2008 School Annual Report

Dallarnil State School (0950)

	PO Address	3 Main Street, Dallarnil Qld 4621
	Phone	(07) 4127 7133
	Fax	(07) 4127 7226
	Email	Andrea.Kelly@eq.edu.au
	Website or Contact Person	Principal : Mrs Andrea J. Kelly Website : http://www.dallarniss.eq.edu.au

Principal’s Foreword

Introduction

Rational

Dallarnil State School is a Band 5 school located in Wide Bay West Education District and is set in a rural community approximately 80 kilometres west of Maryborough and 95 kilometres southwest of Bundaberg.

The aim of this report is to provide the community of Dallarnil with a short profile of their school.

Mission Statement

Dallarnil State School aims to assist students to become lifelong learners. The overall outcomes of the curriculum offered contain the elements common to all key learning areas and collectively describe the valued attributes of a lifelong learner. Dallarnil State School operates a multi-age and inclusive learning environment, with varying numbers across the year levels. In consultation with the school, parents and community members, we have identified (6) Global Learning Outcomes for our school and its students. These Global Learning Outcomes are encouraged, nurtured and developed across all year levels at Dallarnil State School. They are, for students: -

To be a lifelong learner

To possess good communication skills, allowing for effective communication

To be an active and responsible citizen in the community

To be self managed, independent and an effective team member

To make meaning of and use information effectively i.e. Written Language and Information Technology

To be confident and have a positive outlook about themselves

Future Outlook

In 2008, our school and community members have been actively involved in setting targets and identifying preferred futures for the school. In partnership the following priorities have been established:

ICT’s Computer Technology and continued Development

Curriculum Implementation and Delivery ~ Small Schools Curriculum Project with Coalstoun Lakes

Literacy and Numeracy ~ Early Years

Early Years Programs and Curriculum Development ~ Prep Transition Program

Professional Development for all staff

Our School at a Glance

School Profile

Our Community and Location (0950)

Dallarnil State School is located at 3 Main Street, Dallarnil in the rural shire of Biggenden. The school is a State School offering co-educational education to years Prep – 7. In 2009, our enrolment grew to 44 but our student enrolment for Term 1, 2008 was 34. The school has been established for 108 years and serves a stable dairy and beef cattle community and the recent rainfall has been very worthwhile for the whole community.

Dallarnil State School is located in the Wide Bay-Burnett Region. The school is a part of the Burnett School Cluster, which includes Coalstoun Lakes State School (Band 5), our closest small school, with whom we work closely. Brooweena State School (Band 5) and Biggenden State School (Band 7) are also included in our Specialist Circuits. Dallarnil State School also works closely with the Burnett schools, where Gayndah State School (Band 7) and Burnett State College (Years 8-12) are the centrally located schools.

The nearest town is Biggenden, which is approximately 16km from the school but Dallarnil State School also

works with the Childers Cluster of schools and many families choose to shop in Childers or Bundaberg. The school has an active Parents and Citizens Association, who are always very supportive of all the activities undertaken by the students.

Enrolments

As at Monday 15 June 2009 a total of forty-four (44) students were enrolled at Dallarnil State School. Over the last two years, enrolments have consistently been between 35-40 students. This year our enrolment grew to 42, initially. Indications are that student numbers over the next five years will remain in the high thirties to low/mid forties. The number of students in each Year Level and a breakdown of student gender is as follows:

Year Level	No. of Students	No. Male	No. Female
Prep Year	9	4	5
Year 1	4	2	2
Year 2	2	1	1
Year 3	9	2	7
Year 4	4	2	2
Year 5	8	2	6
Year 6	3	3	0
Year 7	5	2	3
TOTAL	44	18	26

Curriculum Offerings

Our Distinctive Curriculum Offerings

The outcomes from eight key learning areas form the basis of our core learnings. Provisions will be made across all year levels for any student/s who need additional learning experiences and for students who demonstrate higher level understandings.

Due to classroom organization students can easily be accommodated at a level best suited with their individual learning needs. Through inclusive practice, the needs of all students will be catered for. For children with special needs, this school significantly supports these students through purchasing extra teacher aide time, accessing an intervention teacher and one to one support.

· The teaching of LOTE, Music and the coverage of Health and Physical Education Concepts

Dallarnil State School organises and delivers curriculum through our three-year cyclic organiser, with three units being covered in depth each year. The Essential Learnings have been mapped against each unit offering, under the 5 Citizen Model.

· These themes have been developed as a response to cluster, community and student consultation that identified an emphasis on literacy, numeracy, and other integrated Key Learning Areas. The view expressed was a belief that academic, social and personal balance is essential. Students need to be independent and self-directed learners.

Extra curricula activities

· Project Club is organised and conducted by the students.

· Biggenden Country Schools Sport’s Management Committee and Biggenden District State Primary Schools’ Sport’s Management Committee

· School Camps – biennial, 2008 was a camp year!

Arts Council, Biggenden Show, ANZAC Day, Religious Education – Isis Parishes

How computers are used to assist learning

Teacher/s are constantly integrating information and communications technologies (ICT’s) in the classroom. Effective use of ICT’s is a major component for all student’s learning at Dallarnil State School. The philosophy of this school is that computers are essential to the teaching and learning process and should not be taught or considered a separate subject. Students and teachers use computers extensively throughout their regular daily routine and activities. Specific activities include:-

Participating in “Type Quick for Students” and “Type to Learn” to enhance their keyboard skills

A variety of Educational Programs that reinforce curriculum areas such as spelling, grammar and number facts

Word Processing and Desktop Publishing

Web Quests, Powerpoint, Publisher, Photo Story 3, Paint, Max Show, Max Count, Max Write (Max’s Toolbox)

Internet use for research – Google and Wikipedia - and Email

School Website Development

Social Climate

Responsible Behaviour Management Plan for Students: In 2007 Dallarnil State School reviewed and published, in collaboration with parents and staff, our Responsible Behaviour Management Plan for Students and the School Community. It will now be reviewed annually to ensure that the policy remains effective and meets the needs of our school’s students, as in 2008.

