sacred heart primary school, tocumwal

Sacred Heart Primary School, Tocumwal

2016 Annual Report

Principal: Mr Pat Boake Address: 37- 45 Charlotte St, PO Box 88 Tocumwal NSW

Phone: 03 5874 2371 Fax: 03 5874 2934 Web: http://www.shtww.catholic.edu.au

Sacred Heart Primary, Tocumwal - 2016 Annual Report

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About this Report

Sacred Heart Primary School is registered by the NSW Education Standards Authority, Teaching and

Educational Standards NSW. The Catholic Schools Office, Wagga Wagga the ‘approved authority’ for

the Registration System formed under Section 39 of the Education Act 1990 (NSW).

The Annual School Report to the Community provides parents and the wider community with fair,

reliable and objective information about Sacred Heart Primary School and its performance measures

and policies, as determined by the Minister for Education. The Report also outlines information about

initiatives and developments of major interest and importance during the year and the achievements

arising from the implementation of the School’s Annual Improvement Plan.

The Report demonstrates accountability to regulatory bodies, the Sacred Heart School community and

the Catholic Schools Office, Wagga Wagga. This Report has been approved by the Catholic Schools

Office, Wagga Wagga in consultation with the School Consultant who monitors the Sacred Heart

Primary School and has the appropriate processes in place to ensure compliance with all NSW

Education Standards Authority, Teaching and Educational Standards, NSW requirements for

Registration and Accreditation secondary schools and Registration of primary schools.

This Report complements and is supplementary to Sacred Heart Primary School’s newsletters and

other forms of communication. Further information about Sacred Heart Primary School may be

obtained by contacting the school or by visiting the school’s website.


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Section 1: Message from Key Groups in Our School Community

Message from the Principal

Sacred Heart is a small rural Catholic school in the Murray Darling Basin, which supports families

with the holistic development of their children’s education. As a staff we live and model the

teachings of Jesus and how they apply to everyday life in our school community. The school is

supported by a very caring staff, who work with each student as if they are members of their family.

It is a pleasure to lead and teach in such a positive working environment, caring for the students

and families at Sacred Heart Primary School.

Message from the Parent Body

Sacred Heart Primary School has a very active parent body. We do our best to support the school

through the school tuckshop, fundraising, working bees and helping in the class where needed.

Sacred Heart School parent body brings together representative of all those within the parish, who

are concerned with the work of our Catholic School. Our school parent leadership committee is

usually comprised of the parish priest, school principal, a staff representative and the members of

the parent community. The parents of Sacred Heart School are very supportive of the dedicated

staff working at the school and are pleased with the level of Christian holistic learning that is being

taught at Sacred Heart School.


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Section 2: School Features/Context

Sacred Heart Primary School is a rural school of about 40 students. It is in the town of Tocumwal NSW

which is situated on the Murray River. The Catholic School was opened by Fr. Henessy in January 1899

with 40 pupils. The first teacher was Miss Murphy whose credentials were excellent. Four sisters of Mercy

arrived in Tocumwal to teach at Sacred Heart Primary on the 14th January 1906. The principal at Sacred

Heart is Mr Pat Boake and the staff are all very professional in their dealings with students and the parent

community.


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Section 3: Student Profile

The following information describes the student profile for 2016:

Girls Boys LBOTE* Indigenous Total

22 16 5 0 38

*Language background other than English

Enrolment Policy

The Diocese of Wagga Wagga has established an Enrolment Policy† which is implemented by all

systemic schools in the Diocese.

The implementation of this policy is monitored by the Catholic Schools Office.

†Copies of this policy and other policies in this report may be obtained from the Catholic Schools

Office website or by contacting the Catholic Schools Office.

All parents at Sacred Heart School give a firm commitment that they will accept and support the

life, nature and identity of our Catholic School, including the participation of their children in

religious education programs. NSW Legislation allows for the enrolment of children into

Kindergarten who turn five before 1st August. Parents of children who turn five after 30th May are

advised by the principal of the possible implication for their child. Students are to begin school by

the age of 6.

