North Star ASR 2011

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North Star Public School

Annual School Report

School Motto: Learning to live

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Our School at a Glance 2

Messages 2

Principals message 2

P&C message 3

Student representatives message 4

School Content 4

Student information 4

Student enrolment profile

Student attendance profile

Class sizes

Structure of classes

Staff information 5 Staff establishment

Staff retention

Teacher qualifications

Financial summary 6

School Performance 2011 6

Achievements 6

Academic

The Arts, Sport and other

school programs

Minimum Standards 11

Significant programs and

initiatives 12

Aboriginal Education

Multicultural Education

Country Areas Program

Student welfare

Literacy and numeracy

supportBest Start Kindergarten

Homework Centre

Enrichment

Parents and Community

Progress on 20 11 targets 16

Key evaluations 16

Parent, student and teacher

satisfaction 18

Professional learning 19

School Planning 19

2012-2014

About this Report 20

SchoolContact

Information 20


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Our school at a glance

StudentsOur enrolment at the end of 2011 was 34 students.

Term 1, 2011 began with a K-2 class of 10students and a Years 3-6 class of 24 students.

In Term 4 there was a K-2 class of 13 studentsand a Years 3-6 class of 21 students.

StaffIn 2011 our staff included a principal, a part-timerelieving principal on one day per week, aclassroom teacher and two casual teachers whoshared the part-time, library and teacher release

components of our staffing entitlement.A new permanent classroom teacher, Mr MichaelSky, was appointed in Term 2.We had three part-time administrative and supportstaff. A part-time teachers aide was employed inTerm 3.All staff met the professional requirements forteaching in NSW public schools.

Mrs Sue Nixon, Mrs Kylie Pearlman and Mr Michael Sky

Absent: Mrs Marian Thatcher, Mrs Jane Bush

Significant programs and initiatives

The school ran a number of programs in 2011 togive students extra educational support.These were:

Aboriginal Education Program

Multicultural Education Program Country Areas Program Student Welfare Program Literacy and Numeracy Support Program Best Start for Kindergarten Program Homework Centre Enrichment ProgramStudent achievement in 2011

Literacy and Numeracy NAPLAN Year 3

In 2011 all five students in Year 3 undertook theNAPLAN assessments in literacy and numeracy.The small size of the Year 3 group prevents themaking of generalised statements about thegroups performance.

Literacy and Numeracy NAPLAN Year 5

In 2011 all eight students in Year 5 undertook theNAPLAN assessments in literacy and numeracy.The small size of the Year 5 group prevents themaking of generalised statements about thegroups performance.

Messages

Principals message

The Annual School Report (ASR) is the means by

which parents and community members gain further

insight into the daily activities of the school,

celebrating the richness of life in our public schools

today. The goal is to help all parents and community

members engage more fully with their childrens

school.

Eric Jamieson, Acting Director, Educational

Management and School Accountability.

Our school is caring and supportive, providing anenjoyable, stimulating and challengingenvironment.We continually strive to ensure that our studentsreceive a high quality education. Students areencouraged to care about their schoolwork andeach other and to strive to reach their potential.Our teachers aim to give students the best possibleopportunities in academic, cultural, sporting andsocial areas.

We are proud of the achievements of our studentsin the International Competitions andAssessments


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for Schools (ICAS), in the Arts, in sport, in publicspeaking, and in their involvement in communityactivities.

The highlight of 2011 was the major excursionwhich saw Mrs S Nixon, Mr M Sky and parentstaking all Years 3-6 students to Sydney.

There was great excitement when our athleticsrelay team won the gold medal in the NigelBagley Small Schools Relay at the State AthleticsCarnival. Congratulations Charlotte, Jake,Matthew and Dougal.

During 2011 our Year 6 students Charles, John,Charlotte and Jake set an excellent example to theyounger students. My very best wishes go withthem as they enter Year 7 in 2012.

It is most rewarding to hear about the successes ofour former students at high school, boardingschool, university and in the workforce.

I applaud the strong partnership between theschool and parents and thank the Parents andCitizens Association (P&C) for their continuedhelp and support in the effective running of ourschool.I thank our staff for their contribution to ourstudents and school. Their generous team work,

shared values and high expectations help to makeNorth Star Public School a happy and rewardingplace for everyone.

Mrs Thatcher with Gabby Prosser, Cleo Hardcastle and Anna

Wells

I certify that the information in this report is theresult of a rigorous school self-evaluation processand is a balanced and genuine account of theschools achievements and areas for development.

Marian Thatcher

P & C messageThis is my first year as president of the P & C so Ifeel I must thank the past executive for thewonderful groundwork they put into making manyof this years achievements become reality.

