Annual Report 2009 Year ST MARY S PRIMARY SCHOOL GRAFTON 171 TURF STREET PO BOX 672 Phone: 02 6642 2262 Fax: 02 6643 2345 www.grafplism.catholic.edu.au
About this Report St Mary s Primary is registered by the Board of Studies (NSW) and managed by the Lismore Catholic Education Office (CEO), as the approved authority for the Registration System formed under Section 39 of the NSW Education Act 1990. The Annual Report to the Parish Community for this year provides the parish school community with fair, reliable and objective information about school performance measures and policies, as determined by the Minister for Education. The Report also outlines information about initiatives and developments of major interest and importance to the parish school community during the year and the achievements arising from the implementation of the school s Strategic Management Plan and Annual Plan. The Report demonstrates accountability to the Federal and Government regulatory bodies, the parish and school community and the Catholic Education Office. This Report has been approved by the CEO which monitors school processes to ensure compliance with all NSW Board of Studies requirements for Registration. This Report complements and is supplementary to school newsletters, year books and other regular communications. The Report will be available on the school s website by 30 June 2010 following its submission to the Board of Studies. The contents of this Report are able to be discussed at various parent forums and all information is public. Further information about the school or this Report may be obtained by contacting the school on 02 6642 2262 or by visiting the website at www.grafplism.catholic.edu.au Page 2
Principal s Message The primary purpose of St Mary s Catholic primary school is to support the members of the parish community in providing a faith formation for their children. The school fosters a commitment to the individual person and provides opportunities for academic, cultural and sporting achievement. St Mary s offers students a Catholic education based on the teaching of the Church and within the context of a strong faith community. Our parish school continued to provide many opportunities for the faith and spiritual growth of the students as well as opportunities to excel in academic, cultural and sporting areas. All of these areas combined to ensure that our school s mission was lived out daily in the life of the school. The students achievements and accomplishments were showcased throughout 2009. Student work was proudly displayed in classrooms, on school noticeboards, in the school office and on class web pages. achievement was highlighted and celebrated at many school assemblies. Our focus was to continue to build on the reputation that St Mary s has earned as an exemplary school. The following list provides an indication of the school s academic achievements: St Mary s was named champion primary school at the regional finals of Tournament of Minds held in Lismore in August. Five teams competed in three disciplines. Our Maths/Engineering team won the long term challenge and our Language/Literature team won the spontaneous challenge, even out-performing many high school teams. Several students took home Distinction and Credit awards in the University of NSW competitions. Twenty talented students participated in combined Clarence Catholic schools enrichment days for Writing, Dance, Visual Arts and Technology, An extension class was organised to cater for the special needs of groups of talented senior students in Literacy and Numeracy. This class operated for two terms and was successful in stretching students to achieve at significantly higher levels. There were many opportunities throughout the year for our school to be represented at community and cultural events. The following list provides an indication of the school s cultural program and community involvement: Choirs and verse-speaking groups performed at the Grafton Eisteddfod. Kindergarten played their percussion instruments at the eisteddfod in the instrumental section. Music plays a significant part in the program at St Mary s. Poetry and drama has become embedded in the program at St Mary s. 72 students participated in the local competition this year enabling many to excel and win trophies and scholarships. St Mary s entered a fantastic float in the Jacaranda Parade and won the s Banner Parade in the annual March of Youth with a banner depicting memories of 75 years of Jacaranda Festivals in Grafton. Students from St Mary s were prominent in their participation in the local Anzac Day march and ceremony. Students in Years 3 and 4 were fortunate to experience an immersion day in the Indonesian culture. Students cooked, took part in musical activities and created artworks to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the Indonesian culture. Page 3