Student Attendance and Retention Rates

Year Attendance %

Kinder 95%

Year 1 93%

Year 2 91%

Year 3 94%

Year 4 92%

Year 5 92%

Year 6 92%

The average student attendance rate for 2016 was 92%.

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Regular attendance at school is essential if students are to maximise their potential. Sacred Heart

School, in partnership with parents, is responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.

While parents are legally responsible for the regular attendance of their children, our school staff as

part of their duty of care, monitor part or whole day absences.

Sacred Heart staff, under the Principal’s leadership, support the regular attendance of students by:

providing a caring teaching and learning environment which fosters students’ sense of

wellbeing and belonging to the Sacred Heart School community;

maintaining accurate records of student attendance;

recognising and rewarding excellent and improved student attendance;

implementing programs and practices to address attendance issues when they arise.

The Principal is responsible for supporting the regular attendance of students by ensuring that:

parents and students are regularly informed of attendance requirements and the

consequences of unsatisfactory attendance;

all cases of unsatisfactory attendance and part or full day absences from school are

investigated promptly and that appropriate intervention strategies are implemented;

the Director of Catholic Schools or designated Catholic Schools Office Wagga Wagga officer

is provided with regular information about students for whom chronic non-attendance is an

issue and for whom school strategies have failed to restore regular attendance.

Section 4: Staffing Profile

The NSW government requires that this report details the number of teachers in each of the following

categories:

a) have teaching qualifications from a higher education institution within Australia or as recognised

within the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) guidelines

b) have qualifications as a graduate from a higher education institution within Australia or one

recognised within the AEI-NOOSR guidelines but lack formal teacher education qualifications

c) do not have qualifications as described in (a) or (b) but have relevant successful teaching

experience or appropriate knowledge relevant to the teaching context. Such teachers must

have been employed:

- to ‘teach’ in NSW before 1 October 2004 (either on a permanent, casual or temporary basis),

and

- as a ‘teacher’ during the last five (5) years in a permanent, casual or temporary capacity.


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Teacher Standards

The following table sets out the number of teachers who fall into each of the categories determined by

BOSTSES.

Teacher Qualification Number of

Teachers

a

Those having formal qualifications from a recognised higher education

institution or equivalent

6

b

Those having graduate qualifications but not a formal teaching

qualification from a recognised higher education institution or

equivalent.

1

The following information describes the staffing profile for 2016:

Total Teaching Staff * Total Non-Teaching Staff Combined Total

6 2 8

*This number includes 1 Fulltime teachers and 5 part-time teachers

Percentage of staff who are indigenous

Professional Learning

The ongoing professional development of each staff member is highly valued. Professional learning

can take many forms including whole school staff days, subject specific in service courses, meetings,

conferences and a range of professional learning programs provided by the Catholic Schools Office

Wagga Wagga. All the staff at Sacred Heart Primary are offered professional learning in teaching

religion, First Aid, CPR, OH&S, Targeting Math and all the Key Learning Areas of the N.S.W.

Curriculum.


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Section 5: Catholic Life and Religious Education

Sacred Heart Primary School is a Catholic Parish School. The school promotes values and attitudes that

will enhance the growth and development of our Catholic school children. Sacred Heart School follows the

Wagga Wagga Diocesan Religious Education Curriculum, Sharing Our Story. The school resources are

available for the good of the whole Catholic Parish. The participation of the priest and the parishioners in

the school will always be sought for furthering the growth and development of our school community.

Through school and classroom prayer we join as a Christian community to pray. The teaching staff pray

with students daily. Staff and students are encouraged to share prayerful experiences, both formally and

informally. Mr Boake, our school principal and religious education teacher collaboratively works with Mrs.

Babington our music support teacher to organise musical experiences during the celebration of school

masses. Father Martin Cruickshank our parish priest has a strong supportive presence in the school

during liturgical celebrations. Sacramental programs are conducted in the school with the support of the

parish priest. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in Year 2, Eucharist in Year 3 and Confirmation in

Years 5 and 6 (every even year).