Here is a brief summary of the work that theparent community invest into our school on top ofmanaging their jobs and their families.

North Star P & C members have been extremelyactive to say the least catering has been our thingthis year with the Macintyre Cross Country, theNorth Star Trail Ride in conjunction with thePony Club, the North Star Campdraft, SandyDoolins Garden Days and the High Tea.P & C members have run meat raffles, hundredsboards, pie drives and sold many raffle tickets.

We have also sold and packaged North Star teatowels, bottled water and now the eagerlyanticipated recipe book.We ran the Mother's and Father's Day stalls, madelots of coffee and donated the health packs forYears 5 and 6.

The P & C members have raised considerablefunds for the school which include covering thecost of the swimming bus, contributing to teacheraide time, as well as a significant contribution tothe Sydney excursion.

Parents and grandparents have providedclassroom support in reading.

To the Canteen Supervisor Mrs K Owen and theparent volunteers who assist to run the canteenthank you for providing not only a healthy canteenmenu but a valuable and significant contributionto P & C initiatives.

It is imperative to acknowledge and thank thosepeople who have provided support to the P & Cover the past year.Firstly, the staff of the North Star Public Schoolfor your continued support of the P & C.We also acknowledge the contributions made byNufarm, B and W Rural North Star, the North StarSporting Club and Incitec. The P & C would liketo make special mention of the Sporting Club forgiving us the opportunity to fundraise, cater andassist at Club functions this year, a true exampleof community strength.

I would also like to thank the great team thatmakes up the P & C executive. Working with


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positive, forward thinking and helpful peoplemakes the job much easier.

The P&C is comprised not only of a dedicatedexecutive but is fortunate to have the regular andskilful support of many other parents andcommunity members. There are too many people

to mention but please know that your contributionthis year is valued highly and appreciated by all.The North Star school community is sayinggoodbye to two families Barry and VickiGoodfellow, and David and Jenny Raleigh, whohave contributed to the school over a number ofyears.

We are very lucky to have the North Star PublicSchool as a dedicated community which embracesthe objective of making the school the best it canbe, so the children get the best out of their timewhilst at school.

The working relationship between the school andthe P& C is very cohesive and this allows theNorth Star Public School to prosper and be a hugeasset in our community.

Christina Smith

P&C President

Student representatives message

The highlight of the year for us was the schoolexcursion to Sydney.We really enjoyed Sydney Tower, the museums,Opera House, Parliament House, Fort Dennisonand the zoo.During the year there were many activities whichwe enjoyedA-Day, Questacon, CWAInternational Day, Open Day, the CurrabubulaSmall Schools Art Show, the Macintyre YoungWriters Competition, the Fun Day and Year 6Farewell.

Our school was involved in many sports,including athletics, swimming, Fleming Cuptennis and the Small Schools Soccer Knockout.Our relay team won the Small Schools Relay atthe state athletics and we were proud of them.The new library is very nice and we like havinglessons there.We are looking forward to being buddies with thenew Kindergarten children and reading to theTharawonga students in 2012.

Year 5 students

School context

Student information

It is a requirement that the reporting ofinformation for all students must be consistentwith privacy and personal information policies.

Student enrolment profile

Our average March student enrolment 2007-2011is 40, with numbers declining each year.

Gender 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Male 26 27 24 22 21

Female 21 17 16 14 12

Improved seasonal conditions and employmentopportunities saw an increase in enrolments inSemester 2, 2011.

Student attendance profile

Our Semester 1, 2011 attendance rate was 94.0%which was above the attendance rate for theregion (92.9%) and a little below that for the state(94.3%).Our average Semester 1 attendance rate for 2007-2011 is 94.0%.

Non-attendance is managed by the school in thefollowing ways.

Parents are advised to phone the school orwrite a short note explaining their childsabsence.

A staff member will phone the childs familyif the child is absent and the school has notbeen notified.

0

25

50

75

100

2008 2009 2010 2011

Attendancerate

Year

Student attendance rates

School Region State DEC


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All absences are recorded on the childs Half-Yearly and Yearly reports to parents. Acomment is recorded if there have been toomany absences. A follow-up phone call toparents is also made.

The Home School Liaison Officer is informedif a child is often absent without good reason.

Excellent Attendance certificates arepresented at our Annual Presentation Day.

Class sizes

Primary class sizes are included in the annualschool report in order to provide parents with asmuch local information as possible. The followingtable shows our class sizes as reported at the 2011Class Size Audit conducted on Monday 21 March2011.

