Community & Business
24 September, 2024
Celebrating 50 Years of Early Years Education At Allora
On Wednesday 11 September former and current staff, students and community members celebrated 50 years of Early Childhood Education at Allora P-10 State School.
In 1974, long serving teacher-in-charge, Mrs Joyce Gibson oversaw the establishment of the Preschool centre, one of the first to open in Queensland.
Preschool education was a new concept not only for Allora but for all of Queensland. The first class was accepted on 9 September 1974.
Some of that cohort were present at the celebration including Frank Strachotta, Carol Halton (nee Fredericks), Paul and Tanya Gordon (nee Sparksman) and Garry Shooter. The inaugural class of 1974 included grandparents and relatives of current students and staff.
When the Preschool first opened, it was separated from the rest of the school by a white picket fence and operated independently as a stand-alone unit.
It was mostly play based education because play was recognised and valued as a means by which young children learn about themselves and the world.
It was never intended to be preparation for school. Nowadays, the fences have been removed, and Preschool has evolved into Prep.
There is now a rigorous academic program to prepare students for the next phase of learning across 8 learning areas as students move into Year 1 and then Year 2 as a part of our Early Childhood Education. Year 3 is no longer a part of the Early Years program.
We acknowledge many teachers and teacher aides that have contributed to our very successful Early Childhood Education at Allora P-10-State School across P – 3 over the past 50 years and know that this success will continue well into the future.
(Excerpt from Linda Sharman-Bowman welcome speech last Wednesday.)
