History
Below we have provided a short history of the major moments and stages that have brought us to where we are today. There has been a lot of hard work by so many parents, family, friends and volunteers as well as generous contributions from individuals and businesses. Financial support has also been received from Commonwealth, State and Local Government through grants. Our thanks goes to them all.
The journey has and continues to be a huge undertaking that required becoming familiar with shire requirements, planning applications, neighbourhood approvals, Office of Non-Government Education processes, grant applications, building construction, landscaping and renovations. There have been many high and low points, but these images and words are provided to celebrate our successes and achievements. By keeping a positive mind helps us to not only appreciate but continue to find ways to improve the environment we have worked so hard to produce for our children.
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- From the outset it was about the children having fun while being creative.
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- Playgroup started in 2002. Once approval had been granted, our first school opened in February 2003. It was a normal house filled with lots of different work areas.
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- The backyard was in constant use.
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- The first school site was only ever a temporary measure and we quickly outgrew it so plans were underway for a bigger school site.
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- But while the new place was being built we carried on as normal.
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- In 2006 new site the building arrived. Being a transportable from Manjimup it had to be cut into 8 sections and transported by trucks to Boyanup.
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- The building was completely fitted out by the school community, using trades people when it was required.
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- As well as kitting out the inside the outside needed to have steps fitted and a new paint job, with verandas, guttering and rainwater tank being added soon after.
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- The outside work involved lots of other jobs like paving, laying turf and setting up play areas.
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- Three weeks after the building arrived the mammoth effort paid off and and the new school was ready for us to move in for Term 1 of 2006.
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- We were very grateful for the extra space, simple things like the veranda to allow parents to meet up made life easier.
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- Having direct access to the lake also provided a wonderful learning environment and place to work off energy.
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- The school continued to thrive and with growing numbers the building felt small, until in 2008 the next building arrived.
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- At the same time the old building got a face lift with a new roof.
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- With the new building we set about to make a new entrance to the school with landscaping and paved areas.
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- For Christmas 2009 we built a “Wonder Wall”, a quiet spot for personal contemplation.
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- Some children who started when Child Side school opened in 2002 reached high school age, and joined the Family Learning Association.
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- During 2010 the school continued to improve the facilities, with a third school building, undercover area (HUB) and extended parking.
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- The the HUB has helped broaden the schools external community network, as other community groups are able to access the facility.
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- With all the new building work the school has also established a more reliable supply of water with both rainwater tanks and a groundwater bore.
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- 2011 saw a hive of landscaping activity round the new buildings, including a new fruit garden
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- The school also completed a number of projects to make it more sustainable, including rainwater tanks and wicking garden beds to improve water efficiency and solar panels to generate electricity.
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- The school oval took a huge leap forward with the delivery of truck loads of sand and sprinkler system.
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- 2012 was the tenth year of children, educators and parents walking the Child Side way. As part of the celebrations a special enterprise evening was held that included a Chinese dragon dance, Double Dutch skipping exhibition and fire twirling!
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- The school’s relationship with Manea Senior College has been considerably strengthened with children from the Family Learning Association making regular trips to make use of their facilities and to orientate themselves for year 11 and 12 studies.
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- Nicholas Lawler and Jaiden Lanigan started at Child Side ten years ago and are the first children to graduate, and will next year be attending Manea Senior College to further their studies.
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- During 2013 the children investigated and designed five new interpretive signs for the Preston River Ramble in Boyanup, as part of a Shire of Capel project.
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- This was the first year the older children at Child Side entered the Dairy Industries Cows Create Careers program. They did extremely well and were the winning team for the farm module.
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- The hard fund raising efforts of the Parent and Friend group helped in paying for the reticulation system, ending the time consuming manual task of watering the oval with a mobile sprinkler.
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- Child Side school joined the growing community of Choose Respect, with which it shares common ideals that are actively encouraged and practiced as part of our daily routine.
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- Our community has grown but still has a strong focus on making life and learning personal and meaningful.
