Sacred Heart Parish School
Sandringham
2008 Annual Report to the Community
Registered School Number: 937
Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
School Contact Information
11 Fernhill Road, Sandringham. 3191
Address:
Erin Macdonald
Principal:
Parish Priest: Fr. Frank O’Loughlin
Parish Education Board
School Board Chair:
9598 9322
Telephone:
principal@shsandringham.catholic.edu.au
Email:
www.shsandringham.catholic.edu.au
Website:
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Our School Vision
Sacred Heart Parish School is a Catholic Parish Primary School situated in Fernhill Road
Sandringham. The school has a strong community base, which embraces and fosters its children,
staff, parent and community through our gospel beliefs.
Our vision statement is a ‘living’ policy document, which will enable us to make relevant changes
and therefore, stay in tune with current curriculum and educational practices.
Christ is the central focus of our school and we are witnesses to him and his teachings, in our daily
lives. As our children are the focus of all the school’s endeavours, we aim to:
• Provide an environment where Gospel values are modelled and experienced through the
sincere interpersonal relations of its members.
•
• Provide a warm, safe, secure, caring atmosphere, where all are made welcome and feel they
belong.
• Provide a stimulating teaching and learning environment where students are encouraged to
take risks, to respect themselves and others and celebrate successes.
• To develop an inclusive environment where each child is valued and respected and
encouraged to reach their full potential in a supportive, caring, Catholic setting.
• Develop the whole person intellectually, spiritually, physiologically, physically, socially in
an environment that encompasses tolerance, dignity, respect, compassion and love with
Jesus as our model to all people.
• Provide a school where all will have the right to learn in an environment that uses the most
effective, current approaches in education.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
School Overview
Sacred Heart School was established by the Presentation Sisters in 1912 and was under their direction for
seven years. In 1989 the first lay Principal was appointed and while the community regretted the passing of
the Presentation Sisters, the dedicated group of lay teachers continue to look after the children in their care,
striving to provide a warm community atmosphere and a caring pastoral approach, well supported by our
Parish Priest, Fr Frank O’Loughlin.
Sacred Heart School caters for approximately 230 children. It is situated on the corner of Sandringham and
Fernhill Roads, close to Port Phillip Bay, within walking distance to the beach, the shopping centre and the
railway station. Sacred Heart has well-maintained facilities and grounds, nine separate classroom areas, a
library, a Reading Recovery/Special Education room, an art/craft centre, a large hall and two separate
meeting rooms available for parish and school use.
Sacred Heart School offers a broad integrated curriculum, with particular emphasis on the importance of a
well-structured Religious Education program from Prep to Year 6. The Victorian Essential Learning
Standards (VELS) provides the basis for curriculum planning through the eight key learning areas, thus
providing a holistic comprehensive education for the children.
Our curriculum embraces the gospel values of love, honesty, justice and compassion and is well supported
by co-curricular programs, such as Religious Education, a whole-school literature-based reading program,
Japanese, computer education, a Student Welfare Support Group, a swimming program, interschool sport &
camp, a secondary school transition program, a Year 6 leadership program, local community interaction, and
an assessment and reporting policy which brings together many other disciplines and aspects of life.
Facilities which support these programs include an art/science centre, a modern well-equipped, computerised
resource centres, excellently maintained facilities and grounds, Church and Parish Hall and meeting room, an
adventure playground, and most importantly, a caring and supportive staff and an active parent and parish
community.
School Building Project
In February 2009, Sacred Heart Parish School commenced a major renovation and building project. The
project includes three new classrooms, new student toilets, a new library and Deputy Principal’s Office.
