|
Sunday School |
|
Our Aim The Sinhala Language School helps our children become aware of our language, also to become in touch with our Sri Lankan culture, arts and our heritage. This would allow the continuation of our culture with traditions still intact even though there are many miles separating our homeland, Sri Lanka, and our home today, Australia.
The Sinhala Language School teaches the Sinhala language and ethics from a Preparatory to the Secondary level, with a high standard and allowing for the opportunity for VCE exams.
We are not only teaching the language skills to our children, but also encouraging them to adapt to the Australian Society with values such as respect, tolerance, peace and love with self-confidence.
School Profile St. Albans Sinhala Language School was established in February 1st 1998, with only nineteen children and four teachers that had recently migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka. Our motherland, Sri Lanka, has a very diverse culture and has a history that is more than 2500 years.
The Sinhalese people who have just recently migrated (1990’s) have given their heritage, culture values and traditions to their children, however it is not an easy task while our children are continually in contact with the Australian culture. Therefore a few people formed an association, which is now known as the Western Victoria Sri Lankan Buddhist Association. Along with the association, the Sinhala Language School was formed and held at Grantham Green Community Centre in 1998. |
|
School Enrolment Click to download the Enrolment Form
Special Talents Coming soon
School Events The school organises monthly and annual concerts to demonstrate native talents of children attending Sunday School. This incorporates music and drama highlighting Sri Lankan culture, heritage and values.
|
|
The formation of this Sinhala Language School was the most effective way to teach our children Sinhala Language, as well as our culture values and traditions, fore our children will be the Sri Lankan Australians of the future. These young people will have to adapt to the Australian society with dignity, confidence and discipline. We aim to show our children that it is also important to show respect for others’ belief and other ethnic cultures when living in such a multicultural society.
By the end of 2000, the number of children enrolled increased so greatly, that we moved the Sinhala Language School to the Errington Community Centre. Therefore we increased the number of classes and the structured the classes due to the increase. However, because of the insufficient room for all the students as the community centre, again we moved to the Brimbank College. Now, we conduct classes from Prep to year Seven. We teach the Sinhala Language, which is writing and language skills, as well as the culture, and history of our motherland.
As part of our Sinhala Language School, annually we organise a concert, where the children get a chance to show their hidden talents, which relate to our culture and the arts. This allows an opportunity for the parents to reflect on what our children have been learning throughout the school year.
This school is supported and run by all volunteer teachers and managed by the Western Victoria Sri Lankan Buddhist Association. They dedicate their time and knowledge for a valuable cause with a kind heart.
With greater success of the school, it provides education to students throughout western suburb.
Venue: Taylors Lakes Secondary College 39 Parmelia Drive, Taylors Lakes (Enter via Chichester Drive)
Time / Date: 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm Sundays of the Victorian Government School terms. School Time table:
2.30 pm – 2.40 pm School Assembly. Traditional Greeting. The Principal or School Coordinator addresses the students, teachers and parents about important issues.
2.40 pm – 4.00 pm 1st Period 4.00 pm – 4.15 pm Interval 4.15 pm – 5.25 pm 2nd Period 5.25 pm – 5.30 pm Assembly Sing School song and Sri Lankan National Anthem. School closer
Enrolment age: 4 Years completed by June 30th
School fees: $ 15.00 per family for a term Regardless of the number of children in a family.
Enrolment: All students who wish to enrol must forward an Application of the Sinhala Language School. In addition, those who attend a mainstream school must provide an application that is issued from the Department of Education and Training.
#Note: No enrolment fee applies
School Curriculum
The School’s curriculum is structured accordingly to the Curriculum and Standards Framework to develop skills in teaching the Sinhala Language, in areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, we aim to teach the Sri Lankan culture, arts and heritage.
With the celebration of the Sinhala New Year, National day and National Hero’s day, students will be exposed to our diverse culture more effectively.
All students must participate in the end of year Concert, which is held annually. This even encourages students not only to participate in the school concerts, but also to direct them to participate actively in out of school programmes, like the Brimbank Multicultural Festival and the Commonwealth Games celebrations Festival. Therefore this allows our children to gain an understanding of other cultures and to move around within our multicultural community.
Out of School Programmes:
The School must obtain permission from parents before having the students engage in any kind of out of school activities or student appearances in any kind of media-related programmes.
Out of school activities may include:
Performing or participation at the Brimbank Multicultural Festival Participating in cultural programmes Participating in community television and radio programmes Excursions |
|
Melbourne, Australia |
