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The staff and learning programs

At Bridgewood, staff are appointed on the basis of their understanding of the importance of educating the whole child and making learning time matter. They know how to develop strong relationships with students and their families. They have a continuous focus on supporting a child’s development and their learning using evidence-based strategies, particularly to develop skills for life long learning. Staff have high expectations and support every child to succeed through explicit teaching, ongoing monitoring, time given to practise skills and effective feedback.

Instruction takes place in flexible groupings capitalising on the modifiable working spaces that are available. The instructional model (the way teachers teach) enables the development of the whole child and is flexible in order to meet the needs of each child. Learning is positive, interesting and enriching. The education program gives every child the chance to succeed, to flourish and to reach their full potential. Teachers encourage students to find and develop their passions. Teacher nurture and develop the strengths in every child. They work cooperatively with parents and families and they collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create an effective learning environment.

The ultimate aim of the learning journey is for each child to become confident, competent, resilient and well educated individuals who are ready to take on life’s challenges and who have the skills and knowledge to make a success of whatever they choose to do. We are preparing our students for a world in which they will require not only academic capabilities but also the skills of collaboration and creativity. Technology is interwoven into the lives of the students and therefore they need to have access to learning how to become users and designers of technology. It is paramount that a collaborative partnership is established between home and school to support the learning of our students.

The Community

Bridgewood is a site with a rationale grounded in effective learning and teaching and the integration of community facilities into our Community Hub. Bridgewood was designed as an integral part of the ‘Officer Educational Precinct’ a community hub from birth through the maternal child health services, transitioning into kindergarten and then primary school. The foundations are established for the seamless integration of learning and teaching for the students’ birth to year 6. The values and vision of the school have been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, thus creating a contemporary learning environment designed to meet the needs of the community. The school has a key focus on child centred, lifelong learning, from birth through to year 6. Close collaboration occurs with Officer Secondary College and Officer Specialist School as this is imperative for the Officer Education Precinct.

Facilities

The school has been designed to incorporate how students and wider school community will access the school, children’s centre and the public reserve and promotes well-being and community engagement.

All spaces within the precinct have been considered together with the location and potential for the community to utilise the school facilities after school hours.

The school will include a full-size internal netball/basketball court and integrated sporting facilities.

The early learning centre will offer:

• Kindergarten and community facilities
• Maternal Health Centre
• Consulting Rooms and Wait Area
• Community Room
• Early Childhood Intervention Services Room
• OSHC facility (after hours care)

About Bridgewood

Previously Gum Scrub Creek PS

Background

In the 2015/16 and 2016/17 state budget announcements, Gum Scrub Creek Primary School received $5.4 million in for site acquisition and $13 million for planning and construction of the new school. Located in the Cardinia Shire, this new school will address new suburbs in the growth corridor areas of Officer and Pakenham. Gum Scrub Creek Primary School will complement the overall Officer Education Precinct, located adjacent to the site shared by Officer Secondary College and Officer Specialist School.

Through strong local governance and partnership, Cardinia Shire have agreed to contribute land (0.4ha) and a $3 million capital investment towards this facility, to build and deliver a fully integrated child and family centre within the school setting. The early learning spaces will be constructed inside the school’s Prep learning community building, facilitating full integration of early learning and primary schooling. This will support professionals to collaborate and deliver enhanced learning, development and wellbeing opportunities for every child and family.

Gum Scrub Creek Primary School will cater for Prep to Grade 6 students housed in four Learning Communities. The school is designed for a long-term enrolment in excess of 451 students with a peak enrolment of approximately 900. The child and family centre comprises two Kindergarten rooms and an occasional care/community space along with consulting rooms for Maternal and Child Health and visiting practitioners.

Site and primary perspective

Bridgewood is a site with a primary school and a fully integrated child and family centre under the same roofline. There is a shared vision across the site ensuring that all key stakeholders are contributing to the same vision and are working as one to improve student outcomes. The facility is designed to ensure the seamless transition of students from maternal and child health to kinder and through to primary school. The curriculum and the facility design support a consistency that is replicated across the year levels. Professionals collaborate to deliver enhanced learning, development and wellbeing opportunities for every child and family.

Bridgewood caters for babies in the Maternal and Child Health program through to primary school, Foundation to Grade 6. Students in the primary years are housed in four Learning Communities. Each Learning Community works together to enhance the learning outcomes of every child. Learning Community 1 includes kinder and foundation students. The other Learning Communities have two year levels in each Learning Community: 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6.

The school has been designed for a long-term enrolment in excess of 451 students with a peak enrolment of approximately 900. The child and family centre comprises two Kindergarten rooms and an occasional care/community space along with consulting rooms for Maternal and Child Health and visiting practitioners.

Bridgewood is part of a ground breaking precinct that embodies lifelong learning and community ownership. Teaching spaces allow for full implementation of a Professional Leaning Community approach. Integrated planning and delivery, reflecting on the impact of teaching practice, professional interaction and activation of student voice all form part of the PLC approach. This approach uses evidence-based, high impact teaching and learning strategies that are all central to the educational vision. Learning Communities are designed around modifiable spaces that accommodate multiple learning approaches and can flexibly respond to the requirements of students and staff, creating a sense of shared ownership, inclusion and successful learning.

