port school annual report 2018 final

Port School Annual Report

2018

PortSchoolIncorporatedAnnualReport2018 Page2of17

ForewordbyAnneGee-ChairofPortSchoolIncorporated

EveryyearourPortFamilyChristmaspartygrowsinnumbers.ThisyearitincludedmembersofthePortSchoolBoard, theirpartnersand families.Wecelebratedall thingsPortSchoolwithour teachingstaff,groundsandmaintenance,counsellingteam,YoungParentandEarlyLearningCentreteams,theMobileClassroomProgram,Outreach,ourRTO,alliedagencyfriends,muralartists,supportersandfamilies.

It’salonglistthesedays,indicativeofthe25yearsithastakentoarriveatthispointonthejourney.Itisnotoftenthatanorganisationhasanopportunitytolookbackandtakestocktoseeifitisstillontrack.In fact, it has takenmore than 25 years. Suchmonumental decisions, such as deciding to start a newschoolfromscratch,donothappenovernight.Sonow,whenwesitdownwithcolleaguestonutoutnewplans and innovative ideas, and therearemanyof these timesatPort,we should spareamoment toreflectonthePortSchoolpioneers,meetingincoffeeshopsandaroundkitchentablesathometobringthisdreamtolife.ColinMichellhasuncoveredmanymagicmomentsofPort’strickygestationperiod,it’smuchanticipatedbirthandalltheworry,fearandheavyresponsibilitythatcomeswiththecommitmenttocaringandgrowingsomething that isdear toyourheart.Aswith thegrowthofanychild, familyorcommunity,thereareperiodsofpain,tearsanddoubt,mingledwithcelebrationofsmallwins,signsofhope,aswellasthatwarminner-glowthatsaysthatthisisagoodthingwearegrowinghere.Wouldourpioneersbeproudtoseewheretheireffortshaveled?Elementshavechangedalongtheway,andtheBoardischargedwiththetaskofrevisitingourconstitutiontobringittoanewrealm.Andwhilemuchofthewording isawkwardandcumbersome (much likeanewchild) theheartof it, theessenceofwhatthesepioneerssetout todo, isstillcentral toourmission; toprovideasafe,nurturingandsupportiveenvironment,inwhichstudentsareempoweredtoleadpurposefulandfulfillinglives.

Idon’tthinkourpredecessorswouldbejustproud;theywouldbeincreduloustoseehowtheirideasandhardworkhastranspired25yearsdownthetrack.The25thAnniversaryFaircelebrationandthecall-outfor early Elders of Port to make contact and contribute to the School’s first documented historychronicle, have uncovered much of an untold story. My thanks to the board sub-committee of AnnHamblin, Craig Menner and Nolene Martin for co-ordinating an ever-growing yet highly successfulcommunityevent.Whathasbecomeincreasinglyobvious,isthatwesharecommongoalswithourearlyPortpioneers - faith, a callingof sorts todo good, fix things,make things right, bring joy, hopeandafutureforkidscurrentlylostandstuckinanotsogreatplace.

Forallourcurrentstudents,25yearsaremorethantheyhavebeenonthisearth;formanyofus,itisagoodproportionofourlives;andfortherestofus,atleasthalfofourlives.25yearsisalongtime,andashorttimeinmanyways.Silveristhetraditionalgiftfora25thanniversary.Ifindthataptaswhenyouthinkofmedals,achievingabronzemedalisafootinthedoor,aplaceonthepodium,lookingforwardtothingstocome.Asilvermedalisplacedneitheratthetop,norbottombutinapositionwhereyoucanlookbackatwhereyouhavecomefrom,aswellasforward,towhereyouaimtobe.Thegoldisattheendofthejourney.Itiswhenyousitbacktorestandthejobisdone.Ourjobishowevernotyetdone.

WinstonChurchill’s famous speech in1942addressed thenationafter troopsdrove theenemyoutofEgypt, a battle thatmarked a turning point in the war. “Now, this is not the end. It is not even thebeginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” This is not to say the Port Schoollandscape is somewhat of a warzone or a battlefront, but I am sure that, for all of our staff at thecoalface,therearetimeswhenitmustverymuchfeelthatway.Ourstaffmustremembertocelebrate


smallwinsandrememberthatwithouttheirsupport,andthemyriadofcontributions,noneofthiscouldhappen.Wheneveryoucandomoregoodinyourlifethanharm,buildmorethingsthanyoubreakdown,laughmore than you cry, youwill feel tremendous joy and contentment in your life. I have no doubtthesearethecharacteristicsandtraitsofallourstaffandgenerousvolunteers– Ihonestlydon’t thinktheywouldotherwisebehere.

