NPS Annual Report 2008

Nairne CPC-7 School Annual Report 2008 Saleyard Road, Nairne, 5252 Principal: Leesa Shepherd Phone: 8388 6116 info@nairneps.sa.edu.au A year of challenges and learning 2008 has been filled with a myriad of unexpected events, unexpected frustrations, delightful surprises and loads of hard work. We welcomed new staff, teachers and SSO's to our site as well as a large number of families linked to the Defence Forces. This was an unexpected addition and has grown into a significant part of our newly evolving school community. Our incredibly swift increase in enrolments over the last 3 years did not stop either. We enrolled an additional 30 students in January (not including the new receptions) and the promised new double classroom was nowhere in sight! S taff tr ain in g and development focussed on exploring how we could support students to develop behaviour successfully and how we could most appropriately support learning for students with significant needs. Alongside this staff training, was a need to develop authentic opportunities for students to have a voice and to really be able to affect change within their community. We will start 2009 with a school commitment to using the “Virtues” programme and a deeper collective understanding of our roles in supporting all students, families and colleagues. We will also start 2009 with a school commitment to Student Forums. These will encourage collaboration and allow a strong student voice to be heard. We will start 2009 with a school commitment to using the “Virtues” Programme and a deeper collective understanding of our roles in supporting all students, families and colleagues Students learning about the environment INSIDE THIS REPORT Improvement & Planning Successes in 2008 Opinion Surveys Staff & Student 2 Much of our energy in 2008 was focussed on student and staff wellbeing. The rapid changes to our school cohort: high student numbers and high class numbers, increasingly complex students with different behaviour and lear ning needs an d transient students and families, required immediate attention and became our core business throughout 2008. 3 4 Attendance National Test Results Child Parent Centre (CPC) 4 5 6 Some improvements to the school grounds include a new playground and a pizza oven! “Emotions are the key to the intellect.” Improvement & Planning How did we go in 2008? We achieved a great deal during 2008! Below are the specific targets identified on our IMPROVEMENT PLAN. Priority 1: Excellence in learning Targets achieved in Science √ All staff will engage in training and development √ Additional salaries will be used to support student learning in all classes √ Some staff participate in Primary Connections Project Priority 2: Engagement and Wellbeing Targets achieved √ Develop data collection process for Blue Room √ All classes participate in “All About Choice” program √ All staff engage in learning about students with special, social & emotional needs Priority 3: Strong Beginnings Targets achieved √ Establish sustainable plan for community liaison position √ Expand “Baby Bags” program Pillars of Learning add strength to Nairne “The Five Pillars of Learning... were proposed as fundamental types of learning which, throughout a person’s life, will be the pillars of knowledge” In 2008 we experimented with using the Five Pillars of Learning. These were developed by UNESCO and were proposed “as fundamental types of learning which, throughout a person’s life, will be the pillars of knowledge.” In 2009 we will use 3 of the Pillars as the foundation for our site IMPROVEMENT PLAN. We believe they will allow our priorities to be organized under a broader heading, thus ensuring that, as a large school site, we stay focused and committed. NAIRNE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNUAL LEARNING PAGE 2 REPORT 2008 Learning to Live Sustainably Learning to Live Together The Five Pillars of Learning: 1. Learning to Know 2. Learning to Do 3. Learning to Be 4. Learning to Live Together 5. Learning to Live Sustainably Learning to Know KNOWLEDGE Learning to Do Learning to Be Successes in 2008 Starting with Science Tim Thornton & Lynden Claridge were fundamental in initiating our focus on Science. Staff have had numerous opportunities to expand their own scientific knowledge. At the same time, some staff also attended District Science workshops. We have worked on organising and expanding our resources. Learning teams used their budgets to “buy” expertise and Peter Boggiano worked with many classes to help create a school of mini scientists! All students were assessed against the SACSA Science outcomes and this was included in written reports to parents. Why is it so? Peace and Wellbeing The Gyuto Monks visited us for the second time in 2008 and this was even more exciting, enlightening and peaceful than the first. The three day visit allowed staff and students more time for class activities, impromptu conversations and a deeper under-standing of the issue faced in Tibet today. The opening and closing ceremony allowed the students to see and hear cultural traditions and music from Tibet. Their presence is always a wonderful addition to any focus on wellbeing. The Monks travel the world spreading messages of peace and harmony. Extra training a big hit with staff! This year we organised a series of “Optional Training and Development” workshops after school. These were free for staff to attend and most focussed on special needs. Staff identified this method of “bringing the training to them” as one that not only encourages greater understanding of particular children’s needs but also is much more convenient for many staff. In addition to the optional training we utilised our pupil free days to really challenge our thinking and deepen our understanding of how to work with students who have experienced significant trauma. Our site is now one of the few schools in the district who have had all staff involved with S.M.A.R.T (Students Managing Abuse Related Trauma) training. We spent $4,551 on training and development. We also used a district grant of $6,984 to fund training related to challenging behaviours. Other areas identified by staff... Successes Into final stage of the Capital Works process -we will know in June 09 if eligible for a major facilities upgrade Purchasing of 12 new laptops National Tree Planting Day The new dragons in the sand pits The Virtues Programme a new programme that we will be trialling in 2009 School facilities - Pizza Oven, Pool, Gym Parent helpers Team work Challenges Class size - high numbers in the class and some classrooms are very small The Federal Government‘s reporting processes implemented this year The crossing and car parking Students with extreme behaviour needs The continued growth of the school and the related pressure on facilities Maintaining the uniqueness of Nairne The