Students performed well at various sporting events in the year. The following list provides some examples of sporting highlights: St Mary s soccer team participated in the Reg Brown Soccer Competition which is for all schools in the Clarence Valley. St Mary s was undefeated throughout the carnival and was named champion school for 2009. The rugby league team participated in the Westlawn Cup, a competition for primary schools in the Clarence Valley. St Mary s were runners-up for 2009 in this competition. St Mary s participated in the Paul Kelly Cup, an AFL competition for Clarence Valley s. St Mary s were undefeated throughout the carnival and won the title of champions for 2009. St Mary s netball team competed in the Daily Examiner competition and was placed second overall. The Dudley Jones Tennis Tournament is a popular competition for schools in the Clarence Valley. This year St Mary s were runners up in this tennis competition. There were many people who assisted in the school s quest for excellence. In particular special thanks are extended to the parent body and the school staff for all their generous efforts. St Mary s is indeed blessed to have such dedicated and enthusiastic people. Lynne Pull Principal A Parent Message A Message from the Parents and Friends (P&F) 2009 2009 provided us with yet another wonderfully busy and exciting year at St. Mary s Primary. The Annual General Meeting was held in March and the same executive committee was elected. Meetings during the year were enthusiastically participated in with high attendance, sometimes fifteen or more parents gathering to discuss ways to assist in the running of the school. There were many events during the year that the P&F organised. We continued with our regular events such as the Mothers and Fathers Day stalls, St. Patrick s Day, the Easter Tombola raffles and the ever successful Trivia Night. We also held two family picnic nights with a DJ and a BBQ which were very well attended with most of the school community enjoying a great evening in our beautiful school grounds. merchandise continued to be sold at every available opportunity to promote our school and raise funds. Special thanks to our canteen committee for taking on the role of selling food at our athletics carnival and also helping in the ordering of food for other functions during the year. The running of the canteen is a big task so we thank these volunteers for their time and effort. The Class Parents committee was once again well run by Kate with this group of parents taking a very active role in assisting teachers and classes with rosters, special days and pastoral care. Page 4
A grant from the Bendigo Bank was obtained and this combined with fundraising from previous years, enabled the school to install a sandpit and shade sails for the play ground. This major purchase looks fantastic and has been put to great use by our children at St. Mary s. Late in the year Mackellys decided to end the sale of uniforms and a new company has taken over. St. Mary s is now the site of a uniform shop for ourselves and McAuley Catholic College. We saw this change as an incentive to change some aspects of the uniform and a new sports uniform was designed. There have also been some minor changes to our regular uniform, such as a crest on the boys school shirt and short socks for summer. Thank you to Lynne, Jan and all the staff at St. Mary s for their dedication to their roles and also being so willing to be part of our P&F activities. A special thank you to Lisa in the office who has assisted us with our administrative needs. 2010 will see the election of a new executive committee as we all have held our positions for two years. I have had a very rewarding and enjoyable time being the president and I look forward to many more years contributing to the P&F. Thank you to all the parents who have given up their time to assist with the various activities throughout the year. It is often not easy to find time but I knew I could rely on the regular parents to help whenever needed. Meg Bindon President St Mary s P&F This Catholic St Mary s is located in the city of Grafton and is part of the St Mary s Catholic Parish which serves the community of Grafton. families are drawn from the towns and communities of Grafton, Coutt s Crossing, Glenreagh, Junction Hill, Mountain View, Fineflower, Ulmarra, Southgate, Lawrence and Waterview Heights. Last year the school celebrated 141 years of Catholic education. The Parish Priest Fr Rex Hackett is involved in the life of the school. St Mary s is a Parish with strong links to the parish family. The school aims to involve the children and their families in the life of the parish through activities such as: Support for Sacramental Programs Involvement with children s Liturgy Participation in weekend Masses Contributions to The Good Oil the periodic parish publication. Page 5
The parish school uses the mandated Diocesan Religious Education curriculum and the resource text To Know, Worship and Love. Catholic life and culture permeates school life with 2.5 hours of religious education taught formally each week. The implementation of the Diocesan Daily Prayer guidelines supports the school s prayer life. The philosophy of this parish school is based on Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lismore, the Foundational Beliefs and Practices The Essential Framework. This Framework underpins all policy, planning, roles and processes within the parish school. Our aim is to integrate this statement more fully into all aspects of parish school life. Religious Education is always given priority in our school and classroom curriculum and planning. The parish school Mission ment highlights the nature and calling of the school. St Mary s Primary motto is God s Glory and we believe this is reflected in our vision of: *creating a welcoming, positive and secure environment