Serving the local community since 1866, Eastern Creek Public School has a proud history of providing quality teaching and learning programs for students from Preschool to Year 6.
Our school is set within spacious grounds, combining level playing areas with attractive, award winning gardens. We are afforded the luxury of having reverse-cycle air conditioning and wheelchair access in all classrooms.
The school climate is very much one of participation and mutual support. Parents and students, together with a dedicated staff, are active partners in student learning and evaluate student progress with openness and honesty. Our school community embraces its ethnicity and cultural diversity to create an atmosphere of high expectation and achievement.
Quality teaching and learning experiences in a happy and stable environment provide the foundation for students to cooperate, succeed and grow as learners, individuals and members of society. Parents are encouraged to support students within the school and classroom. The school is recognised for its strong focus on traditional educational priorities blended with modern educational techniques. Early assessment of student need and individual support is given priority. Computers with Internet access are available to students in every classroom and in the Information and Technology Centre. Eastern Creek Public School - proud of our past, focused on our future.
Our aim at Eastern Creek Public School is to:
- Ensure that quality teaching and learning are the central focus of every classroom.
- Provide students with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values for productive and rewarding lives.
- Provide a well-rounded education that values and supports the intellectual, creative, physical, social and emotional development of each child.
- Ensure that students have appropriate information and communication and technology skills to meet their educational needs.
- Cater for students from all backgrounds and draw strength from the rich, culturally diverse local community.
- Assist students to develop the foundations for, and commitment to, lifelong learning and prepare them for secondary education.
- Provide a safe, secure, disciplined and quality learning environment.
- Involve parents, caregivers and the local community in decision making and school events as much as possible.
- Develop in students the knowledge that they are part of a society where rules and laws are in place for the common good of all and that self esteem, confidence, civic responsibility, equity, respect, tolerance and acceptance of others are values that are important in a harmonious and peaceful community.
Assemblies
All students assemble at 8.55am and again after lunch and recess in the shade area. (This area is often called the COLA which stands for the Covered Over Learning Area) These assemblies bring the school together and settle the students ready for learning. Important messages and reminders are given at these times. You are welcome to stay at the assembly, but to help the children settle it is kindly asked that parents say goodbye and stand at the back of the assembly lines.
Students are recognised for excellence and commendation at all times but each Friday a special assembly is held. This is the time merit awards, STAR certificates, trophies and other special prizes are awarded. Parents are more than welcome to come along to the Friday assemblies. Special school gatherings also occur throughout the year to mark significant occasions of which Anzac Day, Presentation of Awards, Leadership and Student badges are highlights.
Anti-Bullying Program
This very special program initiates the school year and covers topics such as rights, responsibilities, course of action and recognition of bullying. The program operates throughout the year and students demonstrating positive attributes of friendship, citizenship, peer support and good character are awarded the STAR certificate.
School Newsletter
The school newsletter, ‘Update' is sent home with the youngest child in each family every second Tuesday (even weeks of the term). This is the main communication tool between the school and families. Information, permission notes, school stories and student achievements are common features written in each edition. The school has a notice board at the front of the school along Rooty Hill Road which has important activities and dates regularly noted. It is possible to receive an e-mail version of the newsletter.
Parents & Citizens Association
This school has an active and enthusiastic P&C association who meets on the first Wednesday of each month. The times of the meeting alternate from 9.15am to 7.00pm. Membership is open to all members of the school community. The aim of the P&C is to promote the interests of the school by:-
- Bringing parents, citizens, students and school staff into close cooperation.
- Assisting in providing equipment and resources for the students.
- Reporting to the Minister of Education the necessary support requirements of the school.
- Assisting the teaching staff in the establishment of school policy.
A Brief History of Eastern Creek Public School
Eastern Creek Public School was opened in the early months of 1866 as a private school in a room in Thomas Dean's Inn, "The Old House at Home", Western Rd, Eastern Creek. The few pupils were taught by a tutor. On 17th July 1866, the school was moved to Wallgrove, where it remained until 1872 and was known as Wallgrove Public School. By 1870 the school enrolment was 35 pupils.
Some students, in all types of weather, had to travel long distances on foot, on cycles, in horse drawn vehicles and some on horseback. As the roads were unsealed the conditions in the wet can only be imagined.
