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Humpty Doo Primary School

Annual Performance Report to the School Community

2013

Focus School - Next Steps Initiative

Sue Fisher - Principal

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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School Overview Our School Humpty Doo Primary School is a large primary school with approximately 400 students and 50+ staff located 40 kilometres south of Darwin in the rapidly growing rural Litchfield Shire. The school caters for all children from preschool to year 6, including a Special Centre that caters for students with high support needs. Children go home to a range of dwellings. Most families live on rural blocks and small agricultural farms. Close to 75% of our students use bus transport to and from school. The multicultural diversity of the community is evident in the school. Approximately 25% of students identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. In addition a further 25% of students attending school have Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Indonesian, Cambodian, Spanish, Dutch or Chinese language backgrounds. The school runs an extensive Special Education inclusion program. Additional specialist programs include English as a Second Language, Well Being boys and girls groups, The Arts including participation in the Music schools Beat choir, Sports & Fitness and an intensive Guided Reading program for Early Childhood students. Humpty Doo Primary School has a policy of multilevel classes and uses cooperative teaching and learning strategies such as Tribes and Real Justice. Humpty Doo Primary School is a KidsMatter school and we use the Bounce Back program to explicitly teach Social and Emotional Learning. The Humpty Doo Preschool operates a very successful full day program and also offers morning and afternoon groups which work well for the children who attend Child Care. Preschool staff are continuing the implementation of the Early Years Learning Framework. The open door policy encourages parents to participate in many aspects of school operation. Staff work closely together with the Student Leadership Council; the School Council and senior staff to plan, run and evaluate our educational targets.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Our Staff All teaching staff meets the professional standards for teachers in the Northern Territory, including having obtained appropriate qualifications for teaching and abiding by the Code of Ethics for Northern Territory teachers. Humpty Doo Primary School has a long history of producing outstanding teachers and leaders many of whom are now Principals and DOE corporate leaders. This tradition is continuing with several teachers completing the Education Changemakers leadership course in 2013.

Our Aunty Patty Raymond received the prestigious

2013 Australian Association of Mathematics

Teachers Indigenous Educators Award at the 24th

National Mathematics Conference held in Melbourne in

July 2013. Aunty Patty received her award for support

work with the Family Maths program and her support of

indigenous students across the school. We are very

fortunate to have an AIEW who really values education

and wants all children to achieve well at school.

Aunty Patty has been at the forefront of our Next Steps

Initiative in improving educational outcomes for

Indigenous students.

Mrs Carol Roberts, our Teacher in Charge of Humpty Doo Preschool, was nominated for the 2013 Early Childhood Teacher of the Year by a very appreciative parent. Carol is an inspirational and passionate teacher who has made a positive difference for hundreds

of students and their families. She is a strong advocate for working in partnership with students, families, carers, colleagues and professionals to ensure our students receive a stimulating and high quality educational experience. Carol has taught for over 30 years at Humpty Doo Primary School and we were very proud of her nomination which acknowledges and values her contribution to our school community.

