Hi everyone

I hope this isn't going to be too long winded. I'm looking for as much information as possible on schools in Wanniassa. Basically......

1. Which of the public primary schools (Wanniassa Hills or Wanniassa on Sternberg) is better? Or are they pretty much similar? We live closer to the one on Sternberg but I assume we may be a chance of enrolling our DS and DD in the Wanniassa Hills one if we applied. Maybe?

2. St Anthony's. I like the look of this one but our kids have not been baptised Catholic. They were given a simple blessing at the Uniting Church. I know they will take some non-Catholics, but do you think a non-Catholic child would feel left out in a school comprised predominently of Catholic kids?

3. Trinity Christian. Does anyone have any info on this ome? Is it Anglican? Do they have restrictions on enrolments similar to St Anthony's? Is it very expensive or similar to St Anthony's?

4. Wanniassa High. I have heard BAD reviews about this. This is why I am asking all these questions/ Having gone to a Public school myself (NSW), I have no problem with them as such. But' I've heard bad things about Wanniassa High. Does anyone have any opinions they wish to share? Because of the comments I've heard about Wanniassa High, I'm thinking we may need to send the kids to a private school to avoid Wanniasssa High?

This leads me to my final question. If a child goes to a public primary school, what are their chances of getting into a private HS later? That is will they need to have gone to St Anthony's or another Catholic school to get into Mckillop? Will they need to start at Trinity from kindie??

As I said a long winded post. Hope some of you can help. I can't believe how difficult a decision this is?

take care
Ann

I went to Wanniassa primary and I will stick needles in my eyes before sending any future child of mine to that school... Of course that was 15 years ago but that is beside the point.

Wanniassa hills had a better rep back then but I can't say much for now.

Not sure in the private schools.

Wanniassa high was one of the worst schools in Canberra back then though lately I have heard that it has cleaned up it's act a bit. Not sure how true that is of course...

Probably not much help to you but it is a start

Nut
m/c jan 05 @14w
m/c Oct 05 @5w
4 x clomid
Puregon #1 - 2WW
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v287/pautiric/2.jpg">

Hi Ann,

My info is mostly based on my school days too, so most likely quite out of date.

I went to both Wanniassa Primary and Wanniassa High. I love Wanniassa Primary and had some great teachers in my time there (some of which were sitll there last I heard). Wanniassa High was ok, but not great. I was the type of kid who naturally stayed out of trouble, so I didn't mind it too much. But for kids who were more easily swayed I think it was more of a problem.

More recently I know parents who have been very happy with Trinity. It used to be quite a small school, and I gather it was difficult to get into. But they have expanded lots recently, so it might be easier these days?

Nut - I didn't know you went to Wanniassa. When were you there? I'll send you a PM.

I can only really base my opinions on my experience with Wanniassa Schools.

I am 25, when I was at Wanniassa High in Yr 7 the Yr 10's were a real rough lot! Once they left the school in general really lifted. There was (maybe still is) a reach program for the acedemically gifted, and in my final year there was a talented sports program, (however I am not sure how talented it really it was). My year and the few below never had any real problems (drugs, (apart from the occasional high school experiement) underage sex).

BUT, once I left and my sister reports that girls in years below her were getting themselves pg, smoking pot and wagging school very frequently. Which shocked me I must admit, 'cause in High School we still were playing tips, bull rush, whatever it took to even get some male attention.

I am of the view though that these things work in cycles, while I was there Calwell was the bad tug school and now that is apparently quite good and yes Wanniassa not the best.

My TaeKwon-Do instructor is a teacher at Monash, he praises the school, the staffing and the student behaviour. I went there, my sisters went there and one of my sisters is still there. Monash in terms of Primary would definately be my choice if choosing public.

Hi there
I have heard that wanniassa primary is a good school and the high school is getting better.
I think you sure talk to the schools and check out the education dep for the school and what you can offer your chn.
I will be sending my girls to wanniassa when they are od enough
rosie

Rosie
Dh Robbie
Krystal
Storm <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10714;34/st/20040514/n/Krystal+and+Storm/dt/14/k/1a3c/age.png"></a>

Hi there
I have heard that wanniassa primary is a good school and the high school is getting better.
I think you sure talk to the schools and check out the education dep for the school and what you can offer your chn.
I will be sending my girls to wanniassa when they are od enough
rosie

Rosie
Dh Robbie
Krystal
Storm <a href="http://www.TickerFactory.com/">
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10714;34/st/20040514/n/Krystal+and+Storm/dt/14/k/1a3c/age.png"></a>

HI im sure times have changed, but i went to boht wanniassa and W hills. I would def go Waniassa Hills. My sisters went to trinity, and loved it. My cousins kids go there now too. You dont have to be any particular denomination to go.


The rep of WAnniassa high, i lived in canberra recently, so not sure what is like now.


Chris
DH
DSD 15
DSD 13
FREDDO EDD 07/01/06

<a href='http://www.baby-gaga.com/'><img src='http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/fly006bs___.png' alt='babies' border=0></a>

Please don't judge a school by what it was like 15 years ago. The way we teach and even what we teach is completely different and as a teacher it really annoys me when people continue to judge a school based on a reputation from even 5 years ago.
I can't tell you much about the non public schools, but I wouldn't hesitate to send my chid to either Waniassa or Waniassa Hills. In fact, at this stage, Luke is most likely to go to Waniassa for a variety of reasons. From within the ACT education system, I haven't heard any negatives about Waniassa High. In fact, just the opposite. How recent are the stories you are hearing? Again, is it from people who attended the school previously and have no real knowledge of it now, or is it people who currently have children there and would therefore be in a position to give you an accurate picture? How old is/ are the child/ children you plan to send to the school? If you are enrolling them in Kindergarten, there is 7 years until they attend the high school and once again, a lot can change. It's impossible to make a judgement about a high school when you child is in kinder. For what it's worth, from inside the system from other teachers and parents I know, I've heard a lot more negative things about McKillop than I have about Waniassa. The best advice I can give is to visit each school and see how you feel about them. Ask them all the questions you have, including and issues from negative feedback you have heard. Ask at the non public schools what the current process is for enrollment is for high school from a government school, but be aware it may change by the time your child reaches HS age.Feel free to PM me if you would like more specific information.

Kylie Purdie<BR>

<a href="http://www.tickercentral.com"><img border="0" src="http://www.tickercentral.com/view/2o31/2"></a>

<a href="http://www.tickercentral.com"><img border="0" src="http://www.tickercentral.com/view/2o31/3"></a>

My son is at Wanniassa and has been since pre school. We think it is a great school with lots of dedicated teachers.
I have taught at Wanniassa Hills and it is also a great school.
Between the 2 public schools, I think it might come down to just a difference in behaviour management approaches etc (and maybe which is closer to walk! lol). If you're interested, I'm sure talking to the principal or getting an info pack would help you decide.
As for Wanniassa High, I think you'll find most high schools have had a bad reputation for a while, but there are always lots of great teachers and kids there too.
I think the thing to do is go and see the school, talk to people there and see how it makes you feel.
Good luck!
Mel