Brinkworth Primary School
Main Street, Brinkworth, S.A. 5464
Phone: 88462132
Fax: 88462021
Email: info@brinkwthps.sa.edu.au
Website: Brinkworth Primary School
Vision
Our vision for Brinkworth Primary School is to provide quality education for all students, with high quality teaching and learning opportunities offered within a positive, caring environment. This will be achieved through a broad, balanced and challenging curriculum that will support our students in realising their potential.
Curriculum
At Brinkworth Primary we offer a comprehensive SACSA based curriculum catering for all students and access to a variety of Learning styles with a focus on Literacy and Numeracy. We encourage students to develop independence and self confidence in their learning.
School Atmosphere
Our school has a warm, friendly family atmosphere where all students feel valued and parents feel welcome. Successful learning in this school is based upon a partnership between staff, students, parents and the wider community.
Facilities
Brinkworth Primary School is unique in its extensive grounds, swimming pool and playground for all students.
Values
Respect, Caring, Honesty, Responsibility and Tolerance.
General Comments
Image (right):A spectacular fabric wall hanging designed and created at the school by students, staff and community members.
Brinkworth Primary School students come from business, farming and self-employed families. A real sense of pride has developed within the School Community over the years as it changed from an Area School to a Primary School. The concept of Community is real and joint use of facilities including a Community Library, Swimming Pool and extensive grounds ensures the active involvement of the Community.
As a small School, we are able to offer small class sizes which ensures individualised assistance for all students. We extend and encourage each child to reach their full potential.
Student voice has a powerful presence in the School. Students are able to participate in decision making and organise a variety of events. The Student Representative Council is comprised of students from Reception to Year Seven and meet regularly. Students from Brinkworth are also involved in a district Student Forum called Youth Forum for Kids.
Students at Brinkworth Primary School are encouraged to develop confidence, persistence, be able to get along with others, increase organisational skills and resilience through the use of Program Achieve.
Brinkworth Primary School - 30 years on!
On the 3rd October 1975, the Brinkworth Primary School was officially opened. The Area School closed after servicing the surrounding district for 29 years from 1944 to 1973 and Brinkworth became a Primary School once again - the first time having been when Brinkworth was a Provisional School for 48 years from 1895 to 1943.
In 1974 the school had some radical changes made to the facilities that were left behind from the Area School. The original stone building was completely demolished and prefabricated buildings where moved to other sites and schools. The following is a quote from the Principal at the time, Mr. Wally Armitage:
“My task as Principal was to facilitate a smooth transition from what was once a successful Area School to a new Primary School in a way that would reaffirm the community’s quest to continue to provide the best possible education for the children.
We could not complain about a lack of accommodation. Far from it! For we had domestic science, science laboratories, a complete technical studies block, agricultural science equipment and classrooms to burn.
Plans were well underway to build an open plan school to replace the many timber transportable buildings.
I recall meetings with Mr. John Goss, Chairman of the School Council, Council members and Education Department officers finalising details, particularly how we were going to live and work whilst the Area School was removed and then replaced.”
Throughout 1974 builders, teachers, staff and students worked around one another to clean up, move out, knock down and build a new school. This was a very interesting time for all; however we worked around one another with relative harmony to achieve our common goal – a new school. As Wally noted: “This in itself was a very challenging experience apart from the day-to-day running of the school. I must say that right from the very beginning, the staff and children coped extremely well as we watched building after building disappear from around us and then as we moved like gypsies from building to building until we finally occupied the remaining transportables whilst construction of the new school began.”
“What we lacked in terms of teaching accommodation was compensated for by spacious grounds. The oval was our salvation. I recall many fine afternoons spent by the whole school enjoying recreational activities as respite from the dust and distractions on the building site. Through all this our spirits were always positive and uplifting. The children easily coped with the many changes and disruptions thanks to the wonderful leadership of the staff and of the older students who were excellent role models, providing care and support for the younger students.”
We all managed to move in to the new school building for the last term that year – an extraordinary feat after an extraordinary year.
On the 3rd October 1975 the school was officially opened by the Minister of Education at the time, the Hon. D.J. Hopgood and was celebrated that night with a Ball in the Institute. Wally Armitage then left prematurely the following year before the official opening and Ian Simpson became the Acting Principal.
Over the years changes are still being made to continually upgrade and compliment the school. On the 1st November 1977 a one-third Olympic size swimming pool was opened on the school grounds. In 1990 a double temporary classroom was transported to the school and is now being used as a classroom, Parents and Friends meeting room and Community Library. Dividers have been erected inside the building to help with the heating of the school. Computers are established and continually upgraded for both the lower and upper primary. The front office has been upgraded on a number of occasions over the years with the latest upgrade being completed this year. SRC have also added useful resources to the school grounds. They have added to the spacious outdoor playing area a sand-pit, a maze and just recently had some of the equipment in the playground renewed.
Another major asset sharing the school grounds is the Brinkworth Early Childhood Centre, with the new building being opened on the 26th September 1977. Both Pre-school and Playgroup share this building which adds to the unique learning facility that Brinkworth has to offer.
On top of all this are the spacious grounds with shaded turfed areas. This alone compliments the school.
All of this in 30 years! This of course, comes from the most important attribute of all and that is the dedication, determination and support of all staff, parents, students and community members who have given so much of themselves over the years to make the school what it is today for without their support, this would not be such a wonderful asset as it is to the community today.
To help celebrate this next benchmark of the school, the Governing Council invited all staff, parents, students and members of the community who have had any involvement with the school in the last 30 years to come and enjoy a fun-filled day of activities and reminiscing on Sunday, 30th October 2005 commencing with a combined church service at 9 am at the Brinkworth Uniting Church then followed by registration of students and guests on the school grounds next door to the church. There was an official welcoming and unveiling of a plaque by Wally Armitage and Ian Simpson and the students also presented an item. The school was opened with the students taking guided tours around the grounds during the morning. There were also photos on display. A Barbeque lunch was available on the day with other country style refreshments also available. This was followed by a Roll Call allowing for time to catch up with old classmates and friends before family fun activities on the oval in the afternoon.
Contact Information
Manager/Principal Ms Susan Hart
(08) 8846 2132
(08) 8846 2021
Email: principal@brinkwthps.sa.edu.au
Address
Main Street
Brinkworth SA 5464
Postal Address
PO Box 91
Brinkworth SA 5464
Additional Information
School/Ste Type: Primary Education
Current Enrollment: 30
Phone: (08) 8842 6650
Local Government Area: Wakefield(DC)
State Electorate: Frome
Tourist Region: Yorke Peninsula
District Name: Wakefield
Location Number: 0752
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