Early nerves fade at Armstrong Creek’s newest school

START of year nerves are common for students at new schools, but it is not often the whole teaching cohort is feeling the same way.

Biyala Primary School opened its doors to students, and teachers, for the first time this term, providing education to the growing population in Armstrong Creek.

Grade 3 and 4 teacher Harrison Thompson was one of the teachers welcoming students to the school for the first time.

His class doubled in size before the first day, leading to the school deciding to split it in two – a teething issue he was happy to push through.

He knows the student population will continue to expand in the coming years.

“Working in a new school, it’s a pretty cool opportunity to build something from the ground up. especially with this amazing site,” Thompson said.

“All of the staff that have started are just great; the leadership team have been amazing, just so supportive, always there, and if we have a question, all of them are always open to give any of their time to support us.”

This year’s start to term one was focused on ‘belonging at Biyala’, helping the new students settle and allowing the teachers to develop an understanding of their new cohorts.

“We spent time to focus on all those emotions that we all feel, and I think teachers did a pretty good at modelling how they were feeling too,” Thompson said.

“I definitely had those sort of worries and nervousness, which comes with the unknown so the first three weeks just establishing rules and routines, guidelines, have definitely allowed all students to be pretty settled.”

Biyala’s teachers are working to develop their students into young people ready to take their next steps into high school and the bigger world.

Thompson said developing emotionally intelligent children was as important as their academic success.

“We want them to be pretty well set after attending Biyala for the years to come,” he said.

“There’s an incredible sense of excitement every day, because everything feels new, purposeful and full of possibility.

“Our school values are ‘grow with gratitude, lead with kindness and succeed with excellence’ and I feel like if they can display those in their personality and in their actions, they’re pretty well set up to have a positive life.”

Since the school opened, Thompson said he had been pleased to see and hear positive feedback. Getting to know the children and families in the school community has continued to revive his passion for education.

Expecting the school’s enrolment numbers to continue growing, Thompson is excited to see what comes.

“It’s going to be growing quickly, but it’s nice starting small. We can set the routines and structures so that when new staff and students do arrive, it will be quite seamless,” he said.

Geelong’s southern suburbs have boomed in population with a handful of primary schools opening over the past 10 years.