2008 annual report to the school community€¦ · 2008 annual report to the school community 3...

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2008 Annual Report to the School Community


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School OverviewRowville Primary School is located in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and has served the local community of Rowville since 1973. We articulated our purpose, values and targets in the 2005-2009 Strategic Plan. An Annual Implementation Plan guides our work towards continuous school development in the areas of Student Learning; Student Engagement and Wellbeing; and Student Pathways and Transition.

Our purpose is to provide appropriate and challenging learning experiences for each student in a secure environment that:

• Respects individual differences• Nurtures self worth and dignity• Establishes expectations for citizenship and

responsible behaviour• Advances further learning

Our learning programs are implemented according to the following domains:

• Physical, Personal and Social Learning (Health and Physical Education)

• Discipline Based Learning (English, Mathematics and Science)

• Interdisciplinary Learning (Information and Communications Technology)

Rowville offers specialist programs in visual and performing arts including music and musical instrument tuition. The school is recognised for its sporting achievements. Italian is taught across the school.

The def ining feature of our school is learning. Everyone in our school is a learner. All staff are committed to continuously developing their practice. We have invested heavily in onsite coaching for staff. Students thrive in an environment that is focussed on learning. The tone of the school is calm and inviting with students appearing happy and engaged in their learning. A strong school culture of social-emotional learning is in place.

Student Enrolments - The 2008 school year commenced with an enrolment of 589. The school has an ethnically diverse student population with 22 nationalities represented. Many Rowville families speak a language other than English, hence enriching the cultural diversity of the school.

Parent Satisfaction – Each year a survey is undertaken with a randomly selected group of parents. The 2008 parent school survey indicated high levels of satisfaction with the school. Community building and engaging parents as partners in education are a key focus of our operations. Our aim is to provide the best possible learning environment and education for all students attending our school.

Commonwealth Requirements

• Teacher Satisfaction - The average score for teacher satisfaction (morale) at this school in 2008 was 90.8 on a scale from 0 to 100 where 100 is the best possible score.

• Teacher Absence – The number of days absence per teacher was unavailable at the time of writing this report.

• Teacher Retention - Of the 39 teaching staff at Rowville Primary School at June 2007 (including those on leave without pay), 32 or 82% were still at the school at June 2008. This f igure across all Government schools was 84%.

• Teacher Participation In Professional Learning – All teaching staff have participated in professional learning throughout the year, such as the Induction / Mentoring Program for Beginning teachers.

• Teacher Qualif ications – All teachers in Victorian Government schools are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. The requirements for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching can be found at; http://

www.vit.vic.edu.au/content.asp?Document_ID=241

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Rowville Primary School

Principal’s Report The 2008 school year resulted in a myriad of achievements. We gained accreditation as a school that meets the standards required for Performance and Development. Rowville Primary School sees itself as a highly effective, collaborative learning community. All teachers view the school’s Performance and Development Culture as an integral part of their teaching practice and school improvement.

We created learning opportunities that enabled our students to aspire to achieve outstanding academic results. We also continued to develop relational learning across the school to enable each student to feel valued and secure.

We created opportunities for students to develop their talents and skills in the Arts and in physical activities.

The musical production, “Ingenious” was performed over two nights to a full house at the Rowville Secondary

College performing Arts Centre. Our choir performed to audiences in the broader community including the local retirement village. Our senior girls participated in interschool dance groups with outstanding success.

Our senior football team won the inaugural East Link Cup. Our boys’ aerobics team came f ifth at the National Aerobics Championship.

We hosted a successful delegation to Japan as part of the International School to School Exchange program.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent support provided by the School Council and the Friends of Rowville Primary School. The close working relationship we have established has ensured that the school has continued to excel. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding teaching staff who work relentlessly to develop the social, emotional and intellectual development of each child in their care.


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School Council President’s Report It is with great pleasure that I present this report summarising the major achievements of Rowville Primary School for the 2008 year.

In line with previous years, the school has continued to make improvements both academically and environmentally. The school’s overriding objective is to provide the best learning environment for our children. As evidence, the school has successfully gained accreditation for Performance and Development.

Rowville Primary School is very much a community and neighbourhood school. Parents are very visible within the school and assist and participate in their children’s learning in many different ways.

On a personal note, I would like to thank my fellow school councillors for their tireless efforts and continuing dedication to their roles. During 2008 School councillors led:

• Discussion sessions with members of our school community on the proposed Blueprint reforms resulting in a submission that was sent on behalf of our school community.

• Negotiations with Knox Council which lead to the reinstatement of the Simon Avenue school crossing

School councillors had key roles in the review of:

• Whole school ICT in preparation for the new lease agreement.