IpaytributetothebandofgenerousandtalentedvolunteerswhoworkonthePortSchoolBoard–theyhaveearnedtheirduesthisyear,aswehavegrowntocreateacomprehensivesuiteofgovernanceplans,documentsandpolicies-notalwaysthefunpart–buttheyarealwaysthere,givingfreelyoftheirtimeandwisdom–Ithankyou.

Ialsowant to take thisopportunity to recognise the leadership teamatPortSchool, ledbyourgentlegiant, Barry Finch. Some of the top traits of highly effective leaders are sincere enthusiasm, integrity,loyalty and leading with a sense of humility; Barry emulates these traits in spades. With all goodpartnerships there is often a ying and yang relationship, here DeputyMikeGilbert brings 3more toptraits of leadership to the table: great communication, decisiveness and empowerment. He is ourenergiserbunny;thereisnoendeavourtoograndormountaintoohighforMike.WethankbothMikeand Barry for their energy and generosity of spirit. We constantly thank our lucky stars for the dayNoleneMartingracedourrefurbishedsquashcourts–howweeversurvivedwithoutherwewillneverknow.Nolene’stasksareoftenendlessandthankless,nothingisevertoomuchbotherandIwonder ifsheevergetscrankywithourconstantdemandsandcrazypace.EricSankeyourquietachiever,thenightwatchmanofthefundsthevoiceofreasonandcalm–hehasseenourbudgetgrowthreefoldandthensome,andwethankhimforhelpingustogrow.

Iextendmygratitudetoourtalentedstaff,fortheyareall leaders.Mygreatestregretandgreatestjoyhappenedallonthesamedaythisyearwhen,aspartoftheprofessionaldevelopmentdayIattended,BarryaskedstafftospendafewminutestosharestoriesabouthowtheycametobeatPortandabitabout their roles. As each member spoke, there was a growing sense that this was a phenomenalgatheringofkindredspirits,allfromdifferentwalksoflife,differentexperiencesandwithamultitudeofpersonalstories.Yettheywerebondedbyacommondrive,clearlyfullofpassiontomakeadifference.Hearingthosestorieswasmygreatestjoy–nothavingrecordedthosewords,mygreatestregret.IfeveryoucoulddescribewhatPortSchoolwasallabout–thatsessioncapturedit.

Winstonwasrightthisisnottheend.Itisnoteventhebeginningoftheend.Butitis,perhaps,theendofthebeginning.Welookbackwithgratitudeandthanks,westandheretodaywithwell-earnedprideandwelookforwardwithgreatanticipationandexcitement.

Happy25thBirthdayPortSchool.

AnneGeePortSchoolChairBEd,ECE,DipTeach,ECE/HPE


Principal’sReflections–BarryFinch TheessenceofthePortSchoolcommunityiskeepingasmallsupportiveenvironmentforourstudents.ThroughclevermanagementoftheSchoolspace,andbydividingtheSchoolintosmallerunits,wehavebeen able to grow the number of students from 30 in 2010 to 120 in 2018, while still offering theintensive support that the cohortneeds. Thepredominantly autonomousunits allow students tohavesmall group care and support, while also having facilities, counselling services and administrativesupport.Asofnextyear,ourcampuswillbedividedinto6areaswithveryspecificsupportnetworksineachgroup.

• MainSchool 60studentswith10full-timestaff• YoungParentCentre 15studentswith3full-timestaff• MiddleSchool 15studentswith2full-timestaff• MobileClassroom 12studentswith2full-timestaff• Outreach 8studentswith3full-timestaff• Year13Transition 6studentswith2full-timestaff

The School also has two counsellors and two counselling psychologists, who work across the wholecampus,anadministrationteamofsix,andsevenandotherpart-timesupportstaff.

