Abbotsford Public School, located on a peninsula on the Parramatta River, is situated in spacious, grassy grounds with extensive tree cover. A strong sense of community arises from the fact that many current parents and grandparents attended the school.
Families are drawn from a diverse community with an increasing cultural mix. A Council operated Long Day Care Centre and parent-operated Before and After School Care are available on site.
Music and Technology Programs feature prominently. Training and Performing Bands, Junior and Senior Rock Bands, Choirs, Recorder and a K-6 Music Program are core components. Quality Technology Programs linked to curriculum outcomes feature across the school and are characterised by higher order technology uses.
An Italian Language Program operates K-6. A variety of programs operate annually including: Tri skills Gymnsatics, Tennis (K-2), Peer support, Foster Buddies, Interschool Sport and a Special Swimming Scheme.
Debating, Chess, public Speaking, Web Design and Dance provide engaging extra-curricular activities.
The Henry Lawson Community Hall was completed in 2002 and is a major enhancement to the school's learning environment.
Abbotsford Public School strives to provide a rich learning environment for all students to develop as lifelong learners in a climate where students are safe, happy and successful.
We stayed with a family member whilst out in Australia in a place called 'Breakfast point' which isnt far from the center of Sydney. If you have family in Australia it would be best to try and stay with them, hotels around the city centre will be expensive.
If you want to stay further out there are plenty of backpackers places and they are all relevantly cheap.
We visited the blue mountain area of Katoomba and stayed in a backpackers place for the night called,' the flying fox'. It cost about $30 each for the night and this included breakfast. Its close to the train station and close by to shops and resturants and a few bars and a nightclub.
http://www.theflyingfox.com.au/
Breakfast Point The Flying Fox
We booked our flights through STA travel, they have good deals for students on flights as your flights out to Australia arent cheap, we managed to get ours for £745 return. However we ended up flying with 'Air China' which wasnt the nicest airline to fly with. If you dont mind cheap and cheerful then go with a company like this. If you can afford to pay abit extra i would recommend it as it is a veryyyyy long flight to be uncomfortable.
When in Australia we travelled mainly by Ferry, You can buy an all day ticket for $20 and can use bus and train with this aswell which is really good and this can be used as much as you want throughout the day.
Taxi's can be expensive, they are all on meters and they wont do set prices to destinations.
Bars and clubs are veryyy expensive around the waterfront so its best to try bars more in the centre. You will need your i.d. everywhere you go.
Also alot of restuarants are b.y.o wine etc.
The beach is also a great place to go, we loved Manly beach, there were loads of bars, resturants and shops close by. Bondi beach is a great place to go but is really busy if the weathers good.
Things to do, things not to do
The blue moutains are a beautiful place to visit, there are some amazing views and walks to go on. Also there is the steapest railway in the world there which is worth going on.
We also visited alot of wildlife parks and aquariums. We managed to get a deal on tickets, $50 for tickets to the Sydney wildlife, aquarium, Manly ocean world and the Sydney sky tower.
Tickets seperatly cost around $25 each.
The sky tower was really good, the restuarant there is also pretty amazing. It has a revolving floor so you get to see a whole 360 degree view of sydney from your seat. Here they usually have an all you can eat buffet during lunch for $35. You can also upgrade your ticket when you get there to be able to do the sydney sky tower walk for $40 you get to walk outside the sky tower and step out onto the platform for some amazing photos.
We also visited Taronga zoo, which was one of the best zoo's we had been to. You get the ferry to the zoo from circular quay where you get great views of the harbour bridge and the opera house on the way. We managed to get the student price into the zoo and it cost us $30. You can take the cable car into the zoo entrance which is good. Its best to pick up a map at the beginning as the zoo is massive and everything is really spread out. Also whilst at the zoo the bird show is something really good to go to. If you dont want to see the show just go down to see the amazing views of Sydney, its worth it.
Abbotsford Public School
350 Great North Road
Abbotsford 2046
Phone: 9713 6220
Fax: 9712 1825
Email: abbotsford-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Its also a good idea to take the universitys phone number or write down email contacts just in case of emergencies.
You need to get a visa before entering Australia, they usually come through instantly but its usually best to pay for it well in advance just so if there is any problems it can be sorted before you go. You get your visa from: http://www.visabureau.com/australia/travel-visa.aspx?s_cid=20194135&gclid=CO_c48vsyKcCFQPabgodzHn0cg and shouldnt cost anymore than £25.
Once you land in Australia when you go through immagrations you will have needed to fill out a declarations form, which just asks simple questions such as passport number, length of stay and address of the place you will be staying whilst in the country, you may be given the forms on the plan, if not make sure you get one once in the airport and before you go through otherwise you will be sent back to fill one in and theres always a long wait going through immagration.
Suncreams are pretty cheap out there so sometimes it better to get it out there, saves on your luggage allowence.
Also take your student cards out with you, we found that many places would still accept them so its always worth taking it and asking.
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