By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A PAKENHAM primary school is in the running for the 2015 Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Pakenham Consolidated School Sensory Activity Program has been acknowledged as one of the top programs across the state, encouraging children to learn outside of the box.
The sensory room provides a calm and creative space for students experiencing anxiety or behavioural difficulties.
It delivers one-hour small group activities including cooking and craft lessons to enhance students’ physical, emotional and social skills.
The elective program put on by the school’s Education Support Team is one of three innovative programs that have been nominated as a 2015 Outstanding Education Support Team Award Finalist.
Minister for Education James Merlino congratulated finalists nominated for the renowned state awards for outstanding teachers, support staff and programs.
“I congratulate all 30 finalists for the magnificent work they are doing to prepare our kids for work and life,” he said.
“Our teachers, principals and other education professionals are crucial to making Victoria the Education State.”
Individual category winners will receive up to $20,000 for professional development, while team-based award winners will receive up to $25,000.
Each category winner will go into running for the top gong – the Lindsay Thompson Award for Excellence in Education, which comes with a further $20,000.
The award winners will be announced on World Teachers’ Day on Friday 30 October.
