Our Vision for Learning

What does it mean to be a Learner at Harkaway Primary School?

We design each day to help bring about the following characteristics in our students and broader community. 

School Vision

Harkaway Primary School exists to give children the power to shape their world.

A Harkaway Learner has a heart beating with our core learning values and a mind flourishing with knowledge, understanding and the ability to ‘do’. Joining the two, are the Harkaway Learner Habits. These ‘Strings to Success’ put our learning into action giving each child the power to shape their world.


School Mission

As a community of learners, we work together to curate the conditions in which our vision will be fulfilled.

We do this through our four ‘Signature Ideas’.

1 - Multiage settings

2- Cooperative teaching

3- Global mindedness

4 - Inquiry Learning

Core Learning Values

Relationship - Our identity as learners happens in the context of relationships; with ourselves, with others, with our world and with the planet. 

Relevance - Our motivation as learners is fueled by our relationships and interests.  

Rigour - Our growth as learners is the product of belonging to a culture of positive expectations.

Learner Habits (our Strings to Success) 

Our learning and teaching culture is meaningful because our core learning values: Relationship, Relevance and Rigour, amplify the following habits:

Resilience

Resilience is shown when young people are able to stop themselves from getting angry, down, or worried when faced with challenging events and difficult situations and people. Resilience means being able to control your behaviour when very upset without fighting or withdrawing for too long. It also means being able to calm down after having been upset and bouncing back to work and being with other people.

Organisation 

Organisation is revealed when young people keep track of their assignments, schedule their time effectively, and set goals for how well they want to do in specific areas of their schoolwork and in other endeavours. Organisation also means having all your supplies ready to do school work and having all your supplies ready a system for storing previously learned material.

Persistence 

Persistence is revealed when young people try hard when doing schoolwork they find frustrating and do not feel like doing, and finish their work on time. Young people who keep trying to complete an assignment rather than becoming distracted, and those who elect to play after they’ve done their work, demonstrate motivation and can be described as being persistent.

Getting Along 

Getting Along is revealed when young people work cooperatively with each other, resolve conflicts by discussion rather than fights, manage their anger, show tolerance, and follow class rules, including making responsible choices so that everyone’s rights are protected. Getting Along also involves young people making positive contributions to helping others and to making the school, home, and community safer, healthier, and good places to live and learn.

Confidence

Confidence requires that young people not be overly concerned with what others think if they make a mistake. Confidence is revealed when young people are not afraid to fail and are happy to meet someone new. Confidence involves young people having trust in themselves and believing that they will probably be successful in the end. Confident young people stand up straight, look people in the eye, and speak clearly and with a firm tone of voice.

(Adapted from Michael E. Bernard, Ph.D., You Can Do It Education - Keys to Success)







Philosophy

Every member of the school community has a right and the responsibility to fully participate in an educational environment that is safe, supportive and inclusive.

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.


We choose to conduct our interactions with each other in a manner that exemplifies our Mission, Values and Philosophy. 


Democratic Principles

The program of instruction at Harkaway Primary School supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

Our Commitment to Child Safety

The Harkaway Primary School community is committed to safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision-making. Harkaway Primary School does not tolerate child abuse. We are committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability. Every person involved in our school community has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she/they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all we do and every decision we make.