PortSchool is increasinglygainingareputationasagoodplace forstudentswithhigh levelsofanxietyand other mental health conditions. Working with an ever-increasing number of students with poormentalhealthhasputus intoahigher fundingstreamandrequires increasedstaff inordertosupportthecomplexityofouryoungpeople.

Over the School’s 25-years history, our cohort has gone from an academic alternative, to a place foryouth from low socio-economic families with intergenerational trauma, through to a school that isregardedhighlybymentalhealthorganisationsandtheirprofessionals.Ourmandatehasalwaysbeentore-engagestudentswhohave lost theirwayandhave,due toamultitudeof reasons,disengagedwitheducation.Thisisstillourprimarygoal.

With steady growth and increased access to mental health funding, the lag-time between increasedfundingandfindinggoodstaff,haslefttheSchoolwithever-increasingcashatbank.Thishasallowedusto take on important capital works at the School. These infrastructure improvements, as well as thebreaking up of the School into units, has enabled the School tomaintainmoderate growthwhile stillgivingstudentsasmallandcaringenvironment;muchneededforthemtoflourish.

BarryFinchPrincipal


PortSchoolIncorporatedOverview

Port School was established in November 1992. It opened its doors to its first students in 1993 andcelebrated25yearsin2018.OriginallysituatedintheheartofFremantle,theSchoolnowresidesintheCityofCockburn.PortSchoolisoneofWesternAustralia’sCurriculumandRe-engagementinEducation(CARE)Schools,specialisinginworkingwithadolescentsatextremesocialandeducationalrisk.Studentsmay be referred to the School having encountering serious problems in a mainstream schoolenvironment.Thesedifficultiesmayarisefromacademic,socialorbehaviouralissues.

PortSchool’scurrentPrincipal,BarryFinch,wasappointedat theendof2009and is the8thPrincipal.Duringhis tenure,Barryandhis teamhaveestablishedan impressive rangeofprogramsand services,manyextendingbeyondthoseofotherschools.

Port School is an incorporated body, overseen by a board of directors who guide and assist in thedirection of the School, and who ultimately performance-manage the Principal. The Principal is thestrategicandoperationalmanageroftheSchool.

In2016/17theBoardapprovedthedevelopmentofanewadministrationblockfortheSchool’sgrowingteam.Delaysintheprojectresultedintheoriginalcommencementdateoflate2017beingmovedtotheend of 2018. The projectwas finally completed for the commencement of the 2019 school year. Thisextension improves staff facilities and encompasses a staff meeting room, administration office,Principal’s office, counselling room and additional meeting room. Plans were also drawn up for aproposeddemountable classroom,busgarageand fitness gym tobe located to the southof themainbuilding,withaprojectedcompletiondateofTerm1,2019.

PortSchoolIncorporatedoperatesthefollowingentities:

PortSchoolPort School is a co-educational, independent secondary school that aims to engage at-risk students inYears 8-12who, for a variety of reasons and circumstances, havenot been able to achieve success inmainstreamschool settings. The studentsatPortare successfulbecause the schooloperates ina verydifferentway tomostothers: small class sizes, hands-on vocational learning, personalisedand flexiblelearning groups, community projects, and excursions. In addition, individual pastoral care and socialsupportinamyriadofformatsisoffered,fromavarietyofnetworksandexternalagencies.

PortSchoolMobileClassroomThe Port School Mobile Classroom is an innovative and progressive educational program, aimed atengaging our community's most at-risk, disadvantaged and disengaged youth. The program operateswithin thecommunity froma12-seaterbus. It isastructurededucationalprogramthatencourages itsparticipantstore-engagewiththecommunityandachieveeducationaloutcomes. Portaimstodothisthroughthebuildingofstrongrelationshipsandplacingdecisionsandconsequencesinthehandsofouryoungpeople.

PortSchoolYoungParentCentrePort School’s Young Parent Centre (YPC) provides flexible educational and training opportunities toyoung parentswho have disengaged from their education and training, due to becoming pregnant orbeingamum.Theseyoungpeoplearealsosupportedintransitioningintotheirparentingrolebybeing


provided with healthy and evidence-based knowledge, as well as effective parenting skills whichempowerself-beliefandconfidence.

