By Prealene Khera
Owing to its “innovation and excellence”, Epping Views Primary School has been awarded a significant honour by a national not-for-profit professional association.
The school, which is a member of the Primary English Teaching Association (PETAA), has been bestowed with the organisation’s ‘School Award for Excellence in Primary English Teaching’.
Annually, the association gives the accolade to only one school in the country and this year the Epping institute came out on top due to its “strong commitment to continuous learning” and staff collaboration which “… amplifies their impact, fostering an environment of growth for both students and teachers”.
“By using rubrics to guide both instruction and assessment, teachers create clear learning pathways, enabling students to understand expectations and track their progress,” the judges comments read.
“Evidence of significant student improvement further highlights the effectiveness of these strategies.”
According to Epping Views Primary School acting curriculum assistant principal Jessica Duncan, the national recognition could help put the suburb on the educational map.
“It’s a proud moment for our school and the wider community – only one school wins each year, so it’s a tremendous honour,” she said.
“Our literacy leaders will be running a webinar for schools across Australia who are members of PETAA to support [them in making] effective changes in literacy instruction to improve student outcomes.”
The school’s literacy team is made up of Ms Duncan, leading teacher Chantal Toprtevski, and acting principal Rachel Griffiths.
Ms Duncan said the award highlighted the effort educators had put in to bolster learning in classrooms.
“This recognition is incredibly important because teachers work tirelessly, often without acknowledgement,” she said.
“Winning this award shines a light on their hard work and dedication, giving them a well-deserved opportunity to celebrate the growth and success their students have achieved in literacy.
“[Our] teachers have transformed how they teach reading, writing, speaking and listening, ensuring these areas are more interconnected.
“This approach helps students analyse the techniques authors use during reading sessions and apply those techniques in their own writing.”
