By Cam Lucadou-Wells
At the end of a gravel track, Casey’s newest school, Harkaway Hills College, couldn’t have a humbler setting.
Its 13 Prep students share a few demountables and a playground at the school, nestled in a vast paddock in Narre Warren North’s quiet hamlet.
Principal Frank Monagle said there’s a strong PARED (Parents for Education) philosophy at the independent school which states that parents are the “primary educators” of their children.
“We encourage them to be pro-active parents at home and to be available.
“For people working long hours, we’d encourage them to stay in touch with their children, as they can change and grow very quickly.”
Home and school life are integrated under the school’s model.
Teachers own the academic side of things but each term parents are involved in talks about their students’ overall development with a staff member.
Parents are invited to hang around the school for a cup of coffee in the campus’s parents’ room.
“We’re looking for that holistic approach,” Mr Monagle said.
“We try to get a community of families.”
Its website features parenting tips such as creating an “intense family life” and raising children to solve their own problems.
It suggests sharing projects and interests for the family, sharing life’s highs and lows, sharing the housework and doing good deeds together for neighbours.
Mr Monagle said the school has a “Catholic spirit” but is open to all faiths.
This term, the students moved into the site from temporary digs in Belgrave.
It is run by the PARED Foundation, which has four schools in Sydney; this is the first in Victoria.
The campus was officially opened by Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan on 5 November.
