SawyersValleyPrimarySchoolaimstocreateandfosteran
environmentwherestudentsbecomeindependentlearnersenabling
themtotakeresponsiblecontroloftheirlivesandcontribute
meaningfullytosociety. Ourmission
SawyersValley
PrimarySchoolAnIndependentPublicSchool
AnnualReport2019
2
Eachyear,publicschoolspreparean
AnnualSchoolReportdescribing
annualachievements,performance
anddirections.Theyear2019
markedthebeginningofournext
three-yearcycle2019–2021,andwas
oneofgreatexcitement.
AsanIndependentPublicSchool,SawyersValleystaff
workincollaborationwiththeschoolcommunity,
throughtheSchoolBoard.ThisyeartheSchoolBoard
sawanevendeeperinvolvementinestablishinga
newplanthatwillseeourschoolconsolidateand
extendthegrowthandlearningfrompreviousyears.
Aspreviousplanswereaboutdevelopingtheskills
requiredforlifeinthe21stcentury,ournextplanwill
seestudentsdemonstratingandextendingthese
skills.
ThecombinedfullimplementationofthePositive
BehaviourSupportpolicyandStudentLeadership
programsawimprovedschooltoneandincreased
studentmotivation.Staffrefinedandconnectednew
learninginDesignandTechnologies,Healthand
WellbeingandtheAboriginalCulturalStandardsFrameworkintoschoolpractices.Theschoolcommunitycontinuedtoseekopportunitiesforitto
supportothersinneed,andin2019,fundraising
projectssupportedoursisterschoolinCambodia.
In2019,SawyersValleycelebratedits135th
Anniversary.Thiswasaremarkableevent,bringing
togetherpastandpresentstaff,studentsandtheir
families,torememberandsharetheirtimeinour
wonderfulschool.
ItiswithpleasurethatIpresentthe2019Annual
ReporttotheSawyersValleySchoolCommunity.
FionaCollopy
Principal
PrincipalAddress
FionaCollopy
PRINCIPAL
÷ Respectfortheneedsandpotentialofeverychildisat
theheartofourschool’swork.Webelievethateach
personbringssomethinguniqueandworthwhiletothe
tableandweworktopreservedignityandtofoster
mutualrespectofothers’opinionsandbeliefs.
÷ Weareacommunityandactivelyengagewithour
‘village’andwidercommunityinordertobuildasense
ofselfthatincludesandattendstothewellbeingof
others.Weshowcompassionandcareforourstudents,
staff,ourparentsandourenvironment.Ourschool
communitygrowsanddevelopstogether.
÷ Weallsharetheresponsibilityforstudents’wellbeing
andlearning.Weactresponsiblyandarecommittedto
ourroleasstewardsofourcommunityand
environment.
÷ Webelievethateffectivetwo-waycommunicationis
centraltosuccessfulproblemsolving.Wevaluethe
partnershipswecreatewithopenandtransparent
communication.Wehelpourchildrenlearntobuild
healthyrelationshipswiththeirpeersandcommunity.
Weencourageourchildrentoworkincollaborationand
partnershiptoachievesuccessasateam.
÷ Wecelebrateindividualityanduniquenessand
recognisethateachofusisone-of-a-kindand
acknowledgeeachother’sstrengths.Werecogniseand
valuethemanyvariedwaysinwhichwecanlearnand
makesenseofourworld.Weofferarangeof
experiencessothateachchildcansucceedanddiscover
theirstrengths.Weembracestudents’interestsand
individualstrengthsandfosterapassionforlearning.
÷ Wevalueauthenticityandintegrityandendeavourto
dowhatishonestandrightforourcommunity,others
andourownselves.Weseeourselvesinrelationtoour
environmentandseektopreservetheprinciplesof
fairness:everyonereceivingwhattheyneed,ratherthan
allreceivingthesame.
Ourschoolcommunityaspirestotheshared
valuesandbeliefsasstatedintheSawyersValley
PrimarySchoolBusinessPlan2019-21:
3
SchoolBoard
Address
DuncanPratt
SCHOOLBOARDCHAIR
Ithasbeenaninterestingtimeontheschoolboard,withso
manygreatschoolactivitiesovertheyear2019.Wehave
developedcountlesspoliciesandprogramsincluding,
PositiveBehaviourSupport,andalongwiththeparent
workshops,thiswasaparticularlyinterestingoneinwhich
tobeinvolved.
Inacaseoffortunatetiming,the135thAnniversary
celebrationshappenedbeforetheWorldchangedandwas
ahugesuccesswithfullcreditgoingtosomanypeople,
includingaboardcommittee,whomanagedtobringthisall
together.WithatypicallyDecemberintheHillsday,hats
andsunglassesweredefinitelytheorderoftheday.The
BushTuckerGardenandheritagepinesareacontinueto
lookfantasticand,likesomanyotherareasatSawyers
ValleyPrimarySchool,areacredittotheschool.Itwon’tbe
longuntil150yearsoftheschool,butCareyStewartand
theteamsetaprecedentwiththeireffortsthistimeround.
TakingontheMCroleintheabsenceofDeputy,Andrew
Johnston,attheFactionAthleticsCarnival,alongwith
presentingawardsatdifferentpresentations,wereboth
highlights.Itwasapersonalhonourformetopresentan
awardtoastudentthatIhadspentsometimewithatthe
school.Itisapleasuretoseethedevelopmentofour
students.
Morerecently,theglobalpandemicandtheschool’s
excellentmanagementofthelearningfromhomeperiod,
wasmoreoperationalsonotnormallyaboardmatter,but
becameacrossoverbetweenthetwosidesofthecoin.To
echocommentsalreadymade,Ionceagainextendmy
thanksbothasaparentandboardmember,tothestafffor
howtheymanagedanunprecedentedsituationwhichwill
hopefullycometoaconclusionsoonerratherthanlater.
Icanalmosthearthesighsofreliefaspeoplereadthatthis
wouldbemylastupdateastheChairoftheSchoolBoardat
SawyersValleyPrimarySchool.
Therehavebeenafewkindcommentsfrompeopleabout
mytenureontheboardforwhichIamverygrateful.In
reality,thepositionismadeagreatdealeasierwiththe
supportofPrincipal,FionaCollopy,otherboardmembers,
andschoolstaff.
Thesearetheoneswhodomostoftheworkinvolvedin
maintainingtheboardperformancewhilsttheChairgets
toaskwhenthingsarebeingdone.Idon’tevenhaveto
proposeorsecondmotionsinmeetings!
Afterjustovertwoyearsintheroleandalittlemoreon
theschoolboard,Iamstandingdownfromtheboardfor
personalreasons.Fortunatelyforme,theyaregood
reasons.Lookingback,thetimehasgoneamazinglyfast
andIcan’tbelieveithasbeenthatlongalready.Ican
heartherestoftheboardtellingpeopleitfeelslikealot
longer.
Hopefully,Imanagedtofillatleastoneoftheverylarge
shoesleftformebyErikStanton-Clements,whodida
fantasticjobbeforemeasBoardChair.Therolein2020
isnowpassingtoNarelleThredgold,whomostwillknow
fromherschoolandwidercommunityinvolvement.Iam
surethatNarellewilldoafantasticjobgoingforward
andIlookforwardtoseeingtheschoolprogresseven
furtherwithherinthisrole.
Thefutureoftheschoolcontinuestolookbrightand
withschoolreviewscomingupinTerm42020,Ifeel
confidentthatthesewillreflecttheschoolwell.
Mythanksonceagaintoallthepeoplewhohavebeen
ontheboardwithmeduringmytime,someofwho
havemovedon,andotherswhostillremain.
ThereportsprovidedbyFionamorethancoveranything
inafarmoreinterestingfashionthanalistIwouldend
uppreparing,sofornowItakemyleaveandlook
forwardtohavingconversationsattheschoolwhich
don’tstartwith‘Iknowit’snotaboardmatterbut...’
DuncanPratt
SchoolBoardChair
4
Celebrating
135Years
ANNIVERSARYCOMMITTEE
The135thAnniversaryoftheestablishmentofSawyersValleyPrimary
Schoolprovidedstudents,staffandcommunityanopportunityto
reflectuponthewayourschoolhasevolvedsinceitsopeningin1884as
Lacey’sMillSchool.Thehistoricalfocusprovidedaplatformfor
studentstolearnaboutthechangingcontextofthelocalcommunity
anditsimpactonschoollife.
