annual report 2017 - melville primary school p&c...

Melville Primary School Annual Report 2017

An Independent Public School

www.melvilleps.wa.edu.au [email protected] 9330 2255

Defining Bright Futures

This2017AnnualReportisareviewoftheachievementsandprogresswehavemadetowardsthemilestonesasstatedinour2015–2017BusinessPlanwhichisavailableontheschoolwebsitewww.melvilleps.wa.edu.au

2 Definingbrightfutures

OurPurpose

To provide an inclusive,

stimulating and collaborative

learning environment that

nurtures students to achieve

their potential.

2017Highlights

The year began with children in their uniforms with our new motto of

Defining Bright Futures proudly worn on their shirts. A different style of hat with their faction colour on the reverse side completed the new contemporary look for our students. Before the year began we unfortunately had a fire in our Junior Community. The community quickly rallied and helped to retrieve salvable resources and personal items. Our four year 2 classes moved into the music room, science room and library. Music was held in the staffroom and Mr Bruce with science equipment in a trolley, visited every classroom to deliver his lessons. Every member of the school community was affected in some way, but with our strong relationships intact and resilience to the fore, we got through the ordeal. Students and staff moved back into their refurbished classrooms early May.

Facilities Melville Primary is a metropolitan Independent Public School situated on a modern campus between the cities of Perth and Fremantle. The facilities include 5 purpose built early childhood classes with adjacent play areas, 19 mainstream classes, specialist music and science rooms, enclosed undercover area for large gatherings such as assemblies, a well‐stocked resource centre, all surrounded by numerous playgrounds, tennis/basketball/netball courts and a large oval.

The School Community Our student numbers fluctuate between 680 and 700 with many new families building in this established suburb due to the subdivision of the large residential blocks. Our families are a typical microcosm of Australian society with the majority Australian by birth. We provide a wide range of diverse opportunities for all the students to ensure they have a variety of experiences and can look forward optimistically to further education and their place in society.

Students regularly receive awards in National and State competitions, a testimony to the time, effort and direction given by staff and the broader community.

The Department of Education Focus 2017 includes 1. Success for all Students

High expectations of success for every student in every school

The emphasis at Melville PS is on holistic, inclusive teaching ensuring the needs of all children in our school community are met. The positive reputation of the school’s ability to teach and care for all students continues to grow beyond the gazetted boundaries.

2. High Quality Teaching

A renewed and relentless focus on the best possible teaching practices.

Staff promote the shared values of learning, excellence, equity and care. These are emphasised with the students in class and in social interactions. At Melville PS there is a culture of collegiality. The use of collaborative strategies to maximise the benefit of shared professional knowledge, use of our extensive resources and facilities, is clearly evident. Staff are continually working to develop collaborative learning strategies with the students to enhance their ability to learn and interact in a productive and positive manner.

3. Effective Leadership

Strong empowering leadership in every school.

Our leadership team includes two deputy principals who bring particular expertise in curriculum, including ICT, as well as a wealth of knowledge and experience of teaching and pastoral care to guide students and their families. We also have two learning support coordinators who assist teachers and education assistants to develop their knowledge and best practice when working with students with special needs. This includes gifted and talented and twice exceptional students. The executive team, chaplain, ‘Rainbows’ counsellor and school psychologist work in conjunction to assist teachers with pastoral care. A speech therapist and occupational therapist also work in the school so students can receive appropriate intervention during school time when they are most receptive to therapy. The collaboration between therapists and teaching staff is invaluable.

4. Strong Governance and Support

A capable and responsive organisation for now and into the future.

Melville Primary has strong processes in place to support all areas of the school community. We have a high functioning Board whose qualifications and experience enhance the strategic development of the school.

IntroductionfromthePrincipal

3

2017Highlights

STEAM strongly featured throughout 2017.

Science continues to have a strong focus with two groups of children enjoying special excursions to Harry Perkins Medical Research Institute and the year 6 classes attended MSHS for their science lab lessons in semester two.

Two of our teachers were invited to be members of the Dream Project which focused on digital technology use in the classroom. They shared their knowledge with the rest of the staff to assist implementation across the school. This will continue in 2018.