The BER package announced in February 2009 has enabled Sacred Heart Parish School to build a state of
the art Multipurpose Hall to facilitate our students and the wider community.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Principal's Report
2008 was a year of change for the staff, students and community of Sacred Heart Parish. The first
six months for 2008 saw the appointment of Mrs. Anne Reed as Acting Principal with my
appointment effective from Term 3
We began the 2008 year with an enrolment of 239 pupils, our August Census was 241. There were
9 learning groups: P, P/1.2 x 1/2, 2 x 3/4, 4/5, 2 x 5/6. The programs with support staff were:
LOTE (Japanese), PE/Sport Ed., ICT, Visual Arts, Music, Literacy support, Student Wellbeing and
Educational Support. The Leadership Team consisted of the Principal, the Deputy Principal, the
Religious Education Coordinator, IBL Coordinator, Senior staff and Teaching & Learning
Coordinator.
The school structure for 2009 is: P, P/1.2 x 1/2, 2 x 3/4, 4/5, 2 x 5/6. = 9 learning groups.
The specialist and support programs will include: Literacy support, Physical Education/Sport Ed.,
Visual Arts, Music, ICT and Japanese.
The development and success of Sacred Heart Parish School is not possible without the
commitment, dedication and support of our parents, staff, parish community, P.A., Parish
Education Board and the enthusiasm of our wonderful students.
I sincerely thank each person who has contributed to our development in 2008.
I especially thank:
Fr. Frank O’Loughlin for his commitment, enthusiasm, leadership, support and pastoral
care.
Our Leadership Team for their leadership and hard work.
Karen Matthiesson for her conscientious effort and thoughtfulness in her role as School
Administration Officer.
I look forward to your continued support and participation in 2009
Kind regards,
Erin Macdonald
Principal
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Education in Faith
Goals and Intended Outcomes
To provide further opportunities for staff and parents to develop their faith
To provide staff with access to best practice in teaching and learning pedagogies in Religious
Education
To successfully incorporate the standards when reporting to the parents in Religious Education.
To strengthen and promote a shared responsibility between the school, home and parish in
Religious Education
To continue to ensure teachers successfully implement the new Frameworks
Improve the Catholic Culture of Sacred Heart Parish School from approximately 70 points to 85
point over the next 4 years, especially in the areas of behaviour and social justice.
Achievements
• Successfully implemented the new RE frameworks using a template that is teacher friendly and
encourages teachers to reflect on what they do in Religious Education sessions.
• Made RE come alive for the students using the many interesting activities in the new
frameworks.
• Encouraged teachers to talk about RE and to moderate pieces of the students work
• Provided teachers with continuous professional development to assist them in the role as
Educators in faith.
• Encouraged parents, the first educators in faith to continue to be partners with the school to
assist their child on their faith journey
• Ensured everyone is aware that Sacred Heart is a Catholic school
• Encouraged students to integrate Christ’s teaching from the scripture into their daily lives
• Given students an awareness of the history and traditions of the Catholic religion and deepen
their relationship with God
• Continued to strengthen the relationship between the parish and the school
Item 8: Valued Added
• The items highlighted above have all ‘added value’ to the achievement and spiritual development of
our students.
• Religious Education Coordinator program support and release = 1 day per week.
• Sacred Heart Parish support and assistance.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Learning and Teaching
Goals and Intended Outcomes
To achieve continued improvement in overall student performance from Prep – Yr. 6
Improve our pedagogy in line with VELs
To include the student in planning of their learning, therefore aiming for a 20 point
improvement of the next 4 years. Staff need to find out what students know, what they would
like to know; then provide the opportunities and resources for them to seek this knowledge.
To further develop and incorporate the Inquiry Based Learning approach to enhance our
Teaching and Learning pedagogy, thus aiming for a 15 point improvement of the next 4 years.
To establish a rich extension program for students with high order thinking skills
Incorporate more Boys Ed practices into our Teaching and Learning
Incorporate more oral language into our teaching and learning practices.
Improve our moderation skills and the passing on of information to staff
Achievements
• Our CEOM SIR Year 1 Literacy Data reflects trends over the last 5 years. In 2004 100% of
students were above the benchmark 80% reading at level 20. The following years reflect a
pattern of high achievement for students at Sacred Heart Parish School: 2005 – 100%, 2006
– 100%, 2007 – 97.30% and in 2008 – 100%. Prep and Year 2 results from CLaSS Literacy
Data reflect a similar pattern with between 2005 and 2009 with 100% reaching CEO
targets. All years were above Like Schools. The Reading Recovery Program has
consistently had full coverage, which means all students requiring reading intervention
have or are receiving the service.
