About Us
POORAKA PRIMARY SCHOOLWho we are
We have over 50% of our students come from ESL backgrounds including Vietnamese, Afghani, Indian, Pakistani and African nations.
Pooraka Primary School is a government category 3 school (lower socio-economic) located in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.
The school has a population of approximately 200 students R – 6 in 8 classrooms across two main buildings. The site also has a hall on site and the original 100 year old school building which are used for specialist teaching subjects.
The school has strong links to the community with the local Unity Park, nearby tennis club and our local kindergarten and childcare centre.
The school has a Vietnamese language maintenance program and many students enter the school upon exiting intensive English language programs at nearby sites.
Meet Our Staff
Who work hard to provide the best educational environment
Michelle Parkes
Principal
Deborah Barry
Deputy Principal
Deborah Foreman
Literacy Leader
Classroom Teachers
Liana Huppatz – Foundation, Area 2
Jenelle Lewis – Year 1/2, Area 5
Janiece Chiera – Foundation/Year 1, Area 1
Katie Mays – Year 1/ Year 2, Area 5
Megan Becker – Year 2/3, Room 2
Jason Chigwidden – Year 3/4, Room 4
Stewart Andrews – Year 4, Room 3
Anne Peters – Year 5, Room 10
Sally Clarke – Year 6, Room 9
Elena Larice – Year 5, Room 10
Specialist Teachers
Kym Stocker – PE (Monday, Tuesday)
Chiara Monopoli – Performing Arts – Thurs, Fri
Margherita Hooi – Science
Elena Larice – Italian
Nhan Chau – Vietnamese
Belinda Kinsella – Student Engagement + Wellbeing
School Support Officers
Ann Saltmarsh – Administration Officer
Verlaine Dannenberg – Business Manager
Sue Hoile – Student support/Special Education
Kathleen Stevens – Student support/Library
Dimity Sandford – Student support
Danni Gaul -Student support
Tania Emrose-Starr – Student Support
Solmaz Klunyk- Student support
Tam Dang – BSSO – Vietnamese support – Tuesday
Beth Templeton – Student support
Lisa Emrose – Student support
Kate White – Student support
Clive Barclay – Grounds
Farid Drokhshan – BSSO – Dari, Persian, Farsi – Tuesday
OSHC
OUT of SCHOOL HOURS CARE
We have an OSHC service that provides before and after school care and a vacation care service to students from Pooraka and within the local area.
Our music program and our OSHC operate from the building closest to Main North Road we call ACRA.
What we stand for
Caring, Respect, Cooperation, Trust and Responsibility
Parents are also encouraged to become directly involved in the school and their children’s education in various ways – classroom help with reading, excursions, local walks etc. There are also opportunities for parents to be on Governing Council and the various committees that Governing Council manages.
The School Day
Before school all students are expected to be on the hard play area and not be inside unless they are accompanied by their own parent/family adult. Handball with tennis balls is allowed but no large balls are permitted to be played with during this time due to safety reasons. .
8.30am
Yard supervision
8.50am
Start of school day
11.00
Big Lunch Play
11.30
Students to eat lunch in the class
11.40
End of eating time
1.40pm
Little lunch
2.00pm
End of Little lunch
3.00pm
End of school day
3.20pm
Yard supervision ceases
BOOK CLUB
Scholastic Australia Book Club is very popular among the children. It is voluntary, and is well received throughout the school. It enables students to choose from a vast selection of recommended titles.
The following areas are available:
Lucky Book Club
Arrow Book Club
Star Book Club
LUNCH ORDERS
Our school utilises Rory’s Lunches on Thursdays for school lunch orders. Orders can be placed via the Qkr! app until 8.30am on the day.