Professional Learning in Catholic Life and Mission

The Diocese of Wagga Wagga Catholic Schools Office has established a policy on the Professional

Requirements for the Accreditation of Teachers of Religious Education which is implemented by all

systemic schools in the Diocese.

Sacred Heart Primary School is a community of learners where the children, staff and parents are witness

to their faith. Therefore as a Christian community we model gospel values when dealing with all members

of our school community and the general community of Tocumwal. As a staff we promote, through our

religious education programmes, a knowledge of Catholic teachings and a celebration of the sacraments.

We foster an environment which encourages Christian attitudes and behaviours towards others. As a staff

we demonstrate care and support for all members of our learning community. The school community

participates in regular liturgies and celebrations of prayer. At staff meetings we always spend a

percentage of our time reading, reviewing or reflecting on a religious concept or the teachings of Jesus.

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Section 6: Curriculum

Sacred Heart School follows the NSW Education Standards Authority, Teaching and Educational

Standards, NSW syllabus for each subject/course offered as required for Registration and Accreditation

under the Education Act 1990 (NSW) and implements the associated requirements of the Catholic

Schools Office, Wagga Wagga.

As a community of learners we promote the balance development of the whole student.

Therefore we:

Provide quality education through spiritual, academic, emotional, physical and social

programmes that stimulate, challenge and support each child at their learning level.

Promote opportunities that develop leadership, responsibility, acceptance, tolerance,

confidence, cooperation, flexibility and self-esteem.

Recognise the talents of all members of our learning community and that we are all

life-long learners.

Have a Pastoral Care Policy which encourages Christian attitudes and behaviour

towards all of our school community.

Provide quality teaching of the following key learning areas. Religion, English,

Mathematics, Human Society and Its Environment, Science, Personal Development

and Health and Physical Education, History, Geography, Languages and Creative and

Practical Arts.

As a school community of leading learning teachers we strive for personal excellence, equality of

opportunity and justice for all students.

Therefore we:

Have staff meetings with professional dialogue, current research and

professional readings to support us in being the most effective teachers possible.

As a staff incorporate ideas into our school newsletter that affirm and/or

challenge all parents and educators as we walk the learning journey together.


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Section 7: Student Performance in State- Wide Tests and Examinations

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students

in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN assessment results provide valuable information about student

achievements in literacy and numeracy. An analysis of these results assists College planning and is used

to support teaching and learning programs.

Due to small student numbers in this cohort, and as such, the possibility of identifying individual student

results, percentages of children achieving at certain ‘band’ levels will not be reported.

Literacy and Numeracy trends at Sacred Heart are very positive and are moving slowly towards average to

above average levels.


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Section 8: Pastoral Care and Well Being

“Catch them being good”

At Sacred Heart School this will be our first line of approach. Both in the classroom and in the play-ground

staff will be looking for children displaying good behaviour. The staff have set up a rewards plan, so there

will be many opportunities for children to be thanked, congratulated and praised. A Positive Playground

Player Award is chosen by the school Captains and presented each week at the school assembly. The child

who receives this award can select an item from the Tuck shop free for that week.

Discipline Policy

Where student behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable a discipline response may be considered

necessary. The purpose of any correction should be reformative, directed towards altering attitude and

subsequent behaviour. Any children who come into conflict with the standards of our school must be

made aware that it is their actions and not the child that is unacceptable. At Sacred Heart corporal

punishment is not used as a form of discipline.

Anti-Bullying Policy

We support The Diocese of Wagga Wagga Anti Bullying Policy which is implemented in all schools. At

Sacred Heart School we support all students with care and respect and do our best to resolve all

disagreements through a Restorative Practice Focus. As a school community we focus on the specific

behaviours or incidents without blaming. We review who was affected and how they were affected. Finely

as a school community we direct questions towards problem solving and what needs to happen to make

things peaceful again so we can all move forward.

