Marc Van departs San Remo

San Remo Primary School has bid a fond farewell to its weekly visits from the Mobile Area Resource Centre, better known as the Marc Van.

The department funded program is for schools with under 100 students, and with rising enrolments, San Remo Primary is no longer eligible for the program.

Principal Karen Bowker said it was emotional saying farewell to the van and its two teachers, who were part of the school community.

The van covers San Remo, Powlett River, Kongwak, Nyora, Loch and Bayles Primary Schools.

Ms Bowker said the van had been coming to the school for more than 20 years.

“It provides library books for the children to borrow and library literacy lessons every week.

“That allows teachers time to do planning for the classroom.

“It’s really important for small schools, as often they don’t have the capacity to offer multiple specialist subjects.

“And they often don’t have a lot of money to spend on books. The children love it, and it is the most fantastic service.

“When I was a teacher in the classroom, it supported me with books and resources.

“As a principal, I know it is something my teachers all look forward to each week.”

She said the van and staff members, Tony Latham and Pete Matthews, would be sorely missed by their San Remo colleagues.

“We understand we are no longer eligible, but we will really miss it, and Tony and Pete most of all.”

She said visiting teachers play a vital role in smaller schools, going into the classrooms and teaching lessons to the children.

“In some small schools, like Kongwak, there are only two classrooms.

“Having the van means that once a week, the schools get to see other people and teachers have other teachers to interact with.”

The van, decorated by students from the participating schools, will now move to Moe, while the local schools still eligible for visits, will be picked up by other Marc Van services.