St Josephs Oatley - Annual Report 2008

ABOUT THIS REPORT

St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley is registered by the Board of Studies (NSW) and managed by the Catholic Education Office (CEO), Sydney, the 'approved authority' for the Registration System formed under Section 39 of the NSW Education Act 1990.

The Annual Report to the School Community for this year provides the 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 school community during the year and the achievements arising from the implementation of the school's Annual Development Plan.

Accordingly, the Report demonstrates accountability to regulatory bodies, the school community and the Catholic Education Office (CEO), Sydney. This Report has been approved by the CEO, Sydney in consultation with the Regional Consultant who monitors that the school has appropriate processes in place to ensure compliance with all NSW Board of Studies requirements for Registration and Accreditation.

This Report complements and is supplementary to school newsletters and other regular communications. The Report will be available on the school's website by 30 June 2009 following its submission to the Board of Studies.

The contents of this Report will be discussed at the Parent and Friends' Meeting in term 1, 2009.

Further information about the school or this Report may be obtained by contacting the school on (02) 9580 6588 or by visiting the website at www.stjosephsoatley.com.au

PRINCIPAL: CATHERINE COMAN
DATE: December 2008


ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT

  • BOS: Board of Studies
  • BST: Basic Skills Test
  • CEO: Catholic Education Office
  • KLA: Key Learning Area
  • NAPLAN: National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy
  • P and F: Parents and Friends‟ Association
  • WYD2008: World Youth Day 2008





SCHOOL FEATURES

St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley is a single stream school with enrolments of two hundred and two students in grades from Kindergarten to Year 6. Approximately 40% of our students are speakers of language backgrounds other than English. Our school is located in the growth area of the St George railway corridor and draws most of its students from the local parish community. Our staff celebrates and maintains links to the Josephite Order who established our school in 1953. This year the staff deepened their understanding of the role of the Sisters of St Joseph's by focusing on their charism in our term 4 Staff Development Day.

We continue to strive towards living and working within these values. The parent community is extremely active and works with the school to enhance the culture of the school and learning experiences for the students. The school has an enthusiastic Parents and Friends' Association and applies a levy as an alternative to fundraising activities. In addition to this they run parent education sessions, several social events throughout the year and a support group for parents new to the school community. St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley supports the children to develop positive relationships with students across the grades. This is evidenced in our Peer Support Program, Buddy System and Multiage Learning Opportunities.

We aim to foster an environment in which students feel comfortable to share their learning with students from various age groups. We encourage students to be active participants in decision making and their learning. For this reason we have an active Student Representative Council and our learning conversations include parents, students and teachers when appropriate.

CATHOLIC LIFE AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The school follows the Archdiocesan Religious Education Curriculum and uses the student texts, To Know, Worship and Love, as authorised by the Archbishop of Sydney, George Cardinal Pell. Students in Year 6 sat the Archdiocesan Religious Education test in June this year. The test consisted of fifty multiple choice questions and did not have the short answer section that has been the case in recent previous years. Results of this test are analysed by staff and are used to inform teaching and learning from Kindergarten to Year 6. The table below details the results for the 2008 test:



Religious Education Yr6









The results achieved in the 2008 Religious Education Test were our highest to date. We exceeded our 2008 target by 9%. The students performed well in all areas of the test and our average score was above the Archdiocesan average. In 2008 we showed improvement in the areas of Church and Beliefs. This is a result of the explicit teaching of these areas in class programs. In 2009 we will focus on the areas of Prayer and Liturgical Year.

SCHOOL CURRICULUM

The school provides an 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. In addition, the school implements the curriculum requirements of the Catholic Education Office, Sydney.

The curriculum, teaching and learning are informed by the priorities, goals and indicators outlined in the Sydney Catholic Schools, Towards 2010 Strategic Leadership and Management Plan, in particular: Key Area 2 (Students and their Learning) and Key Area 3 (Pedagogy). Staff members at the school are committed to continuous improvement of teaching and learning in all facets of the school curriculum.

STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN TESTS

National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy Students in Year 3 and Year 5 sat the National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for the first time in May this year. NAPLAN supersedes the previous state-based Basic Skills Test (BST).

NAPLAN assessment results provide valuable information about student achievements in literacy and numeracy. An analysis of these results assists school planning and is used to support teaching and learning programs. The table provided shows the percentages of students who achieved particular skill bands and who achieved at or above minimum standards.

Student results are reported in six skill bands. Year 3 results are reported across bands 1 to 6 and Year 5 results are reported across bands 3 to 8. Literacy is reported in four content strands: Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation. Numeracy is reported as a single content strand.