PortSchoolEarlyLearningCentrePortSchool’sEarlyLearningCentre(ELC)isafullyACECQAregisteredchildcarefacility.Thisstimulating,age-appropriate learning environment nurtures safety and secure relationships, embedded in a play-basededucational caremodel. Theprogramassists young teenmums to stay in education, undertakeparentingprogramsand improve thehealthof themselves and their child, througha varietyof healthandsocialwell-beinginitiatives.

PortSchoolRegisteredTrainingOrganisationIn2015PortSchoolachievedstatusasaRegisteredTrainingOrganisation(RTOnumber52718)throughthe Training Accreditation Council (TAC) of Western Australia. This enables Port School to delivernationallyrecognisedvocationaltraining.

PortSchoolOutreachProgramPort School'sOutreach Program creates a bridge that helps connect students back into life, back intoschool and a learning environment. The program’s main focus is to support students academically,sociallyandemotionally.TheroleoftheOutreachteamiswideandvaried:tosupportstudentstoaccesshealthandmedicalassistancewhentheparent isabsentorunabletosupporttheirchild;toliaisewithparents and carers/guardianswhen students are in the care of child protection agencies; to bring theclassroom and peers to the homewhen a student cannot come to school; to provide themeans forstudentstoattendsportandrecreationalfacilitiesandassiststudentstojoinlocalsportingteams.PortOutreach is the helping hand supporting students tomake contact andmaintain healthy relationshipswithintheircommunity.

PortSchoolStudentServicesPort School has further developed its Student Services arm in 2018, working collaboratively withstudents, parents, staff and external community networks. Focus is on offering early supportiveinterventionwithyoungpeoplewhohaveadditionalneedsorwhoareatrisk.Theseadditionalservicesenable students to achieve successful education and wellbeing outcomes by overcoming barriers tolearning.The teamprovides targeted interventionoptionsandcoordinatedserviceprovision foryoungpeopleandtheirfamilies.

PortSchool’sTeachingandLearningFramework

Quality teachingand learning is central toourpurposeatPort School.Asaprovider toa very specificclientelebase,Portstaffworktogethertoequipstudentswiththebestchancetosucceedandgrowinalearningenvironmentthatisengaging,encouraging,dynamicandpurposeful.

OurapproachtopedagogyisalignedwiththeAustralianProfessionalStandardsforTeachers(APST)andis communicated through our Teaching and Learning Framework. This framework reflects the sharedbeliefsofourschoolcommunityabouthighqualityteaching,pastoralcareandprofessionalpractice.Ourframeworkguidestheactionsandbehavioursthatshapeanddirectstaffpracticeatourschool.


• Engaging,innovatedanddifferentiatedprogramsanddelivery• Aligningcurriculumandassessment• Developing andmaintaining positive relationshipswith high expectations for engagement and

achievement• Creatingandmaintainingsafe,supportiveandinclusivelivingandlearningenvironments• Ongoingreflection,analysisandadaptation• Commitmenttolearningasalifelongpursuit• Establishingandmaintainingsuccessfulpartnerships

OurVision

PortSchoolisanindependentschoolofchoiceforthelocalandwidercommunity,forstudentswhohavenot been able to achieve success in mainstream school settings. Port’s vision is to provide a safe,nurturing and supportive environment, in which students are empowered to lead purposeful andfulfillinglives.Inachievingthisvision,PortSchool:

• Providesdistinctive,specificallydesigned,holisticeducationmodels• Deliversandstrengthensessentialliteracy/numeracyfoundationsandlifeskills• Implementseffectivepastoralcareandwrap-aroundhealthcareprograms• Ensuressmallclasssizesandreallife,hands-onlearning• Commits to removing conflictbetween students and the schoolbydevelopingmeaningful and

positiverelationships

OurPurpose

• Port School creates anduncovers pathways to ameaningful life by providing experiences thatenablestudentpotential.

• PortSchoolsupportsattainmentofitsvisionthroughanenvironmentthat:o issafe,nurturingandinclusiveo fostersconfidence,personalbestandrespectforselfandotherso inspiresstudentstolivepurposefullives.

OurValues

• EmpowermentWeenableeachothertoexperiencethoughtsandfeelingsasvalidandimportant

• DiversityWewelcome,nurtureandpromoteeachothers’differences.

• GrowthWekeeptheeducationaldevelopmentandwellbeingofpeopleatthecentreofwhatwedo.

