Education Week celebrates the strengths and achievements of Victoria's government education sector, and this year's theme is ‘150 Years of Public Education’.
Cowes Primary School has been the heartbeat of education on Phillip Island for 147 years which is amazing given some schools have opened their doors for the first time this year.
On Monday, students enjoyed a special assembly that explored the rich history of Cowes Primary School. The assembly included a Q&A panel with host by teacher Clint Wilson where past students Laurie Dixon (Ventnor), Margaret Spottiswood, Tori Cleeland, and longest serving staff member Chris Wickes shared insights from past years.
Cowes State School (1282) opened on February 10, 1874.
There were 49 students in the school's first year and it had declined to 39 by 1875 and then 18 by 1890.
There were also schools in Rhyll (closed 1952) and Ventnor (unstaffed 1964).
In 1952, a new site, the school’s current location, was purchased with the plan of consolidating schools on Phillip Island into one, but this was against the wishes of many in the community. Only two rooms and an office were initially built at the Settlement Road site. Students were split across four rooms, two at Thompson Avenue and two at Settlement Road.
In 1971, there were 150 students.
In 2017, enrolment peaked at 581.
Many students have attended Cowes Primary School since it began, and many families have a long-standing association with the school.
Current families who have a long association with Cowes Primary School include the Neely, Jeffery, Rocotas, Spottiswood and McFee families.
Emily McFee (Grade 2), her father David McFee and grandfather Ian McFee all attended Cowes Primary School. Ian commenced halfway through prep, around 1953, at the old Shire offices and later moved over to the Settlement Road site where he continued to Year 6. Ian remembers planting some of the gumtrees at the front of the school along Settlement Road.
Andy McFee (David's brother) also attended Cowes Primary School as did his wife Skye McFee. Their daughter Matilda McFee is currently in prep at Cowes Primary School.
Many families have enjoyed a long association with the school and so has one longstanding staff member. Ms Chris Wickes, the school’s longest serving staff member, commenced in 1978 making this her 45th year at CPS!
The school currently employs nine former students who are all committed to developing future generations of Cowes Primary School students.
Cowes Primary School has a long and proud history of providing quality education for children on Phillip Island for 147 years.
On June 9, the school is holding an open morning information session at 9.30am and invites all present, prospective, and interested families who have a child starting in prep to come along and learn more about the school.