Hi All,
Looking for a little feedback;if any is available. I know a few of us live in this general area. I was wondering if anyone has any input about this school that opened this year on minindee rd. Principal Jason Smallwood. Anyone heard anything? Good , bad or otherwise?
Hi there.
The school is about a 3 minute walk from my house.
I have heard nothing but good things about the principal, from 3 different teachers and one ex principal who worke(ed) at different schools in the area. He was formerly the principal at Woodville and apparently did a good deal to turn things around there.
There is apparently an open information night on the 19th May, Im not sure if its at the school or somewhere else in Manor Lakes, there was something in the newspaper about it I think.
They also have publicised in the past that anyone can call the school and make an appointment to have a tour/look around.
Thanks Rayray,
I was hoping you would be on. Already done the tour... Very impressed. Jason was also the principal at Bellbridge ps in hoppers for a few years and lifted the school right up and was a favourite with the parents. I was very happy with what i've seen and heard so far. Thanks for your input.I'm about 5 minutes drive away;off shaws Rd so my kids will be riding their bikes to school as there are great safe bike paths the whole way. My eldest will be commencing year 7 then one in grade 5 and when the playgroup starts over there bubba will probably go if its a day i dont work. Very impressed so far with the curriculum and the learning policies,all very cutting edge.
Whats the concept of 'learning houses' it all sounded very montessori.are they in set classes, do do they cater to different abilities in different areas??
It really is just plain old regular schooling but with a eco,biodiversity edge. The class structures are the norm until year 7 at which point their computer program steps in and 95%of all there work is done via it. All the kids have laptops which come home with htem and are used all day everyday.
Just thought I'd introduce myself here. My name is Melanie and I have 2 kids in the school, one in grade 1 the other in grade 2. They both love it. I have to say there seem to be a few troubled kids in these grades which they are trying to sort out but the teachers are amazing!
The school does have teething problems which for a brand new school, I guess is inevitable. Jason is good to his word and working very hard to iron everything out.
We also live 3 mins walk away from the school and my kids love the fact they can walk to/from school and be home so quickly!
If anybody wants any further info, would be happy to chat.
Its good to hear some things about the school first hand.
My husband and I are trying to decide between it and a private school and its really hard to choose. Im going to see if I can organise a tour of both of them.
Regarding the issues with other children, do they seem to be handling it adequately?
Yes I think they are handling it. I tossed and turned for a long time as to whether we should go private or not. In the end we decided that it was very important for the kids to have their friends around them. As we live so close, we wanted them to be able, at some stage, to go and call for their friends and vice versa. My kids and I are from the uk ( I married an Ozzie) so it was important that they were able to establish good friendships.
The other side of it is that as they are young, we don't have to leave them there until grade 12, if the school isn't working for them by the time they get to the high school, we can go private then.
I have heard good things about Jason from a couple of teachers at other schools. I guess Im more worried about DS1 being the disruptive child unfirtunately than I am his being disrupted, as if he gets bored its not good I'm afraid.
He is at 3yo kinder at the moment though and seems to be going pretty well there, they have no issues with his behaviour, so maybe its just at home
I hear you on the wanting to be close to friends aspect. Until recently I'd been thinking that I'd give it til grade 3 and see how I felt about the school then, which we still may do, I will wait until I have been down there to have a look and a chat I guess.
I wouldn't worry about his behaviour in class, they are well equiped to deal with it, indeed if there is an issue. My son (grade 2) has ADHD. He is medicated but any and all of the issues and concerns that I've had with him have been well dealt with. I never get any problems or get called in.
If you want to meet for a coffee if you're close, at some stage, you're more than welcome.
Sounds good - btw I teach at another local school and have no hesitations in sending my 2 to the local Manor Lakes school - Jason did amazing things at Woodville.
I had a request to split this thread and provide a separate place for you to chat about meetups and generally amongst yourselves. I hope you find this to be easier to follow
Hi everyone
We are moving from Wodonga and will be living close to that school. Would be great to know a bit more about it and whats it like. We have 3 kids aged 14, 13 and 3.
From what i have read in the comments above it sounds like it is a good school. Any further feedback would be great.
I don't know the school personally. I do know that melanie1 who had 2 children at the school moved them to a different school after 1 term 2010. Hope you can find someone else who has children at the school to give you some advise.
Manor Lakes P-12 College Wyndhamvale
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