Our school  choir is trained by staff members, Kylie Raymond and Lynn Craig.

Students in all Year levels enjoy learning Technology, and benefit enormously from the school's well-resourced and spacious Technology Room.

Below: Year 6 students display some of their models made in the Technology Room. Here the students Technology skills have been integrated into the study of Society and Environment.

The teaching of Japanese in our school has a very high profile. 

Above: Japanese teacher Juno Oka was appointed to the school in 2006. He is responsible for teaching Japanese from Reception to Year 7

Scott Francis (above) is the impetus behind the Physical Education programme in the school. He also works closely with the parents to organize the very successful out of school hours sports programme.

The school's involvement in the annual Australian International Pedal Prix at Murray Bridge, has become a very important part in the life of our Year 6 and 7 students. Our cars are called the Valley Viper (shown below) and the Valley Vortex.

Many students have taken up the opportunity to learn a musical instrument at our school. We have DETE and private instructors teaching violin, recorder, flute and guitar. Students have opportunities to perform in public at assemblies, music nights and our Christmas concert.

Information Technology is a major focus at our school. Over the past few years, many thousands of dollars have been spent on computing hardware and software, as well as an extensive cabling programme throughout the school. We believe we are one of the leading schools in the State in this area.

Students are proficient in using a wide variety of programmes and the use of computers is integrated into many curriculum areas.

Above: At Happy Valley, students integrate their technology skills into many areas of their study. Here Year 7 students, Simon (bottom) and Paige, project images from a microscope onto a computer screen

The teacher responsible for Information Technology is co-ordinator Darryl Draper. Darryl works closely with students and staff in upgrading their skills and expertise in Information Technology.

Our well equipped, School Resource Centre provides fantastic support in the area of Information Technology. Staff in the Resource Centre are Judy Miller (Teacher Librarian) and Denise Lucas (SSO).

At Happy Valley School, students enjoy many great learning experiences.

We encourage students to be respectful, responsible citizens.

We aim to develop happy, creative students who are excited about learning; students who rise to challenges; students who are supported to do their best.

We cater for the special skills and abilities of our students in many ways.

Choir

Environmental Trail

The school and community has established the Panalatinga Environmental Trail for our students and our community to use and enjoy in the beautiful reserve adjacent to our school.  A trail booklet is available from the school. The school and community have planted many native trees and shrubs, cleared non indigenous vegetation and removed rubbish from the area.  We have worked in  conjunction with the Onkaparinga City Council and the Friends of the Panalatinga Environmental Reserve. 

A section of the Panalatinga Environmental Reserve

In addition to the Edible Garden and Panalatinga Reserve, the school is actively involved in a number of other environmental and recycling programmes. They include:-

• Plant Propagation
• Worms and composting
• Paper recycling
• School Wetland Area

To learn more about all of these important school initiatives, click on one of the links below. The first is an Environmental Programmes information page, the second, a special photo gallery showing how these programmes provide a valuable "hands on" experience for our students at all year levels.

Happy Valley School ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES Information Page

Happy Valley School ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES Special Photo Gallery

 

Information Technology

Information technology is a major focus at our school. Our students are able to use excellent computer resources in their classrooms as well as in our computer room. Mr. Draper and Mr. Kevin Jesshope help staff and students maintain these resources. We thank those parents who also help staff and students.   If you have some expertise and you would like to help, please contact us.

In our Resource Centre, students also have access to a wonderful range of resources with the support of  Mrs. Judy Miller, our Teacher Librarian.

	We have a strong focus on students developing their skills in designing, making and appraising products. Our technology room is very well equipped with tools and materials for classes to do special things, which they can't do in their classroom. Our leader in Technology, Mr. Draper, maintains the Technology Room and works with staff to develop their knowledge and teaching skills in this area.
We expect students to develop creative and innovative skills and abilities, and our technology resources provide wonderful support towards this aim.

