About Our School
External Validation
Hours
Uniforms
Smarter School National Partnership
Special Programs
Preschool/High School Liaison
Theodore lies in Canberra's culturally and historically significant Tuggeranong Valley.
Theodore Primary School is centrally located in this suburb which features undulating hills, of natural vegetation and impressive evidence of the original Aboriginal inhabitants.
The Valley has been recognised as a significant area to the Ngunnawal people. It contains a number of significant sites and was used as a major route to the Murrumbidgee River and the Brindabella Ranges.
The suburb and primary school were named after Edward Granville Theodore, a politician, union founder, miner and businessman with publishing and mining interests. He was Premier of Queensland from 1919 to 1925, and Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer in the Scullin Federal Government. Theodore made a substantial contribution to Australia's war effort, organising and directing the Allied Works Council from 1941 to 1945.
Theodore Primary School began operating in January 1991 with staff and students located at Calwell High School and Calwell Primary School. Programs commenced on the school site on March 4, 1991, and the school was officially opened in November 1991.
Theodore has a close proximity to significant Aboriginal cultural sites. Our school emblem reflects this influence, as do the names of our units. These names were selected by the students. They are Yackatoon, Chipala, Mingari, Molonglo, Murrumbidgee and Mereki.
According to school policy, students at Theodore are usually placed in multi-age classes. Such an appproach recognizes that learning occurs along a continuum with students progressing at varying rates. This structure also provides extra flexibility to meet the learning and social needs of students.
Classroom teachers work closely together in teams to provide a balanced, well-structured educational program.
Vision Statement
The Theodore Primary School vision is "Everyone is actively engaged in quality learning"
External Validation
In 2010 Theodore Primary School under went External Validation. Please click on the link below to download a copy of the External Validation Panel Report.
Download External Validation Panel Report 2010 (word 158kb)
Hours
School Hours
School begins at 9.00am.
Recess is from 11.10am until 11.35am.
From 12.50pm until 1.00pm lunches are eaten under teacher supervision.
From 1:00 pm until 1.45pm the children play outside.
School ends at 3.00 pm.
Uniforms
The wearing of school uniform is strongly encouraged for all students at Theodore Primary School. (We urge that all items of clothing are clearly marked with the owners name).
The summer uniform consists of gold polo shirts and royal blue skirts or shorts. There is also an optional checked uniform dress. The winter uniform is a royal blue windcheater with royal blue trackpants. A variety of styles are available from Primary School Wear in Phillip.
The preferred colour for shoes is black with gold or white socks. Thongs may not be worn for safety reasons. Two styles of hat (with logo) are also available.
It is advisable not to wear jewellery to school for safety reasons. Studs are preferred for pierced ears. Make-up is also considered not acceptable at school.
Special Programs
We have a number of programs running throughout the year to expand our students knowledge.
Camps
Every year students from Years 5 & 6 have the opportunity to attend a camp for 3 days in Semester 1. Students in Years 3 & 4 also have a 2 day camp in Semester 1.
Chaplain
You may get to meet our chaplain. Her role is to offer support and help where it may be needed with students, staff or parents. The support our chaplain offers is a smile, a helping hand, being an attentive listener or just being a friend. She will help and support you to the best of her ability.
English as an Addition Language/Dialect (EALD)
Theodore has students from a variety of cultures and language backgrounds. An ESL specialist teacher is provided in the school part time to meet the English language and literacy needs of these students. Our teacher works across the school from Kindergarten to Year 6 supporting these students in developing their English language skills.
Extension
We have a number of students form Kinder to Yr 6 who are very capable. We have special programs available to extend and challenge these students. Please talk with your childs teacher if you would like to know more.
Garden
At Theodore we like to get down to nature and this we can do in our garden. Each class has an opportunity to work in the vegetable patch where they learn how to plant vegetables. They also learn the process of taking care of seedlings so they can grow and produce the food we can eat. They enjoy taking care of our chickens and can see first hand a freshly laid egg.
Indigenous Support
As Theodore has a number of Aboriginal students, the department provides staffing for a teacher part time to support students in their learning.
IT/Computers
We believe in keeping up with the latest in IT teaching and every classroom has an Interactive Smart Board for teachers to use with their students. Every unit has laptop computers that can be used when it suits the learning task.
Kitchen
The kitchen unit includes a modern and beautifully designed kitchen. Students have lessons in cooking different types of foods and the importance of hygiene in a kitchen to produce quality food. They learn how to follow a recipe and about measuring and using different utensils. Then, they taste the food they have made.
Life Skills
This is a small group of students who are learning to meet the basic needs of life. These students are taken by our special education teacher who shows them how to enjoy learning about food, where it comes from and how to make it. Students go on excursions to places of interest and participate in learning activities.
Library
Every student will have a library lesson once a week. They learn how the library operates and have access to some wonderful resources. Students are issued with a library code to borrow books. Reading is a very important part of a students learning and we take extra interest in always keeping our library up to date with the latest novels or books of different interests to capture every students excitement for reading.
Items borrowed from the collection should be returned or renewed after two weeks. A library bag is encouraged in order to protect books. Kindergarten, Year One and Year Two students are able to borrow two items at a time. Years Three to Six students may borrow four items at a time.
Band - Theodore students in Years 5 and 6 have the opportunity of joining our woodwind bands. These bands joins with Calwell Primary brass band. Students have opportunities to perform both at school and in the community. At the end of Year 6 the students participate in a Bandstravaganza at Llewellyn Hall.
Guitars & Drums - The school has a class set of guitars and drums that are available for interested students and teachers.
Physical Education
Students from Yrs K-6 are actively involved in Physical Education. K-3 students have a lesson each week with a specialist PE teacher. All students join in the Athletics Carnival, Swimming Carnival and Cross Country. They also have the opportunity to represent the school in Rugby Union, Soccer and Hockey.
School Counsellor
At Theodore we have a part-time school counsellor. The counsellor is available for consultation by parents, teachers and children on any matter affecting the child's school progress or social development. Parents and teachers usually contact the counsellor but older children may ask for assistance on their own.
The counsellor investigates issues and attempts to resolve them in the school by meeting with students or working with teachers. Sometimes the issues need to be referred to outside agencies. All counsellors have qualifications in educational psychology.
Please contact the front office if you would like an appointment to talk to the Counsellor.
Science
Science is taught to students from Kindergarten to Yr 6 once a week, involving teaching science concepts and hands on activities.
Spanish
Students have one lesson per week by a specialist teacher.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
All students have the opportunity to be elected for the SRC. Our SRC meets weekly and the elected students have the opportunity to represent their class. The committee is run by two teachers from Theodore. Elections for SRC are every semester.
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Pre-School / Primary School / High School Liaison
Close liaison has been established with both Theodore Pre-School and Calwell High to facilitate the smooth transition of children through the different school sectors. Teachers and children visit and attend functions in all three schools. Preschoolers use the primary school facilities and pre-school facilities are utilised by the primary school for a variety of purposes. High school students regularly visit the primary school for work experience or planned activities. Liaison and information evenings for parents in readiness for the transition to Kindergarten or Year 7 are held in each school.