Congratulations to staff, students, parents and friends who represented the ‘DOO’ in winning the Largest School Team Award for the Mother’s Day Classic Fun Run & Walk 2013. The team raised $4 262.25 for Breast Cancer Research.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Our Students Humpty Doo Primary School has a very diverse student population reflected with 25% of our students identifying as ATSI, 25% with an ESL background and 25% with identified learning needs. The school actively celebrates this cultural and linguistic diversity through special events such as Harmony Day and NAIDOC Week activities. A further 5% of our students are in Foster Care and the majority of these students present with social and emotional learning, behavioural and academic needs. Humpty Doo Special Centre has two multilevel classes that cater for students with high support needs. In 2013 we opened our first Preschool Special Centre class, catering for four students with high support needs.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Principal's Report In 2013 we continued to emphasize Wellbeing, Literacy and Numeracy as our priority areas for improvement across the school. Explicit teaching of Numeracy and Literacy through whole school approaches is continuing to develop. The school has a focus on promoting Wellbeing through successfully implementing KidsMatter across the school targeting Social and Emotional Learning supported by the Bounce Back resource. A special thank you to the KidsMatter coordinator Katie Jensen and team for their work in embedding Bounce Back as a whole school Wellbeing approach at Humpty Doo Primary School. Friday afternoons are our Bounce Back sessions with an Early Childhood class working with a buddy Upper Primary class. We are very proud of our student’s accomplishments over the year, representing the Palmerston and Rural Region and the NT in school sports and continually striving to be the best they can in all they do. Students from T – 6 received specialist lessons in Health and PE and Performing Arts. Extracurricular activities include Indonesian Language and Cultural lessons for Years 5/6; BluEarth was introduced for classes from Years 3 to 6; School Sports GALA Days; Instrumental Music Program; Boyz Club; Girls Club; Breakfast Club; Aunty Patty’s Lunch Club; BEAT Choir and a Biennial (even years) Parliamentary excursion to Canberra and Adventure Bound Outdoor Education Camp (odd Years) for Year 5/6 students. Many of these activities would not be provided without the extra duties, coaching and support from staff and I thank them for their dedication to the Humpty Doo School Community. Special thanks to our Chaplain Glenda Bortoli who has supported our pastoral care programs and contributed to the Welfare Team’s work in ensuring a high number of students with social and emotional needs are catered for. We were fortunate in 2013 to also have the services of a School Counsellor, Emily Walle, for one day per week which is an essential service for our school community. Kelly Reynhout once again coordinated the Student Leadership Council and nurtured their leadership skill development. The SLCs developed the Humpty Doo Primary School recycling program and money raised from this was used to purchase educational resources. Geoff Gillman and Upper Primary staff coordinated the extremely successful biennial Adventure Bound Camp for Year 5/6 students. It was a very hot time of the year to camp out, but students thoroughly enjoyed their experience. We were very fortunate to receive a refurbishment upgrade that provided the funds to have the school internally and externally painted, new flooring laid and fitted out with new school furniture. This has given the school a bright lift and most importantly a warm and welcoming classroom environment conducive to learning. New drainage works also upgraded our drainage system which was previously prone to become backed up and cause minor flooding to buildings.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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The school held a School Concert – Australia: A Creative Journey, which was very much appreciated by the wider school community. Gerry Wood MLA for Nelson was our MC for the night who kept the large crowd entertained.

Tyler Colenso – Lions Service Award.

Jeremy Taylor NT Board of Studies Academic Award

Lindsay McGuire-Hewitt Memorial Trophy for the fastest sprinters in the school. Recipients: Jasmine Brooks, Maddison Everett and Jackson Smith.

Max Palmer – Australia Day Council Student Citizen of the Year 2013

Year 6 2013

Graduation Assembly

Preschool 2013

Graduation Assembly

Humpty Doo Primary School

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The Hon Kezia Purick MLA for Goyder assisted at our final Awards Assembly, presenting the NT Board of Studies Academic Award to Jeremy Taylor and Australia Day Council Student Citizen of the Year to Max Palmer. Our Artist’s in School Project with local artist Janie Andrews was completed and celebrated with a whole school barbecue breakfast. The mural celebrates the multicultural diversity of our school community. The CDU Adult Migrant Education class, consisting of our parents, also contributed to the mural mosaic in the courtyard. Thanks to Barb Doukas ST1 for coordination this project.

2013 was a year that the whole school community could concentrate on moving forward and embedding whole school approaches across the school. 2012 was challenging financially, but by the beginning of 2013 our financial situation was within budget thanks to the hard work and dedication of Petrina Shields our acting Admin Manager. I would like to acknowledge our whole school community, students, staff, families and friends for the wonderful support given to Humpty Doo Primary School throughout 2013 and look forward to continuing this partnership in 2014. Sue Fisher Principal

Humpty Doo Primary School

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Teaching and Learning

Humpty Doo Primary School is a Focus School for the Next Steps Initiative. Ali Brady continued to work as our Next Steps Teaching and Learning Coach. Ali Brady worked closely with our Indigenous community to develop Personalised Learning Plans for all of our ATSI students (25% of our student population). This was done in collaboration with a family representative, the student, Ali, class teacher and our AIEW Aunty Patty. Aunty Patty has commenced a number of initiatives such as Lunch Club, Indigenous Homework Centre, and Nutrition Program and has also contributed to Family Maths sessions. Ali Brady, Aunty Patty and Laura Gilbody presented Humpty Doo Family Maths at the AAMT Biennial Conference 2013 in Melbourne. They were also invited to present Humpty Doo Family Maths at the Indigenous Numeracy Special Interest Conference in Sydney 2013 as a result of their AAMT presentation. Next Steps has helped the school take account of Indigenous perspectives when implementing the Australia Curriculum’s cross-curricular priority Aboriginal and Torres Strait histories and cultures. The whole school participated in Pudakul Cultural Tours run by the Limilngant-Wulna Aboriginal Corporation. The aim of this educational experience was to provide cultural awareness to all students and staff, whilst bringing pride to ATSI students about their heritage.

