Northern school programs well-being into lives of students, families

Andrew Mathieson
A SERIES of programs lifting students marks at a “community” school in Geelong’s northern suburbs could provide a model to revolutionise education, according to its principal.
Ken Massari said the results at North Shore Primary School were leading a community fight-back against perceptions of social decay in Norlane.
“I think care and compassion is something we all want to bring into the school environment like this,” Mr Massari said.
“I would say a sense of knowledge of the community is most important.”
Mr Massari said Geelong fruit wholesaler Glynn Harvey was the first to help out with the school programs, donating food to ensure students had healthy lunches and snacks daily.
After-hour programs included building bikes, gardening, homework clubs and school sports.
Mr Massari said the school was engaging families as well as teaching students.
“We’ve gone beyond just the educational side of things to sometimes having to take a role in welfare, housing support, chaplaincy, all that sort of approach, he said.
“We’ve brought a lot of other agencies into the school in order to ensure families have strong support. Whether it’s in a classroom or the office manager, everybody in the school has that mindset they can help a child and family.”
Mr Massari said staff were trained to deal with a high number of autistic students in a school where 12 per cent of children had disabilities.
A government report last year said one third were also “at risk” of harm or further disadvantage.
Mr Massari believed the school’s holistic approach was reaping rewards.
“Academically, our results are really starting to climb now as we work through providing an he said.