Inadditiontothecelebrationofhighqualityeducationsincethe
existenceofthefirstbuildingsonourschoolsite,therewasstrongfocus
ontheperspectivesoftheoriginalcustodiansofthelandonwhichthe
schoolstands,theWhadjuckNoongarpeople.Thiswasadriverforour
twoanniversaryprojects,thecommunityBushTuckerGardenandSix
SeasonsMural.TheseprojectsinvolvedinputfromAboriginalelders
andanArtistinResidenceandwerecatalystsforagrowing
familiarisationanddeeperunderstandingofthecultureand
environmentthatwaspresentinthespacebeforeconstructionofa
schoolbegan.
The135thAnniversarycommitteecomprisedofpastandpresentstaff,
parentsandcommunitymembers.Thisinsightfulandenthusiastic
groupofpeopleworkedcollaborativelytoplan,organiseandcreatethe
momentumthatculminatedinthecommemorativeeventthattook
placeon5December2019.Groupmembersappliedforgrantsand
sponsorship,soughtcateringandequipment,locatedandinvitedpast
staff,studentsandcommunitymembers,developedalogodesign,and
advertisedusingarangeofmediachannels.Thecombinedefforts
resultedinawonderfulcelebrationofgenerationsproudtocallSawyers
ValleyPrimarySchooltheirown.
ThecommemorativeassemblyshowcasedourtalentedKindergarten,
Pre-PrimaryandYear1studentswithanentertainingperformance.It
signifiedourgrowingconnectionto,andrespectforindigenousculture
throughtheevocativeWelcometoCountryperformedbylocalelder
RomaWinmar.Itsawthecuttingofanextraordinaryanniversarycake
bytwoofourlongstandingHerbertandHeinefamilies,anda
communalsingingofourSchoolSongleadbythecomposerElisa
Kessey.
TheTwilightWalkthatfollowedenabledgueststoviewthedisplayof
fabulousprojectscompletedbyourstudentsduringthe‘Clubs’program
andthephotosandmemorabiliathatwasbeautifullyarrangedbyour
librarianGlenysHolling.TheHighTeaandTwilightWalkwasan
effervescent‘buzz’ofpastandpresentfamiliesreminiscingabouttheir
schooldaysatSawyersValley.
Iwouldliketopersonallythankeveryone
whowasinvolvedintheplanningand
organisationofthe135thAnniversary
projectsandourcommemorativeevent.
Yourdedicatedeffortsaregreatly
appreciatedandhelpedtomakeour
celebrationamostmemorableone.
CareyStewart
5
ProgressagainstBusinessPlanPriorities
Schoolsengageincontinuousself-assessmentandrigorous
analysistoreflectonandimprove:teaching,thelearning
environment,relationships,leadershipandgovernance.
TheSawyersValleyPrimarySchoolBusinessPlan2019-21
anditsassociatedtargetsareinformedbyevidencefroma
rangeofexternalandinternaldatasources,standardsand
surveys.Strategiesandapproacheschosenareresearch
andevidencebasedandthencarefullyconsideredonthe
basisoftheirsuitabilitytoourschoolandourstudents.
Studentsremainattheheartofallplanning.
PRIORITY1:SUCCESSFULSTUDENTSThe2019schoolyearsawsuccessforstudentsinvariousacademic,artisticandsportingeventsbothatschoolandin
thewidercommunity.ThePhysicalEducationprogramofferedarangeofcontextsforstudentstodeveloptheir
fitnessandapplytheirskillsinphysicalactivity,suchasswimming,cricket,tennis,football,netball,hockey,athletics,
trackandfield,basketball,volleyball,lacrosseanddancing.Students(Years4-6)participatedinfactioncarnivalsin
swimming(wonbySwans),cross-country(wonbyPenguins)andathletics(wonbySwans).Overtheyearstudent
teamscompetedagainstotherschoolswithintheHillsEducationCommunitySportsAssociation(HECSA)in
interschoolswimming,cross-countryandathletics,achievingsecondplaceineachcompetition.Othersporting
eventsincludedT20CricketandLightningCarnivals.Wecontinuetobeimpressedandproudofthehighlevelof
enthusiasm,sportsmanshipandperseverancedisplayedbyourparticipatingstudents.
OurnewspecialistsciencelaboratorywascompletedandfullyoperationalasaSTEAMspace.Specialistsupported
SciencelessonsledtonewcollaborationbetweenteachersforenrichingScienceandDesigntechnology.We
celebratedBookWeekandScienceWeekwithanextravagantaffair,combiningafocusonReadingisMy
Superpowerwithacelebrationaroundthe50thanniversaryoftheMoonlanding.Theschoolparticipatedina
scheduleofsharedeventswithschoolsintheHillsEducationCommunity,incompetitionsforVisualArts,Science
andPublicSpeaking.Thisyearourschool,onceagain,hostedtheHECScienceChallengeprovidingchallengesforthe
studentsaroundscientificenquirywithadesigntwist.
In2019wewelcomedournewlanguagesspecialistteacherprovidingopportunityformorestudentstolearn
anotherlanguageatschool.StudentsfromYear3-6studiedItalian,astheirtargetlanguage,inplaceofJapanese,whichhadbeentaughtinpreviousyears.
PerformingArts(MusicandDrama)isafeatureofourschool,andeachyearstudentsshowcasetheirskillstothe
schoolcommunityintheSchoolProduction(musicalplay)andintheIndependentTheatreAssociation’sadjudicated
YouthFest.InSeptemberstudentsinYears3-6performedinoffsiteproductionsattheKalamundaPerformingArts
Theatre,withthejuniorproductionThePiedPiper,andtheseniorproduction,SherlockandCinders.StudentsperformedasecondtimeforYouthfestonthefollowingweekendattheMarlooTheatreinGreenmount,winning
awardsforbestactor,beststagemanagerandthreeadjudicatorawardsforoutstandingperformances.Ouryounger
studentsfromK-1performedawonderfulmedleyextravaganzaofmusicthroughtheagesaspartofour135th
AnniversarycelebrationsinDecember,entertainingvisitorstotheschooltocelebrateourhistory.
Theschoolremainsfocusedonfourpriorities:
1. SuccessfulStudents
2. QualityTeachingandLearning
3. PositiveSchoolEnvironment
4. CommunityLinks
Asummaryofeachpriorityareaispresentedalongwith
progressagainsteachofthetargets,andthenafocuson
continuedimprovementsuggestingrecommendations
andourpossible‘nextsteps’.
6
Theschoolprovidesawiderangeoflearning
programsforstudents;howeverwehave
prioritisedfourdistinctareastoassist
developmentofthewholechild:healthand
wellbeing,criticalandcreativethinking,
personalandsocialcapabilities;andliteracy
andnumeracy.TheBusinessPlan’spriorityarea
ofSuccessfulStudentsdescribeslong-rangetargetstobeachievedby2021.NAPLANand
On-entryAssessmentmeasurestudent
performanceinEnglishandMathematics.
Whatfollowsisapresentationofdataas
revealedbyNAPLAN,consideredprogress
madetowardsBusinessPlantargetsin2021,
andthenplannedadjustmentsandstrategies.
StudentPerformanceasrevealedbyNationalTesting(NAPLAN)
StudentsinYears3,5and7participatedinNAPLANinMay2019,andforthefirsttime,completedthese
assessmentsonline(exceptYear3Writing,whichwaspaper-based).Year7students(FormerYear6)hadattended
highschoolforonlyonetermatthetimeoftesting.ThereforeasNAPLANperformanceisameasureofstudent
learningovertime,theirresultsareincludedhere.Percentagesofstudentsachievingatorabovetheminimum
standardsareshowninthetable(left).Percentagesofstudentsachievinginthetop20%areshowninthetable
(right).Greenshadingindicatesperformanceequalorbettertothatofall‘like’andpublicschools.