Roll

class Year Total per year Total In class

K12 K 4

K12 1 5

K12 2 1 10

3456 3 6

3456 4 4

3456 5 9

3456 6 5 23

Structure of classes

In 2011 there were two composite classesKindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 and Years 3, 4, 5and 6.The School Learning Support Officer (SLSO)assisted the Kindergarten group with reading onseven days per fortnight. This was successful asthe four students received an excellent foundationin phonics, reading and spelling.

On three mornings per week, from 9.30-11.00am,Years 3 and 4 worked together with the classroomteacher while Years 5 and 6 worked with the part-time teacher. The groups were reversed each term.This was successful as it allowed smaller groupsfor spelling and maths, and gave the students thebenefit of more individual attention.

Staff information

It is a requirement that the reporting ofinformation for all staff must be consistent withprivacy and personal information policies.

In 2011 our teaching positions were filled by full-time, part-time and casual staff. The principalshipwas shared with a relieving principal on one dayper week.

Staff establishment

The school had 2.436 teaching positions allocated

at the beginning of 2011.The teachers were supported by several casualteachers, a part-time school administrativemanager, a part-time school learning supportofficer (funded by CAP, the P&C and schoolsavings), a part-time teachers aide (Term 3) and apart-time general assistant.

Position Number

Principal 1.0

Classroom Teachers 1.0

Teacher Librarian 0.084

Part-time Teacher 0.168

Teacher Relief from Face to Face 0.084

School Learning Support Coordinator 0.1

Total Teacher entitlement 2.436

Position Number

School Administrative Manager 0.696

General Assistant 0.2

Total Non-Teacher Entitlement 0.896

The National Education Agreement requiresschools to report on Indigenous composition oftheir workforce.

There were no indigenous staff members.

Staff retention

Our Years 3-6 teacher Miss J Wilson wastransferred at the end of 2010 after three years atNorth Star. A new permanent Years 3-6 teachercommenced at North Star during Term 2,following merit selection interviews.All other teaching staff from 2010 were retainedin 2011.


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Teacher qualifications

All teaching staff met the professionalrequirements for teaching in NSW public schools.

Qualifications % of staff

Degree or Diploma 100

Postgraduate 42

Financial summary

This summary covers funds for operating costsand does not involve expenditure areas such aspermanent salaries, building and majormaintenance.

Date of financial summary: 30/11/2011

Income $

Balance brought forward 17034.24

Global funds 50131.50

Tied funds 31604.76

School & community sources 24440.07

Interest 1040.44

Trust receipts 4153.40

Canteen 0.00

Total income 128404.41

Expenditure

Teaching & learning

Key lea rning a reas 19634.14

Excursions 12736.74Extracurricula r dis se ctions 6074.44

Library 624.09

Training & development 60.16

Tied funds 30884.39

Casual relief teachers 1327.20

Administration & office 21681.00

School-operated canteen 0.00

Util ities 12268.06

Maintenance 3835.27

Trust accounts 11322.43

Capital programs 0.00

Total expenditure 120447.92

Balance carried forward 7956.49

Our school received $2000 which was held intrust for the Country Areas Program (CAP).$1607.27 remains in trust for this program.

The remaining balance brought forward contains$318.85 for our Year 6 Farewell lunch.

A full copy of the school's 2011 financialstatement is tabled at the annual general meeting

of the P&C. Further details concerning thestatement can be obtained by contacting theschool.

School performance 2011

The school is proud of the academic, cultural andsporting achievements of its students.

Achievements

Academic

In the National Assessment Program, the resultsacross the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy andnumeracy assessments are reported on a scalefrom Band 1 to Band 10.

The achievement scale represents increasinglevels of skills and understandings demonstratedin these assessments.

Yr 3: from Band 1 (lowest) to Band 6 (highest forYear 3)

Yr 5: from Band 3 (lowest) to Band 8 (highest forYear 5)

Literacy and NumeracyNAPLAN Year 3

The small size of the group in 2011 prevents themaking of generalised statements about thegroups performance.All parents have received a written NAPLANreport about their childs performance.

Literacy and NumeracyNAPLAN Year 5

The small size of the group in 2011 prevents themaking of generalised statements about thegroups performance.All parents have received a written NAPLANreport about their childs performance.

Progress in literacy and numeracy

The small size of the group prevents the makingof generalised statements about the groupsperformance. Parents of Year 5 students havereceived details of their childs progress in thewritten NAPLAN report.

The Arts, sport and other school programs

The school provides opportunities for its studentsto participate in writing, art, music, dance anddrama.

Writing

In September students from K-6 enterednarratives, digital stories and poems in theMacintyre Young Writers Awards.

Charlotte Raleigh, Matthew Price, DougalColeman, Ben Owen, Will Donaldson and SophieColeman won major awards.