• CommunityWeprovideasafeandsecureenvironment thatpromotescontribution,ownershipandmutualrespect.


SchoolPerformanceReport2018

AspertheAustralianEducationRegulations2013,theSchoolisrequiredtoreportonspecificperformanceindicatorsincludingthepublicationoffinancialinformationandreportingonschoolperformance.

AcademicLevelsandAchievements

A key focus area of Port’s academic program is tackling low literacy and numeracy levels. Uponenrolment,anindividual learningplanis implementedand,usingtheAustralianCouncilforEducationalResearch (ACER) Compass model of testing, the student’s levels are ascertained and a baseline isestablisheduponwhichtoprovideeffectiveandevidence-basedteachingofliteracyandnumeracy.Thetestingoccursacrosstheschoolbiannually,trackingprogressandhighlightingpersistentproblemareas.CompassisalignedtotheAustralianCoreSkillsFramework(ACSF),thecommonnationalreferencepointfordescribingperformanceinthecoreskillareas.

Onaverage,studentsenrolatPortSchoolwithareadingageof10,coupledwithrudimentarynumeracyskills. Improving student outcomes in these areas is key. A student struggling to read andwritewillalmostinvariablypresentwithlowself-esteemandfeelemotionssuchasshame,fearandpowerlessnesswhenplaced in the classroom setting. This can present itself byway of the student feeling ostracisedfromtheirpeersand/orbydisruptivebehaviour.Theywillgotogreatlengthstoavoidsituationswheretheymaybediscoveredandwillfindthemselvesunableandunwillingtofullyparticipateinclass.

WherePortstudentssitontheAustralianCoreSkillsFramework(primarytomiddleschool)inLiteracyandNumeracy.

Closingtheeducationalgapforthesestudents iscrucial,andstaffaccessavarietyofpedagogicaltoolsandinstrumentsofdifferentdiagnostic,andpracticalefficacytoadequatelyassess,aswellas, improvetheliteracyandnumeracyknowledge,skillsandunderstandingofourstudents.

TheACERCompasstestisacomputer-basedassessmentofcoreliteracyandnumeracyskills,specificallydesignedfordisengagedandeducationallymarginalisedyoungpeopleandadults.Theassessmentusescontextuallyrelevantquestionpromptstoactivelyengagestudentsandprovidestaffwithanassessmentofstudentlevels,indicatingproblemareaswithdetailed,extensiveinformationonstudents’knowledge


andunderstanding,clearly identifyingwheresupport isneeded.Theaimof theCompass test isnot toreplaceallofothertoolsusedbyteachers,buttoprovideasolidframeworkthataddressestheparticularneeds of Port’s students, and upon which their Individual Education Program (IEP) can be built andadjustedaccordingly.

NAPLAN

NAPLANisofferedtothePortSchoolYear9cohort.However,asthestudentsarenotworkingtowardsobtaining aWestern Australia Certificate of Education (WACE), it is usual practice for students to beformallywithdrawn by their guardian. The Port School student cohort is not obliged to sit theOnlineLiteracyandNumeracyAssessment(OLNA).

PortSchoolRegisteredTrainingOrganisation

PortRegisteredTrainingOrganisation(RTO)allowstheSchooltodelivernationallyrecognisedvocationalcourses.Tenqualificationsarecurrentlybeingoffered,sevenonourownscopeandthreeothersbeingdeliveredviaanauspicearrangement.ThesecoursesoffergreatopportunitiesforourstudentsfromYear10upwards.Deliverymaterialsandprogramsforthesecourseshavebeencreatedin-house,tobestsuitourcohort.

StudentenrolmentsinthePortRTOfor2018were:

• CertificateIGeneralEducationforAdults 76• CertificateILeadership(viaauspicearrangementwithSouthMetroTAFE) 9• CertificateIIGeneralEducationforAdults 49• CertificateIICommunityServices 16• CertificateIIFurnitureMaking 9• CertificateIIVisualArts 11• CertificateIIHospitality 13• CertificateIISportCoaching(viaauspicearrangementwithYMCA) 16• CertificateIIIGeneralEducationforAdults 13

(viaauspicearrangementwithCommunicareAcademy)

• CertIIICommunityServices 1Offcampustrainingwithexternalprovidershasincreasedsignificantlythroughthe“VETinSchools”program,establishingahigherlevelofexpectationamongstouroldercohortwithregardstotheirvocationaltransitionbeyondPortSchool.