PercentageofStudentsAchievingat/aboveNationalMinimumStandardPercentageofStudentsAchievingintheTop20%
Y3
Bands2-10
Y5
Bands4-10
FormerY6
Bands5-10
Y3
Bands5-10
Y5
Bands7-10
FormerY6
Bands8-10
School
Like
State
School
Like
State
School
State
School
Like
State
School
Like
State
School
State
Reading 93 98 95 100 97 93 100 91 Reading 45 52 47 30 38 32 0 25
Writing 100 98 96 91 95 91 100 86 Writing 35 55 46 9 17 15 0 14
Spelling 83 95 91 96 95 92 100 91 Spelling 38 44 43 30 31 32 50 27
Grammar&Punctuation 90 95 93 96 93 89 88 89 Grammar&Punctuation 42 57 52 30 36 30 37 24
Numeracy 97 97 94 100 96 94 100 91 Numeracy 34 37 36 13 24 23 38 31
Years3,5and7studentsachievedatoraboveminimumstandardsinnumeracy,exceedingresultsfrom‘like’and
stateschools.ResultsinYear7arealsoaboveschoolsinReading,WritingandSpelling,whileinYear5areabove
schoolsinReadingandSpelling.Year3resultsarealsoaboveinWriting.Whenexaminingstudentsachievinginthe
topbands(Top20%),studentsinYear7comparefavourablywith‘like’andstateschoolsinSpelling,Grammarand
PunctuationandNumeracy.Furtheranalysisshowslargegroupsofstudentsclumpedinlowerproficiencybands.
ThiswillbeexploredfurtherinthesectionrelatingtoprogressagainstBusinessPlantargets.
Numeracy(Averagescoresovertime)
Thefollowingdefinitionsmayassistthereader:
NAPLAN:NationalAssessmentProgram–LiteracyandNumeracy
Band: The NAPLAN assessment scale is divided into ten proficiency
bands,usedtoreportstudentprogressthroughYears3,5and7.Band
1isthelowestbandandBand10isthehighestband.Abandcontainsa
rangeofscoresandisnotaspecificpoint.
LikeSchools:‘Likeschools’arethoseservingstudentsfromstatistically
similar backgrounds. Information about the composition of a school’s
students and the background of their parents, together with the
school’s setting, are used to create an Index of Community Socio-
EducationalAdvantagevalue.ACARAusesthisvaluetogroupstudents
ofsimilarstudentpopulation.
WAPublic Schools:Also referred toas ‘state’, theseareall schools in
WAunderthepublicschoolsystem.
Percentage of Students: Percentages of students are used to give a
comparison between a school and ‘Like Schools’where the individual
numbersofeachschoolmaydiffer.
Cohort:Acohortisaparticulargroupofstudents.
7
ThegraphsaboveshowanincreaseinresultsforNumeracyforYear5(2019)from
Year3(2017),andarejustbelowthoseof‘like’andpublicschools.Resultsfor
Year3(2019)showadownturncomparetothepreviousyear’scohort
performance.Resultsarejustbelowthosefrom‘like’andpublicschools.
ThenumberofstudentsintheYear7(2019)cohortwastoolowforaccurate
comparisonagainstpublicschools,soresultsshowingprogressofthesestudents
fromYear5(2017)toYear7(2019),areshownhere(right).Numeracyresultsfor
Year7(2019)show90%ofstudentswithamoderateorhighrateofprogress
sincebeingtestedin2017asYear5s.TheGroupMeanforthesestudentsforthe
NumeracyassessmentwashigherthanboththeallWAMeanandAustralianMean.
Reading(Averagescoresovertime)
Readingresults(above)forYear5(2019)remainslightlyhigherthan‘like’andpublicschools,withasmallergap
betweenthesethaninpreviousyears.However,whencomparingperformanceofthesamecohortasYear3s(2017)to
thatoflikeschools,thereisanoticeableimprovementintheperformanceofthissamecohort(asYear5s)in2019.
ResultsforYear3(2019)remainsteadyalthoughwithresultsbelowthoseof‘like’andonlyjustbelowpublicschools.
Readingprogressresults(left)forYear7(2019)show76%ofstudentswith
moderateprogressorabovefromYear5toYear7.Theshadedpinkregioninthe
moderatebaroftheprogressgraphrepresentsstudentswhoseachievementhas
beendescribedasexcellentforthefirstandsecondtests.Progressmaybedifficult
todescribeforthesestudentsastheircapabilitymayexceedthatofthedemandsof
thetest.Itisassumedthattheprogressofstudentswhoremainintheexcellent
achievementcategoryisatleastmoderate.TheGroupMeanforthesestudentsfor
theReadingassessmentwashigherthanboththeallWAMeanandAustralian
Mean.
Writing(Averagescoresovertime)
ResultsforWritinginYear5(2019)havedroppedbelowperformanceof‘like’andpublicschools,althoughthegap
betweenresultswhenthesestudentswereinYear3in2017remainsthesame.
ResultsforYear3Writing(2019)arebelowthatof‘like’andjustbelowpublic
schools,buthavestartedapositivetrend.
TheprogressresultsforYear7(2019)areverypleasing,with90%ofstudentsin
Year7(2019)withhighorveryhighprogressfromtestingdoneinYear5(2017).
TheGroupMeanforthesestudentsfortheWritingassessmentwaswellabove
boththeallWAMeanandAustralianMean.
8
“Duisultrices,lacusidbibendum
pharetra,purusmetusposuereorci,
nonnonummyorcinunceunisi.
Maecenasmagna.”
Spelling(Averagescoresovertime)
ResultsforSpellinginYear5(2019)aresimilartothosefromlastyearandcontinueanupwardtrend.However,
whenyoucompareperformanceofthesamecohortasYear3s(2017)tothatoflikeschools,thereisanoticeable
improvementintheperformanceofthissamecohort(asYear5s)in2019.ResultsforYear3(2018)maintainan
upwardtrendbutarebelowthoseof‘like’andpublicschools.ComparableresultsarenotavailableforYear7
(2019)duetothelownumberofstudentsinthecohortatthattime,howeverindividualtestingresultsshowthat
theGroupMeanwashigherthanboththeWAMeanandAustralianMean.
GrammarandPunctuation(Averagescoresovertime)
ResultsforGrammarandPunctuationinYear5,althoughstillabovethatoflikeandstateschools,haveshowna
downturnfor2019.ResultsforYear3(2018)arebelowthoseof‘like’andpublicschools.Comparableresultsarenot
availableforYear7(2019)duetothelownumberofstudentsinthecohortatthattime,howeverindividualtesting
resultsshowthattheGroupMeanwashigherthanboththeWAMeanandAustralianMean.
StudentProgressandAchievementComparedwith‘Like’Schools
Trackingstudentcohortresultsoveratwo-yearperiodfromYears3-5enablesanoverallpictureoflongitudinal
progress.Theultimateaimistohaveallareasshowinginthetophalfofthegraph.
StudentProgressandAchievementfrom2017(Year3)to2019(Year5)arebetterthanthatof‘like‘schools.All
areasshowHigherProgress-HigherAchievement,exceptforNumeracyandWriting,whichshowHigherProgress–LowerAchievement.
Progressagainstpriorityareatargetssetfor2021hasbeenconsidered,withprojectionsdrawnfromevidence
sourcedfrom2019NAPLAN,ProgressiveAchievement
Tests(PAT)andOnEntryAssessmentaboutthe
performancesofYear3,Year5andYear7in2019
cohorts.Additionalevidencewascollectedthroughthe
StudentAchievementSystem(SAIS)basedonteacher
developedassessmentandjudgments.Eachtargetis
presentedfollowedbyexplanationofprogressof
achievementin2019.
¥ 80%ofstudentswillreceivea‘satisfactory’levelof
achievementinHealthandPhysicalEducation
outcomes
Awholeschoolapproach,asdescribedintheSVPSHealthPlan,hadbeeninplacesince2017,withinstructionofhealthconceptsinformedbytheWesternAustralianCurriculum,andunderpinnedbytheHealthPromotingSchoolsFramework.Teachers,acrosstheschool,planned,taughtandassessedstudent
performanceinHealthandPhysicalEducationin
commoncontexts.