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Heidi Mills won a highly commended award.The K-2 students wrote and illustrated MrLumpys Outingstories for the digital entriessection.James Williams, Henry Smith, Sam Owen,Roderick Stephens and Jack Doolin won majorawards.

Highly commended awards went to SkyeWilliams, Melika Williams, Cleo Hardcastle,Nickolas Williams, Gabby Prosser, Anna Wellsand Connor McIntosh.Years 3-6 students regularly wrote reports for theschoolBulletin as well as writing for the classblogs.See also ICAS Writing results P. 9 and Progress on Targets P.16

Art

All students from K-6 entered the CurrabubulaSmall Schools Art Show.

In Stage 3 Coloured Presentation, CharlotteRaleigh came second and Matthew Price camethird.In Stage 1 Coloured Presentation, Anna Wells wasawarded a commendation and Sam Owen gainedan encouragement award.In Stage 2 Design, Emma Weatherall won anencouragement award.Gabby Prosser came second in Stage 1 Design.Cleo Hardcastle, Roderick Stephens, HenrySmith, James Williams, Sam Owen, Anna Wells,Nickolas Williams, Connor McIntosh and JackDoolin all gained encouragement awards in Stage1 Design.

Nickolas Williams, Cleo Hardcastle, Sam Owen, Henry Smith,

Roderick Stephens, , Anna Wells, Gabby Prosser and Jack

Doolin

Mr and Mrs J Cowell visited the school in Maywith their Sketch and Scripture Outback Patrol.Mrs Gwen Cowell, a talented artist, sketchedAustralian animals while the students watched.

Music

In May, the school travelled to Goondiwindi toparticipate in the Hubbub Sound Playground.They were joined by Tharawonga Preschoolchildren and their parents.They had great fun making wonderful music

together. The musical instruments were made outof recycled plastic drums, tubes, car wheel hubsand other objects.

James Williams, Ben Owen and Matthew Price

Years 3-6 students sang Family of Me on OpenDay.

The K-2 students sang Christmas carols in theirplay The Nativity, at our school concert.

DramaIn JuneAditi and Her Rickshaw visited the school.

Aditi told and performed stories from India, China

and Nepal. The children were fascinated by her

performance.

Aditi and her Rickshaw


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All students took part in the Open Day Book

Character Parade.

Year 1 Book Parade Characters

Dougal Coleman, Matthew Price and Jake Donaldson

K-2 presented the play The Nativity at our annualschool concert.

The play The Grinch Who Stole Christmas waspresented by Years 3-6.

Dance

On Open Day K-2 performed the danceRig a JigJig for the visitors

Sam Owen and Cleo Hardcastle

Sport

Sport is held high on the schools list of priorities.

A wide range of sports and related activities are

provided by the school for the students.

Healthy competition, maximum participation,

fitness and above all good sportsmanship are

encouraged and promoted.

In 2011 the whole school participated in:

weekly physical education lessons; Friday afternoon sports; daily jogging sessions in Terms 2 and

3; school athletics and swimming

carnivals; Jump Rope for Heart; and intensive swimming lessons.

The year began with swimming carnivals.

Charlotte Raleigh, Jake Donaldson, Dougal

Coleman and Will Donaldson went on to Sydney

to compete in the Peter Dobson Small Schools

Relay team. Charlotte Raleigh was chosen to go to

State for individual swimming events.

Term 1 saw the Moree Zone selection trials for a

number of different sports. Charlotte Raleigh wasselected in soccer, netball and later in the year

touch football. Charlotte represented the North

West Area at the State Carnivals in netball and

touch football.

Jake Donaldson was selected to represent the

Moree Zone in soccer.

John Goodfellow, Jake Donaldson, Charles

Goodfellow, Wyatt Laidlaw and Dougal Coleman

were selected in Rugby Union. John Goodfellowand Jake Donaldson went on to represent the

North West Area at the State Carnival in Rugby

Union.

Athletics carnivals were held at the end of Term 2

and throughout Term 3. Our students competed in

the Macintyre, Moree Zone, North West Regional

and State Carnivals.

Following their success at the Regional Athletics

Carnival Charlotte Raleigh and Matthew Pricewere chosen to compete in individual events at the


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State Athletics Carnival in Sydney. Charlotte was

in the high jump and discus while Matthew was in

the discus event.

Travis Mills and John Goodfellow were selected

to represent the Moree Zone in tennis at the North

West Tournament.

North Star boys combined with Yetman boys to

play soccer in the Soccer Knockout Competition.

The boys trained together every Friday afternoon.

The team advanced to the semifinals before losing

to Ben Venue Public School from Armidale.

In Term 2 Sophie Coleman, Ben Owen, Dougal

Coleman and Charlotte Raleigh represented the

Moree Zone in cross country at Coolah in the

North West Area Carnival.

