About Us
POORAKA PRIMARY SCHOOLWho we are
We have over 50% of our students come from ESL backgrounds including Vietnamese, Afghani, Indian, Pakistani and African nations.
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 250 students R-7 in 10 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 Unity Park, nearby tennis club and our local kindergarten and childcare centre.
The school has a Vietnamese language maintenance program and many students enter the school upon exiting intensive English language programs at nearby sites.
Meet Our Staff
Who work hard to provide the best educational environment
Ali Thomson
Principal
Deborah Barry
Deputy Principal
Deb Foreman
Literacy Coach
Classroom Teachers
Alison Hepple – Area 4 ( Mon, Tues )
Katie Mays – Year 1/ Year 2, Area 5
Liana Huppatz – Room 1 ( Mon, Tues & Wed a.m )
Jenelle Lewis – Room 1 ( Wed p.m, Thurs & Fri )
Belinda Kinsella – Area 4 (Wed, Thurs & Fri )
Megan Becker – Year 4/5/6 Room 3
Janiece Chiera -Year Reception / Year 1
Deb Kruk – Room 2 ( Mon, Tues & Wed )
Marghie Hooi – Room 2 ( Thurs & Fri )
Jason Chigwidden – Year 2 / 3, Room 4
Stewart Andrews – Year 4 / 5, Room 8
Anne Peters – Year 6/7, Room 10
Sally Clarke – Year 6/7, Room 9
Rikki White – Room 9 Monday, Room 10 Wednesday
Focus Area Teachers
David Warren – Resource Based Learning, Science
Elena Larice – Italian
Athena Frangos – EALD English as an Additional Language or Dialect
Nhan Chau – Vietnamese
School Support Officers
Ann Saltmarsh – Administration Officer
Verlaine Dannenberg – Business Manager
Sue Hoile – Student support/Special Education
Kathleen Stevens – Student support/Library
Dimity Sandford – Student support
Danni Gaul -Student support
Tania Emrose-Starr – Student Support
Sam Ward – Student support
Solmaz Klunyk- Student support
Tam Dang – Student support
Beth Templeton – Student support
Lochlan Buckskin-Stephenson – ACEO
Clive Barclay – Grounds
OSHC
OUT of SCHOOL HOURS CARE
We have an OSHC service that provides before and after school care and a vacation care service to students from Pooraka and within the local area.
Our music program and our OSHC operate from the building closest to Main North Road we call ACRA.
What we stand for
Caring, Respect, Cooperation, Trust and Responsibility
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
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. .
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)
1.35pm
Second bell – students move with teachers to classrooms
3.00pm
End of school day
3.20pm
Yard supervision ceases
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 to choose from a vast selection of recommended titles.
The following areas are available:
Lucky Book Club
Arrow Book Club
Star Book Club
LUNCH ORDERS
Our school utilises Rory’s Lunches on Thursdays for school lunch orders. Orders can be placed via the Qkr! app until 8.30am on the day.
