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School Annual Report 2007
View report as pdf
| Darra State School |
| 2007 Annual Report |
Principal’s foreword
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Introduction |
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Darra State School is located in the southwestern region of Brisbane and is in the Moreton Education Region. The school was opened in 1916 and has a reputation as a safe and inclusive small school, where all students are valued as individuals and supported to attain to their maximum potential.
Some major goals for the 2007 school year include:
- Successful full implemetation of the Preparatory Year
- Implementation of the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines ensuring consistency throughout Prep – Year 3
- Successful implementation of Middle Phase of Learning programs for successful transition into secondary schooling
- The full implement the new proactive Responsible Student Behaviour Plan
- Full implementation of the School’s Facilities Plan; new tuckshop, external painting of 4 buildings, new early years play precinct, new double sports garage, 4 new shade structures, installation of airconditioning in every room & full electrical upgrade to three-phase power
- Full implementation of the Healthy Choices Strategy
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Future outlook |
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Improvement Priorities for the 2008 School Year
LEARNING
Continued priority on improving literacy teaching and literacy learning through:
- Progressing the implementation of new Years 1-10 English Syllabus
- Cars & Stars literal comprehension program
- THRASS phonological awareness & spelling program Years 3-7
- Jolly Phonics Prep – Year 2
Improving students’ skills of working and thinking mathematically through:
- Implementation of Years 1-10 Mathematics Syllabus and GO Maths support program for Yrs 1-7
Improve Curriculum, Teaching, Assessment and Reporting through:
- Review of School’s Curriculum Plan
/ Literacy Strategy
- Review of School’s Assessment & Reporting Framework, including implementation of new student report cards
SCHOOLS
- Continue to develop Curriculum to include an emphasis on inclusive & supportive pracitices through:
- Chaplaincy program integrated with Values Education Program
- Refining of school’s proactive Responsible Student Behaviour Plan
Maintain and improve school facilities through:
- Provision of a new large assembly area
- Conversion of old preschool building to a Performing Arts/Community Centre
- Completion of School’s Art Studio
WORKFORCE
- Provision of appropriate and timely professional development opportunites to build school staff capacity to meet both school and systemic priorities:
- Functional Grammar, Literacy Action Plan, Assessment Immersion, School / Cluster & District Moderation, ICTs Intel accreditation
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School Profile |
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Darra State School provides co-education from Prep to Year 7 for 230 students in a multi-cultural learning environment in the southwest region of Brisbane.
Over 12 cultural backgrounds are represented with more than 65% of students from a Vietnamese background and more than 75% of the total student population being from a Non English Speaking Background.
Our purpose is to create, in partnership with parents and the community, a safe, tolerant, technologically advanced school where academic achievement and effort, school spirit, self-discipline and morality are highly valued. First languages and cultures are appreciated and respected while competencies in English and the ability to think critically are fostered to maximise life opportunities. |
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Curriculum offerings |
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Our distinctive curriculum offerings:
- We have one Prep Class, 4 single year classes and 5 composite classes: - Prep, 1H, 1/2G, 2/3P, 3CJ, 4D, 4/5R, 5/6B, 6/7H & 7B
- Learning Programs to meet the developmental learning stages of early years students, middle years students and students with disabilities.
- Networked modern computers in every classroom in addition to a modern, fully resourced computer lab.
- Robotics Program for middle years students.
- Co-curricula programs for cultural and sporting areas provide a range of pathways to support individual gifted and talented students.
- Bi-lingual & ESL support staff.
- Science Lab (specialist Science teacher) which includes an integrated Science Project for Years 6 & 7 with Centenary State High School
- Large Art Studio catering for a comprehensive Arts Program (specialist Arts teacher)
- Comprehensive Year 7 to 8 transition programs with both Centenary State High and Corinda State High Schools.
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Extra curricula activities:
- The University of NSW academic competitions (English, Mathematics, Science, Spelling & Writing)
- Centenary Cup Challenge for selected Years 6&7 students
- Corinda Super Challenge for selected 5,6&7 students
- Centenary Gifted & Talented Program (TAGERs) for selected Yrs 5,6&7 students through merit process
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How computers are used to assist learning:
Networked computers are in all classrooms in addition to a modern, fully resourced computer lab. |
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Social climate |
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Promotion of a positive learning and social environment through:
- A strong focus on pastoral care; Breakfast & Homework Programs
- A Chaplaincy Program; focus on reilience & self-worth
- A proactive Responsible Student Behaviour Plan
- A safe and supportive learning & social environment incorporating anti-bullying strategies – ‘Hi Five’
- An integrated Focus Forty Social Skills Program for Prep – Year 3 & Years 4-7
- Empowerment through student leadership roles (School Captains & Sports Captains)
- Empowerment through decision-making by the Student Council (Years 3-7)
- Computer Club / Games Club (Social Skilling)
- Strong emphasis on: Celebrating diversity through Chinese New Year, Harmony Day, NAIDOC, United Nations Day, Vietnamese and Samoan Dance Groups, Darra Street Festival.