Initiatives Promoting Respect and Responsibility

Sacred Heart Primary School, Tocumwal as a community of learners acknowledge that Christ is the

foundation of the whole educational enterprise in Catholic Schools. Sacred Heart Primary is a community

of learners where children, staff and parents are witnesses to their faith and therefore respect the rights

of all humans to work, learn and live in peace. As a school community we model gospel values, when

dealing with others. We promote, through our religious education programmes, a knowledge and

understanding of Catholic teachings. As a community of faith based learners living in the community of

Tocumwal we accept our responsibilities as active members of the community doing our best to treat all

individuals with the respect they deserve. Sacred Heart encourages all students to self-discipline through

a system of relationships, rules, rewards and sanctions. The students gradually develop as persons who

are responsible and inner-directed, capable of choosing freely in conformity with their conscience. The

attainment of self-discipline can be fostered by giving students a degree of responsibility, according to

the situation. Where student behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable a discipline response may be

considered necessary. The purpose of any correction should be reformative, directed towards altering

attitudes and subsequent behaviour. Any students who come into conflict with the standards and values

of our school must be made aware that it is their actions and not the student that is unacceptable.


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Complaints and Grievances Resolution Policy

The Diocese of Wagga Wagga has established a Complaints and Suggestions Policy which is implemented

by all school in the Diocese.

The implementation of this policy is monitored by the Catholic Schools Office.

Workplace Health and Safety

Each school is required to implement and comply with the Diocesan School System Workplace Health and

Safety Management System (WHSMS). This system reflects the current statutory requirements for WHS

and complies with the Australian Standard for WHS Management Systems. The WHSMS adopted by the

CSO for Wagga Wagga Systemic Schools has been designed to address general health, safety and welfare

matters and also to take account of specific issues that apply to school communities. The management

system supports the provision of a ‘safe and supportive’ environment for all students as well as taking into

account the health, safety and welfare of staff, visitors and contractors to the school site.

Principals, in consultation with the relevant CSO personnel, are responsible for monitoring the school’s

compliance with WHS legislation and to implement the management system in keeping with the Catholic

Schools Office’s Annual WHS Plan. External WHS system audits are conducted across a sample of schools

each year to validate the implementation of the management system.

Section 9: School Review and Improvement

Each year the Sacred Heart Primary School develops Annual Improvement Plan indicating the intended key

improvements for student learning outcomes. The Plan is drawn from the Catholic Schools Office Annual

Improvement Plan. The Sacred Heart School engages in an annual evidence based evaluation of its

effectiveness against The National School Improvement Tool, The Australian Professional Standards for

Teachers and the Australian Professional Standards for Principals in collaboration with the School

Consultant.

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Annual Improvement Plan 2016

Sacred Heart Primary School Tocumwal AIP 2016

Strategic Priority Area

Improvement Targets What do you want to improve?

Key Improvement Strategies How are you going to improve? What actions are required to progress the improvement target?

Evidence of Improvement How can you demonstrate that an action is complete? What is the evidence or indicators of improvement?

Catholic Life & Mission

RE Curriculum units to be added to School Web Site. “Leading for Mission” Integrating Life, Culture & Faith in Catholic Education.

All teachers to have access to the RE units on our school Web Site. Teachers to be more informed about RE curriculum and the resources available. This will help the teacher’s future planning and teaching. Principal to read the Book: Leading for Mission

Improved instruction throughout the school in RE RE to lift its profile in the school. Evidence of students work will be available in all RE books from K-Yr6. The Principal to Lead a Staff Meeting about Leading for Mission as a Staff.

Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Wellbeing of students, staff and parents. Encourage positive relationships between all students in the school. Encourage and model speaking with respect to each other.

Continuing wellbeing staff meetings once a term. Restorative Practices/Emotional Intelligence groups run by the School Liaison Worker.

A happy learning community willing to discuss issues in a positive way. Adults and students talking to each other with respect. Improved positive relationships throughout the school.

