Primary School Highlights on Diggers Rest Talk

The primary school has a lot to offer to the growing community of Diggers Rest.

In support of the school that we love a news highlight section has been created for everyone to see how the teachers and students interact with the community. We know that this section will continue to grow and hope that it helps everyone to see the good work of our school.

View the new Diggers Rest Primary School News Highlights section;
Take some time to look through the Diggers Rest Primary School website; and
Visit the Diggers Rest Primary School Facebook page.

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Diggers Rest Primary School on YouTube

The primary school has compiled a promotional Youtube video

Diggers Rest Primary School is a small community school that provides a caring, family-friendly learning environment. The school has fabulous facilities that are the envy of local schools. Set on a large allotment, the school has modern buildings surrounding a central courtyard. The school grounds and playing areas are extensive, attractive and well maintained.

There has been a large amount of interest in our school so far this year and it will be great to see our 2015 Preppies wearing their new enrolment t-shirts around the community. If you are intending to enrol for prep next year, please don't wait until the last minute!

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Mayor Bob Turner Visits The School

Melton City Council Councillor Bob Turner dropped in to the Diggers Rest Primary School on Monday, 26th May for a talk to the children.

Photograph by the Diggers Rest Primary School

Bob is a great community citizen, sharing his time and wisdom to many local folk. He was very informative visit, openly telling the students stories and answering questions. Thank you Bob for visiting our school.

Related Articles:

• Meet Our New Mayor and Deputy Mayor
• Mayor of Melton at Ajay's Royal Children's Hospital Fundraiser

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Primary School Looking Forward To Population Boom

Article by the Leader Newspaper / Herald Sun

Diggers Rest Primary School is relishing the town’s growth and expanding its services to meet the demands of new families to the area.

Photograph: Kris Reichl, Source: News Limited
Diggers Rest Primary School principal Rachelle Hedger with Cody, 11, Abbey, 6, Skye, 7 and Ninos, 12. 

With a new residential estate booming in Diggers Rest the local primary school is ready to embrace a bigger population and is already working to accommodate the growth. New residential developments in the area such as the 1600-lot Bloomdale estate, which includes a future town centre, will see the population in the town boom in coming years.

Principal Rachelle Hedger said with 76 students and room for more than 300, the school was ready, willing and able to accommodate the influx.

And she has made a personal pledge to have before and after school services running from next year to make life easier for working parents.

The first two stages of Bloomdale have already sold out and Ms Hedger said future residents were already making enrolment inquiries.

Read the full article on the Herald Sun

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Old School Teaches New School Some Tricks

Students from the Diggers Rest Primary School stepped back in time to find out what it was like at the first school house.

It was a great experience when one of the old school students, Charles Watson, met the kids to tell his stories.

What happened that day...

VISIT TO THE OLD SCHOOL SITE

When we got there, the train came and half of the grade was on one side of the crossing and the other half was on the other side. Charlie said that he rode to school on a horse....Matt

On Friday the Grade 3 /4’s went to the old school house. On the way there, we were half way through the train crossing. The train was about to come. Most of us were on the other side, but some of us got stuck on the other. When we got there Charlie and Betty were there talking to us about their school life. My favourite part was when he told us that they used to ride horses to school and sometimes he was kicked off by his cousins. Then he had to walk home!.....Sophie

On Friday we went to the old school house. I learnt that Charlie went to school on his cousin’s horse. There were 20kids when Charlie started school. They used to write with an ink pen….Hannah

I learnt that the old school house was built in 1882. Charlie’s dad’s principal had Anderson in his blood. Harry Houdini flew over Diggers Rest. Diggers Rest was named after where the diggers rested on the way to the gold fields….William

We went to the old school on Friday. Matt, Hannah, Simone and I got stuck on the other side. We met Charlie. He is a nice person. We got to look around the old school house….Noelle

On Friday we went to the old school. There was a guy there. His name was Charlie. When he was little, he had to write with an ink pen. Charlie did not have a horse, but his cousins lived close by and they had a horse. They kicked him off the horse….Jaymee

When we we

We went to the old school house on Friday. Charlie told us about the school in the old days. Charlie let us look around. When Charlie was little, there were too many people on the horse, so they pushed Charlie off the horse….Carter

nt to the old school it was a long walk. We got to see lots of stuff. When we got to the train station, some of us got trapped on the other side. When we got to the old school, the number was 2476. They didn’t smile in the old photos…Jesse

On Friday we went to the old school house. It is next to a sign where an American digger was buried. It is also next to a plane showing the first flight. Charlie told us that if you were naughty, you would put your hands out and the teacher would smack your knuckles with a ruler….Daniel

On Friday grade 3 /4 went on an excursion to the old school house. We learnt heaps of information from Charlie and Betty Watson about the old school house. I learnt that he rode a horse to school with his 2 cousins….Cara

Last Friday we went to the old school house. Charlie told us about when he was going to school and coming back from school. If Charlie was naughty, he would get dropped off at the corner and he had to walk back….Kayla

Last Friday we went to the old school house. Charlie Watson was there. The boom gate closed and half of the grade was on one side and the other half was on the other side. I loved the old school house…Lisa

On Friday we went to the old school house and saw Charlie and his wife. Charlie used to go to the school when he was a kid. Charlie told us that at the start, school finished at 3:30pm. When we were walking, there we were crossing the train tracks when the boom gates went down! We were only half way across! It was really fun!....Kirsty

When we went to the old school house, we learnt lots of things. Firstly, if you were bad, you would have to out your hand on the table and you would get hit on the knuckles. On the way to the old school house, we saw Harry Houdini’s plane. It wasn’t his real plane though. When Charlie was at school, he had no homework…Robert

It was a terrific day organised by teacher, Lyra Benbow

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Diggers Rest Primary School Launches on Facebook

The primary school have begun their Facebook page to keep the community up to date.

