Loch Sport Primary School

-A Short History-

Many Years have passed since three mothers took turns to transport up to eleven children in their station wagons to the Golden Beach turnoff to pick up the school bus.
After much negation a bus was organised to take the children from Loch Sport to Longford Primary School or into the schools in Sale. As the bus left Loch Sport at 7.15am and didn't return until 5pm many of the young children became very tired. Parents tried to get a separate bus for the Primary School children, staging a protest outside Longford Primary School and writing letters to local Members of Parliament.
Finally, instead of a separate bus, Loch Sport was to get a school of its own.

The school arrived on the back of trucks in January 1985. It was a module 5 which consisted of two classrooms with an office/staffroom between. Portable toilets were also supplied. School began on February 6 with two teachers and 23 children.

During the first year the children took part in many activities including a swimming program. Rural School Athletic Sports, a visit by Longford Primary School, Victorian 150th celebrations, skip-a-thon, Rural School camp, Soap Box Derby Race, Royal Visit and a Junior State Emergency Service Program.

The school was official opened on the 19th April by Dr Norman Curry. Since then the school has grown and developed. A second building was added during 1987 and was replaced in 1989. The library/multi purpose room, a section of the old Rosedale School arrived during 1991. It was refurbished, painted and carpeted by parents and members of the community. A bike track was built to provide a focus for Bike Education and received a Tattersalls Award during a ceremony attended by Olympic and Commonwealth Games cyclist Kathy Watt. During 1994 Operation Green Thumb began and a "Secret Garden" was developed. The school won the Gippsland Garden Award for schools under 80 students.

Loch Sport Primary school became a School of the Future during 1995. The school charter, which provides a detailed description of the school profile, goals, priorities, curriculum, codes of practice and conduct and accountability, was presented to the School Community and school councillors in its development.

Loch Sport Primary School has changed from an empty patch of black sand, bracken fern and banksia trees to the attractive and well established campus it is now. Loch Sport Primary School looks to its future with the hope and determination that has shaped its past.

Taken from 10th Anniversary Celebrations booklet

The playground area

The main building