Evidencetoinformprogressofthetargetwassourced
fromstudentreportsinSemester2,2018andSemester
2,2019.Asatisfactorylevelofachievementalignswith
the‘CGrade’.Resultsshowstudentsconsistently
exceedingthetarget,withtheaveragepercentage
improvingoverthistime.StudentsachievingbelowtheC
gradeforPersonal,SocialandCommunityHealtharesupportedthroughanIndividualEducationPlanfor2020.
%ofstudentsachievingCGradeorabove:
Year
MovementandPhysicalActivity
Personal,SocialandCommunityHealth
SEM22018 SEM22019 SEM22018 SEM22019
1 94.54 100 89.28 97.44
2 96.49 100 96.42 100
3 87.50 97.06 86.67 91.18
4 88.46 100 84.00 100
5 100 95.83 94.74 95.83
6 100 100 100 95.00AVERAGE 94.50 98.82 91.85 96.58
¥ 80%ofstudentswillconsistentlydemonstrate
desirablepersonalandsocialcapabilities
In2019theschoolfullyimplementedTier1ofthe
PositiveBehaviourSupport(PBS)Program,andworked
toreview,modifyanddevelopapproachestosupport
studentsrequiringTiers2and3interventions.The
SVPSExpectedBehaviourMatrixdescribesbehavioursexpectedofstudents,organisedaroundfour
expectationareas:Striveforyourpersonalbest,Respectothers,ActresponsiblyandShowcompassion.Focusbehavioursareexplicitlycommunicated,taught,
reinforcedandmonitored.
Evidencetoinformprogressofthetargetwassourced
fromstudentreportsinSemester2,2018andSemester
2in2019.DescriptorsforAttitude,Behaviourand
Effort(ABE)fromstudentreportswerelinkedto
specificareasoftheSVPSExpectedBehaviourMatrix.Toensureconsistencyofjudgementsteachers
determinedcriteriaforeachofthetermsontherating
scale:consistently,often,sometimesandseldom.
Resultsfor‘consistently’wereasfollows:
Expectation
Areas
P-2% 3-6% Overall%
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
Striveforpersonalbest
57.3 55.6 68.9 70.3 63.6 62.9
Respectothers 62.8 66.0 80.9 78.3 71.8 72.1
ActResponsibly 59.1 62.1 82.9 76.7 71.0 69.4ShowCompassion
62.0 64.5 80.2 79.00 71.1 71.7
%ofstudents
consistently
demonstratingall
expectation
areas:
P-2% 3-6% Overall%
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
SEM2
2018
SEM2
2019
60.3 62.0 78.3 76.1 69.4 69.0
Overallresultsshowthatthetargetof80%wasnot
met.However,resultssince2017maintaina10%
increasesincethestartoftheprogram(seebelow).
2017 2018 2019
SEM1 SEM2 SEM1 SEM2 SEM1 SEM2
60.4% 60.9% 70.9% 69.4% 72.6% 69.0%
Theongoinganalysisofdataenablestargetedexplicit
teachingandinterventionoffocusbehavioursfor
identifiedcohorts.Staffareconfidentthatthetargetof
80%willbeachievedinthenextBusinessPlancycle.
BusinessPlanTargets:
SuccessfulStudents
10
¥ 80%ofstudentswilldemonstratedevelopingcriticalandcreativethinkingcapabilities
Teachersintegratecriticalandcreativethinkingcapabilitiesacrossteachingprograms,providingmultiple
opportunitiesforthesetobedevelopedandnurturedacrossarangeofcontexts,withreferencetotheGeneral
CapabilitiesoftheWesternAustralianCurriculum.Tocapture‘snapshot’datainadditiontothatalreadyoccurring
duringregularclassroom,theschooloperatesanannual4-weekprogramofClubscoursesforstudentsfromK-6.
In2019,ourclubscoursestookonanhistoricalthemetotieinwiththeschool’s135thanniversarycommunity
celebrationevent.Thestudentsweresupportedtodevelopandapplytheircriticalandcreativethinking,through
researchingandexploringanaspectoftheschoolcommunity’shistoryandthen,throughanintegratedproject
approach,showcasedtheirlearningduringtheannualTwilightWalkandbirthdaycelebrationevent.Students
exploredwhatlifewaslike,notonlyoverthepast135years,butalsogoingbackthousandsofyearstoconsider
changesfromanAboriginalperspective,andcomparedtheirfindingstolifeinthepresent.Theirlearningculminated
inseveralprojects–amusicaldramapresentationduringthecelebrationevent,andvariousdisplaysandactivities
aroundtheschool.Involvementinproject-basedlearningallowedstudentstoapplyandtransferexistingskillsand
knowledgetosolvearealworldproblemonacommonthemeoftheschool’s135thAnniversary.
Dataovertimeshowsasnapshotofoverallachievementacrossthewholeschool(K-6),assessedonacommon
frameworkwithfourcriteria.
CriteriaEmerging Developing Welldeveloped
2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019 2016 2017 2018 2019
Inquiring,identifying,exploringand
organisinginformationandideas26% 13% 24% 7% 52% 54% 59% 71% 22% 33% 17% 22%
Generatingideas,possibilitiesand
actions24% 7% 22% 8% 53% 52% 52% 60% 23% 41% 26% 31%
Reflectingonthinkingandprocesses 43% 11% 25% 11% 43% 57% 54% 65% 14% 32% 21% 24%
Analysing,synthesisingandevaluating
reasoningprocedures32% 14% 31% 15% 32% 55% 40% 68% 19% 31% 19% 16%
Ofnote,hasbeenthemodificationofthetargetto:80%ofstudentswilldemonstratedevelopingcriticaland
creativethinkingcapabilities.ThischangeisreflectedinthenewBusinessPlan2019-21.
CriteriaDeveloping/Welldeveloped
2016 2017 2018 2019
Inquiring,identifying,exploringandorganisinginformationandideas 74% 87% 76% 93%
Generatingideas,possibilitiesandactions 76% 93% 78% 91%
Reflectingonthinkingandprocesses 57% 89% 75% 89%
Analysing,synthesisingandevaluatingreasoningprocedures 51% 86% 59% 84%
Resultsshowsteadyimprovementinthedevelopingskillsofcriticalandcreativethinkingoverthelastfouryears.In
fact,thetarget,asstatedinthenewBusinessPlan,hasbeenachieved,withconsistentresultsover80%ineach
criteria.Ofspecificnote,istheslightlylowerresultfor:Reflectingonthinkingandprocesses;andAnalysing,synthesisingandevaluatingreasonprocedures.TheseskillswillbefurtheraddressedintheBusinessPlan2019-21.
¥ StudentswillachieveresultsatorabovethoseoflikeschoolswhenmeasuredbyNAPLANinReading,Writing
andNumeracy
Tocloselymonitorstudentlearningintheearlychildhoodyears,anddetermineprogresstowardsachievementof
theabovetargetforYear3,teachersemployedtheMiddletonEarlyLanguageScreening(MELS)andNumeracy
ScreeninginK,andOn-EntryAssessmentinPre-primary,Years1and2.Todetermineprogresstowardsachievement
ofthetargetforYear5and7inReading,WritingandNumeracy,studentsweretrackedasYear4and6in2019
usingProgressiveAchievementTests(PAT).Theseassessmentsallowedteacherstogaugesuccessoftargeted
teachingidentifiedthroughcasemanagement.InMay2019,studentsinYears3,5,7and9completedNAPLAN
assessments,withresultsanalysedtodetermineachievementofthesetargets.
Theschooldeterminedthatthetargetwasachievedforthefollowingcohortsin2019:Year5Reading;andYear7
Reading,WritingandNumeracy.Theremainingtargetswerenotachieved;howeverremaininlineofsightforthe
nextBusinessPlancycle.Thefollowingtablesshowperformanceineachoftheproficiencybandswithred=below
minimumstandard,yellow=atstandard,andgreen=wellabovetheminimumstandard.
11
YEAR3(2019)
BAND NUMERACY READING WRITING
6to10 10% 21% 7%
5 24% 24% 28%
4 24% 21% 38%
3 31% 7% 10%
2 7% 21% 17%
1 3% 7% 0%
StudentperformanceinYear3Numeracyshows
concentrationaroundBands3,4and5,whilein
Reading,thereisconcentrationinthetop20%,Bands4
and5,aswellasBand2.InWritingthereisahigh
concentrationinBands4and5.Toenablestudentsto
showhighprogresstheywillneedtoimproveatleast
twobandswhentestedagaininNAPLANin2020.
