About our School – Then and Now
Wesburn Primary School stands proudly behind its 105 year history.
Our 2009-10 Promotional Brochure is available for download here for prospective families. (In Adobe pdf format)
The 2009-10 Information Handbook is available here, and is particularly helpful for current and newly enrolled families.
The school was first established in 1875 as Warburton West, on the south bank of the Yarra River at Millgrove, to serve the populations of Warburton and Warburton West. In 1903 the original wooden portable, with living quarters attached, was moved to a 3 acre site excised from the Warburton Public Park on the Warburton-Lilydale Road. In January 1904, Head Teacher William Blake and a female assistant commenced School No. 3466, then called Warburton West. About 40 children were enrolled and by 1907, 82 children were attending the school. In 1925 the school name was changed to Wesburn and the registration no. 3466 was retained. The school population grew along with the very active timber industry and families began to settle in the valley.
Today, Wesburn Primary School has an enrolment of 107 students, with five permanent classrooms, fire refuge, artroom, multi-purpose room, library, and a home economics facility which includes four kitchen stations and a separate dining room. Outside facilities include an adventure playground, cubby, gazebo, centenary rotunda, outdoor classroom especially suitable for science and environmental studies, decorative and kitchen gardens, and several quiet seating areas.
Significant recent funding from Federal, State and Local Governments will enable the school to develop its facilities even further in 2008. Development will include an upgrade to outdoor physical education and sporting areas, shade sails over the playground equipment, water tanks to flush toilets and irrigate kitchen gardens, establishment of stage 3 of the kitchen gardens, and a variety of other improvements.
The school focuses on sustainability and the environment, teaching students and the wider community about the importance of wise management of resources. It is an accredited Water, Learn It! Live It! school and has also achieved accreditation with the Schools’ Water Efficiency Programme. Wesburn is one of the few schools in Victoria to have the Go For Your Life Kitchen Garden Programme with Stephanie Alexander where students grow, harvest, cook and eat their own produce. A large bank of volunteers from the wider community support this empowering programme. The school was the first in the Shire of Yarra Ranges to have receive accreditation for the Kids Go For Your Life programme which encourages students to live healthy and active lives. Each Tuesday morning a playgroup meets, with a trained early years teacher incorporating a fun and lively literacy session as a part of the programme.
THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
- The school is set amid some of the Yarra Valley’s most beautiful scenery
- All classrooms are airconditioned, heated and carpeted
- Large open classrooms in the Junior School allow plenty of room for exploration during learning sessions
- Modern and extensive playground equipment
- Oval, basketball court and ‘The Vench’- a unique bush play area
- Large secure fire refuge
WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL SPECIAL
- Take our school tour and feel the happy, open, warm environment for yourself
- Parents and toddlers are welcome to join in to help make our educational programs rich and meaningful
- Our happy, dedicated and highly qualified staff are very approachable and enthusiastic about the programmes we deliver
- Our buddy system helps to introduce and support new students into our school environment
- Leadership skills are fostered in our students by allowing them to actively participate in decision making
