21st Century 

Learning Space

Library News

Next week is the official 50th Birthday Celebrations at Rowville Primary School. We are looking forward to the event which is sure to be another wonderful highlight of our 50 Years of Education in Rowville. There are several teachers on staff who have been here for quite some time! Mrs Sue Macdonald started in 1986 and Ms Liz Altmeppen started in 1992. I thought it would be lovely to ask them about their time at this fabulous school. They would have experienced lots of changes as well as some challenges and highlights along the way. However, most of all I know that like all of our teachers, they have cared about the hundreds of students and families that have been a part of our school community. 

Liz Altmeppen

“I’ve been teaching at Rowville Primary School for about twenty eight years, although I did have seven years family leave. I’ve taught Foundation, Years 2 and 3 as well as PE. I love that exercise promotes healthy bodies but more importantly it is good for mental health. PE provides students with another curriculum area in which they can succeed. PE also teachers children social skills, builds friendships, and is a way to develop our school values. Looking back on my time at Rowville Primary School I am most proud of what I achieved when I taught Prep (Foundation). I taught this year level for twelve years and the growth I saw in the 12 months they were in Prep was truly amazing. I felt very proud to be a part of that.”

Sue Macdonald

“I have been teaching at Rowville Primary School since 1986 and I’ve taught Foundation, Years 5 and 6 and PE. I have always had an interest in sport, physical fitness and learning. I majored in PE when completing my degree. I have always loved being active and have played a wide variety of team sports. I’ve competed in fun runs and ocean swimming events and I’ve taught aerobics. I am a strong advocate for all students participating in school and community sport. As well as being important for physical fitness, health and wellbeing, being involved in sport builds a sense of team and belonging, commitment, sportsmanship, resilience and perseverance. 

One of the funniest moments in my teaching career was during the last session of our Bike Education Program. We took the Year 6 students on a Bike Hike along the bike trails in the Rowville area. One of the past teachers, Mr Wynde and five students had stopped in a row waiting at an intersection. I rode up alongside them, ready to stop but got my foot stuck in the bike peddle and fell sideways into the group which caused a domino effect with all the bikes tumbling! The students and Mr. Wynde thought it was very funny, except for me, embarrassed and red faced. They never let me forget it!

Looking back on my time at Rowville Primary School I am most proud of what our students have been able to achieve through hard work and dedication. There have been many students representing our school over the years, in both individual and team sports, at District, Division, State and National levels who have worked extremely hard to achieve absolutely amazing things in their sport. Some of the highlights were when two of our Aerobics teams won the National School Aerobics Championships in Queensland, in two different years. These teams had trained for months, before, during and after school and even during the holidays. It was so exciting to see them victorious after all their hard work! I am super proud of them all! There was also the girl's All Stars Hooptime Basketball team who finished in the top two in the State, and played the State Final at Hisense Arena in front of a huge crowd before the NBL game. It was an amazing, exciting and nerve-racking experience, with the girls ending up silver medallists. 

I was also involved in the I.S.S.E program in the 1980s. I led one group of six students to New Delhi in India. We spent three weeks in India and a couple of days in Singapore on the way home. Kelly, one of the Year 6 students in my delegation, is now a parent of two of our present day students!

I am looking forward to the 50th Birthday Celebrations. The school has a rich history of community involvement, with an extensive range of programs to cater for all interests and abilities and school-wide events. In all areas the school has strived for excellence, whether it be The Arts, Sport, Mathematics, Science and Literacy, just to name a few. Rowville Primary School started as a little school set amongst the gum trees, growing to the biggest school in the State at one stage, and continually evolving over time. I have loved being a part of it!”

Sue and Liz have said that they enjoy bumping into past students. They are interested to see what they are have been doing, where their journeys have taken them and if they are still in touch with other students. They enjoy reminiscing about the wonderful ‘old times’ at primary school!

HISTORY - ISSE AT ROWVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

I.S.S.E stands for International School to School Experience. In 1985 Rowville Primary School was the first in Australia to exchange students internationally at a primary school level and we were once the leading primary school in Victoria for International programs. 

From 1985 until 2008 our students participated in this program. I.S.S.E delegations travelled overseas to Ohio (USA), New Delhi (India), Argentina, Peru, Kentucky (USA), Toluca (Mexico), Pennsylvania (USA), Tokoname (Japan), Lucknow (India), San Salvador (El Salvador), Oono School (Japan), Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Thailand, and Bermuda. 

The I.S.S.E program is unique. It provides for the exchange of thoughts and ideas through face-to-face contact with children from other countries around the world. It is non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in nature. At its core the program gives children the opportunity to experience and understand other cultures on a first hand basis. Children learn about global issues as well as making lasting friendships. Visiting students from other countries were welcomed into the school and were instrumental in teaching our students what school and life was like in other countries. The Rowville Primary School students who visited other countries shared their experiences with us when they returned. I have spoken to families from Rowville Primary School who have kept in touch with their host families and made lifelong friends. Many ex-students will have wonderful memories of their experiences with the I.S.S.E program. The program was a big part of the school for a long time. 

Join us at Rowville Primary School’s 50th Birthday Party on Friday 27 October 5.00pm – 8.00pm. There will be activities and performances on stage, a mystery historical walking tour of the school, cooking demonstrations, sports activities, stalls, games, tree planting and refreshments and much, much more. Everyone is welcome to attend, including past students and families. We are looking forward to the celebrations!

Jackie Hicks

21st Century Learning Space Manager