- School has a partnership with QTU (languages & applied linguistics) hosting groups of overseas teachers each term which fosters cultural diversity
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Involving parents in their child’s education. |
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- Active Parents & Citizens Association
- School Tuckshop
- Vietnamese Food Day once a month
- Open Day / Orientation Days
- Parent Information Afternoons
- Class celebrations
- School Newsletter (English & Vietnamese)
- Student Progress Reports twice yearly (English & Vietnamese)
- Student Behaviour Reports each term
- Parent /Teacher Interviews twice yearly and on a needs basis (Translators provided)
- Informative and up-to-date School Website
- Up-to-date external school signs
- Updated School display at Darra Newsagency
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Qualifications of all teachers. |
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Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development. |
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New Years 1-10 Maths Syllabus
Continued focus on reading / comprehension through the 4 Resources Model of the Literacy Action Framework
Focus on the teaching of literal comprehension
through CARS & STARS
The integration of Information & Communication Technologies through INTEL accreditation as the minimum standard for teachers
Technology – Robotics Program
QCAR awareness ready for implementation
Assessment & Reporting – five scale reporting framework
- The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2007 was 94%.
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Average staff attendance |
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For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 96% in 2007. |
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Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year. |
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From the end of the 2006 school year, 100% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2007 school year. |
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Student attendance |
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The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2007 was 95 %. |
Key outcomes in the early and middle phases of learning
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Results in the Year 2 Diagnostic Net |
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Percentage of students not requiring additional support |
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Reading |
69% |
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Writing |
78% |
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Number |
75% |
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Our reading, writing and numeracy results for the Queensland Years 3, 5 and 7 Literacy and Numeracy Tests. |
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Yr 3 |
Yr 5 |
Yr 7 |
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Reading |
Average score for the school |
524 |
615 |
650 |
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Average score for Queensland |
527 |
606 |
672 |
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Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark |
2007 |
89 % |
79 % |
70% |
2006 |
100 % |
93% |
85 % |
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Writing |
Average score for the school |
515 |
640 |
712 |
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Average score for Queensland |
523 |
600 |
681 |
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Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark |
2007 |
89% |
86 % |
97 % |
2006 |
100 % |
97% |
97 % |
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Numeracy |
Average score for the school |
523 |
602 |
638 |
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Average score for Queensland |
521 |
588 |
648 |
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Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark |
2007 |
96% |
90 % |
64 % |
2006 |
87 % |
80% |
76 % |
Other Key Outcomes
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Value added |
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Advisory Visiting Teachers support our students who have specific special needs and provide assistance and advice for class teachers.
A Guidance Officer is in attendance at Darra one day per week for counselling and testing of children.
An ESL teacher and teacher aide works at the school three days per week to support those students whose main language at home is not English.
LOTE (Languages Other Than English) is part of the curriculum and Chinese is the language being taught at Darra, for students from Years 5-7. A specialist teacher works at the school for two days per week.
A Music Specialist conducts a comprehensive music program two days per week for all classes, in addition to the Instrumental Music program.
Weekly Physical Education are conducted by two PE specialists. In terms one and four the program focuses on swimming lessons. Two PE specialists implement programs, prep – Year 4 & Years 5-7.
Students have access to a Speech Language Pathologist and parents and/or teachers can make recommendation for assessment. Limited places are available.
A Support Teacher Learning Difficulties works two days per week to assist children on individual programs and coorinate support for these children. |
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Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school |
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Darra State School is well maintained and resourced. The quality of the grounds, buildings and levels of accessible equipment all received recognition from students and parents alike.
Staff satisfaction is well above the state average, indicating a desire to work at Darra and to support our students in a culturally diverse setting.
Staff were very satisfied with the:
- Relationships between staff, students & parents
- Way in which the school is operates
- Support, resources and training to teach effectively
- Roles and demands and expectations of teaching roles at Darra
- Appreciation of their skills and value they felt in contributing to the school
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