10 March 2015

Primary school for Page residents?

| mumkin
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We’ve recently bought a house in Page and will be moving to Canberra in May with our kids aged four and six.

Apparently we’re not able to enrol in pre-school/primary school until we are actually in Canberra (sounds like a crazy rule to me), but we would like to know more about the schools before we get there. I understand Page is a shared PEA for Weetangera, Hawker, Florey and Southern Cross Early Childhood, but Weetangera (which is closest to our house) has already told us they are full and I suspect we might face similar problems elsewhere given we’re arriving mid-year.

I’d love to hear of any positive/negative experiences with these schools, and any recommendations. Thanks for your help!

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We sent our kids to St Matthews. It’s Catholic, we aren’t. Good school.

grunge_hippy8:06 pm 13 Mar 15

If you are in a PEA for a school they cannot say no to your enrolment. Other schools can enrol you at their discretion.

I can’t help with the particular schools but I am pretty sure there is some sort of entitlement to attend a school if you are in the PEA and there are limited options for refusing enrolment – it is only if you are out of area that they have some discretion. but mid year would be a challenge as resources were allocated at the beginning of the year. if you are getting push back from an individual school that you are interested in, I would talk to the Education people to see if they can help – the websites others have given will have contact details.

Actually I think you’re pretty lucky to be moving to Page. I don’t know about other areas of Canberra but all of the schools in our immediate area have a pretty good reputation.

Our kids go to Southern Cross because we have one in Kindergarten (5) and younger ones in childcare. The seamless transition makes dropoffs and starting school a non-issue — we love it! But it only goes to grade 2 which means it’s not as useful for you.

+ 1 St Matthews. They are Catholic obviously…

http://www.macquarieps.act.edu.au
The website should tell you all you need to know. The newsletter archive should provide you with a general vibe of the school.
Jess in the front office has been there since she completed her school based apprenticeship there years ago, (that in itself speaks volumes about the school community), and should be able to answer any questions.
Wendy & Marc are the principal and vice principal, and I have always found them highly approachable in all circumstances.
Wendy told me this year that too often children are made to fit into the school, not the school fitting with the child. Regardless of which school community your family joins, I hope you find the one that will best fit your child. Best of luck!

I will admit I am biased before suggesting Macquarie Primary School.
I went there, my now high schooler went there, and my other child currently attends.
Phenomenal long term staff, dedicated science and language facilities, amazing school community – I could go on.
Staff from Macquarie Primary were recently keynote speakers at the National Leadership in Schools Conference, due to their best practice, accredited Teacher inquiry program.
I cannot speak more highly of this school, and it is one suburb diagonally away from Page.

There is good information on the ACT Education and Training Directorate website which is likely to be more useful than opinion given on the RiotAct.

http://www.det.act.gov.au/school_education/enrolling_in_an_act_public_school/parent-guide

http://www.det.act.gov.au/school_education/enrolling_in_an_act_public_school/priority_placement_areas/frequently_asked_questions_on_priority_enrolment_areas

Look at the websites for each of the schools and arrange to visit before you make a choice. Southern Cross Early Childhood school will have the advantage of a small school which will cater for both your children, although only to Year 2. The school would be able to give you information about their transition program at the end of Year 2.

Can’t speak for any of the others – but I know teachers from Hawker and have a couple of kids of family members there. It’s arguably the best primary school in Canberra!! We’d love to send our kids there – and still daydream of coming into enough money to buy in the suburb.

Holden Caulfield9:56 am 11 Mar 15

I went to St Matthew’s for my first couple of years of primary school and I think I turned out okay.

Not sure if a private school is possible or in your plans.

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