The facilities have been designed to overcome traditional barriers in education and create an integrated practice that supports learners from birth through to the end of primary schooling. A shared practice of this nature will also position the school to engage parents in supporting the learning of their child through the whole learning journey. Local community, cultural events, spaces and their accessibility will reinforce a sense of belonging and wellbeing for every child and their family.

Students and teachers utilise technology to achieve collaboration, research and creation. The school enables learners to investigate ideas collaboratively, encourage learners to create, refine, reflect on and publish their work, facilitating peer-to-peer teaching and engagement, and mobilising social networks for authentic inquiries or investigations.

Staff in each learning community are collectively responsible for the wellbeing and learning outcomes of the students within that community. Staff work collaboratively to share the achievement levels of every student and to plan for student learning needs. The learning programs are differentiated to meet the needs of each student and fluid groupings enable explicit teaching to occur at each child’s point of need. The curriculum has a heavy focus on literacy and numeracy acquisition with Passion and Choice Education (P.A.C.E) being undertaken by all students over the course of the week. There is an explicit focus on the development of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills where automaticity is the end goal to ensure effective application of these skills when problem solving and transferring the learning to different situations.

Bridgewood is committed to providing a child safe and friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe. Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students. Please refer to the policies tab for further information.

School Council

Annual Report 2018

Bridgewood Primary School was a talking point in 2017 around the local area. Many residents were excited that a new facility incorporating a primary school, early learning centre and maternal child health centre was being built for the community. When Bridgewood Primary School opened in 2018 it was a place to watch children grow, develop and flourish in an environment filled with learning opportunities.

The school and community will continue to grow from its original numbers and strive to give all students the best possible outcome in their education. The school follows Stephen Convey’s ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ which are advertised around the school for all to see.

The 7 habits are:        

Synergise – Be Proactive – Begin with an end in mind – Put first things first – Think win-win – Seek first to understand, then to be understood and Sharpen the saw.

The wider community contribute significantly with the BFG (Bridgewood Fundraising Group), parent and community helpers in the learning communities, school council and several other groups and partners  that include The Colman Foundation and The Cardinia Shire directly involved in the running of the school.

I am here as the school council president to support the teaching staff, represent the community but primarily to support the school governance. I participate in school reviews, budget overviews, monthly/annual reporting and meetings with fellow school council members and senior staff within Bridgewood Primary School.

If you would like to be actively involved in school council or parent committees there are opportunities available for volunteers on our committees. 

Thanks

Kirsty Harris

School Council President

2019 Members

Kirsty Harris – President                     

Kerry Coffey – Principal

Jude Edwards – Vice President          

Suzanne Nailon – Secretary               

Maree Jarrett – Assistant Principal

Robert Smart – Assistant Principal     

Tanya Tolman

John Newson                                      

Adele Letch

Lucas Hainsworth

 Nat Noonan

Co Opted Members

Cheryl Casey – Cardinia Shire

Kerrie Russell – Our Place

Camp Australia

Camp Australia – Guiding Children’s Growth

We are proud to partner with Camp Australia to provide our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) program.

Camp Australia programs are centered on child enrichment, while ensuring a reliable, engaging, and hassle-free OSHC service at our school. Their engaged educators foster a safe, inclusive environment where children can relax, have fun, and grow.

https://campaustralia.com.au/

Your OSHC – OSHC that inspires

At Your OSHC by Camp Australia, every before school, after school and pupil free day program is tailored to the likes and interests of each child in service. Camp Australia’s educators design enriching experiences to inspire your children’s confidence, independence and imagination. In any one week, they could be participating in science experiments, active play, creative expression and more – they believe in learning through experience so that each child can grow.

Rocketeers – Extraordinary Holiday Adventures

Rocketeers by Camp Australia is a space for children to escape the ordinary and experience the extraordinary during their school holidays. Every school holiday break is a new mission for children to embark upon. With carefully designed programs, directed by the children and informed by family feedback, no two days are the same with Rocketeers. Experiences planned could include games, arts & crafts, sport, excursions, cooking, coding and more.

Click here to find out more about Camp Australia’s program at your school, including hours of operation and fees. To attend care, you must register your child. Register now for free.

Policies

Bridgewood Child Safety Responding Reporting.docx

Bridgewood Student Wellbeing Engagement .docx (1)

Bridgewood Child Safety CoC.docx

Bridgewood Volunteer Induction.docx.docx

Bridgewood Visitors.docx.docx

Bridgewood Values Philosophy.docx

Bridgewood Health Care Needs.docx

Bridgewood First Aid.docx.docx

Bridgewood Duty Of Care Policy.docx

Bridgewood Complaints Policy.docx

Bridgewood Child Safety And Wellbeing Policy.docx

Bridgewood Bullying Policy.docx

Bridgewood Anaphylaxis Policy.docx (1)

Bridgewood Administration Of Medication.docx.docx

Bridgewood Digital Learning 2024.docx

Bridgewood Camps Excursions Policy 2024.docx