Peg’s Creek Primary School – Karratha

This morning we are lucky to be visiting Peg’s Creek Primary School situated in Karratha. Peg’s Creek is a school of around 300 students with approximately 20% indigenous students. The Principal is Lyn Macauley, the “better half” of our guide, Bruce. On the day of our visit, the school was participating in “Jeans for Genes Day” and preparing for a whole school Glider fly-off to celebrate “Science Week”. There was much excitement about the Glider Fly-Off with children in every classroom working industriously – and very seriously – to prepare the best flying machine. The craft were to be judged in numerous categories – fastest, longest flight, most colourful….. Even the Kindy kids were busy making gliders and were very proud to show their work. This is a lovely aspect of Peg’s Creek, and other schools we visited, that children at different stages of their education are on one site and participating in a full range of school programs. The Kindy children (children turning 4 years of age) attend school for 15 hours per week.

From the moment of our arrival at Peg’s Creek, the warm, inclusive atmosphere was immediately evident. The children were spontaneous in their greeting of the Principal and ourselves as visitors. We were also impressed by the attractive, treed grounds and the beautifully presented classrooms we saw. Teachers had clearly gone to a great deal of effort to create an attractive learning environment for the children with colourful displays of children’s work. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to see Peg’s Creek’s BER project which is close to completion. Soon, the school will have a great new art and music room complex to house their programs.

During our visit, and at dinner the previous evening, we were able to discuss with Lyn the various programs and strategies they employ to build strong community relationships. Maximising children’s attendance at school is a continual challenge for Pilbara schools. Lyn told us of her staff going on home visits to see what support families needed to promote and encourage school attendance. The school also operates an active School Council and Parents’ Association. Parents assisting in classroom programs was more common in the junior area of the school, and it was uncommon for aboriginal families to assist in the classroom programs. The school has offered weekend activities such as fishing trips with the hoping to encourage reluctant families to participate. They have found few families took up theses options. Lyn’s school is one of the few Pilbara schools that did not seem to benefit from substantial corporate sponsorship. Funding to operate a Homework Club is no longer available so this program has ceased. The LOTE program at Peg’s Creek is the local indigenous language. A great LOTE room was set up with interesting artefacts, displays and language.

It was much appreciated that Lyn made us so welcome in her school at short notice. Ray especially was interested in comparing information with Lyn as her school and Sherbourne Primary are virtually the same size.