The school results shown are compared to students nationally. Further information regarding school performance in NAPLAN against NSW trends has been provided in the school newsletter dated 25 September 2008 and is available from the school administration office.


Naplan Results





















The NAPLAN results show that the students at St Joseph's, Oatley have performed extremely well in 2008. This is largely due to the effectiveness of the school's focus on curriculum differentiation and catering for the various needs of students within the class. NAPLAN results will be further analysed to inform and guide the direction for future improvements particularly in the area of place value in numeracy and inferential comprehension in reading.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND TEACHER STANDARDS

Professional learning

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 school staff days, subject specific inservices, meetings and conferences.

The school held four whole staff days in 2008. The content of these days was as follows: Child Protection, Review of Pastoral Care Policy (term 1), Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (term 3), Curriculum Differentiation and Spirituality (term 4). Staff meetings or stage meetings are held weekly.

In a system of schools, costs incurred for professional development activities can be expended from a variety of sources. These sources include the Federal Government and the Catholic Education Office. The school's average expenditure per teacher in 2008 on these activities was $1755. This figure has been calculated by CEO and reflects expenditure on casual release days and professional development activities in particular categories.

Teacher Standards

The following table sets out the number of teachers on this staff who fall into each of the three categories determined by the Board of Studies:



Teacher Qualifications






TEACHER ATTENDANCE AND RETENTION

The average teacher attendance rate during 2008 was 97%. This figure does not include teachers on planned leave. The teacher retention rate from 2007 to 2008 was 100%.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The average student attendance rate during 2008 was 95%. School attendance at St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley is high. Prolonged absences from school are often as a result of overseas travel.

SCHOOL POLICIES

Enrolment Policy

The school follows the Archdiocesan Enrolment Policy. The policy has been developed in the context of government and system requirements. Children from all families who are prepared to support Catholic ideals and principles may be considered eligible for enrolment.

Priority for enrolment is given in a specified order as outlined in the full policy document, however special consideration may be given to individual cases.

All parents are provided with an enrolment package that includes CEO and school policy statements.

Enrolment fees are made up of the Archdiocesan tuition fee, the parish school levy and local fees and charges.

A pastoral approach is adopted for parents experiencing genuine difficulty with the payment of fees. The school Enrolment Committee meets on a regular basis throughout the year. The Committee ensures that all applications for enrolments are reviewed with equal consideration.

The full text of the Archdiocesan Enrolment Policy may be accessed via the:

There were no changes made to school enrolment procedures during 2008.

Student Welfare Policy

The Student Welfare Policy is based on the Archdiocesan Pastoral Care document Pastoral Care Guidelines for Catholic Schools (2003) which can be accessed from the CEO public website. In this document, the dimensions and features of Pastoral Care are described, as well as approaches to policy formulation, review and implementation.

This document is the key reference point for the school's Pastoral Care Policy. Related documents include: Countering Harassment of Different Kinds, Dealing with Illegal Substances in Schools, Dealing with Prohibited Weapons in Schools, Strategies for Dealing with Cyberbullying, Disability Standards 2005, Management of Students with Challenging Behaviours: Guidelines for Primary/Secondary Schools (2007).

At St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley we recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of each child. We work as a Christ centred community to assist students to be people of hope, justice and tolerance. We encourage those in our community to reflect on their actions so as to learn to make more appropriate choices in the future. The full text of the school's Pastoral Care Policy may be accessed via the:

There were no changes made to the school policy during 2008.

Discipline Policy

Members of our community come to our school to learn in a safe and supportive environment, guided by the Gospel values and school motto of "faith, knowledge and peace". The school has established five Codes of Conduct to guide students in their behaviour and interactions with others. Corporal punishment is expressly prohibited in this school. The school does not sanction administration of corporal punishment by school persons and non-school persons, including parents, to enforce discipline in the school.

The full text of the Student Discipline Policy may be accessed via the:

There were no changes made to the school policy during 2008.

Complaints and Grievances Resolution Policy

The school adopts the Archdiocesan Guidelines for Resolving Concerns and Complaints at Sydney Systemic Catholic Schools (May 2007), available on the CEO public website in the development of its school policy.

The scope of the guidelines encompass children's learning, behaviour and welfare, school organisation and management, and student health and safety issues. 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. Pathways for raising concerns are set out in the information brochure available from the School Administration Office. The full text of the school policy is available from the:

There were no changes made to the school policy during 2008.

SCHOOL DETERMINED IMPROVEMENT TARGETS

Each year, the school develops an Annual Development Plan comprising priority areas for development, performance indicators and strategies. This is drawn from the school's Strategic Management Plan and informed by the School Review and Improvement Framework.

