About Us - General Information
Pooraka Primary School is a government category 3 school (lower socio-economic) located in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. The school has a population of approximately 260 students R-7 in 11 classrooms across two main buildings. The site also has a hall on site and the original 100 year old school building which are used for specialist teaching subjects. The school has strong links to the community with the local Men's Shed, Unity Park and nearby tennis club. We have an OSHC service and a canteen. Our music program and our OSHC operate from the building closest to Main North Road we call ACRA. We have over 50% of our students from ESL backgrounds including Vietnamese, Afghani, Indian, Pakistani and African nations. The school has a Vietnamese language maintenance program and many students enter the school upon exiting intensive English language programs at nearby sites.
Pooraka is part of the Montague Partnership. Schools in the partnership work closely together.
PRESCHOOL
Ingle Farm Children's Centre (2013) (ECDP)
Pooraka Community Kindergarten
P-7/PRIMARY
Ingle Farm East Primary School
Para Hills West Primary School
SECONDARY/SPECIAL FACILITY
At Pooraka we have a strong culture of connecting with our families and local community. Each year we have school and community events to promote the school. Parents are also encouraged to become directly involved in the school and their children’s education in various ways – classroom help with reading, excursions, local walks etc. There are also opportunities for parents to be on Governing Council and the various committees that Governing Council manages.
The School Day
BELL TIMES:
8.30am Yard supervision commences (Teachers on duty in classrooms)
8.50am Students move from yard to classrooms to get ready for the day
11.00 Recess begins
11.20 End of Recess (First bell - students move to lines, Second bell - students move with teachers to classrooms)
12.55pm Students eat lunch in class (students at NIT lessons return to class)
1.05pm Lunch playtime session begins
1.33pm End of Lunch (First Bell-students move to lines)
3.00pm End of school day
3.20pm Yard supervision ceases
Before school all students are expected to be on the hard play area and not be inside unless they are accompanied by their own parent/family adult. Handball with tennis balls is allowed but no large balls are permitted to be played with during this time due to safety reasons. It is essential that all teachers are at their class groups by the second bell at the end of recess and lunch.
CANTEEN
Our Canteen opens Monday-Friday. A Manager is employed for 5 hours per day. Parent and student Volunteers assist. Students place their lunch orders at the Canteen prior to 8.40 am. Monitors collect lunch baskets from the Canteen just prior to 12.55pm. Students eat lunch with class teachers before dismissal for play at 1.05pm. Students may purchase items from the Canteen at Recess and Lunchtime, but not before school.
There have been Healthy Eating Guidelines developed across the school which includes the canteen these reflect the DECD Rite Bite strategy.
BOOK CLUB
Scholastic Australia Book Club is very popular among the children. It is voluntary, and is well received throughout the school. It enables students
The following areas are available:
Lucky Book Club Reading Age 5-8 years
Arrow Book Club Reading Age 8-11 years
Star Book Club Reading Age 11+years