• Professional Learning Teams operated across all levels of the school.
• Staff have been involved in VELs and IBL professional development
• Professional Development has been closely linked to our Annual Action Plan and School
Improvement Plan
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Compliance Advice
Year 3 Reading 100%
Year 3 Writing 100%
Year 3 Spelling 100%
Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation 100%
Year 3 Numeracy 100%
Proportion of students meeting national minimum standard
Year 5 Reading 94.1%
Year 5 Writing 94.1%
Year 5 Spelling 100%
Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation 97.1%
Year 5 Numeracy 97.1%
Year 3 Reading 0.0%
Year 3 Writing 0.0%
Year 3 Spelling N/A
Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation N/A
Year 3 Numeracy 0.0%
Change in national minimum standard results from the previous year
Year 5 Reading -5.9%
Year 5 Writing -5.9%
Year 5 Spelling N/A
Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation N/A
Year 5 Numeracy -2.9%
Item 6 & Item 7:
• N/A no national benchmarks for spelling
• All Yr 3students meet the national benchmarks and 94.1% of Yr 5 student meet the national benchmarks in Reading and
Writing and 97.1% of Yr 5 student meet the national benchmarks in Grammar, Punctuation and Numeracy. 100% of Yr 5
students meet the national benchmarks in spelling
• In 2008, there was a -5.9% drop in Yr 5 Reading and Writing from the 2007 results and a -2.9% drop in numeracy results
from 2007.
Item 8: Valued Added
• The Parent’s Association (P A) committed funds and support for Literacy & Numeracy resources and Interactive
Whiteboards in classrooms.
• Significant work has been done to ensure planning and programs reflect strong teamwork at levels.
• Team meetings are held weekly for curriculum development, Literacy/Numeracy development and team planning.
• Progress of students is monitored by ongoing assessments and use of Individual Learning Plans (ILP’s) as needed.
Item 9: Parent, teacher and student satisfaction
• The annual Staff Review meetings held in Term 3 indicated a positive level of staff satisfaction.
• Staff willingly support one another and take on extra work as required.
• Parents have a high level of involvement in the school and support the school with time, effort and financial contribution.
• Assemblies, Open Days, School Masses, family activity days, sporting carnivals and class activities have been well
supported.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Student Wellbeing
Goals and Intended Outcomes
Survey results suggest that teachers need further professional development in this area and the
students need greater input into decision made at school including that of the curriculum.
Our student morale falls within the Middle 50% of schools. We aim to increase this by 10 points in
the next 4 years.
Students need to be more stimulated and engaged in their learning thus we aim for a 20 point
improvement over the next 4 years.
Achievements
• The school Pastoral Care Policy, which includes the Behaviour Management Policy was
reviewed and revised in 2006
• Each class dedicates the first weeks of the school year to a social skilling program,
focussing on school and classroom rules, social skills, personal development and bullying.
The social skilling program has been developed from the Interpersonal Development
learning focus statements in V.E.L.S. Interpersonal Development is integrated into all
aspects of the curriculum. Social Skilling is taught continually throughout the year and is
integrated into other key learning areas.
• Teachers have been trained to facilitate Circle Time and they conduct fortnightly sessions
with their class.
• Student Wellbeing coordinator is allocated release time for 1 day a week
• Playground and Classroom Behaviour Folders are used by staff to record and monitor
student behaviour.
• Information about students with severe allergies is distributed to all staff members.
Students with anaphylaxis each have a clearly labelled bag with their photograph on it
storing their medication in the first aide room. All staff are aware of which children have
anaphylaxis and where their medication is located.
• 85% of staff attended an Asthma and Anaphylaxis training session in November 2008.