Our Synergy Solar Car Challenge team, finished 3rd in the State.

Coding to mobilise our numerous robots happened in many classrooms with a year 5 team finishing 3rd in an interschool Edison robot competition

Mr Emidio Boto’s leadership and teaching of media digital technology in year 6 culminated in the premiere of The Magical Secrets of Kadidjiny. A special release of the DVD followed.

With a selected group of year 6 students, our drama teacher completed filming and editing a short film for Curtin University’s psychology department about social etiquette for children on the ASD continuum.

Very successful individual results in the Maths Olympiad meant we had students finishing in the top 10% and 20% of Australasia.

MPS won the interschool athletics and cross country events.

Our year 1 to 6 average fitness results put us in the top 20% for Australia. Many student’s individual results put them in the top 10%.

The year 6 Beater Band enthralled the large audience at the annual WAGSMS at the Crown Theatre. The uniqueness of Melville PS music program is always well received.

Our Parents and Citizens committee is proactive and supported by the wider community. They have been energetic in their efforts to provide the school with many extra resources which enhance the teaching and learning programs along with improved amenities. Melville Primary is an excellent school where meaningful relationships lead to positive outcomes for all. Betty McNeill Principal

StudentNumberTrends

4 SCHOOLPROFILE–OurSchool2017

MelvillePrimarySchool

Principal

Betty McNeill

Manager Corporate Services

Ann‐Marie Mutter

Deputy Principals

Patricia Ratto

Daniel Del Casale

School Board Chair

Julia O’Neill

No FTE AB’L

Administration Staff

Principal 1 1.0 0

Deputy Principals 2 2.0 0

Total Administration Staff 3 3.0 0

Teaching Staff

Level 3 Teachers 5 3.3 0

Other Teaching Staff 37 29.2 0

Total Teaching Staff 42 32.5 0

School Support Staff

Clerical/Administrative 4 2.7 0

Gardening/Maintenance 1 0.5 0

Other Non‐Teaching Staff 26 20.3 0

Total School Support Staff 31 23.5 0

Total 76 59.0 0

StaffNumbers

StudentNumbers(asat2018Semester1)

Primary Kin PPR Y01 Y02 Y03 Y04 Y05 Y06 Total

Full Time (39) 62 91 86 96 81 115 79 649

Part Time 77

5 AttendanceandDestinations2017

Attendance%‐PrimaryYearLevels

AttendanceCategoryPrimaryasatSemester1,2017

DestinationSchools

PPR Y01 Y02 Y03 Y04 Y05 Y06

2015 94% 95% 95% 97% 96% 96% 95%

2016 94% 95% 96% 94% 95% 96% 95%

2017 95% 94% 96% 96% 95% 96% 96%

WA Public Schools 2017

92% 93% 93% 93% 93% 93% 93%

PPR Y01 Y02 Y03 Y04 Y05 Y06

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Sch WA Pub Sch

Regular 86% 73% 81% 76% 91% 77% 92% 79% 91% 78% 88% 78% 91% 78%

At Risk – Indicated

12% 18% 16% 16% 8% 16% 6% 14% 7% 15% 13% 15% 8% 14%

At Risk – Moderate

2% 7% 6% 6% 1% 5% 1% 5% 1% 5% 0% 5% 0% 6%

At Risk ‐ Severe

0% 2% 2% 2% 0% 2% 0% 2% 2% 2% 0% 2% 1% 2%

Destinations Schools Male Female Total

4034 Melville Senior High School 20 15 35

4025 John Curtin College Of The Arts 11 4 15

1063 CBC Fremantle 6 6

1396 Kennedy Baptist College 4 1 5

1107 Aquinas College 4 4

4002 Applecross Senior high School 1 2 3

1121 Iona Presentation College 3 3

4042 Perth Modern School 1 1 2

1368 Seton Catholic College 2 2

4057 Carine Senior High School 1 1

4049 Como Secondary College 1 1

1299 Corpus Christi College 1 1

4206 Fremantle College 1 1

4150 Lakeland Senior High School 1 1

1152 Penrhos College 1 1

1008 Santa Maria College 1 1

1171 Scotch College 1 1

4168 Shenton College 1 1

English–Reading

6HowweworkedtowardourBusinessPlan2015–2017targetsin2017

ExcellenceinTeaching

Key points for ensuring learning is meaningful and leads to personal success are:

