I respectfully acknowledge the past, present and emerging traditional custodians of this land and recognise the continuing connection to the land, water and the community. The Aboriginal name for Shellharbour has been recorded as both Yerrowah (meeting place), and Wonwin (plenty of fish) and I can think of few better meeting places than under the vast canopy of the Moreton Bay fig which features so prominently in our playground.
The local history of the Shellharbour area is fascinating and our great school has been a feature since 1859 providing quality education to our young people for more than 160 years. A history of great educational leaders and teachers has seen Shellharbour Public School attain exceptional results in state and national testing and our challenge now is to ensure our students have the skills and capabilities to continue to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Student growth and attainment are at the forefront of every school day at Shellharbour Public School. Our focus is not solely on achievement but also on academic growth, where we differentiate the curriculum to ensure all students access learning at an appropriate level of challenge. A culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning has long been nurtured and fostered and we strive to ensure that every student and every teacher continues to grow and improve every year. In addition to relentlessly pursuing excellence in English and mathematics, our school delivers high-quality lessons in science, creative and performing arts, history, geography and, personal development, health and physical education. Communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking are skills we aim to develop through rich learning experiences.
We monitor the welfare and wellbeing of our students closely through curriculum-aligned units of work, special programs such as peer support and a welfare system that encourages and promotes positive behaviours while proactively and explicitly managing undesirable behaviours in a way that supports students, families and staff. Our connection with the Shellharbour community is very important to us as it has long been known that when school and home work in genuine partnership, the learning and social outcomes for our young people are significantly improved.
The staff at Shellharbour Public School are phenomenal. Few schools offer the vast array of learning experiences that the staff at Shellharbour Public School facilitate. They have a dedication and commitment to their students and our school that results in a learning environment underpinned by mutual trust and respect and focused on meeting individual student needs. Shellharbour Public School truly is a great place to work and learn!
Chris Klein, Principal.