• The canteen menu• The school council awards that are presented

at the end of year six.I would also like to thank the Friends of Rowville Primary School (FORPS) for their ongoing support. They have continued to build links with business in the local community and this has included an ongoing partnership with Ferntree Gully Nissan and The Athletes Foot. They formed a partnership with Paul Sadler Swimland to deliver a “movie in the school yard “activity. Through their work they have contributed to making Rowville Primary School an even better school for all our students.

F inally, the school would not be in the position it is today without the excellent leadership of the Principal, the leadership team, and staff.

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Student Progress & AchievementsStudent LearningThe 2005-2009 Strategic Plan continued to provide the focus of our teaching and learning program at Rowville Primary School.

Our goal in terms of teaching and learning was:

To improve students’ performance in Literacy and Numeracy.

Teacher assessment showed that across our school the majority of our students achieved at or above the expected levels in Literacy and Numeracy:

• 95% of our students achieved at or above the expected level in Reading;

• 94% of our students achieved at or above the expected level in Writing;

• 98% of our students achieved at or above the expected level in Number;

• 98% of our students achieved at or above the expected level in Measurement.

Percentage of students achieving at or above the National Minimum Standards

For the f irst time all students in Year 3 and Year 5 undertook a National Assessment in Reading, Writing and Numeracy.

The following tables indicate the percentage of students above the National benchmarks in Maths and English. In both Year 3 and 5, the results demonstrate a high standard of achievement.

The key improvement strategies that contributed to the excellent results were:

A school based learning coach position was created to assist staff with the continued implementation of VELS.

External coaches in Literacy and Numeracy assisted staff to further develop their teaching practice in these areas.

Focussed teaching practices have been implemented throughout the school in order to deepen and broaden student understanding and learning.

The teacher review process ensures ongoing quality teaching standards.

Individual learning plans were ref ined to enable focussed goals to be set for students achieving below expected achievement levels in numeracy and literacy. Individual learning plans were also developed for students who were achieving at very high levels.


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Student Engagement and Wellbeing

Average number of absent days per student –Student attendance rate is above the State average, however it is noted that the absence rate has continued to increase with the explanation being many families are taking extended overseas holidays and family holidays outside the term breaks. Attendance data will continue to be monitored carefully in 2009.

Our goal in terms of Student Engagement and Well Being was:

To improve student safety and well being for all students.

Students’ sense of belonging and connectedness with their peers and their school are the measures used to describe student well being. It includes security and safety, communication and social competence and positive regard through valued participation and achievement. The term connectedness is used to describe the quality and quantity of social bonding.

The Student Attitude to School Survey is conducted each year for students in Level 4 (years f ive and six).

The results from the Attitudes to School Survey indicate that student connectedness to the school is high, scoring in the ‘excellent ‘range when compared to other schools. Students at Rowville feel safe and secure at school.

Students’ school connectedness - The focus on building social connectedness occurred through a variety of strategies. During 2008 the student leadership program was further consolidated and expanded with our student leaders attending a student leadership forum in Melbourne. Our students have a very active role and conduct whole school assemblies, as well as other projects and ceremonies.

Our Student Code of Conduct and Anti Bullying Policy are now embedded in our practice.

A Restorative Justice philosophy guides our relational learning. It is the means through which we implement the Personal and Social Learning domain of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.

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Student Pathways and TransitionsOur goal in terms of Student Pathways and Transitions was to:

Ensure a smooth and safe transition at all levels from Kindergarten to Year 7 for all students.

Our Kinder to School Transition Program was implemented in terms 3 and 4 of 2008. The program commenced with a family information night in September 2008 with 99% of the parents of 2009 prep students attending. The evening focussed on ‘preparing your child for school’ with input being provided by a guest speaker.

Four one hour school familiarisation sessions were conducted during November and December for incoming prep students. During this time their parents participated in workshop sessions on Numeracy, Literacy and Restorative Justice.

Our year six students participated in an orientation day at their Secondary College and became familiar with the routines of their new school. The majority of our students attended Rowville Secondary College.

The close proximity of Rowville Secondary College enabled links to be made in an ongoing manner in a variety of ways.

• Our students participated in math professors’ sessions; science and technology activities with Year 10 students.

• Sports clinics conducted by students from the Rowville Secondary College Sports Academy.

• A VCE dance student choreographed dance items for our school musical production.

The Parent information survey reflects that Parents’ satisfaction for Transitions is well above the State mean and is showing an upward trend over the period of the current Strategic Plan.

Additional meetings between parents and specialist consultants were held to assist the transition of students with disabilities at both the preschool to school and the year six to secondary level.


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Future DirectionsThe School Strategic Plan 2005-2009 outlines the long term strategic intent. The 2009 Annual Implementation Plan outlines our key improvement strategies and signif icant projects. In summary these are as follows:

Student Learning

• Continued implementation of Victorian Essential Learning Standards

• Development and implementation of concept based units of inquiry that reflect Victorian Essential Learning Standards

• Development of whole school professional development plan

• Continuation of the whole school curriculum planning and development model

• Ref inement of comprehensive assessment strategies across the school

• The continuation and development of Collaborative Teacher Peer Observation

• Teachers will develop Individual Learning Plans for students with specif ic learning needs

Student Engagement and Wellbeing

To implement the interpersonal learning strand of VELS.