Enrolmentversusachievedqualificationdata is somewhat skewed,as students commenceatdifferenttimesandprogressatdifferingpaces.Coursesmaythereforebecompletedoveraperiodof12,18or24months.

Pathways

In 2018, thirty-eight students engaged in various pathway programs, including school-basedtraineeships, work experience placements, Try-a-Trade opportunities, VETiS and external agencyqualifications.Somestudentsexperiencedmorethanoneprogram.

• Workexperienceplacement 10• School-basedtraineeship 13 4completed,5continuing,3didnotcomplete,

1withdrewtofollowUniversitypathway

• Try-a-Trade 14 6completed,8unsuccessfulduetopoorattendance

• Externalproviderqualifications 5 2completed,2continuing,1withdrawn

• VETinSchools(VETiS) 8 3completed,1continuing,2progressedto apprenticeship/traineeship,2withdrawn

• EmployerCommunity 19 Thereareatotalof36activemembersoftheEmployer Community


YoungParentCentre

Twenty-two female students enrolled in the Young Parent Centre (YPC) throughout 2018, with agesrangingfrom15-21years.Thecentrewelcomedfournewbabies,bringingthetotalofnineteenenrolledintheEarlyLearningCentre(ELC)throughouttheyear,andsevennewborns,duetocommencein2019.

A number of YPC students successfully completed qualifications, including Certificate III in IndividualSupport (1), Certificate II inGeneral Education forAdults (2) andCertificate I inGeneral Education forAdults(1).Twostudents,wholeftPortattheendof2018,are inemploymentandoneisenrolled inaCertificateIIIDisabilitycourseatTAFE.

The YPC aims to focus on educational outcomes, as well as enhancing parenting skills. This wasimplementedthroughIndividualEducationPlansandengagingstudentsintheCircleofSecurityandRedNose training. Other training programs were delivered including cooking, food and nutrition, healthycookingonabudgetandamoneysmartprogram,introducingstudentstothebasicsoffinanceandtheimportanceofbudgetingforunexpectedexpenses.

Amyriad of ‘in kind’ services, providing parenting and health support for the youngmums and theirbabies, supported the program in 2018. These included Red Nose, Meerilinga, Telethon Speech andHearing,CityofCockburn,StephanieDowden(ChildHealthNursePractitioner),BestBeginnings,DCP,OzHarvest and Better Beginnings. A $5000 grant from the City of Cockburnwas used to support healthchecks on the babies, which resulted in seven babies being detected as having significant and severehearingloss,withfurtherfollow-upsorganisedattheTelethonSpeechandHearingCentre.

AnapplicationforaCapitalWorksGranttoextendtheYPCfacilitieswassubmittedtoAISWA.AGrantof$225,000was awarded, and the project is due to commence in 2019,with an anticipated completiondateofearly2020.

StudentScholarshipsandAwards

Thefollowingscholarshipswereawardedin2018:

• StrivingforExcellenceScholarship-KelvinLe• Health&WellbeingScholarship-AshantiBellandMichelleStoddart• ExcellenceinArtScholarship-EmilyFrappell• WorkshopScholarship-EthanKlompmaker• Literacy&NumeracyScholarship-MarleneWare• CGEAScholarship-EthanKlompmaker• YPCStrivingforExcellenceScholarship–NaminaBangura• YPCCommitmenttoStudiesScholarship–TianaLovell• VisualArtSpecialEndeavourAward-AshlynRoseCaddy


Specialrecognitionwasalsogiventothefollowingstudentsfortheirachievements:

• AttendanceAward-JoachimCarrier• Excellence in Visual Arts – Ashanti Bell, Cheyenne Bernardi, Jamison Laxton, Brandi Robson,

Kelvin Le, Emaly Rauter, Bethany McShane, Eva Earls, KimmyWallem, MarleneWare, DesleySingleton-Hooper

• MasterchefAward–AdamLaxtonandBrandiRobson• MostImprovedStudent–AdamLaxton• CitizenshipAward–CarlieMonaco• ExcellenceinWorkshopAward–EmalyRauter• MostValuedPlayer–LukeRoser• YPCMostImprovedStudent–KennedyTolland• YPCAttendanceAward–KeelyCottonandSharnieKiely• MobileClassroomAwardforOutstandingResilienceandUltimateTeamPlayer–JaromeAlone• MobileClassroomMostImprovedStudentAward–BrendonPurcell

StudentDestinations

Portaimstosupportstudentstransitioningtotheworkforceortofurthereducation.DuetothenatureoftheSchool’sstudentcohorthowever,trackinglongertermdevelopmentsremainsproblematic.