• The school has fulfilled the requirements to become an Asthma friendly school. These
requirements included Asthma education in all classes for students and in the newsletter for
parents and cares, asthma training for staff members and Ventolin and spacers made readily
available throughout the school.
Compliance Advice
Item 5: Student Attendance
• % Average student attendance rate for the year 2008 = 92.58%
Item 8: Valued Added
• In 2008, Sacred Heart Parish School continued to support the position of “Student
Wellbeing Coordinator”, and implement various programs including the Values Program.
Item 9: Student Satisfaction
• Student’s responses to the InsightSRC survey in the areas of ‘Wellbeing’ were in the Middle
to Top 25 % of schools, stating that they felt very connected, safe and happy at school.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Leadership and Management
Goals and Intended Outcomes
Provide clear and concise role descriptions.
Improve our appraisal, feedback and recognition processes
Provide opportunities for staff to challenge and support each other with ideas and feedback in a
team environment.
We wish to further enable staff to provide inclusive and supportive programs for students with
special needs.
Achievements
• To build a team model of leadership and management who have a shared vision
• To create an effective cohesive team of skilled educators in resources, finance, curriculum
• To keep abreast of best practice and pedagogy
• To provide a happy, appealing, engaging, safe school environment
• The school leadership team to provide an effective and streamlined communication channel
between all staff and parents
• Provide a clear/concise role description for all staff
• To ensure the school’s finances & resources are managed appropriately, effectively &
efficiently.
• To ensure the school’s leadership practices are democratic & reflect the Vision of the
school.
• To ensure communication structures are effective, clear and transparent
• Establish guidelines and an effective structure for the leadership team.
• Develop a professional culture of learning amongst the staff.
• Provide opportunities for staff to develop as effective leaders in the school.
Items 1-3:
Teaching Staff: 91%
The average attendance
Staff attendance Non-teaching staff: 98.87%
rate per staff member
All staff: 93.32%
The proportion of teaching
staff retained in a program
Staff retention 66.67%
year from the previous
year
Masters – 9.52%
Diploma – 9.52%
Listing of teachers'
Teacher qualifications Bachelor – 66.67%
qualifications
Diploma – Advanced – 66.67%
No Qualifications Listed – 9.52%
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Item 4: Expenditure and teacher participation in professional development.
CODE ITEM EXPENDITURE
1042 Salaries – Casual Relief $ 28,399.06
2620 Subscriptions and levies $ 1,581.13
2800 Providing for school functions $ 1,668.86
TOTAL $ 31,649.05
• The staff participated in 4 Whole School (W/S)~ Professional Learning (PL) days
throughout 2008. These days focused on Inquiry Based Learning, RE/Spirituality and the
Reporting Process. Individual staff and Leadership Team participated in further PL,
including Literacy Clusters, Student Wellbeing Clusters Reading Recovery, ERIK program,
School Improvement Plan, Annual Review Plan, Faith Development, ICT Training, VIEU
courses, VELs – Maths, Literacy & Reporting
• W/S Days 1 & 2 = 15 staff
• W/S Day 3 = 22 staff
• W/S Day 4 = 17 staff
• Individual/Leadership Team PL = approx 43 days
• The average expenditure per teacher for PL = $1220.00
Item 13: Staff Satisfaction
• InsightSRC data indicated a positive level of staff satisfaction falling in the Middle 50% of
schools
• Staff willingly support one another and take on extra work as required.
• They form many important teams to support our students, parents and wider community.
• Staff support PA & Parish Education Board initiatives.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
School Community
Goals and Intended Outcomes
Strengthen opportunities for parent input and involvement in the life of the school.
Create awareness of the extra-curricula activities that exist within the school.
To further embrace the relationship between our students and the residents of Fernhill
To increase the inclusiveness of the school.
Advancing the parish school community through utilise the skills and talents of parents and
community members.
Revise Parish Finance Committee to include more school families.
Greater cross involvement between parish and school – eg. Family Masses
Incorporation of the new Building Art and Maintenance committee.
Achievements
(In this section schools should describe and/or illustrate their achievements in a manner appropriate to the
school community.)
