Girl on the Computer

CULTURE OF CARING IN NEW WILTON SCHOOL

10 April 2011

In more than 30 years of teaching, five of them as a principal, nothing prepared Debra Gray for the complexities of establishing a new school from scratch.

Since last year Debra, the former principal of Kurrajong North, has been working towards the opening of the new Wilton Public School at Bingara Gorge, while also teaching youngsters who will be the foundation students of the new school.

“There’s no manual for setting up a school,” says Debra, sitting in a temporary office at Picton Public School that has served as her base for the past few months. “When you start a school there is nothing in place. The department supplies the basics but there is so much else that you need – bank accounts, white boards, library books, exercise books, policies, plans, procedures, technology equipment, sport equipment, garbage bins, mowers. This list goes on and on.”

There is not a hint of complaint though as she ticks off the tasks that are still to be done. She is loving every minute of it and wouldn’t change  for the world the opportunity to build the type of school that she’s always wanted.
“It’s been a massive job but extremely enjoyable. The school itself is beautiful, so modern and full of natural light. It is a 21st century learning environment. I am going to be so proud of it because it is going to be exactly as the community wants it to be.”

Debra’s vision for Wilton Public School is shaped by her experiences in both large and small schools. “The achievement levels of the children at Kurrajong North were well above stage expectation which reflected the benefits of small classes and a very caring culture,” says Debra. “Everyone nurtures everyone else and everyone knows everybody’s name. We had in place a caring and supportive school culture and that is what we are aiming for here.

“I want that harmonious environment where parents know they are an integral part of the school. We want an open door policy.”

It was important for Debra to set the tone of the school from the very beginning, despite being located at Picton Public, which has 600 students, for the first term. The students were in their own classes, attended their own Wilton assemblies and formed their own extra-curricular groups.

“I wanted the Wilton children to bond and get to know each other and maintain their identity.

“We are already seeing our own school culture beginning to develop. The girls have started a dance group and one of the parents is taking them on weekends. That is what a small school is about.”

It’s also about community support and involvement which no school can survive without. The establishment of the P&C Steering Committee, which has been meeting in the Bingara Gorge Sales and Information Centre, was an important first step in this process.
When the school opens around 50 students will turn out in the Wilton school uniform with 15 in the Kindy class and already parents enrolling students for next year. Students are drawn from the Wilton area, including Bingara Gorge which will be home to 3500 people when complete. Two teachers have been allocated to the school and Debra has employed an additional teacher and teacher’s aide from her own school budget.

Debra is a teaching principal in charge of Years 3-6 with Cody Breasley, a State League netball player, taking K-2. Cody has transferred from another small country school, an important prerequisite for teaching at Wilton.

“I needed someone with small school experience,” says Debra. “It’s quite a different teaching environment because you’re teaching three grades and you are on duty all the time. There’s no break at recess or lunch.”
In the first few months teachers and students will use a class-room as a temporary library while construction of the hall, library, canteen and playing areas are completed.

It’s been a transitional phase that Debra believes that was well worth the slight inconvenience. She’s already eyeing off the advantages of her location with plans to include golf in the sports curriculum when the first stage of the Bingara Gorge golf course is completed late next year.

 

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