Sedmega avgusta 1960 je bil prvi sestanek staršev za ustanovitev slovenske šole v Verskem in kulturnem središču Kew. Mesec dni kasneje, 4. septembra 1960, se je Slomškova šola odprla in začelo se je poučevanje slovenskega jezika. Prvi učitelj je bil Jože Kapušin, otrok pa je prišlo 24.
Šola vsa ta leta deluje neprekinjeno. Rada bi povedala, kako deluje šola danes. Spominjam se, kako me je pokojni pater Bazilij junija 1992 vprašal, če bi učila v Slomškovi šoli. Patrove ponudbe nisem odklonila. Sprejela sem, čeprav težko, saj sem v tistem času študirala za učiteljico.
Imamo nov razred. Ogromno ljudi nam je pomagalo, da je bilo to mogoče in pomagajo še zdaj. Omeniti moram Alexa Bratino, ki vedno in povsod priskoči na pomoč, kadar je treba kaj zabiti. Ponosni smo, da imamo tako lep razred.
Z naraščajočim številom učencev sem potrebovala pomoč.
Otroci so razdeljeni v štiri skupine. Večji dve delata vaje iz učbenikov Učimo se Slovensko 1. in 2. del. Otroci v mlajših skupinah pa uporabljajo Slovenski slikovni besednjak iz katerega jim pripravljamo vaje. Učijo se z igranjem, slikanjem, modeliranjem, barvanjem, risanjem, pisanjem, pesmicami - prek različnih dejavnosti. Vadijo tudi za kulturne programe, ki jih pripravljamo trikrat na leto - za materinski in očetovski dan in Miklavževanje. Otroci radi nastopajo na odru in se izredno potrudijo.

Slomskova sola 2006

Pevske vaje v soli 2006

Otroci in starsi Slomskove sole na izletu 2006

Materinski dan 2004
Zelo hvaležni smo Slovenski izseljenski matici, Ministrstvu za šolstvo in šport in Uradu za Slovence po svetu, ki so nam priskočili na pomoč z denarnim prispevkom iz Slovenije. Težave smo imeli tudi zato, ker smo imeli samo učbenike, ki so bili pretežki za naše učence. Dobili smo več kot sto knjig, posterjev in video kaset, tako da smo lahko v razredu ustanovili knjižnico. Zdaj si otroci lahko sposodijo knjigo in doma s starši berejo in se učijo slovensko.
Starsi poslušajo branje učencev, pomagajo pri razrednih dejavnostih, pri malici…

Otroci, p. Ciril in učitelji leta 2001
Veseli smo, da smo se organizirali kot etnična osnovna šola in so nas uradno priznali kot After hours Ethnic Primary School. Zelo smo veseli, da smo lahko ustvarili tako čudovito ustanovo za slovenske otroke prihodnjih generacij.
Za 40-letnico Slomškove šole smo se spominili patra Bazilija in njegove skrbi za ustanovitev Slomškove šole in seveda patra Metoda, ki nas je vzpodbujal pri našem delu. Njegova nenehna podpora nas je pripeljala do tega, da imamo nov razred. Hvala tudi p. Cirilu.

Slovenian Slomšek School in Kew

On the seventh of August 1960 the first meeting for the parents for the establishment of Slovenian School at the Religious and Cultural Center in Kew took place. One month later on the 4th September 1960, the school opened and started the first lesson. The first teacher was Joze Kapusin and there were 24 children. From then on the school has been running without a break. This year it celebrated its 40th anniversary, a big achievement indeed. I would like to tell you, how the school is run today. I remember when the late Pater Bazilij in June 1992 asked me if I would teach at the Slovenian School. Although I was busy with my studies, in teaching, at the time I accepted the challenge.
At the beginning of last year we settled into our new classroom. Many people helped us with the preparations and they help to this day. I must mention Alex Bratina, who was always willing to help, particularly if anything needed nailed or screwed. We are very proud of our new classroom. I had many students of various ages and I needed help. I was happy to welcome Lidia Lapuh as a new teacher.
This year we have 25 children enrolled who are third generation Slovenians and their ages are from 4 to 14 years. They are divided into four groups. The two oldest groups learn with the book 'Učimo se Slovensko' (Let's Learn Slovenian) Book 1 and 2. The two youngest groups use the first picture dictionary book and we prepare lessons from that. They learn from play, pictures, models, painting, drawing, writing and songs. Last year for Easter they learned to make 'butarice' (traditional leaf arrangements for Palm Sunday). They also colored eggs for Easter the traditional way. The children also practice for cultural programs, which we prepare three times a year - for Mothers day, Fathers day and St Nicholas. The children enjoy performing on stage and they always try their best. Every week one family is rostered to supply a snack for the children to share and the food is always very good. The children are also rostered, in groups to help prepare, serve and clean up after the snack and to clean the classroom. We are grateful to Slovenska izseljenska matica and Ministry for Culture and sport, who helped us with funding and with suitable books for our students. We had problems with the books that we had in that most of them been too difficult for our students. We received more than one hundred books, posters and video cassettes, so that we were able to stock up our class library. Now it is possible for our students to borrow a book and read it at home with their parents and learn Slovenian. Last year we also established a parents committee. They help with the setting up of the hall and catering for the cultural program's and fundraising. They also help in the classroom such as listening to children read. They also organize social events such as dinners and picnics to help bond the school community. We are happy that we have been recognized officially as an After Hours Ethnic Primary School. We are happy that this has been established for the future generation Slovenian Children. On the 40th year of Slovenian School we remember Father Basil and his work into establishing the Slovenian School and of course Father Metod who always supported us in our work, as well as Father Ciril. Their undying support is what brought us to what we have today.