Our students are wonderful ambassadors for our

school but there is always one moment that stands

out and this year it was our Small Schools 100m

Relay Team. Charlotte Raleigh, Jake Donaldson,

Matthew Price and Dougal Coleman won the gold

medal in the Nigel Bagley Small Schools Relay at

the State Athletics Carnival at Homebush in

Sydney.

Matthew Price, Dougal Coleman, Charlotte Raleigh and Jake

Donaldson

In September the school nominated two teams in

the Fleming Cup Tennis, a tournament for primary

schools within an 80 km radius of Goondiwindi.

Travis Mills, John Goodfellow, Charlotte Raleigh

and Kara Andrews won the tournament and

brought home the coveted Fleming Cup.

Travis Mills, John Goodfellow, Charlotte Raleigh and Kara

Andrews with the Fleming Cup

Our sporting calendar concluded with a week of

intensive swimming lessons which proved a

challenge this year with all the wet weather.

The school swimming carnival was held on the

last day of term.

At Presentation Day Charlotte Raleigh was

awarded the Ray and Stella Thatcher trophy for

her outstanding participation and success in sport

in 2011.

Other

International Competitions

In 2011 students from Years 3-6 participated inthe International Competitions and Assessmentsfor Schools (ICAS) tests.They undertook the Science, Computer Skills,

Writing, Mathematics, English and SpellingCompetitions.Altogether they were awarded three distinctionsand seventeen credits.

Distinctions were awarded to:Charlotte RaleighscienceBen Prosserscience and maths

Credits were awarded to:Charlotte RaleighmathsBen Prossercomputer, English, spelling, mathsMatthew PriceEnglish, spelling, science, maths

Ben Owenscience, writing , maths


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Sophie Colemanspelling, writing, scienceEmma WeatherallEnglish, spelling

The 18 students from Years 3-6, who participatedin the ICAS competitions and won twenty awardsbetween them, are to be commended.

ICAS competition participants

Public Speaking

All students in Years 3-6 prepared a speech on amulticultural topic and presented their speeches tothe class.Four students were selected to participate in theMulticultural Perspectives Public SpeakingCompetition in Inverell.Charlotte Raleigh and Dougal Coleman competedin the Years 5 and 6 section, while Emma

Weatherall and Ben Owen competed in the Years3 and 4 section.

Major Excursion

Every two years North Star Public School

undertakes a major excursion to a destination that

provides both an educational opportunity and the

chance for our students to experience part of the

wider world.

This year our excursion took us to Sydney and it

was, in the words of one of our students, The

best excursion Ive ever been on.As we all

travelled back from Sydney we reflected on what

had certainly been a busy, exciting and definitely

fun week.

From dodging the crowds, a definite change from

the placid North Star streets, to visiting a range of

iconic attractions and enlightening institutions,

the students absorbed and were left in

wonderment at the stunning array of sights.

Highlights included the eye-catching 3D I-max

movie Born to Be Wild; the sunset and theemerging cityscape viewed from SydneyTower;

the sea-life wonders of Manly Oceanworld; the

infotainment provided by visits to the Powerhouse

and Maritime Museums, the latter including the

opportunity to explore a warship and inspect a

submarine; and our extended stay at Taronga Zoo

due to a day of protest around Parliament House

in Macquarie Street, our intended destinationaround lunchtime. We were greeted at Parliament

House by our local member Mr Richard Torbay

who invited us to witness a speech he was about to

make in the lower house. Years 3-6 and Mr Sky

Sincere thanks must go to our accompanying

parents, without whom the excursion could not

have been possible. Also ensuring the success of

the trip, generous financial assistance was given

by Nufarm, Incitec, the North Star School P & Cand the school. This allowed the excursion to be

affordable for all students.

Years 3-6 in Sydney

Sophie Coleman


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Special Celebrations

On Anzac Day North Star students took part in thelocal North Star march and memorial service.

Jake Donaldson lowered and raised the flag.John and Charles Goodfellow laid a wreath at theAnzac Gates.

Parents and the local community were mostappreciative of the schools involvement.

North Star and other students on Anzac Day 2011

Year 6 students led the simple and dignifiedRemembrance Day Ceremony at the school.

The students spoke about WW1, the poppies, theOde, the flag and the minutes silence.

K-2 students made poppies for everyone to wearand Years 3-6 recited the poemIn FlandersFields.

North Star students on Remembrance Day 2011

Minimum standards

The Commonwealth Government sets minimumstandards for reading, writing, grammar andpunctuation, spelling and numeracy for Years 3, 5,7 and 9.

The performance of the students in our school inthe National Assessment Program Literacy andNumeracy is compared to these minimumstandards. The percentages of our studentsachieving at or above these standards are reportedbelow.