CommitmenttoImprovement
TheSVPSHealthPlanandSVPSHealthandWellbeingPolicycontinuetoprovidecoordinationandconnectednessbetweentheexplicitteachingofhealthconceptsinclassroomswithprogramsandotherschoolevents.In2019the
schoolparticipatedintheChangingHealthActingTogether(CHAT)ProgramandachieveditsSilvertargetsthrougha
focusonRoadSafety.StaffweresupportedwithprofessionallearningtousetheChallengesandChoices(SDERA)resources,anddevelopScopeandSequencedocumentsandassessmenttasks.Thecommunitywassurveyedin
relationtoRoadSafetyaroundtheschoolandasubcommitteewasformedincollaborationwiththeSchoolBoard.
During2020wewillconsolidateandembedtheseapproachesandseekmorecommunityinvolvementinallhealth
conceptsasafocusforachievementofGoldtargets.
WithsupportfromtheHealthandWell-beingCoordinator,staffweresupportedtoreflectontheextenttowhich
schoolprogramsandapproachessupportedstudentmentalhealth.In2020,workwillcontinueonaligning
approachesundertheumbrellaofthethree-tieredapproachtointervention,andstaffwillaccessprofessional
learningthroughtheBeYouMentalHealthEducationframeworkwithafocusonEarlySupportandResponding
Together.
In2020teachersofstudentsinYears1-6willcontinuetoworkshoulder-to-shoulderwithaSciencespecialist
teacher,andhaveincreasedaccesstoqualityresources,equipmentandenvironmentsthroughfurtherprojectsto
improveourschoollearningenvironment.Astrongerapproachwillbetakentoensurethatstudentsdevelopingthe
GeneralCapabilitiesoftheWesternAustralianCurriculum,inparticular,CriticalandCreativeThinking;arethe
driversforourapproachestoteachingandlearning.OurClubsprogramwillbere-imaginedtoensuresharperfocus
onthesecapabilitiesandtheirapplicationtoreallife.
Teacherswillcontinuetointensifyreadinginstruction,andstrengthenpracticesinorallanguage,phonological
awareness,phonics,fluency,vocabularyandcomprehension.Literacysupportandprofessionallearningwill
continuetoensurethatwritinginstructiondoesnotonlyinclude‘assigningwritingtasks’,butcapitalisesonthelinks
betweenReadingandWriting.Acasemanagementapproachandclassroomobservationandfeedbackcontinuedto
involveinterrogatingdatainliteracyandnumeracytodeterminefocusfortargetedinstruction.Severalstudents
requiringTier2and3literacyinterventionsweresupportedthroughMultiLitandMiniLitReadingTutorPrograms.
Thiswillbeexpandedin2020withfurtherprofessionallearning(ResponsetoIntervention)providedforstafftoensureadherencetothethree-tieredapproachtoinstructionandcurriculumprovision.Despitedifferentiation
occurringduringliteracyandnumeracyblocks,anumberofchildrenstillrequirefurtherinterventiontoprogress
theirlearning.Aparticularfocusforstaffwillbeonthedifferencebetweendifferentiation(Tiers1,2and3)and
intervention(Tiers2and3).
YEAR5(2019)
BAND NUMERACY READING WRITING
8to10 4% 4% 0%
7 9% 26% 9%
6 48% 48% 30%
5 22% 22% 35%
4 17% 0% 17%
1to3 0% 0% 9%
StudentperformanceinYear5Numeracyshowshigh
concentrationaroundBand6.InReadingthespreadis
mostlycontainedwithinBands5-7withalmosthalfof
thecohortachievingatBand6.InWriting,thereisa
largeconcentrationinBands5and6.Theseresults
haveshownhighprogresswithmoststudentsimproving
inatleasttwobandssincetheirYear3NAPLAN.
12
¥ SawyersValleyPrimarySchoolwillcontinuetobe
aleaderinWesternAustralianCurriculumdelivery
andpedagogy
SawyersValleyPrimarySchooliscommittedto
improvingeducationaloutcomesforstudentsand
continuestopromoteandsharetheexcellentpractices
operatingintheschoolwithothersintheeducational
community.Twoearlychildhoodteachersworkedas
verificationpartnersprovidingfeedbacktoother
schoolsagainsttheNationalQualityStandards,and
continuetoprovideopportunityforvisitingteachers
fromotherschools.Teachersprovidedprofessional
learningacrossthestateinSciencethroughPrimaryConnectionsandtheLittleScientistsProgram.
OurK-2HillsEducatorsNetworkprovideshighquality
networksandfocusedprofessionallearningforearly
childhoodeducatorsacrosstheHillsandbeyond.In
June,theschoolsintheHillsEducationCommunity
(HEC)heldacombinedschools’conferenceonthe
commonschooldevelopmentday.Ourteachers
presentedsessionstoshareapproachesinHumanities
andSocialSciences(HaSS);ScienceandDesign;and
showcasedtheSawyersValleyOldSchoolhouse
VictorianClassroomexperience.
¥ IntheNationalQualityStandardAuditSawyers
ValleywillmeetQualityArea1:Educational
programandpractice
Eachyeartheschooldeterminesproposedaction
towardsachievementofthestandardsineachofthe
sevenQualityAreasoftheNationalQualityStandard
(NQS).InTerm3of2019theEarlyChildhoodphaseteam
reflectedonevidenceandtheworkdonetoimprove
eacharea.Theschoolthendeterminedaratingof
‘Meeting’ofthestandardinQualityArea1:EducationalprogramandpracticefortheEarlyChildhood.Thisisthefourthyearthatthistargethasbeenachieved.Particular
focuswillremainonthefollowinginitiatives:
• Extendprocessofcollectionandhandoverof
informationaboutchild’sinterestsandculturefor
studentsinKandP,toincludethatforstudentsnew
totheschoolinYears1and2.
• Continuetoexploreopportunitiesforstudentsto
reflectuponandchallengetheirlearningtheories.
• Timetableforlongerperiodsforstudentstoexplorea
learningfocusandmakeconnectionsbetween
learningexperiences.
• Continuetoensurepromotionofagencyanda
balanceofchildandteacherdirectedlearning.
PRIORITY2:QUALITYTEACHINGANDLEARNINGTheschoolyearsawgreatactivityinstaffconsolidationofprogramsandapproachesimplementedpreviously,and
thedevelopmentofgoalstobeincludedinthenewBusinessPlan2019-21.Staffemployeda‘DisciplinedDialogue’
approachtointerrogateandanalysedataandthenmadeconsidereddecisionsaboutappropriateresources,
strategiesandapproaches.Thisensureddevelopmentofoperational,learningareaandclassroomplanningbased
onqualitydataandassessmentinformation,toalignandcontributetothegoalsinthenewplan.
Teachingpartnersandphaseteamscontinuedtomeetforcollaborativemeetings,casemanagementsessions,
professionallearning,anddataanalysis.Aspecificfocusonwritingcontinuedthroughliteracycasemanagement,
exploringitsintegratedlinkswithreading.Teacherscontinuedtoreceiveexplicitsupportfromthenumeracycase
manager,especiallyinimplementingaproblemsolvingapproachinmathematics.Seventeachershavenow
achievedSeniorTeacherstatusandleadspecialprojectswithintheschool.
Sustainabilitycontinuestobeavisiblefeatureoftheschoolenvironmentandisembeddedintheschool’sday-to-
daypractices,thankstotheSustainabilityTeam,withstudentGreenTeamscarryingouttheirdutiestolookafter
ourchickens,wormfarms,compostingandbatterycollectionprojects.In2019theschoolwasselectedasan
InnovationPartnershipsSchool,whichsawourschoolpartneredwithtwootherschoolstoimproveandinnovatein
anareaofneed.StaffMentalHealthwasidentifiedasanareaoffocusanddovetailedintoourwholeschoolhealth
plan.AnInnovationPartnershipsTeamledstaffthroughprocessestodevelopandinstillacultureofwellbeing.
