Purpose

The Purpose of the school:

The following are seen as the purposes of West Melton Primary School:

to raise student achievement by teaching the skills of literacy and numeracy, within a positive and supportive environment
to provide appropriate learning programmes for children of all levels and abilities
to promote a learning environment that supports excellence in teaching and learning
to provide learning programmes that balance academic, physical, artistic and cultural components.
to monitor student achievement and to report to students, parents and the board in an honest and informative manner
to maintain an efficient, and friendly school administration system
to ensure that the standards of class management and organization are high
to be flexible to ensure learning needs are met and learning is relevant and accessible for all students

THE WEST MELTON SCHOOL KIDS

LIVING AND LEARNING THE WEST MELTON SCHOOL WAY

Our goal is to have children leave our school with:

The knowledge and awareness of:

Self
Others
Environment
Our world
Values and morals

Strong values and attitudes of:

Resilience
Perseverance
Respect for self, others and the environment.
Responsibility.

Skills in:

Managing own behaviour and own learning
Literacy
Numeracy
Information literacy
Co-operative Learning and playing
Communication
Critical and creative thinking.

We are a full primary-school, catering for students from Year 1 to 8. West Melton is zoned to contribute to Darfield High School after Year 8, and although West Melton is now out of zone, some students attend Lincoln High School. An increasing number of students attend secondary schools in Christchurch.

Pre-school education is provided by the local Playcentre, the Templeton Kindergarten and the West Melton Nursery & Kindergarten, directly across the road from our school. They also provide before and after school care.

There are 10 Ministry classrooms and one multipurpose room, and as of 2010 construction has begun on a block of three new classrooms and large multipurpose room, expected to be completed in late 2011. We also have a library, resource rooms, storage facility and two small rooms available for small group or one to one tuition.

Teaching aids and resources include a wide range of physical education, science, technology, audio-visual and ICT equipment such as digital cameras, data projectors, sound systems, video cameras, digital microscopes. All classes have laptop computers, digital cameras, and projectors, and these are extensively used to support student learning. All areas of the school have access to broadband internet via our wireless system.

The school is committed to teacher training, and a close liaison operates with the University of Canterbury Teacher Training Programme and most staff are associate teachers.

The well planted and beautifully maintained grounds comprise a large sheltered playing field, two sealed netball courts, a 25 metre swimming pool, two adventure playgrounds, a large BMX track, an in ground trampoline and a large shade covered sandpit. Children are able to check out sports gear in the lunch break.

The school has a new large multipurpose room currently under construction, which will double as a hall and assembly area, as well as an outdoor theatre and access to the community hall when a larger space is required.

Three bus routes serve the school and these are run by the Ministry of Education.

The School is a Smoke Free environment.

Reviewed February 2011