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ELC officially opens The late afternoon sun shone brightly on the first day of spring when about 100 family and friends of Peter Toms and Brighton Grammar School came together for the official opening of the Peter Toms Early Learning Centre.
Science specialist in JS We know boys in our Junior School love the hands on nature of learning science – it hits all the right buttons for them.
Co-ordinator of Science and Technology. BGS is in one of few primary schools in Victoria with a full time Science and Technology specialist. And the outcomes have been outstanding.
Bill teaches all the boys from Prep to Year 6, team-teaching with the regular Boys love to ask questions and uncover classroom teacher. Generally Bill the answers; they like to get up, be works with two classes at a time, gives involved and be creative thinking outside the outline of the class and sets the the square. But unfortunately to deliver an instructions then the boys break off to exciting and relevant science curriculum work in small groups supported by the can take a lot of preparation time and a staff and then everyone gets together at real passion for the subject. Consequently, the end to discuss conclusions. Science in primary schools across Australia, when is taught everywhere – in classrooms, teachers are under pressure to squeeze in the corridors, on the oval and various everything in, sometimes, science is locations across the campus. left off. The boys have demonstrated their About 18 months ago, Head of Junior passion for the subject by spontaneous School Peter Tellefson, searched for a comments like “I learnt a lot today Mr way to really get science going in the Gibney” (something Bill claims has never primary years to ensure the boys at happened before in 25 years of teaching) BGS had a chance to develop a genuine and strong membership of the various knowledge of, and interest in science. lunchtime Science Clubs. Bill runs clubs for interested boys – Gardening, Sailing Consequently, last year in 2011, former Club (boys build mini boats and race classroom teacher and lover of all things them) and the Science Challenge Club science, Bill Gibney, was appointed (a national run competition).
The official party included the Chairman of Council Ian Paroissien, the Headmaster, The Right Reverend Paul White, Bishop of the Southern Region who dedicated the new ELC, and former Head of Junior School Peter Toms who had the honour of opening the centre and unveiling the plaque. The ceremony was quite delightful with the Welcome Song sung by boys from the Four Year Old classes and finishing with a beautiful performance by the Junior School Borwick House Choir and then a tour of the new facility.
The extended Toms family and friends travelled from far and wide to share this special occasion with Peter and his wife Sue, and thoroughly enjoyed the reception in the new Centre. The ELC has been open to students since February 2011 and has two Four Year Old Classes and two Three Year Old Classes. This is double the capacity of the former ELC but due to the fabulous new facility, a great team of staff led by Amelia Barrow and positive word of mouth, the ELC has been full most of the year and is full in 2012 and has significant enrolments for 2013. The Peter Toms ELC was mostly funded by the Australian Government Building the Education Revolution (BER) program. The School is grateful for the $2.125 million which was received for this project.
Below left The Toms family around the plaque. BELOW top to bottom Peter and the Headmaster at the Opening; Guests were greeted by Deputy Head of Junior School Rick Pemberton and JS School Officers Thomas Haddon and Robert Tongs; The ELC staff enjoy the party.