Year13isanoptionforsomestudentswhomaynotbequitereadytotransitionoutofschoolandintotheworkforce.StudentsintheYear13programareexpectedtocontributetothecommunityandtakeon a leadership role whilst completing an agreed vocational course. An IEP and transition plan isimplementedtoensuretheirreadinesstotransitionintoemploymentorfurtherstudy.


StudentAttendance

The School has a non-attendancemanagement system for absences. If a student is recorded as beingabsentwithoutanexplanation,theparent/guardianiscontactedviaSMS.Ifthestudentcontinuestobeabsent,theparent/guardianiscontactedbyphone.

Regular attendance still poses a great challenge for students, some ofwhommay have not attendedschool for an extended period of time, before enrolling at Port School. Attendance remains a priorityfocusforPortSchool,withatargetedapproachtoparents/guardiansthroughtheIEPprocess.Studentswhocontinuetostrugglewithengagingoncampus,maybereferredtotheOutreachProgram.

OutreachProgram

PortSchool'sOutreachProgramaimstohelpencouragedisadvantagedadolescentsofthecommunitytore-engage back into the education system. The program is also designed to complement a student’sexistingschooltimetable,wherepossible.In2018theprogramwassignificantlyexpandedtomatchtheincreasingdemandsofstudentsstrugglingforavarietyofreasonstoattendschool.

TheOutreachteamassistyoungstudentsviapositivementoring,usingamobileeducationmodelwhereactivities andenrichmentprograms areusually doneoff-site. Theseprograms aim to improve social,emotional and physical wellness and to provide alternative and flexible options for the individualstudent.TheOutreachteamalsosupportsstudentswhoattendschoolregularly,butmayrequiresupportinaccessinghealthandwellbeing-relatedservices.


InclusiveEducation

Port School, through its student support teamof counsellors andpsychologists, is strongly focusedonstudent mental health and wellbeing. Mental health challenges impact greatly upon the level ofattendanceandengagementofmanyPortstudents.

Port School is increasingly gaining a reputation with external agencies as a premier institution foradolescents with mental health challenges. Funding received allows the School to engage specialisedstafftosupportthecomplexneedsoftheseyoungpeople.


SourcesofIncome

WorkforceComposition Thefollowingmembersofstaffwereemployedin2018.Theteamconsistsofamulti-culturallydiverserangeofstafffromtennationalities.

Role Number FullTime PartTime/Casual Changesin2018Principal 1 1 - NoDeputyPrincipal 1 1 - NoBusinessAdmin 3 1 2 NoSchoolSeniorTeacher 5 5 - YesTeacher 3 2 1 YesTrainer 3 - 3 YesEducationAssistant 3 1 2 YesPsychologist 1 - 1 YesOutreachworker 1 1 - YesCounsellor 3 - 3 NoSportsChaplain 1 1 - NoMobileClassroomTeacher 2 2 1 NoYouthWorker 2 - 2 No YoungParentCentreCoordinator 1 1 - NoTeacher 1 1 - YesEducationAssistant 1 - 1 No


EarlyLearningCentreCoordinator 1 1 - NoQualifiedEducator 1 1 - NoCook 1 - 1 NoCasualstaff 4 - 4 YesMaintenanceandGroundsMaintenance 1 - 1 NoMaintenance/Grounds 1 1 - YesIndigenousEmployeesYouthWorker 2 1 1 YesLanguageTrainer 1 - 1 YesSpecialistAutismSpecialist 1 - 1 Yes

TeacherStandardsandQualifications

AllseniorteachersandteachersemployedbyPortholdtheappropriatequalificationsandareregisteredand approved by the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). Trainers deliveringvocationalCertificatecoursesholdtheappropriateoptionareaqualificationandaCertificateIVTAEandhaveextensiveindustryexperience.