The Next Steps Initiative aims to make a significant change in the achievement levels of our ATSI students. We aim to improve literacy and numeracy levels at a minimum of 5% for all ATSI students from the baseline data collected in Semester 2, 2013. The baseline data included diagnostic local measures such as the Schedule for Early Number Assessment (NSW DET) and Progressive Achievement Tests – Mathematics (ACER) for numeracy. PM Benchmarks and Lexiles as well as First Steps Writing continuums, T – 9 Net, Jolly Phonics and Words Their Way were the diagnostic tools used to collect Literacy data. Systemic data from SAIS reports and NAPLAN are also used to check the progress of individual students across the school. We have developed a whole school approach in using PM Benchmark, Lexiles, SENA and PAT maths diagnostic tools to track all students’ progress. Staff have analysed school and NAPLAN data which has highlighted Reading, Writing and

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Numeracy as areas for improvement. As a result a reading data wall has been established in the STI EC office for all staff to consult and move children as they progress or modify support plans for identified students at risk. Class data sets are on the school server for monitoring and updating as new assessments are completed. Reading sessions were supported by all specialist teachers and senior teachers every day in our Year 1 & 2 Classes. Family Maths was established in Term 3 & 4 and attracted several families to attend the sessions on Monday afternoons after school. This initiative was supported through Humpty Doo Primary School becoming a Make it Count Resource School 2012-2013 which is funded by the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers. The school received $15K to upgrade mathematical resources to support the development of a culturally responsive curriculum for our Indigenous students. This grant is a direct result of Geoff Gillman’s mathematical expertise and dedication to our school and students in improving their numeracy outcomes. Well done Geoff.

Family Maths Sessions

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Wellbeing

Humpty Doo Primary School

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Under the National Partnership for the Next Steps Initiative the school has set a target towards improving ATSI students attendance to 92% by the end of 2013. To achieve this Humpty Doo Primary School has set attendance procedures in place:

Every Child Every Day (DECS Policy)

Weekly attendance data reported in the school newsletter

Attendance data in PLPs reviewed regularly by NSI Focus Committee

AIEW check in with all ATSI students on a regular basis

Nutrition programs run by the school and AIEW: Breakfast Club, Lunch Club and Homework Centre.

Star Attendance Awards for ATSI students presented at assemblies in 2013. Attendance did increase for ATSI students moving from 85.5% in 2012 to 87.4 in 2013. Total student attendance increased slightly from 88.1 in 2012 to 89.2% in 2013. Parents are contacted if they have not notified the school of their child’s absence. All students who are late must check in at the front counter and take a late slip to the class teacher. We have not achieved are targets for attendance for 2013 although there continues to be an increase it is not as high as it could be. Unnotified absences decreased from 3.9% in 2012 to 2.9% in 2013 and will continue to be targeted in 2014. The school has a Welfare Team that consists of all Senior Staff, AIEW, SET, Chaplain and School Counsellor. The Welfare Team meets fortnightly to review students who are on our Wellbeing Radar. With 25% of our students on the Welfare Radar the support services of a Chaplain and School Counsellor are highly regarded in the school community.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Participation, Transitions and Pathways Early Childhood Humpty Doo Preschool has two units and ran two full day groups in one unit and a morning and afternoon groups in the 2nd unit. Parents prefer the full day groups due to the long distances to travel back and forth for preschool half days. The morning and afternoon group is popular with families whose students attend the local Child Care facility. All staff continued to work on implementing and meeting compliance with the Early Years Learning Framework. The Early Childhood teachers worked collaboratively together to conduct a transitioning program in Terms 3 & 4. This allowed preschool students to meet the Transition teachers and develop relationships with students in those classes. The Humpty Doo Rug Rats Play Group meets each week in the preschool grounds and utilises the preschool resources. Many families attending also have students in the preschool or school. The preschool is happy to share their facilities with the play group and it is a way for families to view the great learning happening in the preschool. The school investigated the possibility of opening a Special Centre preschool in 2013 and this eventuated. Students with Disabilities The Humpty Special Centre catered for three classes during 2013. Two classes were multilevel primary classes and the third class our first Special Centre Preschool class. This Preschool will provide the necessary early intervention for students with high support needs. Students experienced sleep overs at the Special Centre, special sporting events provided by Total Recreation, excursions and a swimming program. Students have a buddy mainstream class that they join for specialist lessons and class lessons as part of their inclusion program. The students’ EAPs are reviewed each semester with support staff from Student Services and the Children’s Development Team (Health) as well as other specialists. Students in Year 6 have a transitioning process to the Middle School Class and join them in classes on the Taminmin campus. Upper Primary Humpty Doo Primary continued to work closely with Taminmin College throughout the year. There were several orientation days and the Taminmin Sports Academy worked with the Year 5/6 students. We will continue to work collaboratively with our local Middle School.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Partnerships Humpty Doo Primary School has met all financial obligations and complied with all financial reporting requirements for Australian Government, NT Government and DoE in 2013. The absenteeism of staff, both teachers and admin officers, once again brought about anoverspend on ERTs. The employment of Special Education Support Officers beyond funding allocations, further contributed to this overspend. School Council leased the canteen to a private business for the 2013 school year and this proved very successful for the school. A Stakeholder’s Perception Survey was not undertaken in 2013 but will be undertaken in Term 2 2014 and provide information to School Council for the formation of the new School Improvement Plan 2014 -2017. The School Council AGM was held on February 20, with Mrs Nicky Clark continuing as the elected Chairperson. A huge thanks to the dedicated School Council members who spent hours of their own time manning BBQs, selling raffle tickets, collecting donations, cooking and selling food, potting plants and selling them etc. As a Next Steps Initiative Focus School our School Community Partnership was developed collaboratively with staff, Iindigenous families and the consultation of Dr Tyson Yunkaporta. The partnership is based on three key principles shown to improve education and life outcomes for Indigenous students:

