Kindergartens

Loch and District Preschool offers Kindergarten programs for 3 and 4 year olds at 18 Smith Street, Loch, Contact is 5659 4200, or lochkinder.com.au

Poowong Uniting Kindergarten is a stand-alone, centre-based care institution with classes for 3 to 4 year olds, at 12 Ranceby Road, Poowong, together with the Poowong Maternal and Child Health Centre. Classes run 3 days from Tuesday to Thursday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Call 1800 183103.

Both have central enrolments run by South Gippsland Shire at www.southgippsland.vic.gov.au/centralenrolment

Playgroups

The Nyora Playgroup is a supported playgroup that runs out of Nyora Primary School at 27 Grundy Avenue. During school terms, on Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00 am. Contact is Michelle.

Poowong Play Group. Runs out of a safe and dedicated space at the Poowong Uniting Church between 9.15- 11am on Thursdays during school terms. Lots of toys and activities, Kids and parents can get messy together. Amanda Follett contact. Join their FB “Poowong Playgroup”.

Primary Schools (prep to yr6)

Loch Primary School is at 2 Victoria Street, Loch. Principal is Liz Alderson. A busy school which organises a school camp (at Forest Lodge), and activities such as peer mediation with Strzelecki Lions, athletics and cross-country. The school joins swim classes at Leongatha Splash, and Swimming House Sports at the Poowong School, followed by Swimming House Sports House carnival the Poowong Pool (The Loch Express gives regular school updates). Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) is available each school day from 7am to 8:30am and 3:30 to 6pm.

Nyora Primary School is at Grundy Avenue, Nyora. Principal is Karen Farbus. Nyora actively promotes community connections, provides camps programs, before and after school care, Bike education programs, and a peer mediation program in conjunction with the Strzelecki Lions Club. It has a lovely sprawling campus, with a covered basketball and multi-purpose space and abuts the Nyora Recreation Reserve, with its facilities. (see Loch Express for further description).

Poowong Consolidated School is at 12 Ranceby Road, Poowong, surrounded by dairy farms in the heart of South Gippsland. Principal is Michael Smethurst 03 56592356. Specialist classes include Music and Arts, Physical and Health Education, Science and Sustainability, and a variety of sporting programs. Hands-on learning is prioritised and the school was a finalist in the Science and Sustainability Statewide Awards for primary schools. The school encourages parent involvement within the school and connection to the community. School bus services and before and after school care are provided.

Secondary Schools

Korumburra Secondary College is the nearest Secondary School (Yr7-12).

From Poowong, it’s often closer to go to Drouin Secondary College; Warragul Regional College; Marist Sion College (Warragul); St Pauls Anglican Grammar School Warragul; Chairo Christian School (Drouin East) Secondary Collage.

Education and training Scholarships

Between 20 and 30 Scholarships of $1000 per year (up to a total of four per person) are available for students from the Bena, Loch, Nyora and Poowong areas attending an Australian university, tertiary institution or undertaking an apprenticeship. These are provided by the Greenhills Benevolent Society Inc, formed in 2006 to provide aged care assistance and education scholarships. Check their website at www.greenhillsloch.org.au Contact is secretary@greenhillsloch.org.au