Endeavour to be an open, inclusive school that ensures access to all members of our school
community.
• To involve students, parents and staff fully in the life of the school through providing
educational and social opportunities.
• To promote links between Sacred Heart Parish School and the wider community.
• Continue to improve an infrastructure that is both useful and beneficial to all in the Sacred
Heart community
• Increase our profile in the surrounding community and parish, through the use of Enrolment
Boards and the media.
• Create a school community where parents feel welcomed and included, and provide
opportunities for all parents to become involved in the life of the school.
• Create a sense of belonging and identity within the Sacred Heart parish and to develop
greater links between the parish and school community, such as through the coordination of
the Sacramental programs.
• Increase awareness in the school community of social justice issues through involvement in
social justice projects.
• Celebrate the achievements and talents of students with the school community.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Financial Performance
Financial Performance for the year ended 31 December 2008
(The information for this section is from the VRQA Financial Report tab on your AFS.)
Reporting Framework Modified Cash $
Recurrent income Tuition
School fees 199,062
Other fee income 89,643
Private income 41,253
State government recurrent grants 279,242
Australian government recurrent grants 1,116,941
Total recurrent income 1,726,141
Recurrent expenditure Tuition
Salaries, allowances and related expenses 1,264,274
Non salary expenses 293,489
Total recurrent expenditure 1,557,763
Capital income and expenditure Tuition
Government capital grants 73,601
Capital fees and levies 59,040
Other capital income 50,000
Total capital income 182,641
Total capital expenditure 61,109
Loans (includes refundable enrolment deposits and recurrent,
capital and bridging loans) Tuition
Total opening balance 515,070
Total closing balance 457,487
Note that the information provided above does not include the following items:
System levies charged to individual schools, intra-systemic transfers and diocesan supplementary capital
fund (SCF) supported borrowings for primary schools. The information provided is not comparable with other
educational sectors. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is in the
process of reviewing the Financial Questionnaire (FQ) during 2009 that may ultimately change the method of
reporting these exclusions.
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Sacred Heart Parish School
2008 Annual Report to the School Community
Future Directions
Compliance Advice
Sacred Heart Parish School is committed to ensuring that all children have access to quality
teaching and learning opportunities that promote mastery of a broad range of skills and
knowledge. Driving our school is the belief that students and their learning are at the centre, and
that constant learning by teachers is fundamental to school improvement, We will continue to
generate opportunities for students to take responsibility for their learning.
Over the next 6 - 12 months we will see the completion of two major building projects, being 3
new classrooms, an art/science area, new library and the BER (Building Education Revolution)
multipurpose building. Once the buildings are completed the oval will be resurfaced with synthetic
grass and a child focused sustainable garden will be embarked upon.
Academically the staff will be addressing ways to improve our Naplan ~ literacy and numeracy
results in the upper school. We aim to meet or exceed state performance benchmarks, not just
those for ‘like schools’. As part of our Catholic Education Office School Review this year the staff
have nominated numeracy as a whole school focus for the next 2 years. We will also be
addressing education in the 21st Century to ensure that the students feel more engaged and
stimulated in their learning.
The Leadership Team will be working on role clarity for the staff and setting goals for the coming
12 months. The team will also address the outcomes of our CEO Review and align these with our
School Improvement Plan and Annual Action Plan.
Our community plays a very important role in our school and we look forward to embracing it and
building upon it in the future.
I wish to thank the entire community for their support and encouragement over the past twelve
months. It has been a hectic time with a ‘changing of the guard’, the commencement of numerous
building projects and the many day to day challenges that present themselves within the life in our
school.
As principal, I look forward to working with the Leadership Team, Parish Education Board, Staff,
Students, Parents and the community to building a more cohesive school community that
acknowledges, accepts and implements the recommendations that will arise from our review.
These recommendations with set the direction and tone of our school for the next four years.
I am pleased to present this report to stimulate discussion and generate action for school
improvement.
Kind regards,
Erin Macdonald
Principal
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