Page 20 - Inspire Magazine

WA PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

he exceptional staff at Aubin Grove says. “The excitement generates from within
Primary School might make it look the school, and pushes outwards to the wider
easy to be the State’s largest, and this Aubin Grove area.”
T year’s top, primary school. Justine instinctively knew early on that
But on any given day at the southern the school would be something special, and
suburbs school, teachers and leaders are busy today is proud to be a parent whose children
preparing and planning – with one key focus attend the school and to take her place as chair
in mind – to keep students’ interests at the of the school board.
forefront of every decision. Her instincts proved to be spot on. And
From humble beginnings in 2011, Aubin when asked what makes Aubin Grove Primary
Grove Primary School first opened its doors School an award winning school, Justine finds
to the growing new community with just 315 it difficult to pinpoint one thing.
students. She begins by lauding the school’s
Now, with more than 1100 students, this leadership model, in which staff are elected
bedrock on which the school was built remains by their colleagues to shape the decision-
unchanged. making process; then moves on to the school’s
Justine McGillivray has lived in Aubin constant application of the LEAF (learn, enjoy,
Grove since the area was in development and aspire, focus) principles, the quality of its
has seen firsthand how the school has become teaching staff, and its strides in innovation and
a hub for the local community. technology.
“One of the things I love most about “Being on the board I’m privileged to
the school is the sense of belonging and see the school’s leadership team, teachers and
community atmosphere it brings,” Justine support staff in action,” Justine says. “They

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