St Helens State School is an Independent Public School with a
history of high academic achievement. St Helens’ key values of Respect,
Integrity and Commitment are explicitly taught to students and underpin a
culture of focused engagement in learning. The school aims to ‘develop the
whole child’, with a range of innovative programs catering for academic,
sporting and artistic pursuits in an inclusive and supportive setting.
Dedicated teaching staff provide students with opportunities to
participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities including Chess
Club, Drama Group, Cubing, Robotics, Instrumental Strings and Band Programs.
Students have opportunities to participate in the Choral Eisteddfod, Reading,
Mathematics and Technology Challenges. In addition, there is a range of
sporting opportunities, including athletics, swimming, soccer, netball,
cricket, softball, hockey, basketball and volleyball.
The development and delivery of a quality curriculum is a
fundamental driving force at St Helens State School, this is achieved through a
strong focus on literacy and numeracy skills. Staff create a strong, student
focussed curriculum that endeavours to develop essential knowledge in the lower
grades which is then built upon as the students progress through their
schooling years.
St Helens State School recognises the importance of integrating
information technology into our student’s daily curriculum. Students are
provided access to the world beyond the classroom through the internet, email
and various educational computer programs. Students have the opportunity to
utilise school technology in their classrooms through the use of i-Pads and
computers. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards which are
used by teachers and students each day. In addition, students receive weekly
STEM lessons, allowing them to engage with coding and robotics.
We work closely with our feeder pre-schools to ensure a smooth
transition for students as they start school. Flexible learning spaces in our
Prep and Year 1 rooms along with great learning resources are designed to
maximise student engagement in learning. Our Prep cooking and gardening
programs are just some examples of the authentic learning activities happening
at St Helens State School.
A strong community feel is an important element of St Helens State
School. The school P&C and School Council play an important role in shaping
school policies and supporting student learning. The school P&C provide
valuable support to the school with fundraising directed at ensuring our
classrooms are well resourced and air conditioned, and students have
opportunities to participate in a range of excursions and camps. Parents and
family members are welcomed into the school for classroom visits, as
volunteers, for weekly celebration parades and for a wide range community
events held throughout the year.
The school motto of ‘Learning with Friends’ sets the tone for the
way students relate with each other on a daily basis. We encourage students to
work and play collaboratively, supporting and including their peers. Working in
unison with our community, we aim to ensure that students are provided with outstanding
educational opportunities and ‘Shape our Future with Integrity, Respect and
Commitment.’
Kim Burns-Atkinson
Principal