TosupportimplementationoftheAboriginalCulturalStandardsFramework,allstaffappliedtheirlearningandunderstandingstoreflectandincorporateculturallyresponsivebehaviours,attitudesandvaluesintoplanning,
curriculumandteaching.Thiswasevidentthroughworkcompletedinreadinessforourschool’s135thAnniversary,
especiallyinthelearningthatcontributedtocreatingourBushTuckergardenandNoongarSixSeasonsMural.
BusinessPlanTargets:QualityTeachingandLearningProgressagainsteachofthepriorityareatargetssetfor2019hasbeenconsidered,basedonstaffself-reflectionand
auditsofpracticeagainsttheNationalQualityStandardsandtheirownperformanceanddevelopmentneeds.Each
targetispresentedfollowedbyexplanationofprogresstowardsitsachievementin2021.
13
PRIORITY3:POSITIVELEARNINGENVIRONMENTTheSawyersValleyPrimarySchoolcommunityis
committedtoprovidingawelcoming,safe,inclusive
andsupportivelearningenvironmentforallstudents,
staffandfamilies.Since2016,theschoolhas
progressivelyimplementedWAPositiveBehaviourSupport(WAPBS),along-termstrategyencompassing
threetiersofsupport,designedtoimproveacademic
andbehaviouroutcomesforallstudents.This
approachintegratesacrossotherschoolprogramsand
workstonurtureapositivelearningenvironment,
throughdeveloping,teachingandencouraginga
commonsetofexpectations:Beourpersonalbest,Showrespect,BeresponsibleandShowcompassion.
Parentconsultationandinvolvementarecrucialtothe
successfulimplementationoftheprogramandthisis
soughtatkeystagesalongtheway.In2019,thefinal
versionoftheschool’sbehaviourresponseand
referralprocesswasimplementedacrosstheschool,
articulatingclearprocesseswhenstudentswere
referredforminorormajorunproductivebehaviours.
Therevisedapproachforminorunproductive
behavioursinvolvesaseriesofinstructionalresponses
tounproductivebehaviour,ratherthanpunitive
measures.
WiththesupportoftheSchoolBoard,theschoolheld
parentinformationsessionsoutliningthenewly
developedPositiveBehaviourSupportPolicyandGuidelines,drawinglinksbetweenprevention,management,interventionandsupport.Ofparticular
focus,wastheapplicationofthethree-tieredsupport
model.Tier1referstouniversalapproachestosupport
allstudents;Tier2providesextraassistance,practice
andreinforcementforsmallgroupsofstudentsatrisk;
Tier3givestargeted,specialisedandhighly
individualisedteachingandreinforcementtostudents
withthehighestsupportneed.
Theworkshopswerewellreceived,particularlybynew
familiestotheschool,andparentsofstudentswith
specialneeds.
ThePBSLeadershipTeamintroducedanapproach
designedtoreducetheinstancesofnegativebehaviour
intheplaygroundatlunchtimes.Thiswasfirstobserved
inanotherschoolduringaverificationvisitfortheNQS
byoneofourteachers.Webegantheschoolyear
trialingamodifiedlunchsession,wherethebreakwas
delayedbytwentyminutes,allowingalongermorning
program,andthen,insteadofeatinglunchbefore
playing,thechildrenwentstraighttoplaybefore
returningtoeattogetheronthesiren.Sinceadopting
thischange,asignificantdecreaseinplayground
incidenceshasbeenobserved,alongwithamuchcalmer
afternoonclassprogram.Otherbenefitshavebeenthat
morechildrenareeatingalloftheirlunch,ratherthan
rushingtofinishsotheycangoandplay,withless
lunchesgoinginthebin,orhomeinschoolbags.These
changestothelunchtimeorderhavenowbeen
permanentlyadopted.
CommitmenttoImprovement
In2018theschooldevelopeditsEarlyYearsStatement,articulatingitsphilosophyandbeliefstoguidepracticeintheearlyyears.In2019,muchconsiderationwasgiventohowthiscanbestrengthenedthroughlaterschoolingtoo,
particularlyinsupportingstudentstotakegreaterresponsibilityfortheirlearning,andfulfillourschool’smission
statement:…‘wherestudentsbecomeindependentlearnersenablingthemtotakeresponsiblecontroloftheirlivesandcontributemeaningfullytosociety’.OurnewBusinessPlan’sgoalsforsuccessfulstudentsshowashifttowardsincreasedstudentvoice,choiceandagency.ReviewinghowourschoolprogramsembedtheWesternAustralianCurriculum’sGeneralCapabilities,willbeafocusforprofessionallearning,refectionandactionin2020.
In2020,moresupportwillbeprovidedforstafftoassisttheminidentification,provision,andmonitoringand
reportingforstudentsateducationalrisk,inparticularthosestudentswhorequireTier2and3interventions.This
willbethroughestablishmentofaLearningSupportCoordinatorandLeadSpecialNeedsEducationAssistant,to
enablealargersupportteam.
14
BusinessPlanTargets:PositiveSchoolEnvironmentTheBusinessPlanpriorityarea,PositiveSchoolEnvironment,describeslong-rangetargetstobeachievedby2021inarangeofpastoralcareareasandcommitmenttoimprovingthelearningenvironment,withevidencecollected
throughStudentAchievementInformationSystem(SAIS),student,staffandparentsurveys,studentbehaviourand
attendancedata,aswellasthroughtheNationalQualityStandardsAudit.
¥ Studentssurveydataindicatesthat80%ofstudents
willindicatethroughstudentsurveythattheylike
beingatschool
InAugust2018,33studentsfromYears5-6participated
inthebiennialNationalSchoolOpinionSurvey(NSOS).Atthattimeresultsshowed90%ofstudents‘likedbeing
atschool’,thusachievingthetarget.
TheWAPBSprogramhascontributedtostudentsbeing
positivelyacknowledgedwhenevertheydemonstrate
expectedbehaviours.Enablingafocusonpositiverather
thannegativebehaviour,hasimprovedstudent
motivation,engagementandachievement.Students
demonstratingexpectedbehavioursreceiveFaction
Tokens,whichgointoaraffledraw.Ourfortnightlyspin
offhasprovenimmenselypopular,sinceestablishing
theapproachwherestudentswhosenamesaredrawn
outspinthewheel,andlandona‘reward’fortheir
wholeclass.However,rewardscostnomoney,are
intangible,andinvolvestudentsinanactivityforaset
periodoftime,soarethereforesustainable.
Year6studentleaderspartakeinaweeklyleadership
program,mentoringyoungerchildrenandperforming
dutiesaroundtheschool.Theycoordinateactivitiesto
increasestudentmotivationandengagement,suchas
lunchtimeactivities,competitions,fundraising,and
wholeschoolspecialeventsanddays.Theseprograms
havecontributedtoincreasedstudentvoiceinmany
aspectsofschooloperation.
Studentleadersenjoyahighprofilewithintheschool
community.Theyareexcellentrolemodelsforour
youngerstudents,wholookforwardtobeingstudent
leaderswhentheyareinYear6.
ThethreelowestscoringareasoftheNSOSsurvey
promptedspecificactionin2019:Teachersatmyschool
treatmefairly(61%);Studentbehaviouriswellmanaged
atmyschool(57%);andIcantalktomyteachersabout
myconcerns(70%).
Schoolstaffareconfidentthatresultswillbemuch
improvedwhenthesurveyisadministeredin2020,due
totheconsolidationoftheWAPBSprogram,andits
clearprocessesinreferringstudentbehaviour.
¥ Surveyofstudents,staffandparentsindicates
steadygrowthincommonlanguagearound
behaviourexpectationsusedbystaffandstudents
Resultsfromthe2018NationalSchoolOpinionSurvey
(NSOS)surveyshowedtheseresults:57%students,50%
parentsand65%staffagreethat‘behaviouriswell
managedattheschool’.However,thiswaspriorto
developmentoftheschool’sPBSpolicyandparent
workshops.Theabovetargethasbeensetaroundthe
implementationofacommonlanguagearoundpositive
behaviouracrosstheschoolcommunity.Thiscanbe
determinedthroughasetofquestions,askedoffifteen
randomlyselectedstudents,staffandparentsfrom
acrosstheschool.TheSchoolEvaluationTool(SET)will
beadministeredearlyin2020.