To research and implement a personal and social learning program that meets the needs of the whole school community and reflects the personal and social learning strand of VELS.

Student Pathways and Transitions

To prepare all students for the next stage in their education.

Undertake the Year in Self-Evaluation, Review and Planning

• To conduct a comprehensive examination of our performance across the three student outcomes areas

• To develop a school strategic plan in consultation with the school community

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F inancial PerformanceRowville Primary School operates effectively within the Student Resource Package (SRP) provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. The f inancial information is related to the cash accounts managed by the School Council in 2008. The main expenditure was again on property services that included contract cleaning and maintenance of school infrastructure including ongoing painting. The salaries and allowances expenditure related to the employment of casual relief teachers, integration aides, canteen staff and handyman.

Receipts were in line with projections and the majority of families supported the school by paying the school charges for stationery, materials, excursions and grounds contribution. In the third year of the building fund parents donated $4126.23.

Parents’ payments for school charges were fully expended on class materials and excursions.

Trading activities were predominantly the school’s canteen and uniform shop. The net prof it for these activities was $884.04 (Canteen) and $1495.03 (Uniform Shop). There was a signif icant decrease in Canteen prof it and this was attributed to the introduction of the Healthy Eating Policy and the trial of a variety of food types that had limited market success.

FORPS (Friends of Rowville Primary School) along with the wide school community, raised $35,616.

Locally Raised Funds, as shown in the F inancial Performance table, encompasses items such as; Subject Contributions - $77,423, Hire of school facilities - $13,063, Camps and Excursions - $158,803 and Trading Operations - $103,043. The Miscellaneous amount in the Expenditure items include Publicity and Marketing expenses - $5,343 and Camps & Excursions payments - $156,515.

In 2007 DEECD changed the audit requirements, and in 2008 a three year audit cycle began. The next audit is due in 2010.

F inancial Performance – Operating Statement Summary

for the year ending 31st December, 2008

Revenue 2008 ActualDE&T Grants $ 540,615Commonwealth Government Grants 3,821

State Government Grants 7,839Other 36,455Locally Raised Funds 463,322Total Operating Revenue $ 1,052,052

ExpenditureSalaries and Allowances $ 176,992Bank Charges 2,843Consumables 91,304Books and Publications 22,487Communication Costs 10,798Furniture and Equipment 71,022Utilities 29,544Property Services 179,404Travel and Subsistence 699Motor Vehicle Expenses 0Administration 9,285Health and Personal Development 1,098

Professional Development 50,585Trading and Fundraising 137,218Support/Service 60,251Miscellaneous 162,488Total Operating Expenditure $1,006,015

Net Operating Surplus/-Def icit $ 46,037

Capital Expenditure $ 17,966

Please note that the above amounts do not include any credit revenue or expenditure allocated or spent by the school through its Student Resource Package


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F inancial Position

as at 31st December, 2008Funds Available 2008 Actual High Yield Investment Account $235,894.56Off icial Account 5,422.96Building Trust Fund Account 7886.25Total Funds Available $249,203.77

F inancial Commitments 2008 ActualSchool Operating Reserve $100,000.00Co-operative Bank AccountAssets or Equipment Replacement < 12 monthsRevenue Receipted in Advance 88,005.60Building/Grounds including SMS < 12 months 7,128.06Region /Clusters Funds/School Based Programs < 12 months 136.86Provision Accounts < 12 months 35,792.00Repayable to DEECDOther Recurrent Expenditure (Accounts Payable)Assets or Equipment Replacement > 12 monthsBuilding/Grounds including SMS > 12 monthsRegion /Clusters Funds/School Based Programs > 12 monthsProvision Accounts > 12 months 16,886.25Co-operative loan >12 monthsBenef iciary/Memorial Accounts 1255.00Total F inancial Commitments $249,203.77

The tables of f inancial information are related to the cash accounts managed by the School Council in 2008.

REVENUE EXPENDITURE

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School Contact InformationThis report contains summary data extracted from the School Level Report. If you would like to access the School Level Report, please contact:

A d d r e s s :Paratea Drive, Rowville Vic 3178

(P.O. Box 2439, Rowville Vic 3178)

P r i n c i p a l : Anne Babich

S c h o o l C o u n c i l P r e s i d e n t : Dean Bray

T e l e p h o n e : 03 9764-1955

E m a i l : [email protected]

W e b s i t e : http://www.rowvilleps.vic.edu.au/

2008 annual report to the school community€¦ · 2008 annual report to the school community 3...

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