Emphasis on rigour and student responsibility to lead to improved individual progress & achievement

Strengthen inclusive teaching practices based on credible research

Continual assessment and reflection to inform best practice

Strengthen digital fluency across all year levels and learning areas

Leaders support student and teacher success

Due to the multiple classes of each year level it is a priority to maintain a consistent program of learning and assessment across the classes. Teaching staff meet regularly to plan, teach and assess using whole school plans.

The targets as stated in the Melville Primary Business Plan 2015‐17 are:

Year 3 & 5 English and Mathematics NAPLAN results will be at or above ‘like schools’

Year 3 & 5 stable cohort from NAPLAN results will demonstrate positive growth in the percentage of students with moderate, high and very high progress

Classroom planning is connected to operational and business plans and measured through the common assessment tasks and performance management

ExcellenceinLearning

LearningAreaTargets

At Melville Primary all students are encouraged and supported to strive for excellence and to achieve their potential.

What does the data tell us?

TARGETS MET Melville PS successfully met the target, being at or above like schools in Reading for both the Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts.

Students achieving very high, high or moderate progress (Year 3 to Year 5) has increased since 2016, 76% compared to 64% in 2016.

Overall, Melville PS has performed well in Reading due to:

a focus of 50% of the timetable committed to Literacy and Numeracy teaching

continued explicit teaching of the First Steps Reading Comprehension strategies

further professional learning in Guided Reading and Letters and Sounds

additional teacher support for targeted small group teaching of priority areas

analysis of On Entry data to pinpoint areas for improvement

Meaningful learning and assessment derived from effective pedagogy leads to personal success.



English–Writing

English‐Spelling

7 ExcellenceinLearning

LearningAreaTargets



TARGETS METMelville PS successfully met the target, being at or above like schools in Reading for both the Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts.

Students achieving very high, high or moderate progress (Year 3 to Year 5) has increased since 2016, 75% compared to 58% in 2016.

Overall, Melville PS has performed well in Writing due to:


further professional learning in the mechanics of Writing VCOP (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation) and the ‘Big Write’

student incursions with “Writer’s Talks’ with Raewyn Caisley

an intentional writing approach to Book Week with students as the authors

additional teacher support for targeted small group teaching of priority areas – extension and remediation








TARGETS PARTIALLY MET Melville PS successfully met the target, being at or above like schools in Spelling for the Year 3 cohort however not for the Year 5 cohort. Whilst the Year 5 average spelling score was minimally less, the ‘like’ schools’ average score increased hence the difference between the two.

The inverse was the case with the Year 3 cohort where in 2016 MPS was slightly below the ‘like’ schools average, but in 2017 MPS was well above the average.

Interestingly when comparing the progress between the current Year 5 and when they were the Year 3 cohort in 2015, terrific progress has been evidenced.

To ensure further consistency of achievement and progress in Spelling, the school planned :

additional teacher support for targeted small group teaching of priority areas – extension and remediation

planned Letters and Sounds professional learning for K – Year 2 staff

the introduction of the Magic Boxes resources for PP – Year 2 students

a more explicit focus on teaching Words Their Way in Years 3 – 6.

English‐Grammar

Numeracy

8 ExcellenceinLearning

LearningAreaTargets



TARGETS MET Melville PS successfully met the target, being at or above like schools in Numeracy for both the Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts.

Students achieving very high, high or moderate progress (Year 3 to Year 5) remains similar, 78% in 2017 compared to 79% in 2016.

Overall, Melville PS continues to achieve positive results in Numeracy and will continue utilising a whole school approach to planning, teaching and assessing. Overall, Melville PS has performed well in Numeracy due to:


a MPS Numeracy Scope and Sequence plan that has clear teaching intentions for each term

a focus on explicitly teaching the flexible mental strategies

additional teacher support for targeted small group teaching of priority areas ‐ extension and remediation








TARGETS MET Melville PS successfully met the target, being at or above like schools in Grammar & Punctuation for both the Year 3 and Year 5 cohorts, however some more explicit teaching will be required in the middle years.

