Falls Creek Primary School is a remote, rural school in a unique alpine environment. Situated 30 kilometres from Mt Beauty in the Victorian High Country, the school services the small but fluctuating cosmopolitan population of the Falls Creek alpine resort. The school operates year round and student numbers vary seasonally from an initial enrolment of around 10 to 20 at the beginning of the school year to 40 in the winter term.
The school was established in 1972 and largely owes its existence to the dedication and support of the Falls Creek community. This sense of community remains strong today as evidenced by the assistance and involvement of the parent body in school activities. The current building was constructed in 1985 with additional classroom space being added with Building the Education Revolution funding in 2012. It provides a modern, comfortable learning environment. The well heated classrooms can easily be converted to a multi-purpose area, as dictated by the needs of the school or those of the wider community.
The outdoor facilities are small, but adequate for the summer population with artificial turf, a basketball ring, and a sand pit and seating under shade sails.
The purpose of the Falls Creek Primary School is to provide a range of challenging, integrated and motivating learning experiences for the students in all strands of the curriculum. The aim is to develop high standards, foster self esteem, maximise each child’s potential and prepare them for further education. This is done in a positive, caring environment with teachers, parents and students working together in partnership.
Principal
James Eggleston
Business Manager
Joy Jones
Administation Assistant
Renja Moegel
Classroom Teachers
James Eggleston – Teacher
Maddison Liston – Teacher
Joel Armitage – Wellbeing
Melanie Hall – Assessment and Reporting
Lauren McKechnie – Education Support
Maddie Ovens – Snowsports Coordinator (Term 3)
MARC (library) Teacher
Amy Musgrove
Additional teachers are employed during the winter snow season
The school council is the official management body of the school, with responsibility for finance, facilities, ancillary staffing and educational policy. It has the power to set the key directions for the school and directly influences the quality of education that the school provides its students. The Falls Creek Primary School Council comprises five parent members and the Principal as an ex-officio member.
Two school council meetings are held each term. They are open meetings and interested parents are welcome to attend. The school community is notified of meeting dates in the school newsletter.
School councillors are elected for two year terms. School council elections are held in March each year. The details are advised in the school newsletter and all parents are invited to nominate. More information on school councils can be found here.
All school families and those interested in enrolment at the school are encouraged to read the Parent Information Book.
We encourage anyone interested in the school to download The Annual Report to the School Community, which shares the school’s achievement and Progress.
Term 1: Wednesday 28 January to Thursday 2 April
Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June
Term 3: Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September
Term 4: Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December
Term 1: Thursday 28 January to Thursday 25 March
Term 2: Monday 12 April to Friday 25 June
Term 3: Monday 12 July to Friday 17 September
Term 4: Monday 4 October to Friday 17 December
Falls Creek Primary School’s grounds are supervised by school staff from 8.45am until 3.15pm. Outside of these hours, school staff will not be available to supervise students.
Terms 1, 2 and 4
9:00am – School commences/ Ready to learn
9:10am – Literacy
11:00am – Morning recess
11:30am – Numeracy
12:30 – PE
1:00pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Specialist Subjects
3:00pm – End of school
Terms 3
9:00am – School commences, morning session
11:00am – Morning recess
11:30am – Middle session
12:30pm – Lunch
1:00pm – Afternoon Session
3:00pm – End of school
Falls Creek Primary School has a range of policies that are informed by the guidelines and information in the Department of Education Policy and Advisory Library.
These policies are approved by the School Council where required and can be downloaded using the links below.
The Department has developed a Schools’ Privacy Policy and related documents for all Victorian schools to implement.
Racism is not tolerated in Falls Creek Primary School
Falls Creek Primary School is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where racism is not tolerated. Racism harms students’ mental health, learning and sense of belonging. We celebrate the diversity of cultures, ethnicities and faiths of all our students. It is up to all of us at Falls Creek Primary School to make our school a place that is free of racism and where everyone feels respected and can learn in a safe and inclusive environment.
What Falls Creek Primary School is doing to prevent racism
Falls Creek Primary School follows the Department of Education’s Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools Policy. We are building a culturally safe school with inclusive learning for everyone by working with staff, students, families, carers and communities. We will:
What to do if your child experiences or witnesses racism at school
If your child experiences or witnesses racism or religious discrimination at school, please let us know. You can tell your child’s teacher or any of the school staff members.
Report Racism hotline
If you don’t feel comfortable reporting racism to school, or you are not happy with the school’s response, you can report racism to:
For additional support following an incident of racism:
For more information about how to report racism to the school, and to get information in community languages, visit this website: Report racism or religious discrimination in schools.
If you need an interpreter to call the school, please use the details available at: Guide for Families: How to use an interpreter to contact your school.
How Falls Creek Primary School will respond to racism
When you report a racist incident, Falls Creek Primary School will:
School preparations for the bushfire season
Each year, we undertake a range of activities to ensure the safety of our school and to prepare for bushfires and grassfires.
An important part of this process is communicating to parents what will happen when certain fire danger ratings are issued to help ensure the safety of students and staff.
Our school has been identified as being at risk of bushfire or grassfire and is a Category 3 school.
Our school will close on a day forecasted as Catastrophic fire danger rating in North East fire district.
Closure of the school due to a Catastrophic fire danger rating will be enacted when the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and related public safety messaging are confirmed. Due to uncertainties in the forecast, the timing of this confirmation may vary. Information regarding potential or confirmed Catastrophic fire danger days will be communicated to you by Compass.
It is also important to be aware that:
As part of preparing our school for the fire season, we have updated and completed our Emergency Management Plan and prioritised maintenance works that may assist in preparing for the threat of fire and cleared our facility’s grounds and gutters.
What can families and the school community do to help us prepare?
Families are encouraged to action their Bushfire Survival Plan on Catastrophic fire danger rating days in their district. The safest option is to leave the night before or early on the morning of the Catastrophic day. On such days, children should never be left at home alone or in the care of older children.
You can find more information on emergencies, warnings and preparedness actions here:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the department’s policy?
The Department of Education annually assesses the fire risk of all schools and early childhood services with the support of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). They are allocated a category of risk (categories 0 to 6). Schools and services that are Categories 0-3 are published on the Bushfire At-Risk Register (BARR). Schools at some risk of bushfire and grassfire are published on the Category 4 List.
The department’s Bushfire and Grassfire Preparedness Policy requires all schools and early childhood services on the BARR and the Category 4 List to close when a Catastrophic fire danger rating day is forecast in their fire weather district. All school bus routes which travel in or through a district with Catastrophic fire danger must also be cancelled.
The policy also requires that schools at the highest risk of bushfire (those in Categories 0, 1 and 2 of the Bushfire At-Risk Register) enact pre-emptive action plans based on the fire danger forecast for their Local Government Area (LGA).
Who issues fire danger forecasts?
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) provides public fire danger rating forecasts each day of the fire danger period using fire weather district areas. In Victoria, there are 9 fire weather districts, which are based on Local Government Area boundaries.
The department uses these forecasts when supporting schools to enact their pre-emptive bushfire actions plans.