Junior Campus

Introduction

Preshil understands that young children develop at varying rates, the philosophy has been to group children in a wider age range rather than traditional ‘grades’.

For example, we refer to ‘Sixes and Sevens’ rather than ‘Grade One/Two’. We believe that at this formative stage, by remaining flexible, we are able to accommodate varying learning speeds within an age group rather than impose grading divisions that serve only to develop preconceptions about what ‘level’ they should be at and what arbitrary performance targets they must reach.

3—4 Year-olds – “The Nursery”

What is known at other schools as “Three Year-old Kindergarten” and “Four Year-old Kindergarten” is known at Preshil as “The Nursery” – or more specifically “Threes and Fours”. Situated in adjacent rooms in a wonderful natural setting, these two groups are conducted on the following basis:

• “Fours” from 9–3 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and the
• “Threes” on 9–11:30 or 9-3 on Tuesday and Thursday, or Wednesday and Friday.

The program offers children a selection of indoor and outdoor activities including storytelling, singing, nursery rhymes, construction, drawing and clay session through to bike riding, swinging, climbing and sandpit play. The total Nursery group is limited to a maximum session number with each group supervised by a qualified pre-school teacher.

5 Year-olds

“The Fives” (known as the prep class in many schools) occupy their own secluded area, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the older children. The program provides for creative activities, such as painting, clay, music and carpentry. The elements of the formal curriculum are introduced in this year but ample time is provided for free play, which may be imaginative or energy-driven, such as climbing, swinging or digging.

6—7 Year-olds – “The Primary Groups”

The Sixes and Sevens, and the Eights, Nines, Tens and Elevens form the Primary Groups leading up to secondary school at Preshil. During these stages, the individual interests, aptitudes and potential of each child are all taken into account. While there are general expectations about the level of learning as the children develop, each teacher has an understanding of each child and is in tune with their “creative centre”, understanding the intuitions, feelings and spontaneous imagination. What we avoid is setting performance targets across the board as it limits our ability to tailor teaching methods to match the needs of each child.

There is a huge variety of regular activities in the Junior School. Children become involved in instrumental music groups, imaginative and creative dancing, French, animal husbandry and genetic tracking right through to play-making, painting and puzzles.

As the children move into the Eights, Nines, Tens and Elevens they choose more of their own activities, blending outdoor activities with more indoor work including formal academic subjects. At all stages, it’s about balance and ensuring the child emerges with confidence. To ensure this is the case, during the mid to latter stages of the junior school we undertake diagnostic testing of each student to assess any gaps in learning and identify any areas which need to be addressed.

By the time the children have made the journey of discovery through the junior school, their intellectual and physical powers are highly developed and they enter the senior school with enthusiasm and optimism.

“Arlington” a heritage site of state significance

The Preshil Junior School known as “Arlington” is Australia’s longest surviving progressive school. In 2006 the Boroondara Council supported the inclusion of Preshil Junior School in the Victorian Heritage Register. The site was identified as significant at both a local and state level for its architectural, social and educational ideas. The site was designed by award-winning architect Kevin Borland in the 1960s and 1970s. The children contributed their ideas to the design of the buildings, constructed for active learning in a natural environment.

The site is designed in an informal, non-hierarchical pattern to meet the developmental growth of the child. Classrooms are scaled to the needs and imagination of the child, with elevated platforms, accessed by ladders, a tree house, cubby spaces and a canopy of trees. The Kevin Borland Hall, built in 1962, is an octagonal, well lit, multi-purpose building which is in constant use. Both inside and outside “Arlington” provides a rich, learning environment for the developing child.

Contact Information

Main Campus and Junior Campus

Preshil, The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School, 395 Barkers Road Kew, Victoria Australia 3101

Telephone: +61 3 9817 6135
Fax: +61 3 9816 7943
Email: preshil@preshil.vic.edu.au
Map: Visit Google Maps for Directions

Senior Campus

12—26 Sackville Street Kew, Victoria Australia 3101

Telephone: +61 3 9817 6135
Fax: +61 3 9816 7943
Email: preshil@preshil.vic.edu.au
Map: Visit Google Maps for Directions

Locality Map

Parking: Parking is available on Kildare Street off Barkers Road (opposite the Junior School).

Melway Reference: Map 45 H8

Design Credits

This web site was proudly designed and developed by Grant Day James