in which all are called to value themselves and respect each other; *nurturing and valuing the processes involved in the creation of a faith community in partnership with family, school and parish; *providing educational programs, opportunities and experiences that enable students to become accomplished learners according to the needs and talents of each individual. St Mary s caters for children from Kindergarten to Year 6. The following table indicates the student characteristics: K 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOTAL 2009 TOTAL 2008 Male 8 13 6 13 15 14 17 86 91 Female 8 13 9 7 12 17 22 88 85 Indigenous count included in first two rows LBOTE (Language background other than English) count included in first two rows 1 0 1 2 0 3 3 10 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 There are currently 176 students enrolled in seven classes. Page 6
Curriculum The school provides a comprehensive educational program based on and taught in accordance with the Board of Studies syllabuses for Primary Education. The Key Learning Areas (KLAs) are English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Human Society and its Environment, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. The school continues to work towards developing a 21 st century pedagogy which will underpin learning across the school, Kindergarten to Year 6. Every classroom utilises an interactive whiteboard to engage students in their learning. Technology plays an important part in the education of our students. Teachers work cooperatively in Stages planning units of work to motivate and challenge students thinking. St Mary s school embraces Tournament of Minds, a student-driven, problem-solving, group-based activity program which encourages the involvement of many children. The program culminates in a regional competition day in August each year. This year St Mary s was named the champion primary school in the regional challenge. This success will no doubt inspire even more students to participate next year. Student Performance in National Testing Programs The school participated in the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) with students in Years 3 and 5 tested. In Year 3, 20 students presented for the tests while in Year 5 there were 31 students. In Literacy there were four elements tested. These were reading, writing, spelling and grammar and punctuation. In Numeracy, students were tested in number, patterns and algebra, measurement, data, space and geometry. In both Years 3 and 5 there were six achievement bands with Band 6 being the highest level of attainment in year 3 and Band 8 the highest in Year 5. The Commonwealth Government has set minimum acceptable standards for reading, writing and numeracy at particular ages. In Year 3, students who achieved Band 2 or higher have achieved at or above the minimum standard. In Year 5 those students who achieved at Band 4 or higher have achieved at or above the minimum standard set by government. The following data indicates the percentage of St Mary s students in each band compared to the state percentage. At St Mary s school student performance is closely monitored. These tests are one means of gathering data on individual student and school performance. staff have participated in Catholic Education Office led workshops and information sessions on NAPLAN data analysis. Page 7
Year 3 NAPLAN Results in Literacy and Numeracy Year 3 NAPLAN Results in Literacy and Numeracy Percentage of students in bands 1 to 6 BAND 6 5 4 3 2 1 Reading 25 25 23 25 22 35 18 15 9 0 3 0 Writing 23 40 29 30 26 15 14 15 4 0 3 0 Spelling 25 20 26 35 24 20 13 10 9 15 3 0 Grammar and Punctuation 22 20 31 20 24 45 11 15 7 0 6 0 Overall Literacy 23 30 28 15 26 50 14 5 7 0 2 0 Number, Patterns and Algebra Measurement, Data, Space and Geometry 22 20 20 25 22 20 20 25 12 5 5 5 13 5 21 40 35 30 16 20 9 0 6 5 Numeracy 18 15 23 30 24 35 20 15 11 0 5 5 Literacy results in Year 3 were particularly pleasing especially in writing where 70% of students scored in the top two bands. Literacy levels in general have improved with the emphasis placed on curriculum differentiation strategies and which have been developed and implemented over the last two years. Children achieving in the lower bands have been targeted for additional support which occurs both individually and in small groups. It is expected that these strategic plans will result in continued improvement in the years to come. Page 8
Year 5 NAPLAN results in Literacy and Numeracy Year 5 NAPLAN Results in Literacy and Numeracy Percentage of students in bands 3 to 8 BAND 8 7 6 5 4 3 Reading 15 16 25 29 21 13 21 26 12 13 6 3 Writing 10 3 17 23 37 29 21 19 10 23 5 3 Spelling 13 6 24 23 27 29 20 26 11 16 5 0 Grammar and Punctuation Overall Literacy Number, Patterns and Algebra Measurement, Data, Space and Geometry 15 6 25 32 28 26 16 13 10 16 7 6 11 6 23 26 30 26 22 23 9 16 4 3 14 3 22 19 19 3 28 48 12 10 5 16 17 13 14 13 33 35 20 23 11 10 5 6 Numeracy 16 10 19 13 24 16 25 35 14 23 3 3 The emphasis placed on reading at St Mary s has been reflected in the current NAPLAN results which show good from previous years. The implementation of a number of teaching strategies to improve student understanding of literacy and numeracy will continue to impact on overall student achievement in the years to come. Page 9