Overall, Melville PS has performed well in Grammar & Punctuation due to:


further professional learning in the mechanics of Writing VCOP (Vocabulary, Connectives, Openers and Punctuation)

classroom displays of the VCOP elements as a daily visual reminder of the mechanics of Writing

HealthandPhysicalEducation

9 ExcellenceinLearning–LearningAreas

Highlightsandactivities

Specialist Science Education lessons of 60min per week for Y1 ‐ 6 During 2017 all year 1 – 6 classes had a one‐hour science lesson in a dedicated room with a specialist science teacher. The pre primary classes have an enthusiastic science teacher and the P1 class had a science lesson in their own room with another staff member. There is close collaboration between all the staff and the Australian Curriculum is the core of all content taught.

The school is well resourced with equipment and students are regularly involved in hands on activities to learn the relevant content. Investigations are conducted to develop and broaden skills and opportunity is provided that allows the students to engage in tasks at both individual and at group levels.

Our three senior classes have their program enhanced by participating in weekly lessons in semester two at Melville Senior High School where their staff assisted by our science specialist, provide an introduction to working in a lab and the students participate in a range of activities using equipment only available in secondary science laboratories. As a result of this our students were chosen to be a part of the media launch with Premier McGowan and the Education Minister for the launch of additional science labs in primary schools.

During 2017 students in Years 4 ‐6 participated in a Forensics incursion to solve a crime and the Year two’s had an incursion with West Oz Wildlife. Two classes visited the Harry Perkins Medical Research Institute in Nedlands and learnt how to use a micro pipette and other specialised equipment to solve a medical challenge. Classes have continued with their involvement in the zoo Fodder Garden and the online PAT testing has shown further positive achievements for our students well above the cohort norms.

Technology – DREAM The DREAM project is an innovative learning hub designed to connect a cluster of neighboring primary schools with the integration of digital resources in readiness for the implementation of the Technologies curriculum from 2018. Together with staff from nine local schools we have developed and shared a wide range of resources and class based activities that will ultimately assist teachers from each of the participating school to implement the new curriculum.

After completion of the DREAM project two staff members ran interactive professional learning for all staff and were released from their classes to support teachers with the implementation of Digital Technologies. In addition, the following were purchased ‐ Sphero Kit with 15 Spheros, 12 x Dot & Dash robots and 12 x iPads to ensure we have sufficient resources to run effective programs.

Integrating Digital Technologies across the curriculum broadened students thinking, exposing them to open investigations where they have opportunities to think critically, creatively and problem solve in a fun, engaging environment. Year 5 students had the opportunity to represent Melville Primary School at an Interschool coding competition using Edison robots, where they finished 3rd place. Selected Year 4 students showcased their Sphero boats at Melville Senior High School.

Specialist Health and Physical Education lessons Our Physical Education specialist explicitly taught fundamental movement skills to early years and transitioned through to fundamental game skills for the senior years.

Melville Primary School completed a school wide Fitness Testing program. Leading up to the testing all students completed an individual goal setting activity. The results were excellent, placing us in the top 80 percentile of schools tested nationwide.

All students from P/P to Year 6 attended in‐term swimming lessons throughout the year with the Year 5 & 6 students attending Coogee Beach for swimming and lifesaving skills. Faction and interschool swimming carnivals were successful events. The school competed and won the Interschool Athletics, Cross Country competitions. The girls and boys cricket team finished 3rd and 5th in the State Finals at the WACA.

Edu Dance provided a brilliant program for all students to display their skills during three big end of term concerts.

Our year 4 girls participated in a netball carnival which was run by the Melville Senior High School Netball program students.

Students also participated in the following extra‐curricular clubs; sailing, surfing, cross country, lacrosse, athletics and table tennis.

STEM

Media Arts The premiere of the Senior movie series ‘the Magical Secrets of Kadidjiny’ (now in its third run) has become an eagerly anticipated annual event, and a staple of the year 6 media program. In preparation for this, all three senior classes are taught media knowledge and skills involving direction techniques, camera‐work and film‐editing as part of the STEAM Tuesday afternoons. Attempting to involve as much of the school as possible, the year 6s were grouped and tasked with creating a short film ‘chapter’ of the movie, culminating in the premiere of the full film to an excited audience at the end of the year.

