Annual School Report 2007

The school is mandated to place its annual school report online for public viewing each year. This report contains:

1. •A detailed school profile,
   

2. 
   

3. •a staff profile,
   

4. 
   

5. •a report on the school’s curriculum, and
   

6. 
   

7. •a report on student performance.
   

It can be downloaded as a .DOC file (for MS Word) by clicking HERE or you can read below.

Annual School Report 2007

Principal’s foreword

Introduction

The Tullawong State School Annual Report for 2007 reflects student, staff and community achievements and goals and also outlines future priorities and directions for Tullawong in 2008.  All decision making at Tullawong revolves around what is best for all students and our curriculum remains very student centred and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for all students.

Future outlook

The main focus areas for 2008 are as follows:

• The building of staff knowledge and understanding of QCAR (Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework) through collaborative planning, staff curriculum updates and implementation of QCATS in Year 6 utilising the assessment of Bank on the QSA Website.

• Continue to develop a Whole School Moderation Process using Criteria based assessment.

• Increase ICT Integration through the purchase of 2 Interactive Whiteboards.

• Develop a Whole School Curriculum Plan, Numeracy Plan and Literacy Plan.

• Continue to implement the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines.

• Provide opportunities for all staff to engage in Professional Development and Training to extend their knowledge, understanding and skills in specific identified areas.

• Positively promote the achievements of students and staff to the Tullawong State School Community.

• Review the Implementation of the School Responsible Behaviour Plan.

• Develop & Review the implementation and effectiveness of the Whole School Intervention Programs.

• Establishment of an Organisational Team Structure that expands staff capacity for leadership, focuses on student learning, utilises staff expertise and provides greater opportunities for staff involvement in school decision making processes.

• Increase interactions, communication and sharing of expertise and resources between Tullawong State School and Tullawong State High School.

School Profile

Tullawong State School is a large co-educational Prep-Year 7 Primary School situated on the northern outskirts of Brisbane approximately 5 minutes from Caboolture. The school has a Special Education Unit with an enrolment of approximately 80 students. As at 30th June 2007, total enrollments were as follows:

Curriculum offerings

Tullawong State School offers students distinctive curriculum focus programs in the strands of Universal, Technology, Arts, Sport and Maths/Science. Students in Year 5,6 & 7 are given the opportunity to pursue their specific area of interest and are grouped accordingly in their respective classes.  These strands provide opportunities for students to extend their knowledge, skills and understanding of their areas of interest, meet their needs, and thus increase student motivation and participation in class activities.

All teachers collaboratively plan with the Head of Curriculum, Special Education Teachers and Learning Support Teachers thus resulting in the achievement of quality learning outcomes for all students.

Extra Curricula Activities

Tullawong State School promotes a range of extra curricular activities which provides students with the opportunity to pursue their individual interests and or further develop their own skills and abilities by participation in these activities. It is a great way that students can contribute to their school and extend their own curriculum offerings.

Below is a list of Extra Curricular Activities offered at TSS in 2007:

School Choir        Parade Presentation

Student Council        School Camps - Year 5/6/7

Student Leadership Group        Class Excursions

School Concert Band        Anzac Day March

School Strings EnsembleFund Raising Activities

District Maths CompetitionPeer Mediators

Tornadoes Cheerleading TeamLibrary Monitors

Inter & Intra School Sport (Yr 5-7)

How computers are used to assist learning 

Our vision is to achieve the best possible outcomes for every student at Tullawong State School by integrating Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) into our regular curriculum. This allows students to develop the new skills they need in a connected world.

• Two computer labs are used for whole class internet research, accessing the Learning Place and for creating      digital content (MS Word, Powerpoint, Moviemaker, Photostory)

• Two to four classroom computers are used for individual/ small group drill and practice software (Schooligans, Braintastic), internet research and document editing (MS Word, Powerpoint).

• Five Palm handheld computers are used for small group writing and numeracy activities.

• Three digital voice recorders are used for enhancing reading lessons.

• Other ICT uses:

    - Digital cameras used as part of art and technology lessons

    - Learning objects (ie. Maths 300) incorporated into units

Parent Opinion Survey results indicate that their child’s computer technology needs are being met and preparing them for the changing world in which we live.

