A rich and varied experience
San Remo Primary School takes pride in offering its students as many rich and varied learning experiences as possible, and this term, despite it being a short one, Acting Principal, Lauren Hamer says,
"We are truly excelling in this area."
"We have an exciting calendar ahead, including our school disco run by our wonderful Fundraising Committee, our Whole School Drumming Concert, Book Week celebrations, Science Week activities, special days promoting inclusivity and kindness such as Bullying No Way, and a STEM Together Expo."
As part of the school-wide Positive Behaviour Supports, San Remo Primary have reintroduced Peer Mediators to help supervise and support play around their brand-new Gaga Pit.
"These student leaders ensure everyone plays fairly, follows the rules, and respects the equipment," says Lauren.
"Our positive behaviour expectations are shining both in classrooms and the playground, with students showing a strong understanding of processes, procedures, and teamwork." Positive reinforcement in every classroom helps to create a culture of respect and cooperation.
The implementation of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) program in junior school aligns seamlessly with the Victorian Curriculum's commitment to evidence-based, structured synthetic phonics instruction.
This daily approach ensures that all students receive consistent, explicit, and systematic teaching in foundational reading skills, laying a strong literacy base from the early years.
"Our previous phonics program had already yielded excellent results, as highlighted by our strong NAPLAN performance, and the adoption of UFLI builds on this success by providing a refined and research-backed structure," Tracey Wilson, Literacy Coordinator and Prep Teacher explains.
"Our junior school staff have demonstrated a strong commitment to professional growth by visiting other schools, conducting in-depth research, and seeking advice from paraprofessionals to ensure best practice. By adopting UFLI, we are equipping our students with the tools they need to become confident and capable readers, while fostering a culture of continual improvement and collaboration among educators.
"We were also fortunate to welcome our new Koori Education Support Officer, Sonya Hunt, who shared the importance of gathering as a tribe and sharing stories. Students worked with Sonya to create Yarning Sticks for their classroom Circle Times, bringing culture and connection into the learning space, not just outside."
STEM
The San Remo Primary students thrive in their dynamic STEM program, where they dive into exciting activities across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
"Last week, we celebrated Science Week with hands-on food experiments led by one of our talented scientist parents, Gabrielle Enness, sparking curiosity and discovery," says Lauren.
"We also hosted STEM Together, a lively STEM Expo where families visited the school to explore the amazing projects their children have been working on and even got to try out some of our
interactive STEM resources firsthand. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate learning and inspire a passion for STEM within our school community."
As part of the Grade 5/6 Inquiry Learning program, students are engaging in a unit of work titled San Remo: Sand, Sea and Sustainability. This unit explores the unique marine and coastal environment of the area, with a current focus on the positive and negative impacts of human activity.
Recently, students ventured out on the bay to survey local marine and bird life, while also observing San Remo's housing and landforms. They also had the opportunity to meet Samuel, who is sailing from Sydney to Tasmania in his recycled yacht, to learn first-hand about the impact of pollution on marine life.
"The unit will conclude with a student-led campaign promoting local beach protection, giving our young learners the chance to turn their knowledge into real-world action."
San Remo Primary School is hosting an open week for prospective families and 2026 preps, running from September 8 - 12. Families are encouraged to book an appointment for a school tour.
