Titjikala School

Annual Performance Report to the School Community

2014

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

School Overview Our School Titjikala School is located 130km south of Alice Springs in the community of Titjikala on Maryvale Station. The population of the surrounding community is approximately 270; the residents are predominantly Luritja and Pitjantjatjara people, however there are some Arrernte people.

Titjikala School provides education services to students from preschool to the end of primary years. A childcare centre operates within the community and preschool is run at the school. Most secondary aged students attend Yirara College in Alice Springs or Shalom College in Queensland. Our Staff

Total Non-Indigenous

Indigenous

Teaching Principal (TP 1) 1 1

Assistant Teacher 1 1

PH2 0.5 1

Mobile Preschool Assistant Teacher 0.6 1

CDEP 3 3

Ms. Joanne Wickham – Teaching Principal, Ms. Carol Meruntju – Senior Assistant Teacher and Ms. Stephanie Campbell – Assistant Teacher – Pre – School Our Students Almost 100% indigenous students attending the school and 1 non – indigenous student (attending pre-school) All students are ESL speakers except 2 who speak English only. Socio – economic (employment) – In the last abs.gov.au/census from the Australian Bureau of Statistics – For a brighter future (The MacDonnell Region), the following information was obtained :- 201 - People live in Titjikala 187 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 44 – Families 118 – Females 83 – Males 47 – Houses 64 – working Age Graph – of people – 16 btween 0-4, 36 between 5-14, 26 between 15-24, 74 between 25-44, 45 between 45-64 and 3 over 65 years.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

71 – students Languages other than English spoken in Titjikala include: Luritja, Yankunytjatjara, Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara and Walpiri.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Principal's Report In 2014 Titjikala students and staff were involved in the following activities.

National Curriculum in English, Mathematics and SOSE

Visible Learning

Empowering Local Schools Initiative (Ongoing from 2012)

PACE Program – Parents and Community Engagement

Tidy Towns 2014 – Winners of the Cultural and Heritage Award (2013 & 2014)

Health and wellbeing – Titjikala Clinic

Childcare/Mobile Pre- School/FAFT

Titjikala School programmed to the National Curriculum activities in English, Mathematics and SOSE for all students from Transition to Year 6. Visible Learning – Titjikala School continued Visible Learning process throughout 2014. In 2014 the main focus for visible learning was our students reading progression through the different reading levels. Each day every child reads for half an hour and student progress is monitored and reading tests done twice a term. Visible Learning Team visited the school in 2014 to view the progress of our students. We will also collect DATA of our students who sit Naplan in Year 3 and Year 5 to analyse their results and progress over a two year period. Our students sat PAT M and PAT R in Terms 1 and 3 – we use this information as formative assessment (data that informs planning for the next steps in Learning).

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Teaching and Learning

In 2014 we continued our focus on John Hattie’s Visible Learning, Australian Curriculum and Early Years Learning. Our focus for Visible Learning was to continue to develop our student’s abilities to accurately describe their learning and to exhibit the characteristics as a capable visible learner. Titjikala participated in PAT M, PAT R and PM Reading Levels to assist our teaching practices. Data to be used to program for future learning. Naplan results were comparable to previous years and close to the NT School Mean. Naplan at Titjikala School focused on participation for our students to prepare for participation in these tests. Data gathered from Naplan, PAT M, PAT R and PM Reading Levels assists teachers to support planning for the needs of our students. Curriculum Maps incorporated the Australian Curriculum in English, Mathematics, SOSE and Science incorporated a common approach to our programming at Titjikala School.

Students individual learning needs are catered for in the teaching program.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Wellbeing

Titjikala School has focused on attendance initiatives – student of the day and student of the week. This incorporates being at school every day and participating in the daily school program in a safe and respectful manner that promotes learning as the students’ priority. We have focused on ensuring that our school promotes and maintains a safe, happy and supportive learning environment. School staff have developed a safe and respectful culture within our School environment and have a good staff collegiality, professional and open communication with families and community agencies. Families also support the school by talking with their children about teasing either at school or in the community, this enables school staff to implement and maintain a safe and happy school environment. The school has a good working relationship with the community clinic. Clinic staff visit fortnightly to deliver health programs to our students and assist with basic first – aid activities. School age students have their own Nurse and have access to the Nurse before, during and after school. The Nurse also visits the school regularly. The clinic also delivers school age Health, Checks (healthy kids program) on a yearly basis. They also assist the school the school with annual hearing checks for our students, (Australia Hearing) and other services as required. The community assists the school with Night Patrol who make sure all school age children are home by 8.00 p.m. for a good night sleep, which assists our students being at school on time. Families also assist the school by supporting our “No Teasing” policy. They talk with their children about teasing in the community or at school. This support enables school staff to implement and maintain a safe and happy school.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Participation, Transitions and Pathways

