care is provided before and after school, on Pupil Free days and during school holidays.
Rain Forest
The rainforest is located at the front of the school on Lutwyche Road and acts as a noise barrier to the traffic. For a class project in 2007, the Year 5/6 class tidied and re-planted the rainforest with drought-tolerant plants. This has made the entrance to the school more attractive.
ports
Team houses
There were originally three house teams, Kunara (“Tiger sharks” - green), Tamaroo (“Ring tail possums” - red) and Bunderra (“Black wallabies” - yellow). With fewer students at the school, there are currently only two teams, Kunara and Tamaroo. [6]
port Shirts
Kunara and Tamaroo have team shirts with their own logo. These shirts are screen printed at the school, and later sold at the school’s uniform shop.
ports Carnivals
In Term 3, the annual Sports Carnival is held over a period of days. Ball games, long jump, high jump, discus, obstacle courses and shot put are held at Wooloowin State School, while the running races are held in the grounds of Kedron State High School.
During Term 4, the students participate in the swimming carnival, which goes throughout the day by age group. At the end of the day, the winner from each age group receives a medal and the winning team is then announced.
Interschool sports
Wooloowin has a variety of different sports for boys and girls, including flipper ball (like water polo), soccer and cricket.
After school sport
The school also offers an after school sporting program. These sports are Under Water Hockey and Ball Games for junior students and senior students.
tudent Leadership Roles
chool Captains
Each year, students from Grades 3 to 7, together with the teachers, elect two School Captains and two to three Vice-Captains. The School Captains represent the school in various places and events.
The Student Council
A student from each class between Grades 3 and 7 is elected by their classmates to be on the Student Council. The Council meets every week with the Principal to discuss matters raised by students in the school. The Council also decides which charities the school will support each year through their fund-raising (e.g. discos and free dress days).
Peer Mediation
During lunch break, two students from Years 6 and 7 assist the teacher on playground duty with sorting out any problems other students may be having.
ports Room
During 1st and 2nd breaks, 2 to 3 students from Years 6 and 7 manage the borrowing and return of sports equipment (basket, soccer and tennis balls, skipping ropes, hool-a-hoops etc) by other students.
See also
*List of schools in Queensland
*Education in Australia
Notes