Children who are expected to achieve at school and who have high expectation of themselves are more likely to succeed.

A sense of cultural identity and the active recognition and validation of Indigenous culture by schools is directly linked to student wellbeing and success.

The involvement of Indigenous Australians in educational decision making and the participation of Indigenous education workers or community members in classrooms.

Aunty Patty our AIEW is a vital member of our Welfare Team and liaises with specialist staff to support the social and emotional needs of our Indigenous students, many of whom are in Foster Care. In 2013 Aunty Patty and First Steps L & N coach established The First Australian Student Leadership Group at Humpty Doo School to promote pride in culture and develop strong leadership.

Humpty Doo Primary School

2013 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

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Leadership In 2013 Humpty Doo Primary held its biennial Concert which was well attended and appreciated by the local community. The School Council have decided to alternate the Fete years with our School Concert so that Fetes will be held in even years and Concerts in odd years. The wider community have also supported special events in the school such as the ANZAC Day Memorial Service; Harmony Day, Literacy and Numeracy Week, Blue Light Discos, School Assemblies, Sports Day and our annual Fun Run. The school’s newsletter is produced weekly and emailed to all families with access to computers and hard copies are sent to those without access. The school is developing a web-site which will also provide access to weekly newsletters, attendance data and special events. All staff completed a 12 month Performance Management cycle and will commence a new cycle in Term 1, 2013. The school will also investigate costs associated with all staff undergoing a 360° feedback process in 2013. The principal also underwent a Performance Review in Term 3, 2013, resulting in a new four year contract. Humpty Doo Primary is also due for School Review in 2014, which will help formulate the new School Improvement Plan. Six members of staff attended the Education Changemaker Program run by Dave Faulkner. Staff were offered this intensive leadership program to develop their leadership skills and for our school’s future succession planning. Dare to Lead PAI was invited to complete an external, independent Snapshot of ATSI Educational outcomes at Humpty Doo Primary School. This was conducted by Brian Giles-Browne, the Dare to Lead Coordinator, in June 2013. The report congratulated HDPS on the Pudakul Cultural educational experience that has raised cultural awareness across our school. Recommendations have been very helpful for our Next Steps initiative. I sincerely thank the hard work of our growing Leadership Team: Geoff Gillman, Assistant Principal; Barbara Doukas, ST1 Upper Primary; Ali Brady, ST1 EC and Literacy/Numeracy Coach; Vanessa Lowe, ST1 Special Centre; Carol Roberts, TIC Preschool; Donna Kimm, HALT; and Petrina Shields, Admin Manager.

Sue Fisher Principal

Humpty Doo Primary School

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ATTACHMENT A

Audited Financial Statements

Humpty Doo Primary School

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ATTACHMENT B

NAPLAN data

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