Ms.JaneHawdon BAAnthropology&Linguistics,GradDipEdMs.JoyCromwell BEdSecondary,BAEnglish,CertIVTAEMs.RaffaellaFecondi BATheology&Philosophy,MAOxon,GradCertEd,CertIVTAEMs.DionneGarvey BEdSecondary,CertIVTAEMs.EileenVlahovich BAPsychology,MasterofTeachingPrimary,CertIVTAEMs.JennaGarard BASAdventureEcotourism,GradDipEd,CertIVTAEMs.ElizabethLove BEd,GradCertEducation(SpecialNeeds)Mr.PhilBrooks BAVisualArt&theCrafts,GradDipEd,MasterofDesign,CertIVTAEMr.MattHopkins BEdPrimaryCertIVHospitalityCertIVTAEMr.TomLee BAHistory,English&CulturalStudies,GradDipEd,CertIVTAEMr.AidanRowden BEdPrimary,CertIVFitness,CertIVTAE

FamilyandGuardianEngagement

The Principal and staffmaintain an open line of communicationwith parents/guardians in respect tostudent’sacademicprogram,behaviourandsocialandeducationalprogress.PortSchoolaimstoengageclosely with families and guardians, regarding both positive and negative interactions that may beexperienced by a student. The IEP process is multi-faceted, with input from staff, student andparent/guardian.


Portalsoaimstoengagefamiliesandguardiansthroughouttheyearusingthefollowingmediums:

InitialEntranceMeeting–Parentsandguardianscompleteapre-interviewwiththePrincipal;theyareengagedandempoweredtoworkcollaborativelywiththeSchool fromtheonset.This is followedbyasecondinterviewwiththeidentifiedpastoralcareteachers.

Proactive Contact – Using a pastoral care approach, staff maintain regular contact with students’families,inordertoreportpositiveachievements,challengesand/orbehaviouralissueswhichmayoccur.Studentsupportstaffalsoworkcollaborativelywithparentsandguardians, in thebest interestsof thestudent.

Port SchoolWebsite - The newly released Port Schoolwebsite (www.portschool.wa.edu.au) offers aninsightintotheprogramsonofferattheSchoolandkeepstheSchoolcommunityinformedviaits‘LatestNews’itemswhichareregularlyposted.

TermlyNewsletter–Anextensivenewsletter,showcasingtheeventsandachievementsofbothstudentsandtheSchoolcommunity,isproducedeachterm.Thisiscirculatedtoparents,carersandguardiansaswellastothewidercommunity.ItisalsoavailabletodownloadfromtheSchool’swebsite.

Malaysia Newsletter – The Malaysia excursion is a culmination of two terms of planning, including:organisation, fundraising, logistics and culture. The Newsletter produced upon return is sent to allparents, carers and guardians. It highlights and promotes this unique excursion and the opportunitiesundertakenandexperiencedbythestudents.

Facebook–PorthasitsownFacebooksiteandFacebookpagefortheYPCandELC.Itisstrictlymanagedbystaffandallowsforthepromotionofpositiveactivities,eventsandschool-relatedtopics.Parentsandstudentsareencouragedtojointhesitetokeepuptodatewithwhatisgoingononadailybasis.

ConsultationSessionsandParents’Evenings–Portactivelytriestoengageparents,especiallyduringtheMalaysiaexcursion.Staffareproactivelytryingtoengagewithparents,withthepositiveaswellasthenegative, to ensure they are part of their student’s learning. Parent Satisfaction Surveys have beenintroduced,butevenwithincentivesoffered,suchascanteencredits,ithasstillbeenhardtogetthesecompletedandreturnedtogainanymeaningfuldata.

EndofYearAwardsLunch–ThelastdayoftheschoolyearisatimetocelebratetheachievementsofthePortcommunity.Over150people,comprisingstaff,students,parents, familymembers,carersandguardians are invited to gather in the School’s gym to celebrate the success of Port’s young people.Scholarships and awards for student improvement and achievements are presented, followed by a sitdownthree-courselunch,cookedandservedbyPortstaff.

port school annual report 2018 final

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