By Mario Xuereb
SUNSHINE Primary School has taken out a top honours at this year’s Literacy and Numeracy Awards.
The Hampshire Rd school won the National Excellence Award in the government school category for its successful efforts in raising the standard of student literacy.
The school will receive $10,000 for its efforts.
The money is expected to fund the purchase of new books for the school’s library and classrooms.
Sunshine Primary’s early youth coordinator Olivia Chellew said the school was overjoyed with the result.
Ms Chellew said improving childhood literacy was an important goal of the school.
“We’re proud of our literacy results and our improving performance.
“In the last four to five years, literacy really has become a major focus.”
After scoring below average results for literacy in statewide benchmark testing, Sunshine Primary School is now a leader in the field.
Ms Chellew said the results came from changing the way literacy is taught in school – when means teachers have learned from each other.
“We have a strong professional learning committee at the school, mentoring and teachers working alongside other teachers in their classrooms.
“We try to find out the best ways to improve our kids’ performance in this area.
“I guess the proudest thing about it is that we have the community involved – parents as classroom helpers who help and develop these reading skills.”
Literacy-based lessons now formed two-hour blocks of every day at Sunshine Primary.
Buying books that can engage students, and in particular boys, is also part of the success, Ms Chellew said.
“There is a real effort in this area. The books need to be engaging and able to maintain kids’ interest.”
Ms Chellew said parents could help their children’s’ literacy skills by exposing them to books early in life.
Victorian Education Services Minister Jacinta Allen praised the school’s efforts. “Sunshine Primary School’s teachers work in professional learning teams, which are strengthened by strong community involvement.”
Kings Park Primary School also received a $2000 award for its literacy efforts.