Percentage of Year 3 students achieving at or

above minimum standard (exempt students

included)

Reading 100.0

Writing 100.0

Spelling 100.0

Grammar &

Punctuation 100.0

Numeracy 100.0

Percentage of Year 5 students achieving at or

above minimum standard (exempt students

included)

Reading 100.0Writing 100.0

Spelling 100.0

Grammar &

Punctuation 100.0

Numeracy 100.0


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Significant programs and initiatives

In 2011 our school ran important programs andinitiatives to support its students.

Aboriginal Education

Our school continues to provide programs and

experiences designed to teach students aboutAboriginal history, cultural and contemporaryAboriginal Australia.

In June the school attended the A-Day andNAIDOC Week School Activities Day atToomelah Public School.They joined activity groups with students fromseveral schools to made art works, throw spears attargets, play games and make Johnny cakes.

A-Day 2011

The Macintyre Athletics, Cross Country andSwimming Carnivals, and Moree Zone sportstrials and carnivals provided opportunities forstaff, students and their families to participatetogether in friendly days.

Our School Learning Support Officer (SLSO)gave additional help in reading and maths to alltargeted students. In Term 4 this help was alsogiven at our Homework Centre after school onThursdays.

Multicultural Education

Each year the school joins with our local CountryWomens Association (CWA) to learn about anew country and its culture.This year the CWA country of study was Iceland.K-2 students used the internet to watchdocumentaries about Icelands animals andvolcanoes. Years 3-6 students researchedinformation for their projects.

They learned more about Iceland from the Branch

International Officer, Mrs Ros Smith.The students posters and projects were on display

and everyone received special certificates inrecognition of their contributions.

North Star CWA Branch International Officer, Mrs Ros Smith

Harmony Day was celebrated this year with artand craft activities and a friendly game of cricket.

The school continues to support our foster childNimrot Manu, a boy from Indonesia, under PlanInternational Australia.

Once again this year students from Years 3-6entered the Multicultural Perspectives PublicSpeaking Competition.See Public Speaking p. 10

Country Areas Program (CAP)

CAP provides funding to enable students fromisolated areas to participate in various programsundertaken within the school or if appropriatebetween schools to address the effects ofgeographic isolation and improve studentoutcomes in literacy and numeracy.

In 2011 CAP supported a Kindergarten transitionprogram, an oral language program and aphonemic awareness program which providedimproved educational outcomes and opportunitiesfor our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students.

The Kindergarten students settled in well andquickly adjusted to new school routines. TheWaddington Reading and Spelling assessments inNovember showed that K-2 students had madeimpressive progress.

CAP also assisted with the cost of the coach travelof the Years 3-6 major excursion to Sydney inSeptember.

Our P&C President, Mrs Christina Smith, was ourCAP school community representative.


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Student Welfare, Respect and Responsibility

In 2011 we worked hard to ensure that ourstudents were safe, happy and well-behaved andthat they received recognition for theirachievements.Students were often reminded of the Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them do untoyou.The importance of kindness, respect, honesty,inclusion, responsibility and good sportsmanshipwere values which were discussed regularly.

A teacher met the buses every day to ensurestudents arrived safely at school.Bus drivers were asked about students behaviourand this was followed up at school.

Our playground was closely supervised.

Every afternoon teachers supervised students whowere boarding the buses and those who werewalking home.

Staff members hold current Senior First Aidcertificates and also participated in a CPR course.

In Term 4 the Tharawonga preschool studentswho were starting Kindergarten in 2012 visitedthe school on several occasions and spent time inthe K-2 classroom. They also attended the specialKindergarten Orientation Day.

Each Kindergarten student was paired with a Year

6 buddy. There were many buddy activities duringthe year, including buddy time in the classroomand skipping together during Jump Rope sessions.Year 6 took good care of their little buddies.

Years 1 and 2 had activities time with Years 3-5on Fridays.

Year 6 students were given important roles andresponsibilities which included running dailyassemblies, helping with K-2 lines on theverandah, keeping the house point scores andorganising their house teams for athletics.

Our School Captains Jake Donaldson andCharlotte Raleigh attended special leadershipdays. In March Jake and his father travelled toBrisbane for the Young Leaders Day.In May Charlotte and her mother attended theImpact Leadership Day in Moree. They foundthese days quite inspiring.

Mr Richard Torbay our State Member for NewEngland sent letters of congratulation to ourSchool Captains.

Year 6 students visited the Tharawonga MobilePreschool at the North Star Hall each week to read

story books to the preschoolers.Year 6 and the preschoolers enjoyed the weeklyvisits. This very successful program will continuein 2012.