Following are the expectations of the Dallarnil State School community and students for all persons participating in its educational program (SERS).

Safety ~ School community members will act in a responsible manner that presents no danger to the physical or emotional security of themselves or others.

Effort ~ School community members will be mindful of the fact that the primary aim of schooling is student learning. Each member will actively fulfil their role in promoting this process to the best of their ability.

Respect ~ School community members will treat each other with courtesy and consideration at all times, being mindful of the rights and differing responsibilities of each person. Such courtesy will be reflected in both action and communication.

Self-Responsibility ~ School community members will endeavour at all times to make appropriate behaviour choices relative to the social context, and accept accountability for the outcomes of their actions.

During 2007 staff in consultation with our community developed a Code of School Behaviour and Supportive School Environment Plan to articulate our standards of behaviour for students. In 2008, staff attended the new professional development around Code of Conduct and Student Protection.

Involving Parents in their Child’s Education.

Dallarnil State School promotes an open door policy where parents or caregivers are encouraged to discuss their child’s overall progress academically or socially with teachers as the need arises. As a small school, Dallarnil State School actively encourages parents to become involved in their child’s education. This involvement can take many forms, but may include;

Working as a classroom volunteer, tuckshop preparation and school open/celebratory days.

Accompanying children on excursions, sporting events, camps and other outings. Parents often provide transport to and from these events.

Communicating and discussing concerns with the school’s teacher/principal.

Involvement in the P&C Association, where parents are encouraged to become involved in school decision making such resource purchasing and verification of the Annual School documents, School, Budget, School Operational Plan and Annual Report.

Our school is very proud of the active parent support within our community.

Communication between the school and home is undertaken using the following methods:

Newsletter ~ A school newsletter is published every week on a Friday. This publication is distributed to each family member, staff, as well as surrounding schools and district personal. It is also available to visiting support staff and interested community members. Electronic versions are also emailed to recipients such as local paper, the Central North Burnett Times, staff and some families/community members.

Report Cards ~ Student progress reports are issued at the end of each semester (in June & December).

Student Weekly Reports ~ Student Weekly Reports are sent home for signing each week and these include information on Homework, Behaviour, Spelling and Test results and Class Effort overall through the week.

Parent / Teacher Interviews ~ Interviews are invited when Semester One and Two reports are sent out in June and December. Parent / Guardians who require an interview to discuss their children’s progress at any other time are welcome to make an appointment to see the Principal.

Our Staff Profile

Qualifications of all Teachers.

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.
· The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2008 was $2093.29. · The major professional development initiatives are as follows: · Staff First Aid Courses and Refreshers – All Staff · First Steps in Maths Training – Classroom teachers · Principal’s Meetings – Cluster and District · Finance Meetings for Administration Officer · Many professional development opportunities in 2008 that were attended by staff members did not incur a cost to the school · The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2008 was 100 %.
Average staff attendance
· For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 98% in 2008.
Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.
· From the end of the 2007 school year, 100% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2008 school year.

Performance of our Students

Student attendance
The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2008 was 93 %.

Key Outcomes

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results - our reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy results for the Years 3, 5 and 7.

Domain	Measures		Yr 3	Yr 5	Yr 7
Reading	Average score for the school		359	529	479
	Average score for Queensland		371.1	466.1	528.1
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	100 %	100 %	100 %
Writing	Average score for the school		384	457	487
	Average score for Queensland		391.8	468.9	522.7
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	100 %	100 %	100 %
Spelling	Average score for the school		374	510	455
	Average score for Queensland		366.7	462.0	528.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	100 %	100 %	67 %
Grammar and Punctuation	Average score for the school		374	488	482
	Average score for Queensland		370.4	476.6	518.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	100 %	100 %	67 %
Numeracy	Average score for the school		336	483	468
	Average score for Queensland		367.9	458.2	539.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	80 %	100 %	100 %

Results in the Year 2 Diagnostic Net
	Percentage of students not requiring additional support
	Percentage of students not requiring additional support
Reading	DW
Writing	DW
Number	DW

DW (Data Withheld) – Due to the small cohort of students in Year 2 in 2008, data has been withheld for privacy reasons.

Value Added

In 2008, our main issue of concern was the Early Years environment. With growing enrolments, our limited resources needed expanding and with the help of the P&C, this was achieved.

A number of improvements were made to the school’s infrastructure. Some of those improvements included a new covered walkway from Block A to the toilet block, the replacement of the old concrete underneath the school and extending the front pathway into the school grounds to branch off to Block C (Prep -3 room). Our new paths were also stencilled for an attractive finish. More work on our school’s facilities is expected throughout the next year.

Dallarnil State School has a strong tradition of our students going onto leadership roles at Isis District State School. Many of our past students go onto receive special awards and subject prizes at their high school awards night.

Last year our school was recognised by the State for our high achievements in the Nationwide NAPLAN tests and was recognised Regionally at the Showcase awards, when we reached the finals for our school’s Curriculum Framework.

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school

62% students are satisfied that they are getting a good education at Dallarnil State School.

94% parents/caregivers are satisfied their children are getting a good education at Dallarnil State School.

94% parents/caregivers are satisfied the school is a good school.

100% staff members satisfied with morale in the school.