All NSW public school students have a right to an inclusive learning environment and to feel happy and safe at school.
Aboriginal student support
We are committed to closing the achievement gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We know that we need to learn about, nurture and value the cultural identity of our Aboriginal students to help them be successful learners.
We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and carers, as well as community members to our school so that we can get to know each other, learn about the local Aboriginal community and develop shared goals and plans for Aboriginal students.
The Aboriginal Education Policy confirms the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to improvement in educational outcomes and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Highlights for West Ryde Public School in 2022 included:
- The Acknowledgement of Country at each assembly and formal gathering, delivered by the Indigenous students of the school. Aboriginal and Australian flags being displayed on the duel-flagpole.
- Commemoration of NAIDOC Week with a Koomurri Immersive experience for all students K-6.
- 2 staff members visiting Gol Gol to strengthen partnerships through the City Country Alliance of Schools.
- Student leaders participated in the Gol Gol City Country Alliance zoom sessions.
- Commemoration of the NAIDOC Week theme ' Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up' was undertaken during classroom lessons. Students completed learning activities based on the importance of Country . We culminated this with a meaningful assembly for all students K-6.
- Indigenous perspectives continue to be taught through a variety of Key Learning Areas, including Geography, History and English. This has provided further opportunities for students to explore the relationship between Aboriginal people and the land. Quality literature and multi-modal texts have enhanced students' learning about Aboriginal culture and perspectives.
- All staff undertook the Professional Learning course - 'Aboriginal Cultural Education - Let's take the first step together' to further enhance their knowledge and understanding.
(from 2022 West Ryde Public School Annual Report)
Multicultural education
Our school welcomes students, families and community members from all cultural backgrounds. We appreciate difference and diversity and aim to provide a culturally inclusive and responsive environment that benefits all students.
Our teaching and learning programs develop intercultural understanding, promote positive relationships and enable all students to participate as active Australian and global citizens. Our school fosters student wellbeing and community harmony by implementing anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies that encourage engagement by parents and carers from all backgrounds.
The Multicultural Education Policy outlines the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to providing opportunities that enable all students to achieve equitable education and social outcomes and participate successfully in our culturally diverse society.
The Anti-Racism Policy confirms the department’s commitment to rejecting all forms of racial discrimination in NSW public schools and eliminating expressions of racism in its learning and working environments.
For more information refer to:
Supporting English language learners
Learning English is essential for success at school and effective participation in Australian society. We can provide specialist support to help students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D).
For more information refer to: EAL/D education.
Supporting refugee students
Schools offer safety, support and security to help refugee students adjust to life in Australia and participate successfully in education. Targeted support strategies are provided to assist refugee students in NSW public schools.
For more information refer to: Supporting refugee students.
Cultural diversity and community participation are valued at West Ryde. 85% of students are from language backgrounds other than English. Over 40 language backgrounds are represented, the most common of which are Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi and Korean.
Our highly successful programs include:
- An English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) program
- An intensive New Arrival English language program (NAP)
- In-class support for EAL/D students
- Multicultural perspectives integrated in all Key Learning Areas in all classrooms
- The teaching of Mandarin, Korean and Hindi Community Languages
- All students participate in the Multicultural Public Speaking Competition.
West Ryde offers Mandarin, Korean and Hindi as three community languages. Students come with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Learning languages provides the opportunity for students to engage with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the world and its people.
The ability to communicate in Mandarin, Korean and Hindi for our students provides encouragement for meaningful interaction between them and those they connect with that share their cultural background.
Each year, our community language classes showcase their learning at a K-6 assembly presenting cultural performance items including drama, music, and dance to the school community. It is an invaluable learning opportunity for students to develop their Mandarin, Korean and Hindi language skills, and an appreciation of their cultural heritage.
(from 2022 West Ryde Public School Annual Report)
Learning support
The school’s learning and support team plays a key role in ensuring we meet the specific needs of students with additional learning and support needs, including disability.
The team:
- supports teachers in identifying and responding to the additional learning needs of students
- facilitates and coordinates a whole-school approach to improving the learning outcomes of every student
- coordinates planning processes and resourcing for students with additional learning and support needs
- designs and implements the support required to build teacher capacity so that all students access quality learning
- develops collaborative partnerships with the school, parents and carers as well as other professionals and the wider school community.
For more information on programs and services to help students with additional learning and support needs, visit Disability, learning and support.
At West Ryde, the Learning Support Team works with students and staff K-6 resulting in targeted programs and team teaching opportunities to support students development.
Anti-bullying
Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools.
The NSW anti-bullying website brings together information and resources for teachers, students, parents and carers. It helps to identify, prevent and respond effectively to student bullying, including online bullying. It provides information about online safety and what you can do if your child has been bullied, witnessed bullying or been involved in bullying.
For more information on anti-bullying strategies for NSW public schools refer to the department’s Bullying of Students – Prevention and Response Policy.
For information on racial bullying and anti-racism education for NSW public schools refer to:
West Ryde Public School Anti-Bullying Plan
Positive Behaviours For Engaged Learners
Positive Behaviours for Engaged Learners (PBEL) is explicitly and consistently applied across the school. PBEL is an evidence-based framework that brings together the whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning environment. The framework assists schools to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for students.
West Ryde's values of "Safe, Respectful, Learners" underpin the PBEL framework. We use Class Dojo and "Caught you" tickets as part of our Positive Acknowledgement System which is outlined below.
West Ryde Public School Positive Acknowledgement System
Student leadership
Student leadership helps young people find their voices, participate in decision-making, and understand their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. It helps students have a real impact on their learning and school environment and prepares them to participate meaningfully in their community.
Students can be leaders in the classroom, through their actions in the playground, through their support for others, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or local community events or projects.
For more information about opportunities in NSW public schools visit Student voice and leadership.
Future leaders need an educational environment which encourages, nurtures and provides strong direction for students to reach their full potential. At West Ryde Public School we equip our students with the knowledge, skills and values to turn their aspirations into reality.
The student leadership system at our school involves students from Year 1 to Year 6 and comprises of the:
- Prefect body (including Captains and Vice Captains)
- Student Representative Council (SRC)
- Sportshouse Captains.