Jake Donaldson reading at Tharawonga Preschool

All students in K-2 and Years 3-6 had weekly

responsibilities which involved helping in theclassroom and playground.

Parents and staff participated in the Clean UpAustraliaSchools Clean Up day. The students,especially the boys, really enjoyed cleaning up thesticks, leaves and branches in the playground andgardens and were proud of their efforts.

In 2011 students raised money for the QueenslandPublic Schools Flood Appeal, Plan International,the Heart Foundation, Pink Ribbon DayBreastCancer Awareness, Life Education and theLeukemia Foundation.

Cleo Hardcastle, Sam Owen, Roderick Stephens, Skye Williams,

Henry Smith and Melika Williams enjoying their patty cakes

Years 5 and 6 organised a Fun Day to raise moneyfor the Year 6 Farewell lunch. TharawongaPreschool children joined us for the activities.

The special Year 6 Farewell lunch was held at theNorth Star Sporting Club. It was attended byYears 3-6, parents of the Year 6 students andschool staff.

The Warialda Multi-Purpose Service PrimaryHealth Care nurses ran a Health Day for allstudents K-6. They spoke about healthy foods,


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headlice, keeping clean, dental care and safebehaviour.Years 5 and 6 students benefited from a personaldevelopment session and were presented with giftpacks of toiletries donated by the P&C.

Warialda Multi-Purpose Health Care nurses

The Life Education Van visited the school inTerm 4. K-2 students learned about safety, bodyworkings, safe use and storage of medicines anddecision making.Its Your Callwas the topic for Years 3-6. Theylearned about the definition of legal drugs, peerpressure, risk taking and decision making.

We continued with the Good For Kids program in2011. Crunch and Sip was popular with parentsand students. Teachers observed that moststudents had fruit or vegetables to eat throughoutthe week as well as on Crunch and Sip day.Students were encouraged to drink more waterand brought their water bottles to the classroomeach day.

In October the school participated in theAppleQuestAussie Apples for NSW Schools programintroduced by NSW apple growers. The programencouraged everyone to enjoy eating the beautifulvarieties of Australian apples donated by growers.

Sophie Coleman, Kara Andrews, Shevy McDonald, Heidi Mills,

Maddison Rodgers and Emma Weatherall

Our voluntary canteen supervisor Mrs Kate Owenand mothers worked hard to ensure that ourcanteen offered a wide range of healthy foods.Mothers Cooking on Mondays continued to bepopular. Our canteen volunteers are to becommended for their work.

Through the weeklyBulletin parents were advisedabout whooping cough, mosquito borne diseases,eczema, sun safety and Parent Line.

A teacher visited the school to talk to students andstaff about Caring For Your Ears.

Good attendance was encouraged and certificatesfor excellent attendance were awarded onPresentation Day.

Principals Awards, Stars of the Week and MeritCertificates were presented at school assembliesto recognise student achievement.

Students achievements and photos werepublished weekly in the schoolBulletin.

Articles on the successes of our school and itsstudents were published in local newspapers.

Every student received a book prize or certificateon Presentation Day.

Mr and Mrs J Smith and Mrs D Uebergang taughtAnglican Scripture during the year. Mrs VGoodfellow taught Catholic Scripture.

Mr Mark Coulton, our Federal Member forParkes, visited the school in November and talkedto students about his responsibilities as our electedrepresentative.He presented the school with a new Australianflag, an Aboriginal flag and some smaller flags.

Jake Donaldson, Mr Mark Coulton and Charlotte Raleigh


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Literacy and Numeracy Support program

Our SLSO worked with small groups andindividual students from K-6 using the schoolsreading and phonics schemes.

Several students from Years 2-6 worked on thehighly successful Macquarie University Multilit

reading program.

The Dalwood Assessment Centre also provided aspecial reading program which was implementedby the SLSO.

The students demonstrated improved skills inphonemic awareness, oral reading, spelling andcomprehension.

Additional help in literacy and numeracy wasgiven to Years 3 and 5.

Students in the targeted maths group also receivedextra help.

The P&C, CAP and the school funded theLiteracy and Numeracy Support program.This program will continue in 2012.

Best Start Kindergarten program

In Term 1 Kindergarten students were assessedusing the Best Start (NSW) program.This was beneficial in informing the classroomteacher and parents about the childs learningprior to starting school. It also assisted the teacher

in planning for each childs learning.

Homework Centre

Our Homework Centre commenced in Term 4following interest from parents. The Centre ranfor an hour after school on Thursdays and wassupervised by our SLSO and a teacher on avoluntary basis. Students were helped with theirreading, spelling and maths.The regular attendance of twelve studentsindicated need for the Centre.The success of the Centre will encourage us to

continue with it in 2012.