Teacher Standards and Professional Learning Teacher Qualifications / Staff Profile 1. Those having formal qualifications from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent. 2. Those having graduate qualifications but not a formal teaching qualification from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent. 3. Those not having qualifications described in 1 or 2 above but having relevant successful teaching experience or appropriate relevant knowledge. 4. Teachers with recognised qualifications to teach Religious Education. 5. Number of staff identifying as indigenous employed at the school. 6. Total number of non teaching staff employed in the school. Number of Teachers 11 0 0 8 1 8 All teachers have been involved in professional development activities during the year. These activities are designed to develop the skills and understandings of staff to improve student outcomes. Professional development can take many forms including whole staff development days, subject specific in-services, meetings and conferences. Whole staff development day professional learning activities in 2009 were: Staff Development Days Term Presenter Quality Teaching and Learning 1 Judy Mitchell Kerry Dalley Spirituality 2 Marty Scroope Interactivity 4 Leah Rix Spirituality 4 Sr Colleen Brady Additionally staff attended either singly or in groups a range of professional development opportunities including: Values in Education Project Child Protection Anaphylaxis and EpiPen training 21 st Century Education with Mark Treadwell Teaching Grammar PART (Predict, Assess, Respond to Challenging Behaviours Training) Indonesian Unit Writing. Page 10
The professional learning expenditure has been calculated at $2999.50 per staff member. This figure has been calculated by CEO and reflects expenditure on casual release days and professional development activities in particular categories. Teacher Attendance and Retention The average teacher attendance figure is 95.91%. This figure is provided to the school by the CEO. There were no significant staff changes throughout the year. Student Attendance attendance is always high. The Class Roll is marked every day and rolls are checked each term. Unexplained absences are followed up promptly by classroom teachers. Parents are requested to provide a note to the teacher immediately the child returns to school. Parents are encouraged to arrange medical and other necessary appointments outside school hours. Prolonged periods of absence occur from time-to-time for various reasons. In these cases students and their parents meet with the Principal to discuss their leave request. The average student attendance rate for the school during 2009 was 93.6%. attendance rates disaggregated by Year group are shown in the following table. Attendance rates by Year group Kindergarten Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 95.6% 89.6% 91.3% 94.8% 93.9% 96.9% 93.1% Page 11
Policies policies are reviewed regularly. In 2009 all policies were reviewed or updated as part of the Review and Development process and the Compliance Audit. A number of policies were highlighted for inclusion in the five year strategic plan for consideration of re-development. Enrolment Policy Every new enrolment at St Mary s requires parents to attend an enrolment interview. The interview provides an opportunity to learn more about the educational experience provided by the school, specific school procedural policies and present school expectations. Preference for enrolment is given to children of baptised Catholics. It is a condition of enrolment that all children will participate in class religion lessons and activities, as well as prayer celebrations and school and class Masses. Children who turn five by 31 March are eligible to apply for enrolment in Kindergarten. Enrolments for kindergarten children are called for in the year before commencement. Other enrolments are accepted throughout the year if there are vacancies in the classes concerned. A copy of the enrolment policy is located in the school office or it can be accessed on the school s website. The Enrolment Policy explains the Parish enrolment guidelines. Student Welfare Policy, Pastoral Care Policy Pastoral care is of supreme importance at St Mary s. Staff continually strive to improve the care and consideration they give to the students in meeting their needs and supporting them. Emphasis is placed on skills and values which support a welcoming, inclusive and caring culture. At St Mary s we believe that everyone has the right to respect from others and to feel safe. Everyone has the right to learn and teachers have the right to be able to teach. Along with those rights everybody has responsibilities to ensure those rights are upheld. Simple rules are developed for each learning situation with appropriate consequences. The key words we reflect on are Respect, Effort, Self-Responsibility and Safety. We emphasise reparation, restitution and reconciliation when dealing with each situation. The pastoral care of students in our school is supported through programmes such as the Learning Assistance Program (LAP), Peer Support and Seasons for Growth, as well the work done by the Learning Support Advisor for the Diocese of Lismore in consultation with staff from the school. Children are acknowledged weekly at school assemblies for effort and achievement. Children have access to a counselling service, sand play therapy and music therapy. Page 12