The land on the southern side of Eastern Creek was mostly used for market gardens which were owned and worked by Chinese gardeners. There were poultry farms as well as dairy farms. One large dairy was situated on the property which is now Pine Grove Memorial Park and another large one was on the land which the Overseas Telecommunication used to occupy. There were blue metal quarries at the back of Minchinbury. At Rooty Hill there was a saw mill where timber cut in the Eastern Creek District was carted to the mill by bullocks and drays.
At the Minchinbury Vineyards there was a vineyard with bottling and wine making factory, small dairy and wheat crops. The wheat grown on the hill on the northern side of Eastern Creek was milled into flour and sent to India where it was made into bread. ‘Ruti' is the Indian word for bread, so the hill became known as ‘Ruti Hill.' The surrounding district is known as Rooty Hill. (Well this is one story for the naming of Rooty Hill.)
In August 1955 the Great Western Highway was enlarged and the school moved to a new site on six acres and situated on the western side of Rooty Hill Rd. The land was resumed from Ampol Petroleum Ltd. The land was originally owned by one of the district's pioneers, Mr Richard Iles. The present school site was built in 1958 and officially opened on 10th October 1959 by the Education Minister, Mr J. Heffron.
By 1961 the school totalled nine classrooms with two more being built. The enrolment was now 312 pupils. The school had an organisation of four houses, all named after former Prime Ministers of Australia- Deakin, Hughes, Curtin and Barton which are still used today for sporting, academic and student social activities.
The school has the motto of "Dare to do Well", a school song and a school badge with the school colours of green and white.
As now, the school's many previous Parents and Citizens Associations worked in many ways to raise money for additional school amenities and resources.
Community use of facilities
Bible study classes of the Mount Saione Christian Centre, are conducted in the School and Community Hall on Wednesday and Friday evening from 7.30pm to 9.00pm and on Sunday. The Nepean Wolves Tae Kwon Do conducts lessons in the School and Community Hall on Friday evening from 5.30 – 7.30. The Rooty Hill RSL Baton Twirlers use the hall on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
Boundaries
The drawing area for the school is bounded by the northern side of Francis Road, the eastern side of Rooty Hill Road South, the southern side of Eskdale Street (up to Farrington Street and then the southern side of the Great Western Highway) and the western side of Angus Avenue, including Tallin Grove and Melville Road. A map showing these boundaries is available from the school office.
At times, depending on student numbers at this school and neighbouring public schools, we are able to accept students from outside this area.
Eastern Creek Network Information
Eastern Creek Public School is part of the Eastern Creek Network of Schools and is one of thirty four primary schools making up the Mt Druitt/ Minchinbury group of schools. The school has a close association with Minchinbury Public School, Rooty Hill Public School and Rooty Hill High School which together make up the Learning Neighbourhood.
Address – Nirimba Education Office
Pemulwuy is our Local AECG Boundary
Eastern Creek School Prayer
The school assembly recites the prayer at the Monday morning assembly.
Bless the boys and girls
of Eastern Creek School
so they may learn
to work and play
happily together
bringing joy
to those
around them.
Help us to be
completely fair
to all people
and all living things.
Amen
School Song
(The School Song is sung at Friday and other special assemblies)
Fashioned by pioneering hands,
Our heritage we gladly hold
School of ours we praise and honour
In accents that are strong and bold
Eastern Creek, school of ours
Sing with fervent voices here
Staff and students tribute pay
Your friendly doorways we revere
Guide us through our years of learning
So greater heights we may achieve
We dare to do well as it is our motto
In its strengths we do believe
Eastern Creek, school of ours
Sing with fervent voices here
Staff and students tribute pay
Your friendly doorways we revere
(originally written by B.A. Cameron. Teacher in 1966.
Modified in 1999 by G.Parnaby and F. Mead.
Originally sung to ‘Austria'-the national anthem of Austria.
New version sung to ‘Click go the Shears')
Code of Conduct
As a member of Eastern Creek Public School I will:
Treat others with respect and dignity,
Act with consideration for others and be socially responsible,
Be pleasant and friendly,
Try to do my best,
Play safely,
Care for the environment,
Wear my school uniform with pride,
Try to attend school every day and be punctual for activities,
Be responsible for what I do and
Care for property belonging to myself, the school and others.