Principal's Welcome

Chewton Primary School is at the heart of the local Chewton community, 5km from Castlemaine.  In 2020 we celebrated 150 years of learning. Our heritage building and stunning bush setting make our school both a welcoming and unique learning environment. 

Our school grounds are inviting with a music garden, interpretative play space, outdoor stage, cubby building area, oval, playground equipment, a range of quiet spaces and a wood-fired oven. We make use of the bush behind the school for learning activities and regular family cook ups.  

Our school values are Integrity, Curiosity, Inclusion and Community. We nurture the whole child: social and emotional wellbeing is crucial for learning, so it sits at the centre of our work. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where students are both challenged and supported to be their best. 

We acknowledge the Djaara community as traditional custodians of the land, and recognise Elders past, present and emerging. We have a strong emphasis on Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum. 

We have high quality literacy and numeracy learning. We believe in students having a strong voice and agency in their learning through goal setting, feedback and learning through their areas of interest and passion. 

Both our indoor and outdoor areas are used as learning spaces. Our teachers use evidence based best practice, with High Impact Teaching Strategies a hallmark of our work. We provide Art, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering Maths) and LOTE (Auslan) as our specialist classes. Individual music tutors also teach piano and drums.  

We are also a 5-star Resource Smart School: sustainability is a key focus for our whole school, with each class taking a leadership role for Waste, Energy, Water and Biodiversity. We have a vegie garden, worm farm and outdoor kitchen. We have a sustainability teacher who works with staff and students each week to develop our skills and understanding of caring for our environment.  We recycle hard plastics, batteries, and have a zero-waste target. 

Our class sizes are small, giving each student a greater opportunity for individual support. Our school is small enough that every child knows everyone, but is large enough that children are able to forge positive relationships across a wide variety of age groups. All staff members are invested in the wellbeing of every student. We currently have three classes: Prep-1-2, 3-4 and 5-6.  

We come together with other small schools for activity days, as well as participating in a combined camps program. We have a close relationship with larger neighbouring schools in the Mount Alexander Shire, with students coming together for sport throughout the year as well as for artistic and cultural events. 

We believe that fostering a positive attitude and appreciation of sustainable environmental practice is vital to the development of our students. Parents, carers and the broader community are integral to all aspects of learning at our school and we invite you to come and see our learning in action. 

Chewton Primary really is the heart of the Chewton community. 

Bernadette McKenna, Principal