Student Learning & Pedagogy

Persuasive Writing Writing

Targeting Math and the effective teaching of this subject.

Continue to scan and develop a hunch that writing with in our school needs to improve. Increase general teaching of vocabulary throughout the school. Working as a staff collaboratively with our Targeting Math teacher to improve effective teaching.

More descriptive writing pieces throughout the school. Improvement in NAPLAN results over the long term.

Improvements in all NAPLAN results for Math.


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Strategic Leadership & Partnerships

The use of technology across the school and the curriculum. Embedding of ICT for all students. The Geography learning area.

PD on netbooks PD on Chrome/Google PD on IPads PD on Geography

Improvements in the use of netbooks by teachers/students. Teacher and Students planning on Google Docs.

Sacred Heart Primary School Tocumwal AIP 2017

Strategic Priority Area

Improvement Targets What do you want to improve?

Key Improvement Strategies How are you going to improve? What actions are required to progress the improvement target?

Evidence of Improvement How can you demonstrate that an action is complete? What is the evidence or indicators of improvement?

Catholic Life & Mission

RE Curriculum units to be added to School Web Site. “Leading for Mission” Integrating Life, Culture & Faith in Catholic Education.

All teachers to have access to the RE units on our school Web Site. Teachers to be more informed about RE curriculum and the resources available. This will help the teacher’s future planning and teaching. Principal to read the Book: Leading for Mission

Improved instruction throughout the school in RE RE to lift its profile in the school. Evidence of students work will be available in all RE books from K-Yr6. The Principal to Lead a Staff Meeting about Leading for Mission as a Staff.

Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Wellbeing of students, staff and parents. Encourage positive relationships between all students in the school. Encourage and model speaking with respect to each other.

Continuing wellbeing staff meetings once a term. Restorative Practices/Emotional Intelligence groups run by the School Liaison Worker to continue.

A happy learning community willing to discuss issues in a positive way. Adults and students talking to each other with respect. Improved positive relationships throughout the school.

Student Learning & Pedagogy

Persuasive Writing Writing

Targeting Math and the effective teaching of this subject.

Continue to scan and develop a hunch that writing with in our school needs to improve. Increase general teaching of vocabulary throughout the school. Working as a staff collaboratively with our Targeting Math teacher to improve effective teaching. Principal to read Visible Learning for Math.

More descriptive writing pieces throughout the school. Improvement in NAPLAN results over the long term.

Improvements in all NAPLAN results for Math.


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Strategic Leadership & Partnerships

The use of technology across the school and the curriculum. Embedding of ICT for all students. The Geography learning area.

PD on netbooks PD on Chrome/Google PD on IPads PD on Geography

Improvements in the use of netbooks by teachers/students. Teacher and Students to continue planning on Google Docs.

Section 10: Parent, Student and Teacher Satisfaction

Parent Participation

Parents are the primary educators of their children and are always welcome at Sacred Heart Primary

School Tocumwal. The opinions and ideas of parents, students and teachers are valued and sought.

Their suggestions are incorporated into planning for and achieving improved outcomes for students.

This year the Sacred Heart Primary has used a variety of processes to gain information about the level

of satisfaction with the school from parents, students and teachers.

The parents, staff, students and the general community of Tocumwal are extremely happy and

supportive of Sacred Heart Primary. As a school working and contributing to the local community the

staff, parents and students at Sacred Heart are a very caring school community that has high

academic learning standards.

Parent Satisfaction

Highly Satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied

3 20 0

Student Satisfaction


3 20 0


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Teacher Satisfaction


3 3 0


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Financial Report

12%

20%

68%

0%0%

School Income

Fees & Private Income

State Recurrent Grants

Commonwealth RecurrentGrants

Government Capital Grants

Other Capital Income

71%

24%

4%

School Expenses

Salaries, Allowances & RelatedExpenses

Non Salary Expenses

Other Capital Expenditure

sacred heart primary school, tocumwal

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