Wednesday, 2 August 2023

Sorrento Primary School

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (09:58): I was lucky enough recently to have Dr Matt Bach from the other place come and visit me down in Sorrento and to visit Sorrento Primary School and their principal Elaine, who is trying something a little bit different with her foundation students. Every Monday, the students get a bus that is provided by the Rye RSL. They go down to Point Nepean National Park, and the kids just spend a day at Point Nepean learning out in the environment. Last week when I was there they were building rope ladders with sticks. They whittle timber away and they go and do numbers on the beach.

James Newbury: Did you have a go?

Sam GROTH: I did have a go, actually, member for Brighton. I had a little go there. They were digging holes. It is such a great, interactive way for kids to learn outside of a classroom. They are trying to actually move this through to students in grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 to get them out of that classroom and get them out into something a little bit different. On the back of COVID they are finding a lot of those students and younger people are struggling with the social element, so they are taking them into an environment that is completely different. It is early stages, but they want to be able to monitor next year, as the students go into year 1 and year 2, how those students interact socially for the future. I commend Elaine and the school on taking a risk and doing something a little bit different. It is fantastic what they are achieving, and I look forward to getting down to Point Nepean with the Sorrento Primary School kids once again soon.