Specialist Arts (Drama) Education lessons of 60 min per week

In 2017 Melville Primary students continued their study of Drama. With one hour per week dedicated to the specialist area students were provided with skill‐based workshops as well as opportunities for discussion and response. Focus questions began our exploration for each unit ‐ What makes you laugh? What makes a good story? How do we use you space to show relationship? How do we “engage” an audience?

These units culminated in at least one annual showcase per year group; an opportunity for them to perform their work for an audience outside their own class. Highlights from these showcases included year 3s selection of songs and scenes from the musical “Matilda”; year 4s scripted performances of “Pirates and Princesses”; year 5s “Day of Comedy” and year 6s “Poetry Slam” and duologue performances.

To enrich students’ experience with Drama and Performing Arts various incursions and excursions were organised throughout the year. Yirra Yaakin were invited to perform Boodjar Kaatijin for year 4. A one‐woman show called “Suitcase Stories” was performed for the year 5s in a cross‐curricular unit on “Migration to Australia.” Year 5s once again attended the Penrhos College musical, “Mary Poppins” and the year ended with a more formal excursion to the WA Ballet’s performance of “Peter Pan.”

In addition to their standard Drama time, a selection of year 6s were involved in a performance as part of the 2017 ANZAC service. Year 6s also completed filming and editing an educational film on social etiquette in conjunction with Curtin University called “Owen Discovers the World of Play.” Matt Stretton took on the task of directing S2 in their production of “Hating Alison Ashley,” which was performed for staff and families in Term 3. Finally, towards the end of the year, all year 4 and 5s auditioned for the Melville Drama Club due to commence in 2018.

Specialist Arts (Music) Education lessons of 60min per week Our music program continued to thrive during 2017 with all students from year 4 to 6 receiving a 60‐minute lesson per week.

Many students proudly represented the school in our year 4, 5 and 6 Beater Bands who played at community events and the annual WAGSMS concert at the Crown Theatre. Our choir consisting of year 4 to 6 students sang at the massed choir festival at the Perth Concert Hall in September. Mrs Lowth and Ms Masters also performed in the teacher choir at the same event.

Mr Stretton formed our inaugural ukulele band and they also played at community festivals and created a flash mob for lunch time entertainment for their fellow students. Students attended an incursion with Adam Halls and the Velvet Players who performed jazz music with Adam scatting with individual students. New talent was discovered! We took 85 students to see the musical Matilda, year 5 students attended Mary Poppins at Penhros College and the year 4 students finished the year at His Majesty’s Theatre watching Peter Pan, the ballet.

Mrs Lowth, our well respected music teacher retired at the end of term 3. Staff, family and friends enjoyed a festival of music throughout the day with many ex‐students performing individually or in groups, much to the delight of many, especially Mrs Lowth.

Forty year 5 and 6 students have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument through the SIM visiting teacher program. The instruments taught are guitar, flute, clarinet and brass was introduced for the first time.

10 ExcellenceinLearning–LearningAreas THEARTS

BuildingourPartnerships


School BoardIt is a privilege to be part of the Melville Primary’s Board, which has an advisory and governance role in supporting the school’s leadership team in their operational decisions. Melville Primary has a passionate and involved school community, and this is evident at every school assembly, and extracurricular events. It can also be seen in the high rates of attendance, contributions, and volunteering, and in the stability of the student, teaching and Board cohorts.

The Melville Primary School Board is comprised of volunteers with diverse skills across academic extension, information technology, science, performing arts, childhood development, education systems, risk and finance. We work to constructively challenge the highly competent leadership team to keep improving and deliver opportunities for success for all students. Together we reviewed school finances, policies, and performance; shared insights from our own industries; debated community expectations; defined success and failure; and identified key risks and priority partnerships.

I am pleased to report that Melville Primary has made excellent progress in achieving the objectives of the strategic plan. I’d like to highlight very positive NAPLAN results which exceeded targets, as a direct result of a re‐focus on literacy. Individual student achievement was evident in academic extension, support plans and in the high numbers of students offered entry into specialist secondary programmes.