Social climate

A very pro-active approach to managing student behaviour is implemented at Tullawong State School. The ‘You can do it’ program is implemented by all staff and results in consistency of approach, language, and consequences for dealing with appropriate behaviour. All Teachers use an intrinsic and extrinsic reward system for students.

Each class has a classroom management plan that is developed and negotiated in consultation with students and which is aligned to the school code of behaviour.

The parent and student opinion survey results in 2007 strongly support effective behaviour management strategies being implemented at Tullawong State School.

Parent Responses:

92% of parents are satisfied that their child is treated fairly at Tullawong.

92% of parents are satisfied that their child is happy to go to Tullawong.

72% of parents are satisfied with student discipline in the school.

76% of parents are satisfied that their child is safe at Tullawong.

Student Responses:

90% of students are satisfied that Tullawong is a good school.

58% of students feel safe at Tullawong.

86% of students are happy to attend Tullawong.

66% of students feel they are treated fairly at Tullawong.

Proactive Strategies at Tullawong State School:

Chaplaincy program

School Camp Programs 5,6,7

Gold pass activities

Student council meetings

School Leader meetings

Peer Tutoring (buddy classes)

Social Skills program

Interschool Sport

Supervised play areas

Peer mediation

Class Behaviour Management Plans

Adopt-a-cop involvement in school activities

Student supervision before school, during breaks and after school

Choir, music and Instrumental Music groups

School and class Excursions and Incursions

Computer Monitors

Library Monitors

Student of the month awards

Presentation of weekly certificates on parade

Dance groups

At Tullawong staff are encouraged to develop positive relationships with students, parents, and members of the school community. Greater gains are to be achieved for students where both parent and teacher are working together to encourage and enable all students to achieve their potential.   

Staff opinion survey results in 2007 show that staff have a more positive relationship with students, parents and community members and there have been improvements in many areas.

92% of teachers feel they get on well with students at Tullawong.

60% of staff feel Tullawong is a good place to work (2006 -> 46%).

73% of staff are happy working at this school (2006 -> 55%).

76% of staff feel staff put a lot of energy into their work (2006 -> 71%).

94% of staff feel they have a good working relationship with other staff (2006 -> 90%).

Involving parents in their child’s education.

Tullawong State School parents are very proud of the school although there are not large numbers of parents involved in working with students in the classroom. Some parents mainly from the junior school provide classroom support on a regular basis assisting students and teachers. The Tullawong community is very supportive of the P&C and whole school fundraising activities.

Parents, carers and grandparents are involved in:

P&C Association   

Classroom helping/ volunteering

Tuckshop helping/ volunteering

Uniform/ bookshop helping

Fundraising activities

School banking

Excursions

Parades

Special events e.g. under 8’s week.

Qualifications of all teachers.

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.

All staff participated in a wide range of professional development and training activities.

      The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2007 was $24 901.37 . 

      The major professional development initiatives were as follows: 

                            ‘You Can Do It’ Behaviour Management Program

                            Early Years Curriculum

                            Oral Language Program and Continua Development

                            Explicit teaching of reading

                            QCAR implementation

                            Understanding of Indigenous context and engaging Indigenous students

                            Moderation of a maths investigation

    The involvement of  the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2007 was 78.7%

Average staff attendance

     For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 96% in 2007.

Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.

     From the end of the 2006 school year,  93% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2007 school year.

Student attendance

     The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2007 was 91%

Key outcomes in the early and middle phases of learning

Other Key Outcomes

Value added

The wide range of extra-curricular activities offered to students provides them with opportunities to experience a wide range of activities to pursue their areas of interest and develop greater self confidence.

The strand programs motivate students to stay engaged in their learning in the middle school areas.

The student leadership program provides opportunities for leaders to develop confidence in public speaking, team organisation and involvement in school decision making.

The collaborative planning between the Head of Curriculum, class teacher, Special Education teachers and Learning Support teachers ensure quality teaching programs are provided for all students resulting in improved student outcomes.

The Indigenous program provides opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to be involved in a range of cultural activities to cater for their needs and to foster a greater understanding and knowledge of their cultural heritage.

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school

The Annual School Opinion Survey provides a snapshot of data and information about student, staff and parent satisfaction about various aspects of Tullawong State School. Please find below some aspects of Tullawong’s School Opinion Survey results from 2005-2007. There have been significant improvements in many areas.