An extensive evaluation process of the priority areas is carried out in collaboration with the school's Regional Consultant. In 2008 teams were established to work on the following areas: Catholic Life and Culture, Assessment and Reporting, Curriculum Differentiation and the use of Technology to improve student learning.

In the area of Catholic Life and Culture we engaged the community in the preparation for and the celebration of World Youth Day, 2008 (WYD2008). This enhanced our sense of community and re-energised the celebration of our faith. We also explored the charism of the Sisters of St Joseph's and how this influences our interactions with others in the community.

In the area of Assessment and Reporting the focus was to develop a greater understanding of the Common Grade Scale and improve teacher consistency in reporting. As a result of this, teachers developed rubrics to determine student achievement and students are now involved in parent teacher interviews, encouraging them to take greater ownership of their learning.

In the area of Curriculum Differentiation teachers participated in professional development to plan activities to meet different learning styles and needs of students. At-Risk Meetings were established to develop action plans for students experiencing difficulty with their learning.

Teachers participated in regular professional development to integrate technology into their teaching programs. Ten laptops, an iPod and a digital video were purchased to enhance student learning. As a part of an iLearn project, Stage 3 students were required to build and program a Lego robot to fulfil specific criteria. This involved students using their critical thinking skills to work cooperatively and solve problems.

In 2009 the community will develop a Strategic Plan for St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley which will determine future directions for the next 3 years. In 2009 the community will focus on revising and developing a deeper understanding of our Vision and Mission statement.

The school will work with the Parish to further develop the faith education of the students of St Joseph's and encourage parent involvement in the prayer life of the school. The staff will engage in the development of a school wide pedagogy in the areas of literacy, numeracy and the integration of technology.

INITIATIVES PROMOTING RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY

During 2008 the Student Representative Council reviewed the St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley Code of Conduct and presented it in a format more easily understood by the students in the younger grades.

Students receive Principal's awards for demonstrating the Code of Conduct to the rest of the community. We have focussed on the dignity of the person and have therefore had a strong Social Justice theme throughout the year. Our Year 6 students trained as Peer Support Leaders and educated the students from Kindergarten to Year 6 on demonstrating respect towards others. We ran a Peer Tutoring Program and a Kindergarten Year 6 Buddy system to assist students to develop respect and responsibility within the school and the wider community.

PARENT, TEACHER AND STUDENT SATISFACTION

Parents, teachers and students were surveyed to determine aspects of school that they value and areas they would like to see further developed. The parents value the strong sense of community, the quality of the liturgies, the religious identity of the school, the discipline and the holistic development of the person. In the area of curriculum they value the engaging classroom activities and the increased level of scientific exploration.

The parents would like to see further development of the enrichment program, reading strategies, assessment and technology. The students value the fact that St Joseph's Primary School, Oatley is a small school so they know all members of the community. The Year 6 and Kinder buddy system allows friendships to develop across the classes. They feel that there is a great deal of sports equipment and exciting learning activities and they value the technology and the way they are able to access it regularly.

The students would like to see more peer tutoring in the school and a review of the waste management system. They would like to see the physical aspects of the school improved including an increase in grass in front of the school, more handball courts and a change of resources in the toilet areas.

The teachers value the students in the school, parent participation and the staff's willingness to participate in community events. The staff feel that they are a part of the decision making process, there is a degree of empowerment and inclusiveness and they therefore have ownership of the direction of the school. They feel that the leadership team is approachable. The teachers would like to see a long term plan which shows further development in the areas of technology, assessment, reporting and curriculum differentiation.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Catholic Schools are accountable for all monies received. Each year, the Sydney Catholic Education Office submits to the Australian Government a financial statement on behalf of the 147 parish primary and regional secondary schools. This statement details the income and expenditure of each school and for the Archdiocesan system of schools.

In addition, the Financial Report of the Sydney Catholic Education Office Catholic Education Office is audited annually by Moore Stephens. A summary of the income and expenditure reported for 2008 is as follows:



Income




Notes

1. Parents' Contributions include Archdiocesan tuition fees of $53.3 million. School Charges, Building Levy and P and F contributions of $62.5 million.
2. Income from Australian and State recurrent government grants is received by the Catholic Education Office on behalf of the schools. Staff Salaries are paid from this income.
3. CEO Administration and Support excludes salaries which are included in total salary costs.
Parents' contributions to this school as reported in this school's Annual Financial Questionnaire for 2008 submitted to the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations were:



Source