One of the highlights for 2017 was the implementation of the new brand – Defining Bright Futures. A lowlight was the disruption and asset loss due to arson, and Betty McNeill is to be commended for her leadership in the incident response.

Financial resources are constrained but well managed, supplemented by high voluntary contributions. Investments were made for computing equipment, aligned with the focus on STEAM. Thank you to Oren Vandersteen, who retired from the Board at the end of 2017, for his insights into IT systems, asset strategy and knowledge of coding. Funding was also found for pastoral care and support programmes.

In 2018 the Board will complete a review of performance against strategic plan criteria. We will continue to respond to the feedback from surveys. The new plan will set stretch targets for effective teaching and STEAM, and document the emerging strengths in physical education, to complement the focus on wellbeing.

Julia O’Neill (Chair ‐ School Board)

Positive relationships within the school leads to connections in the wider community.

Book Week There was a huge buzz around Book Week 2017 as individual classes chose a specific book to focus their class discussions. The build up towards Book Week was filled with excitement and lots of intentional learning as classes analyzed their selected book, created a window display and dressed up at the whole school assembly. The school community enjoyed the theatrical spectacle as one‐by‐one each class took the lime light and revealed their book choice.

The fun continued throughout the week. Daily, each class was delivered a wrapped book in brown paper, with a few clues written on the outside, so the class could predict what it would be about. They then read their book which was a short story lending itself to the Book Week theme ‘Escape to Everywhere’. Hidden inside 4 books were golden tickets which held a special invitation to a live book performance, which selected staff, performed.

The English committee were thrilled by the enthusiasm, creativity and fun the school had during Book Week and hope the passion for reading continues throughout the rest of the year.

12BuildingourPartnershipscont.

Highlightsandactivitiescont.

Parents & Citizens Association We again enjoyed a full program of events and plenty of opportunities to volunteer alongside parents and carers, school staff and members of our community. We came together to make our contribution to providing the best possible learning environment for our children. It has been heartwarming to see the community spirit on display at our events and in support of the continued improvement of P&C services. Our successes over the past twelve months, include:

Canteen (P&C Run School Service) A new and improved healthy menu and a number of efficiency measures introduced by our Canteen Manager and Assistant Manager, both dedicated and hardworking individuals. This great team is complemented by parent volunteers who give up their personal time to assist them.

Uniform Shop (P&C Run School Service) We appointed a new Uniform Shop Manager in early 2017. Our newly branded school uniform continues to be embedded with some different items and materials trailed by our Uniform Shop Manager, including reversible faction‐colour hats. We introduced an electronic payment capability for the convenience of parents and the efficiency of shop record keeping.

Vegetable patch Our vegetable patch provides a number of learning opportunities for students of all ages. Its maintenance and supplies are funded by the P&C and it is managed by P&C volunteers. Year six students have been tasked with selling produce before the fortnightly school assemblies. MOMPS – Men of Melville Primary School MOMPS held a number of Dads' and Kids' camps and two social events to bring together the fathers in the school community. It has been fantastic to have the MOMPs team as part of the P&C and what a successful year they have had, including a big job to remulch our early childhood playground area Events and fundraising Our many events added to the breadth of experiences and sense of belonging for our students. Early in the school year we held a twilight picnic and supported a celebration day to mark the reopening of the Junior Block ‐ rebuilt after fire damage. We later ran a disco, breakfasts for cross‐country runners two days a week throughout term two, several special menu canteen days, and cake stalls at the athletics carnivals. Other events such as an Easter raffle, Bunnings sausage sizzle and second‐hand book sale, boosted our fundraising efforts and allowed us to invest in extra learning tools and library furniture, which were identified by the school and parents as funding priorities.

Walking group A walking group was established as a regular opportunity for social connection and exercise, to promote friendship and mental health among school community members. Mrs Jo Webb (P&C President)

MelvillePrimaryParentSurvey2017The average score was out of 5.0

The comments provide a snap shot of the many written.