The Pre-School had regular visits from the Mobile Pre-School Co-ordinator and MFaFT Co-ordinator. They visited the school and Titjikala Child Care Centre in order to develop ongoing links with the Child Care Centre, and put in place combined visits and activities at the school and Child Care facility for 2015. The Mobile Pre-School Co-ordinator assisted the Mobile Pre-School Assistant Teacher to develop a strong pre-school program. Regular Student numbers (6/7) in the Mobile Pre-School emphasises the value of our Mobile Pre-School program. During 2014 we had students transition to Yirara College in Alice Springs and Shalom College in Queensland, the PACE Co-ordinator assisted in these transitions. The Community supported Staff from Shalom College in their visit to Titjikala Community.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Partnerships

Empowering Local Schools Initiative The project is designed to bring families, community, students and schools working closer together. It had a long term commitment, under the direct support of the DOE (Department of Education), the school Principal and the community. The Program was only funded for a period of twelve months. It was hoped the funding would be ongoing but this did not eventuate because of lack of funding. Titjikala was one of four communities involved as a pilot community to see what might be possible and to learn more about what we need to do to support each other. The school staff have continued the program and have incorporated – Community Development Core Competencies (refer page 24 of the – Community Development and Engagement Handbook – a copy is available at the school).

PACE Program The Titjikala Pace Program has been active at the school and within the community for the last few years. The Co-ordinator is – Mr. Rob Radley and he is based at the Community Art Centre. Mr Radley supports the parents/carers of our students in the following areas. Encouraging families to get their children to school on time. Notifying the school if students are sick, have medical appointments in Alice Springs. Any families that are visiting Titjikala Community and have school age children, school staff follow up with these families and enrol students. To assist families and school staff in transitioning students into Secondary Programs/Schools in Alice Springs and interstate (Shalom College Queensland). Assists in organizing Community morning teas’ and BBQ’s at the school, whole community closes for @30 to 40 minutes for all community members and other agencies to attend (at least once a term). Engages with school staff and outlines any issues that the school may not be aware of in the community. Gives school staff feedback on student’s progress that have transitioned to Secondary Programs. Any community issues that may affect school attendance.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Tidy Towns Titjikala Community have won the Tidy Towns – Cultural and Heritage award for the last two years (2013/2014). The students and staff have participated both on a school level and community level. The School was awarded a special achievement award in 2013 and was placed in Category 4 section in 2014. Students, Staff and Community Members have been involved in the painting of murals on various buildings throughout the community. Students under the guidance of local artists have displayed their artistic attributes in the production of a mural on the main school building. Our School Mural is titled – “Living and Learning Together” – with particular emphasis on students attending school whilst travelling, whether it be in Alice Springs or nearby Communities.

Clinic The School has a good working relationship with the Titjikala Clinic. Clinic visit fortnightly to deliver health programs to our students and assist with basic first-aid activities. School age students have their own Nurse and have access to the nurse before, during and after school. The Nurse also visits the school regularly to monitor student’s health. The Clinic also delivers school age health checks (healthy kids program) on a yearly basis. They also assist the school with annual hearing checks with Australian Hearing and other required services that may be needed. The community assists the school with Night Patrol support – all school age children are encourage to be home by 8.00 p.m. for a good night’s sleep, which assists the students being at school on time.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Leadership

The Teaching Principal attended Principal Meetings in Alice Springs, consulted with the Director, Indigenous Education and the Business Manager in relation to Global Budgeting. School-based Professional Development occurred regularly in relation to assessment, planning, programming and discussions with Indigenous staff in relation to greater qualifications through Batchelor Institute. Maintaining the school grounds, including the replacement of shade cloth due to storm damage. Resources were maintained and replaced as required. Students have undertaken the responsibility of keeping the school grounds clean and tidy as part of the community Tidy Towns initiative.

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

ATTACHMENT A

Audited Financial Statements

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

ATTACHMENT B

NAPLAN data

Year Level 5

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Grammar

School Mean Range 106 - 532 109 - 472 386 - 386 311 - 465 332 - 450 350 - 417

School Mean 319 291 386 388 391 383

NT Mean 415 397 400 394 423 419

Aust Mean 500 500 499 491 501 504

Numeracy

School Mean Range 396 - 440 354 - 579 406 - 406 323 - 475 332 - 405 262 - 488

School Mean 418 467 406 399 369 375

NT Mean 430 422 424 418 422 423

Aust Mean 487 489 488 489 486 488

Reading

School Mean Range 303 - 381 302 - 536 286 - 286 115 - 474 231 - 339 217 - 401

School Mean 342 419 286 294 285 309

NT Mean 421 412 403 405 437 426

Aust Mean 494 487 488 494 502 501

Spelling

School Mean Range 343 - 525 249 - 444 459 - 459 307 - 493 293 - 498 180 - 604

School Mean 434 347 459 400 395 392

NT Mean 411 409 393 413 413 422

Aust Mean 487 487 484 495 494 498

Writing (Persuasive)

School Mean Range - - 329 - 329 157 - 391 244 - 386 215 - 444

School Mean

329 274 315 329

NT Mean

397 391 386 380

Aust Mean

483 477 478 468

Titjikala School

2014 Annual Performance Report to the School Community

ATTACHMENT C

Student Enrolment, Attendance and Learning