Discipline Policy The school policy is based on procedural fairness and ensures that school practices respect the dignity, rights and fundamental freedoms of individual students. The policy is discussed with students, staff and parents on a regular basis. Reminders about the policy are regularly included in school newsletters and referred to at school assemblies. The policy is based on the Gospel teachings of love for self and others. Complaints and Grievance Policy The school policy is based on procedural fairness and recognises that parents and caregivers must have access to processes that allow them to resolve concerns in a supportive and conciliatory environment. Any concerns raised are responded to promptly and fairly and confidentiality is always maintained. The policy is available at the front office or from the school s website. An open door policy exists at the school whereby parents are invited, and indeed welcomed, to come and speak with the principal about any grievance or concern they may have about a situation at the school. Determined Improvement Targets Each year the school develops an Annual Plan drawn from the five year Strategic Plan. 2009 was a very rewarding year. Listed below are a number of goals and priorities that the school focused on during the year. The parish school s main goals and priorities were to: Focus on the Review and Development process as a means to determining the school s directions for the next five years. This entailed many staff meetings and surveys for staff, students and parents. The commitment of everyone to the process ensured an excellent result with a clear direction for the future being determined. Increase the visibility of the school to the wider parish community by being actively engaged in the weekend liturgy. Promote a whole school approach to the teaching of reading to ensure consistency and understanding of the process across the grades. Provide opportunities for staff to focus on their own faith and spiritual development. Initiatives Promoting Respect and Responsibility The school ensures that at every available formal and informal opportunity the values of respect and responsibility are promoted. The school models and teaches students about respect and responsibility in a number of ways: The values of respect and responsibility lie at the heart of Catholic schools, and underpin all policies and procedures. Students, teachers and parents are regularly reminded of the school s commitment to these and other school values by newsletter items, assembly messages and by the nature of our interpersonal relationships. The principal presents a special award each week to a student who has genuinely displayed respect or responsibility, commending that student publicly. This ensures that a clear message about our expectations is given to the whole school body. Page 13
Parent, Student and Teacher Satisfaction The school uses a variety of methods to gauge parental, student and teacher satisfaction with school operations. The school understands the importance of regularly reviewing approval and satisfaction levels. Last year the following formal and informal opportunities allowed the school to test reaction to decisions, policy and school procedures: The Review and Development process afforded parents, staff and students the opportunity to put forward their views on all aspects of school life. The overwhelming response indicated that all stakeholders are extremely satisfied with what is happening at St Mary s. The process also provided an opportunity for people to put forward suggestions for ways to make things even better. Attendance at functions organised by both staff and parents was always high with positive feedback being received regularly. Often cards and letters were received in appreciation of opportunities provided. Financial Information Catholic schools are accountable for all monies received. Each year, the Lismore Catholic Education Office submits to the Commonwealth Government a financial statement on behalf of the parish primary schools and secondary colleges. This statement details the income and expenditure of each school. In addition, the financial accounts for each school and for the Catholic Education Office are audited annually. A summary of the income and expenditure reported to the Commonwealth Government for 2009 is as follows: 2009 INCOME - St Mary's Primary - GRAFTON Govt.Capital Grants 8% Other Capital 5% Fees 12% Other Private Income 6% Grants- Govt 20% Grants-Commonwealth Govt 49% Page 14
Sch.No. 1012 Income Heading Location 2009 INCOME St Mary's Primary Total 2009 INCOME Total Grand Total St Mary's Primary Data GRAFTON Fees 215162 215162 215162 $215,162 Other Private Income 115081 115081 115081 $115,081 Grants- Govt 372897 372897 372897 $372,897 Grants-Commonwealth Govt 915534 915534 915534 $915,534 Govt.Capital Grants 139537 139537 139537 $139,537 Other Capital 91831 91831 91831 $91,831 2009 EXPENSE - St Mary's Primary - GRAFTON Capital Expenditure 9% Other Expenditure 24% Salary & Related Expenditure 67% Sch.No. 1012 Expenditure Heading Location 2009 EXPENSE St Mary's Primary Total 2009 EXPENSE Total Grand Total St Mary's Primary Data GRAFTON Salary & Related Expenditure 1193548 1193548 1193548 1193548 Other Expenditure 418640 418640 418640 418640 Capital Expenditure 150801 150801 150801 150801 Page 15