Poročilo Slomškove šole

Pri poučevanju slovenskega jezika smo trenutno tri učiteljice, Veronika Smrdel, Lidija Bratina in Iris Dietner, vse tukaj rojene. Z Lidijo Lapuh sva se udeležili seminarja učiteljev slovenskega jezika v Sloveniji, katerega je organiziralo Ministrstvo zunanje zadeve. Pouk slovenskega jezika je navadno vsako drugo nedeljo v mesecu po dve uri. Učne ure v letu so razdeljene na učenje jezika in priprave za programe. Ob kultumih programih otroci uporabijo tudi, kar so se naučili.

Otroci se učijo pesmi, recitacije, igric ali skic, plešejo in so stari od tri do14 let. Ni mogoče pripraviti osebnega programa za vsakega otroka. Otroci so razdeljeni v tri skupine, odvisno od znanja slovenskega jezika. Zaradi različne starosti otrok rabimo različne metode učenja. Za najmlajšo skupino uporabimo igrice, pesmi, risanje, slike in zgodbice, da se učijo lažje slovenske besede. Druga skupina uporablja priročnik Učimo se slovensko, prvi del. Tretja skupina uporablja priročnik Učimo se slovensko - drug del in tretji del avtoric Drage Gelt, Magde Pišotek in Marije Penca. Priročnik nam pomaga pri učenju enostavih slovničnih pravil, uporabljajo pa tudi teme iz teh knjig, izpopolnimo ideje še za več metod, kot na primer: učili smo se delati butarice in barvali pirhe za veliko noč, kuhali smo in podobno.

Trudimo se, da otroke učimo slovenski jezik, zato je nujno, da smo povezane s Slovenijo, in smo tudi na tekočem kaj uporabimo, da je najbolj koristno pri učenju jezika in o slovenski kulturi.

Skupina staršev otrok Slomškove šole

Otvoritev novega razreda

On the seventh of August 1960 the first meeting for the parents for the establishment of Slovenian School at the Religious and Cultural Center in Kew took place. One month later on the 4th September 1960, the school opened and started the first lesson. The first teacher was Joze Kapusin and there were 24 children. From then on the school has been running without a break. I would like to tell you, how the school is run today. I remember when the late Pater Bazil in June 1992 asked me if I would teach at the Slovenian School. Although I was busy with my studies, in teaching, at the time I accepted the challenge.
At the beginning of last year we settled into our new classroom. Many people helped us with the preparations and they help to this day. I must mention Alex Bratina, who was always willing to help, particularly if anything needed nailed or screwed. We are very proud of our new classroom. I had many students of various ages and I needed help. They are divided into four groups. The two oldest groups learn with the book 'Učimo se Slovensko' (Let's Learn Slovenian) Book 1 and 2.

The two youngest groups use the first picture dictionary book and we prepare lessons from that. They learn from play, pictures, models, painting, drawing, writing and songs. Last year for Easter they learned to make 'butarice' (traditional leaf arrangements for Palm Sunday). They also colored eggs for Easter the traditional way. The children also practice for cultural programs, which we prepare three times a year - for Mothers day, Fathers day and St Nicholas. The children enjoy performing on stage and they always try their best. We are grateful to Slovenska izseljenska matica and Ministry for Culture and sport, who helped us with funding and with suitable books for our students. We had problems with the books that we had in that most of them been too difficult for our students. We received more than one hundred books, posters and video cassettes, so that we were able to stock up our class library. Now it is possible for our students to borrow a book and read it at home with their parents and learn Slovenian. Last year we also established a parents committee. They help with the setting up of the hall and catering for the cultural program's and fundraising. They also help in the classroom such as listening to children read. They also organize social events such as dinners and picnics to help bond the school community. We are happy that we have been recognized officially as an After Hours Ethnic Primary School. We are happy that this has been established for the future generation Slovenian Children. On the 40th year of Slovenian School we remember Father Basil and his work into establishing the Slovenian School and of course Father Metod who always supported us in our work, as well as Father Ciril. Their undying support is what brought us to what we have today.
Text by Veronika Smrdel

Slovenske šole v Viktoriji, Avstralija - Slovenian Schools in Victoria, Australia