Studentscontinuedtobesupportedtoidentifybehaviourscontributingtodevelopmentofagrowth,ratherthana
fixed,mindset.AfocusonResilienceincludedapproaches(suchasZonesofRegulationandSocialThinking)tosupportstudentstomanagetheiremotions,andsupportsocialandemotionallearning.Theschool’sfocuson
buildingresiliencyandprotectivebehaviourswasagainpromotedbeyondtheimmediateschoolenvironmentwith
studentsphotographeddisplayingtheirSAFETYNETWORKhandsinschoolnewslettersandourwebsite.Targeted
Tier2and3supporthascontinuedforidentifiedstudentswithsocialandemotionalneeds,asprovidedbytheIn-
schoolChaplain,volunteermentors(EdConnect),andourSchoolPsychologist.
Therecontinuedtobeimprovementsmadetotheschool’soutsideenvironmentwithgardensandsurrounds
maintainedtoahighlevelbytheschoolgardener.Theschoolgroundsalwaysreceivemanyglowingcommentsfrom
schoolvisitors,whocommentonthepositiveschooltoneofourstudents.Twoadditionalfeatureswereaddedto
commemorateour135thAnniversarytoreflecttheschool’slinktoitsAboriginalheritageandlocalnatural
environment.ABushTuckergarden,designedanddevelopedbythestudents,andthenblessedbyBindiBindiDreaming,isnowlocatedintheNaturePlayarea;whilealargepaintedmural,underdirectionofourVisualArts
SpecialistandArtist-in-Residence,depictstheinterpretationofstudentsandcommunitymembersoftheNoongar
SixSeasons,andadornsthewallintheundercoverarea.Bothprojectswereofficiallyopenedduringthe135th
Anniversarypresentation.
15
CommitmenttoImprovement
Theschoolwillcontinuetoprovideinformationfor
parentsaroundtheschool’sapproachestopromoting
positivebehaviourandhealthyhabitsinourstudents,
respondingtounproductivebehaviourand
understandingchallengingbehaviourthrough
newsletters,photodisplaysandparentmeetings.We
willcontinuetoholdannualworkshopsforparents
aroundthePositiveBehaviourSupportpolicyand
practices.
StaffwillcompletetraininginFunctionalBehaviour
AnalysisandAssessment,totargetsupportfor
studentsrequiringTier2and3interventions.
Workwillcontinuetopromotetheimportanceof
regularstudentattendance.Toimprovetheschool’s
rateofregularattendancetheschoolwillseekto
identifyreasonsforstudentabsencesandwhere
appropriate,providetargetedsupporttoimprove
levelsofstudentattendance.
Plansareinplacetoredevelopthelawnareainthe
EarlyChildhoodplaygroundinearly2020,duetoit
becomingimpactedandneedingbetterdrainage.A
newbiketrackandcrazypavingwillalsobe
completed,withhelpfromourschoolgardenerand
theP&C.
¥ Wholeschoolstudentattendanceaveragewill
increaseby2%
Animprovementinattendancefigureshasbeennoted
since2018,withanincreasein2019’sfiguresof0.5%,
andresultsabovetheWAPublicSchoolsaverage.School
attendancerateswereslightlybelowtheaveragefor
‘like’.Thepercentageofstudentsattendinginthe
regularrangehasfallenfrom72.2%in2018to68.8%in
2018.
Strategiesinplacehaveincreasedattendancefor
studentsinatriskcategories,inparticulartheuseofthe
latecardsystemforstudentsarrivinglatetoschool.
Thereremainahighnumberoffamiliestakingextended
vacationsduringtermtime,whichcontributetolower
overallresults.ResultsforAboriginalstudentsare
skewedowingtosmallnumbers.Theschoolsupports
studentsandappliesspecificstrategieswhenever
attendancefallsbelowtheregularrange.
Non-Aboriginal Aboriginal Total
2017 91.9% 89.4% 91.8%
2018 92.0% 86.2% 91.9%
2019 92.3% 95.6% 92.4%
Like2019 92.7% 86.7% 92.5%
State2019 92.7% 79.5% 91.6%
ATTENDANCECATEGORY
Regular AtRisk
90%orabove 80-90% 60-80% Below60%
2017 67.8% 23.7% 6.6% 2.0%
2018 72.2% 18.9% 8.3% 0.6%
2019 68.8% 26.5% 3.7% 1.1%
Like201 74.6% 19.0% 5.3% 1.1%
State2018 73.0% 19.0% 6.0% 2.0%
¥ IntheNationalQualityStandardAuditSawyers
ValleyPrimarySchoolwillmeetQualityArea3:PhysicalEnvironment
Inlate2019,followingcompletionofreflectiontoolsby
theEarlyChildhoodPhaseTeam,theschooldetermined
aratingof‘MeetingforthestandardinQualityArea3:PhysicalEnvironment.Thisisanimprovementfromlast
year’sratingof‘Workingtowards’.Particularfocuswill
remainonthefollowinginitiativesandimprovements:
• Transitionplan/procedureforYear1studentsinto
bigplaygroundhasbeendevelopedtoensure
consistentapproach/process.
• Provisionofarangeofmanipulativesandloose
partshasbeenprovidedinplayareasforYear1and
2children.
• Continuetobuildonresourcesthatcanbeusedto
makeindoorandoutdoorenvironmentsengagingto
students.Plansareinplacetohavethisoccurin
2020inthemiddlechildhoodarea.
16
SawyersValleyworkscloselywiththeSchoolBoardto
ensureitsprogramsreflectthegoalsandaspirationsof
thecommunity.In2019theBoardnominatedtheschool
fortheWAEducationAwardsandworkedtopreparetheschool’ssubmission.Althoughnotawinnerthis
time,ourapplicationwasanexampleoftheboard’s
respectandconfidenceinschooloperations.
Theschooloffersstrategiestosupportfamilies,suchas
theSchoolChaplaincyProgram,SchoolBanking,Parent
HubandCampAustralia(OutofSchoolHoursCare).Due
toincreasingstudentnumbersin2019,CampAustralia
movedintotheParentHubbuildingtofreeupRoom8
tobeusedasanadditionalclassroom.Theschool,
throughtheSchoolChaplain,iskeentoincreasethe
reachoftheParentHubinprovidingafriendlyand
welcomingenvironmentforparents.
Theschoolisprivilegedtohaveanhistoricbuilding
onsite.TheOldSchoolHousewasbuiltin1894,ten
yearsaftertheschool’sestablishment.TheSawyers
ValleyVictorianSchoolHouseexperiencehasbeen
enjoyedbymanyotherschoolswithparticipating
studentsenjoyinglessonstypicaloftheVictorianera:
makinghomemadelemonadeusingtraditionalmethods
andutensils,engagingindiningroomactivitiessuchas
settingthetableandpreparingthewoodfire,washing
usingawashingboardandtub,sewingactivities,
woodworkandoutdoorgamesofthepast.
In2019SawyersValleyPrimarySchoolcelebrated135
yearssinceestablishment,whiletheOldSchoolHouse
was125yearsold.Theschoolcommunityhelda
celebrationevent,whichinvolvedanafternoonteaand
aspecialpresentation,occurringinconjunctionwithour
popularTwilightWalk.Thisannualeveningevent,celebratestheopportunitiesandactivitiesavailablefor
studentswhoattendSawyersValleyPrimarySchool,and
promotesourlinkstothecommunity.
Theschoolusesstrategiestoensureeffectivetwo-way
communicationbetweenhomeandschool,ranging
fromfacetoface(meetings,workshops,information
sessions)toelectronicandsocialmediastrategies.
AllclassroomteachersuseClassDojoasaneffective
formofparentcommunication.In2019theschool
introducedtheuseofamobilephoneappSchoolStar,toensuretimelyprovisionofinformationaboutschool
happeningsforfamilies.
BusinessPlanTargets:
CommunityLinksTheBusinessPlanpriorityarea,CommunityLinks,describeslong-rangetargetstobeachievedby2021.
Evidencewascollectedthrougheventattendance
records,parentandcommunitysurveysandstudent
enrolmentdata.