They are excited about the Official Diggers Rest Primary School Facebook Page.
 
The aim of the page is to publish student works, keep the community up to date with special school events and ultimately share their learning journey.

It is a step forward in to the modern era when so many people are engaged with the Facebook world.

View their Facebook Page

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Diggers Rest Primary School

Enrolments for 2015 are now open

There has been a large amount of interest in our school so far this year and it will be great to see our 2015 Preppies wearing their new enrolment t-shirts around the community.

If you are intending to enrol for prep next year, please don’t wait until the last minute!

Prep 2015 information sessions and tours will be at the following times:

Friday 9th May: 9:30-10:30am
Tuesday 20th May: 7:00 – 8:00pm
Thursday 22nd May: 9:30-10:30am

Read more about the Diggers Rest Primary School

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Lydia At Home With The Community

Winter Olympic medallist Lydia Lassila has unveiled a new library collection at Diggers Rest Community Centre.

Photo by Joe Mastroianni - Lydia Lassila with Diggers Rest Primary School pupils at the library

Lydia read to primary school pupils as part of yesterday’s launch of the Melton library outpost service.

Diggers Rest Primary School principal Rachelle Hedger said the outpost was a welcome addition.

“We know the importance of reading to our students and to the community as a whole, so we’re very excited for this to begin.”

The collection includes more than 300 books, magazines, DVDs and audio books for children and adults.

Residents can access the outpost every Tuesday from 9.30-11.30am and Thursday from 2.30-4.30pm.

Library staff will be on hand to answer queries. Items in the collection will change on a monthly basis.

Article by Priscilla Moca of the Melton & Moorabool StarWeekly

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New School Principal Has High Expectations

Rachelle Hedger knew that she had found a good school when she served as Acting Principal at Diggers Rest.

 Principal Rachelle Hedger with students of Diggers Rest

She had been in education for 16 years, having taught at a variety of schools around Melbourne, when she came to assist Diggers Rest in 2013.

But it didn't take her long to fall in love with the ethos of the school. She liked the school's emphasis on high expectations in a calm learning environment and she liked the community, the care for kids and loved the carols night.

Rachelle is very excited about her appointment as Principal at Diggers Rest Primary School. She said, "Within the first two weeks of 2014, I was approached by more community minded people than I had been for all of my prior teacher career. Diggers Rest people value their town and many of them know each other."

Rachelle aims to capture the essence of Diggers Rest Primary School while ensuring that the school is prepared for the expected growth in the local area. This year the school goals are to focus on the school's links with the community. The school will continue to focus on excellence in teaching and learning, ensuring all students are able to achieve academically, socially and emotionally.

Rachelle said, "Diggers Rest people are lucky that their children are taught in a small school. Its a place where every child is known and respected as an individual...a place where individuals matter. Big schools are not able to provide the same level of personal service."

The community welcomes Rachelle and hope that she continues to enjoy her new role for a long time.

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A Wonderful Christmas Carol

The festive season is upon Diggers Rest where people know how to a fun. Children, parents, teachers, Lions, and performers had a terrific time on the 12th December 2013.

Teachers Performing

Everyone seem to enjoy the occasion on a lovely summer evening as the Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 belted out with gusto. Excellent local performers (Rachel Chetcuti, Joshua Tooth and Sol Lucia Fossati) lifted the night to a higher note, playing and singing the best of carols. The teachers showed the town their hidden talents while Master Of Ceremonies Gary Rhodes brought cheer and humour to the proceedings.

The students and crowd enjoying the performance

The Lions Club congratulated the years sixes for their years with personalised pens and over twenty prizes were raffled. Everyone looked up when fire engine sirens announced a surprise visit by Santa Claus.

Santa entering the school grounds

Of course every great event has great people behind the scenes. The teachers and students rehearsed for hours and the performers volunteered their time. The parent committee assisted in many ways including organising the raffle. The Lions club, particularly Lion Silvan Francis, volunteered for over a hundred hours to raise money, organise security, performers, and food for everyone to enjoy. A lot of credit goes to Principal Paul Yeatman who encouraged everyone to do the right thing.

 Mayor Bob Turner, Master of Ceremonies Gary Rhodes, Principal Paul Yeatman, Lion Silvan Francis

There were also distinguished guests who modestly supported the town from the sidelines. We were lucky to be visited by Mayor Cr Bob Turner and Deputy Cr Sophie Ramsey who supported the volunteers and loved the community spirit. 

Did you enjoy the night and what would you say were the highlights?  

Find out more about:

• Diggers Rest Primary School
• Lions Club of Diggers Rest  (Facebook)

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