problem of litter in the yard These will all impact on our work in 2009. NAIRNE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 PAGE 3 Commonwealth Reporting Requirements Opinion Surveys Each year parents, students and staff are surveyed for their thoughts on: • Quality of teaching and learning • Support of learning • Relationships and community • Leadership and decision making PARENTS: 92% of responses agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements about NPS: • My child is motivated to learn • My child is happy at school • The management of facilities at the school is satisfactory • School assists the development of my child’s personal & social needs • Comfortable to approach teachers • Different cultures are treated fairly Improvement was also acknowledged in: • Parents involvement in school plans • Inclusion in decision making • Teachers’ enthusiasm for teaching • Teachers wanting to help my child learn The issue of litter in the yard will be addressed by a Student Forum. STUDENTS: 100 students participated and they were most positive about: • Teachers expecting them to do their best • Staff caring for them • School encouraging a sense of pride • There are lots of things to do at play times • Students are friendly • The school is well organized Students were not happy about the amount of litter in the yard. This issue will become a focus for one of the new Student Forums. STAFF: No results available for 2008. The survey was completed in 2007 and will also be completed in 2009. Teaching Staff • • • • The staff attendance rate was 94.47% 2.97% of working days were taken as sick leave 79% of staff were retained from 2007 All staff are registered with the SA Teachers Registration Board and have appropriate qualifications. Students • • • The student attendance rate was 91.5% Our counselor follows up unexplained absences We are looking to increase our attendance rate to 93.1% in 2009. This would be in line with the Regional attendance rate. PAGE 4 NAIRNE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Commonwealth Reporting Requirements National testing results (NAPLAN) In the table below, we have compared our school score in each of the areas tested with other schools that have a similar school population. YEAR 3 Nairne Grammar Reading Spelling Writing Numeracy 408.1 392.6 400.7 401.6 389.4 Similar Schools 384.1 390.0 386.0 406.8 383.7 YEAR 5 Nairne 486.3 476.4 465.4 464.1 451.6 Similar Schools 479.5 469.3 470.1 471.4 452.8 YEAR 7 Nairne 527.5 516.4 546.3 522.8 522.7 Similar Schools 518.1 523.2 530.1 525.2 525.8 Conclusions and comments: • We are pleased with the year 3 & 7 spelling results and also our year 3, 5 & 7 grammar results. • Our numeracy results are usually higher – this may be a reflection on the change in test or just a different cohort of students. • Literacy will remain a priority in 2009 – in particular reading and writing. We already have staff training and development planned in these areas. • One of our staff members was trained as part of the NAPLAN team required to mark the tests. She will be taking a lead role in sharing her expertise in 2009. • We will continue with our parent workshops in literacy. These are usually well attended and consist of 4 x 2hr workshops. From little things big things grow The School Veggie Patch At Nairne there have always been veggie patches in our school grounds. Usually they have been set up by a keen teacher and their class and they thrive for a while until the teacher moves or the interest wanes. To extend the garden concept so that it is not Espaliered Fruit Trees Bird Garden Kitchen Garden Plan solely dependent on the input of individuals, a core group of staff and parents have begun Water feature Mandala Vegie Patch investigating the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Orchard Herbs Garden Scheme with the idea of developing a garden which would involve the community as Seat Bay Tree well as being a valuable curriculum resource. Compost area Ballerina Apple Trees Arbor Plans are being drawn up and we are looking forward to more “growth” in 2009. NAIRNE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 PAGE 5 Child Parent Centre We continue to focus on assisting children 2008 has been another busy year in the CPC! to develop strong relationships Enrolment numbers have ranged from 64 to the low 70’s. and to have a go at extending We have had a significant number of children with special needs themselves. included in our enrolments. We have seen huge growths in children’s confidence and independence. We continue to focus on assisting children to develop strong relationships and to have a go at extending themselves. We have several highlights to report this year: • The visit by the Gyuto Buddhist Monks was a standout highlight for the CPC children. • Including community members in our programme and supporting past students on work experience always enriches learning. C&YH have continued to offer families the opportunity to have 4-year-old health screens on the school grounds every term. One of the major projects this year was the development of a new sandpit area around the side of the CPC building adjacent to the water course. The original sandpit has also been revamped and adorned with a beautiful dragon sculpture by Iren Stone-Pearce. Both areas have been landscaped and replanted with hardy plants. We have also had new clear cafe blinds installed on the verandah to enhance the children’s playing space during wet weather. • Staff have attended a number of workshops focussed on the “Reggio Emilia” approach to education, as we are hoping this will influence the new plans being drawn up for the CPC. It has been a very productive year. We are looking forward to 2009. Next year we plan to have results from a parent opinion survey focussed just on the CPC. Thank You New students take a break from their challenging schedule! I would like to acknowledge the endless dedication of staff to the wellbeing and education of all students. We certainly have got a number of children who require extremely sophisticated understanding, programming and management. The special staff involved with these children deserve every ones thanks and respect. Many of these children have been successful here and not in other settings. Thank you also to the staff who take on extra responsibilities within the school and who never ask or seek recognition. Many thanks to our parent community because without you our task would be so much harder. Thank you to this year’s Governing Council members. Together we have achieved much and again I have been overwhelmed by the commitment and dedication of all council members. Without you there would not be the same opportunities for our children. And of course to our students….you are great kids, great learners and great leaders. Leesa Shepherd PAGE 6 NAIRNE PRIMARY SCHOOL ANNUAL REPORT 2008