¥ Therangeofcommunitybasedeventsforschool
involvementwillbemaintained
Over2019therehasbeenactiveparticipationofthe
schoolincommunitybasedevents.TheANZACDay
serviceandothercelebrationssuchasBookWeek,
MothersDayandFathersDay,wereallwellattendedby
theschoolcommunity,aswereoursportscarnivals,
100sClubandfundraisingevents.TheannualSchool
Productioninvolvedstudentsinperformancesfrom
Year1toYear6withticketsavailableforsaletothe
wholeschoolcommunity.
Staffcontinuedtointegratelearningabout
environmentalsustainabilitythroughScience,
Technology,TheArts,HumanitiesandSocialSciences,
andthen,throughmanysustainabilityprojects,our
studentsconnectedwithorganisationswithinthe
communityforguidanceandsupport.In2019,our
studentswereprivilegedtobeinvolvedintheRe-cyc-ologyNestboxProgram,toestablishmorenesting
boxesaroundourschoolandnaturalbushenvironment.
Studentswereabletolookinsideourexistingnest
boxestotrackandmonitoractivity.Workcontinuedto
maintain,rejuvenateandbeautifyourJarrahCreek
wetland,with300nativeshrubsplantedbystudents
duringtheannualNationalTreePlantingDay.Students’
CleanUpAustraliaDaysupportalsohelpedmaintaina
healthyhabitatfornativewildlifeinthisarea.
PRIORITY4:COMMUNITYLINKS
17
TheschoolshowcasedstudentlearningaroundResiliency
andRoadSafetytothelocalcommunity,aspartofthe
CHATprogram,aspartofourTwilightWalkin2019.Theeventwaspublicisedoutsidetheschoolcommunityand
attractedattendancebyprospectivenewfamilies.
¥ Enrolmentdataindicatessteadyschoolnumbers
TheSchoolBoardhasrecommendedthattheschool
shouldnotexceedamaximumof220studentstoprevent
overcrowdingofitsfacilities.Theschoolwillcontinueto
acceptcross-boundarystudents,butonlytomaintainits
currentenrolment.
Thefollowinggraphdisplaysthetrendinstudent
enrolmentovertime(notincludingkindergarten).
Enrolmenthascontinuedtoclimbfrom2016with202
students(includingkindergarten)countedintheFebruary
2019census.Asimilarfigureisprojectedfor2020.
Theschool’sgrowingreputationwithinthewider
communityhasresultedinseveralcrossboundary
enrolments,especiallyattractingstudentsfromnon-
governmentschools.Thegrowingreputationofour
school’sapproachestoinclusivity,positivebehaviour
expectationsandqualityteachingandlearningprograms,
hasseenseveralnewfamiliesjoinourschoolcommunity.
Anewclassroomwasestablishedin2019,which
necessitatedCampAustraliarelocatingtotheParentHub
building.Ourschoolcontinuestoattractstudentsfrom
thelocalCommunityKindergartenduetoourplay-based
EarlyChildhoodphilosophy.
¥ Surveyofparentsindicatesthat70%eitheragreeor
stronglyagreethattheywouldrecommendthe
schooltoothers
ResultswereobtainedfromparentsthroughtheNationalSchoolOpinionSurvey(NSOS)inAugust2018.Resultsfrom42parentsindicatedthat63%agreedthat‘they
wouldrecommendthisschooltoothers’,thusfallingshort
ofourtarget.Whiletheschoolregularlyreceivesmuch
positiveandfavourableanecdotalfeedbackaboutits
operations,onlyarelativelysmallnumberofpeople
submittedthe2018NSOSSurveywithlittleorno
representationfromseveralclassrooms.
Twoareasofthesurveypromptedspecificactionin
2019:Theschooltakesparentopinionsseriously
(59%),and,theschooliswellled(61%).
Considerableworkhasbeenundertakentoensure
transparencyofschooloperations,tomakethework
ofschoolleadershipandstaffmorevisibletothe
schoolcommunity.Parentsreceiveregularupdates
onpolicydevelopmentthroughnewsletters,
websites,informationfactsheetsandparent
workshops;andwereofferedopportunitiesfor
communityconsultation.SchoolBoardmembers
workedasadvocatestopromotetheongoing
commitmentbytheschoolleadershipandstaffto
schoolimprovement.In2020,theSchoolBoardwill
worktopromotetheNSOSsurveytoensureamore
balancedopinionisreceivedfromtheschool
community,aboutitsoperations.
CommitmenttoImprovement
Theschoolcommunitywillcontinuetoengagewith
organisationsthataremutuallybeneficial,but
compatiblewiththeschool’svalues;andactively
seekoutfurtheropportunitiesforpartnershipsto
benefitstudents,botheducationallyand
altruistically.
TheSchoolBoardcontinuedtoworkpositivelyto
supporttheschoolin2019,andgaveinsightfulinput
intothenewBusinessPlan.Achangeoverinschool
boardmembersisexpectedin2020,assome
membersleavetheschoolorcompletetheirtenure.
Theschoolwillcontinuetoinductnewmembersto
ensurecapacityandconfidenceoftheSchoolBoard
initsroleinschoolgovernance.APublicSchool
Reviewisscheduledfor2020,andtheSchoolBoard
isconfidentinitsabilitytopresentaglowingpicture
oftheschooloperationsandstrategicdirectionto
reviewers.
18
SchoolFinancialInformation
SawyersValleyPrimarySchoolhascompleteditsseventhyearasanIndependentPublicSchool.Itoperatesundera
OneLineBudget,whichincorporatesallcomponentsoffundingreceivedbytheschool($2456659in2019)through
aStudentCentredFundingModel.Themajorityoffundingwasassignedtostaffsalariesandtheremaindertothe
resourcesusedfortheteachingandlearningprogramandtofundgeneralschooloperations(shownbelow).The
voluntarycontributionratein2019wassetat$60.00perchildbutwithadiscountforfamilieswithmorethanone
child(i.e.$55.00forthesecondchildand$50.00forthethirdchild).Thisisinlinewiththemaximumallowable
undertheSchoolEducationAct1999andwasendorsedbytheSchoolBoard.TheSawyersValleyPrimarySchool
BudgetandAnnualAccountsasat31December2019were:
School annual accounts SVPS 2019 draft.xls
Budget Actual1 $8,818 $8,8782 $21,570 $21,5703 Fees from Facilities Hire $1,364 $1,3644 $10,727 $10,7275 $0 $06 $1,000 $1,0007 Revenue from CO, RO/Other Schools $110 $1108 Other Revenues $12,019 $12,0209 $34,004 $34,004
$89,613 $89,673
$0 $65,595$206,545 $361,813$296,158 $517,081
Budget Actual1 $13,088 $13,0772 $7,688 $8,1823 $69,191 $43,1414 $47,164 $47,1645 $99,020 $94,5486 Professional Development $4,751 $4,7517 Transfer to Reserve $23,378 $23,3788 $17,444 $09 Other Expenditure $5,068 $5,1688
$286,792 $239,409
Bank Balance $148,824
Made up of:1 General Fund Balance $122,4042 Deductible Gift Funds $03 Trust Funds $04 $27,9745 Suspense Accounts $1776 Cash Advances $2007 Tax Position $1,532
$148,824
SCHOOL BUDGET AND ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR 2019
Asset Replacement Reserves
Curriculum and Student Services
Cash Position as at: 31 December 2019
Payment to CO, NMERO,Ot Schools
Total Expenditure
Buildings, Property and Equipment
Student Centred Funding (From)Total Funds Available
Annual Income
Annual Expenditure
Charges and FeesVoluntary Contributions
Fundraising and DonationsCommonwealth Govt GrantsState Govt/Local Govt Grants
Total Locally Raised FundsTransfer from Reserves od DGR
Transfer to Replacement Reserves
Total Bank Balance
Opening Balance
AdministrationLease PaymentsUtilities, Facilities and Management
10%
24% 2%
12% 0%
1%
0% 13%
38%
2019Revenue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
5%
3%
18%
20%
40%
2% 10% 0%
2%
2019Expenditure
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
$0
$20,000
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
$100,000
$120,000
$140,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CashPosition
19
Sawyers Valley Primary School An Independent Public School