Recommendations:

Parent I feel there is a lot of expectation from students in regards to their learning. They learn too much at once instead of slowing

down & researching one topic at a time.

Parents should not get a say in their child’s class placements unless there is a significant issue.

Student Although I love school, there are some things that could be improved. For example, it's been proven many times that longer

school days are more efficient than homework.

Staff Need to place more emphasis on student self‐reflection and goal setting PD that allows for individual needs and interests of

teachers and EAs.

I think sustainability and respect for the environment could be more of a focus and would be a nice balance as we move

forward in ICT and digital technology.

Question topics Parent Student Staff

Relations within school and the community, leadership and staff engagement.

4.0 Consistent communication with the teacher enables me to understand what my child is working on and the expected standard.

4.6 All the staff care about all the kids in this school.

4.5 There are many teachers who go above and beyond at MPS. Students are happy as they feel safe and supported.

Excellence in Teaching and Learning

3.8 I would like to see more education about our first nation people – more about the aboriginal people, history and culture.

4.6 MPS is an amazing and inclusive school that pushes us to thrive in all areas. The Arts, sport maths, English media and film. The list goes on!

4.4 Extra support staff given to teachers helps improve student outcomes.

Partnerships 4.0 I have noticed MPS is a very inclusive school with great diversity which prevents elitist cliques from dominating those who may be in a minority group.

4.4 Our school accepts parents and citizens to help and aid us.

4.0 This school has fantastic partnerships with the community, allied professionals and parents. It is a wonderful place to work.

Supportive Environment 4.2 Commitment to the school beliefs and values from staff, parents and students are clearly evident.

4.3 The school teaches kids the values of being alive.

4.2 Overall we have a healthy, sustainable environment in and out of the classroom.

13BuildingourPartnershipscont.

Student Parliament 2017 was once again a productive year for Melville’s School Parliament. The year 6s elected into the eight ministries fulfilled their delegated responsibilities with confidence and initiative, developing their leadership skills across the year as they assisted in the organisation and management of the school. Our two elected Prime Ministers acted as great representatives of our school, and instituted some positive initiatives – highlighted by their re‐introduction of the Aussie of the Month award.

Year 6 Albany Camp The year 6 students travelled in two coaches to Albany’s Camp Quaranup for this year’s camp. The old quarantine station provided a picturesque view of Albany and an amazing base from which to explore the early history and natural wonders of Albany and its surroundings. The history of Albany was discovered while visiting the old whaling station; The National ANZAC Centre; Albany Museum; Brig Amity and The Old Gaol.

The Tree Top Walk, Denmark Animal Farm, hot chocolates on Middleton Beach, archery, geocaching, and raft building were highly rated by the students. However, getting a little wet, in the icy cold water off Shoal Bay while canoeing, was by far the students’ favorite activity. Canoes capsizing, students swimming for the beach and a mini water fight made this a very memorable activity and camp for all students and staff.

School Chaplaincy During 2017, our school chaplain, once again, worked one day a week. An average of 75 individual appointments per term were arranged. Interestingly, the 2017 YouthCARE statistics for all of W.A. show that 59% of such formal appointments with school chaplains were with the students in a school, 30% were with the school staff and 11% involved parents/ care‐givers. At Melville Primary School during 2017, about 70% of such individual appointments involved the students, 22% related to staff and 8% were with the parents. As the School Chaplaincy service is offered for the well‐being of the entire school community, it is wonderful to see it being used in a variety of ways by the various members of the school community.

YouthCARE’s 2017 annual statistics showed that the top four topics of conversation which primary and secondary students had with their chaplains were about:

Melville Primary School’s 2017 statistics for YouthCARE revealed the following four most common topics were spoken about by the students with their chaplain:

Terri Emslie – YouthCARE Melville Primary School Chaplain

Family

Peers

BehaviourAnxiety

0%

5%

10%

15%

20% Family

Peers

Behaviour

Anxiety

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Topics

Family

Anxiety

Resiliency

Behaviour

14SupportiveEnvironment


Safe, respectful and motivating environment with clear expectations

for all.

ReviewandExpenditureFinancialSummary– ENDOFYEAR2017

15SchoolFinances2017

annual report 2017 - melville primary school p&c...

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