Jingili Primary School

Jingili Primary School is located in the Darwin suburb of Jingili and prides itself in "Putting the Child First". The School has an attractive, safe and welcoming school yard and consists of two adjacent campuses comprising a combined child care facility (Jingili Kindergarten) and pre-school on one site with the primary campus nearby. A variety of cultural backgrounds are represented in the student population. The school offers student centred learning programs that are engaging and rigorous. A school wide guided reading program runs on a daily basis. Physical Education is conducted with a specialist program for all classes. Through the learning support centre the special education teacher and special education assistant support students at risk or with special needs. An Aboriginal and Islander Education Worker (AIEW) plays an important role in working with our Indigenous students and their families. Many other opportunities are available for students with instrumental music, choir, performing arts and wellbeing programs. Jingili was recognised in 2008 with a Teaching in the Territory Excellence Award for its Children Almost Ready to Enter School (CARES) program. This program pairs up older students with pre-school children and makes the transition to"big" school an enjoyable and exciting experience. A strong sense of community is part of Jingili school ethos and throughout the year we offer many opportunities for parent and community involvement. Parents are welcomed into classrooms, breakfast is served at Cafe Jingili every fortnight before assembly, an International Markets evening is held in first term and we have a Twilight Sports Carnival in second term. Jingili is also a partner school in the Charles Darwin University Teaching School Program.

History

Jingili Primary School was officially opened in 1971 with approximately 400 students and during this time was one of the larger urban primary schools in the Northern Suburbs of Darwin, particularly in the period after Cyclone Tracy when there was need for additional demountable classrooms. The school building is indicative of the period when it was built with 14 small 'traditional' classroom spaces with 4 withdrawal Rooms but without wet areas, storerooms or office areas for teachers. There were additional wet areas built for the Early Childhood classes however these are open to the elements and are very hot as the roofing is a heavy duty plastic. In 1994 the NT Music School was located within the Jingili primary building but they then moved to Nightcliff High School in 2004.

As families of the suburb have aged the student numbers over the last ten years have decreased. However it appears to be going through a revitalisation stage with older residents leaving and younger families moving into the area. Also some of the houses have been purchased by mining companies for rental which is seeing younger families moving in to the area.

In 2000 the child care building was completed and Marrara Family Centre moved in. From 2004 with the unanimous vote at a Special General Meeting Jingili School Community Council Incorporated came into being with an itegrated service consisting of the Primary School and Kindergarten. The precinct referred to as the Kindergarten includes the 52 full time equivalent place Child Care Centre and the Preschool. The Child Care and Pre-school share a number of facilities and the buildings co-exist on the same area of land at the corner of Snowden Street and Jingili Terrace.