Intranet

We are using Microsoft Front Page 2003 and Image Composer to help us update our website and INTRANET more easily and frequently. This year Mr. Draper is managing our Intranet - this is where we publish the web materials produced by our students.  Our Intranet can be accessed from anywhere on our school computer network. Many classes are now developing web materials  for our intranet. There is a strong focus on teachers integrating the use of Learning Technologies into all areas of the curriculum. 

If you would like to know about our network Acceptable Use Policy, which parents and students must sign before use of our computer resources, please click here.

Instrumental Music

Many of our students learn a musical instrument at our school.  We have DECS and private instructors teaching violin and viola, recorder, flute, guitar and keyboard.  Students have opportunities to perform in public at assemblies, music nights and at our Christmas concert.

Students and parents can choose from a variety of instruments

Student Leadership & Kookaburra Council

Each year, students from Year 7 are elected to the Student Leadership Council. This group is the student decision making group within the school, working alongside the staff and Governing Council. Each school Learning Community - Junior Primary, Lower Primary and Upper Primary - has an elected representative group called a Kookaburra Council.

Two students are elected from each class and attend Kookaburra Council meetings each fortnight under the guidance of Judy Davies (Junior Primary Kookaburra Council), Doug MacLean (LPKC) and Kylie Raymond (UPKC).

At these meetings, students discuss issues raised at class meetings and make recommendations for consideration by staff, Student Leadership Council and School Governing Council.

When you are young, learning can be a delight or a difficulty. Some young people are challenged by their inability to express themselves or they hide their feelings behind a shield of doubt. Some have a feeling of isolation, some a sense of being behind the other students, while others are more able than the rest of their peers. These barriers can be very real in a modern society, where children often hunger to be understood or long to talk over their problems in a caring atmosphere with someone they can trust.

So along comes LAP, the Learning Assistance Programme, with its volunteers, its empathy, its patience, its confidence building and its one-to-one dialogues. It remains one of the most innovative developments in education and provides a heart-warming experience for both adults and children.

The Learning Assistance Programme is a student-centred programme providing individual support for students through the positive participation of volunteers. Volunteers, in partnership with teaching staff, work with students on a one-to-one basis for one or two regular sessions each week.

To learn more about how LAP works at Happy Valley School, please click on link below.

Middle Schooling

In 2008, our "Middle School" students (Years 6 and 7) are spread across three classes of students. There is a Year 5-6 class and two Year 6-7 classes. Teachers of these classes meet regularly to plan and programme whole group activities, while there are many smaller group and individual programmes that occur class by class.

The year begins with the whole Middle School participating  in a week long aquatics programme for Years 6 & 7 students at Port Noarlunga.

Throughout the year, there will be many activities involving the older students, encouraging them to display leadership, collaboration and participation in school programmes.  This  includes a focus on work education, transition to high school and another exciting camping experience. 

Each year the Year 7 students participate in the Happy Valley Canberra trip. This has become a tradition for students in their final year of our school.

The focus of the trip is Civics & Citizenship and Australian History & Culture. Students study these topics during Term 1 culminating in the end of term trip to Canberra, visiting many of Australia's icons and institutions.

Pedal Prix

We again had a large group of enthusiastic parents and students who really got involved in last year's  Australian International Pedal Prix.   The organization, technical know-how, fundraising and management skills are once again evident amongst the group of fantastic parents who make it all happen.  Students are involved in an extensive training programme,  which will prepare them well to go the full distance in September.

We have entered two vehicles in this  year's Pedal Prix program, the "Valley Viper" and the "Valley Vortex."

Peer Support

All classes in the school are buddied up - younger students with older students.  They work through a program of activities which are designed by the older students and taught to the younger students.  This program contributes very positively to the wonderful supportive family atmosphere that exists in our school.

Sports

Sport is an important part of the culture at Happy Valley School. We value students being healthy and active. We encourage students to enjoy participating in sports and we provide skills development through our Physical Education program run by Mr. Francis. We have fantastic support from our parents who coach and manage a large number of teams in a range of out of school hours competitions. Our school has an excellent reputation which has been further enhanced by 7 SAPSASA state-wide championships over the past few years.  As a community, we offer a wide range of sporting activities for our students.  Contact us for information about any particular sport.