New South Wales
Country Areas Program
Projects That Really Make a Difference!

Project: Getting to Know U!
Type: Wagga Wagga District Initiative
Coordinator: Paul Faulkner
Participating Schools: Bedgerabong PS, Bogan Gate PS, Corinella PS
Attributes addressed: Self, Communication, Literacy, Numeracy, Technology, Global Awareness

Barriers:

• small peer groups of students, staff and parents
• limited student opportunities for across curricular interaction with large peer groups
• limited access to personnel with specialised expertise
• lack of opportunity to fully develop interpersonal skills within small monocultural communities
• difficulty in accessing T&D relevant to teacher needs

Overview:

Due to the nature of our small schools, students are restricted to a small monocultural peer group, with whom they spend most of their primary schooling. These peer groups are usually very "stable", with little fluctuations in numbers and membership. The narrowness of the diversity within these peer groups restricts students' opportunities to develop interpersonal relationship skills, and their ability to cope with unfamiliar situations and people. By networking with other small schools, peer group sizes will be increased offering more opportunities to expose the students to a variety of social and curriculum experiences, while at the same time providing greater network and T&D opportunities for teachers and parents.
To increase peer group sizes and provide a variety of learning and social experiences, 7 interactive activity days for the three small schools will be held. Students, parents and teachers from the three schools will be engaged in a variety of activities designed to increase self confidence, esteem and interpersonal skills through a focus on various curriculum areas
In each session trained experts, consultants and teachers will be engaged to offer guidance for student activities, as well as provide a training and development program for teachers and parents.

Implementation:

A range of appropriate specialists, experts and consultants will be engaged to assist in the planning and execution of this program.
Each school will be responsible for developing a curriculum day/s, including the organisation of the venue, T&D component, consultancy support, relief etc.
Where possible and dependent on expertise, teachers and parents will plan and present student and T&D activities.

Seven Activity Days: (over 4 terms)

1. Self Esteem, Interpersonal Skills

2. PE/PD/Health

3. Visual Arts

4. Science and Technology

5. Numeracy

6. Multiculturalism

7. Creative Arts