Mrs Pearlman and students at the Homework Centre

Enrichment program

A group of high-achieving students from Years 3-6 were provided with a stimulating andchallenging enrichment program implemented byour SLSO. A highlight of the year was the groupsinvestigation Saucy Facts a study of the

different brands of tomato sauce available in oursupermarkets.

Parents and Community program

Our Parents and Citizens Association raised fundsfor the school by holding a High Tea at Mr & MrsSandy Hardcastles garden; selling North Starwater and tea towels; and catering at theMacintyre cross country, our athletics carnival,the North Star Trail Bike Ride and the North StarCampdraft.

The healthy school canteen was run most capablyby our voluntary canteen supervisor and motherson two days per week.

The P&C compiled and published a recipe book.

The P&C donated $ 6000 to our valuableLearning Support Program

The P&C subsidized the cost of the Year 3-6Sydney excursion with a donation of $6000.

The cost of bus travel to our annual swimmingschool in Goondiwindi was also paid for by the

P&C.Two grandparents and a parent helped the K-2 andYears 3-6 classes by hearing the children readeach week.

Parents helped their children at home withreading, spelling and maths homework.

Parents of Kindergarten students participated inthe Jolly Phonics Reading session run by ourSLSO.

Parents attended Parent/Teacher interviews to

discuss student progress.Parents transported students to sporting events andselection trials, to the public speaking competitionand other school activities. They assisted withevents at sports carnivals.

The P&C organised the special stalls and gifts forMothers Day and Fathers Day.

The P&C organised an end of year social for ourstudents and students from nearby schools.

Parents cleaned and decorated the hall for our

Presentation Day and concert.


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North Star parents gave wonderful support to thestudents and school by providing beautiful food atcarnivals on Open Day and on Presentation Day.

The attendance of school patrons, parents andmembers of the community at school events,particularly Open Day, Presentation Day,

carnivals, and other special events is mostwelcome and demonstrates the great support ourschool has from the North Star district.

Open Day 2012

Three generations of the Price Family

Progress on 2011 targets

In 2011 the targets concerned literacy, spellingand writing, and quality teaching practices in adigital learning environment. All staff workedhard during the year to meet the targets.

Target 1

Increased achievement in K-6 student literacy

outcomes with a focus on spelling and writing.

Our achievements in spelling include:

all students in Year 3 and Year 5 achievedabove the minimum standard in the 2011NAPLAN tests ;

all matched students in Year 5 showedgrowth in the NAPLAN test results fromYear 3 to Year 5;

the new school spelling scheme waseffective in meeting the needs of alltargeted students;

Best Start data, Waddington Test resultsand individual reading records indicatedimproved learning achievements in theearly years;

most students attending the HomeworkCentre in Term 4 showed improved resultsin weekly class spelling tests; and

weekly, semester and year-to-yearassessments (Waddington Spelling)indicated growth in learning.

Our achievements in writing include:

all Year 3 students achieved Band 4 orabove, and all Year 5 students achievedBand 5 or above in the 2011 PersuasiveWriting test, which demonstrated theeffectiveness of the explicit teaching of

writing skills; all Kindergarten students were able to

confidently write little stories by the endof the year;

our excellent results in the MacintyreYoung Writers Competition;

K-2 students wrote and illustrated digitalstories using the Kidpix program; and

Years 3-6 wrote reports for the class blogand theBulletin.

Target 2

In 2011 all teachers will demonstrate an

understanding of quality teaching practices in a

digital learning environment.

Our achievements include:

Mr Skys leadership and teaching in usingcomputers, Smartboards and relatedtechnology was invaluable to staff andstudents ;

all teachers reported greater confidence inusing the Smartboard in the classroom;

students in Years 3-6 have their own classblog 3456;

K-2 students showed greater engagementin maths and spelling lessons when usingthe Smartboard. They found the mathsactivities games quite exciting.The Smartboard was useful for explicitteaching of spelling.

Key evaluations

It is a requirement for all NSW public schools toconduct at least two annual evaluations onerelated to educational and management practiceand the other related to curriculum.

Educational and management practice

Teaching

Background

Teaching was the area selected for evaluation in2011. To ensure that the school and its communityhad shared expectations in this area the eight

question School Map Parent Survey AboutTeaching was sent out to 19 schoolfamilies,


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asking their opinions on aspects of teaching.There were 13 responses to this survey.

Findings and conclusions

All parents almost always or usually agreed that:

what students are asked to learn isimportant;

teachers provide class activities that areinteresting and appropriate to my childsneeds and abilities;

my childs teachers know what my childcan do and what they need to learn; and

the school provides clear informationabout student achievement through theschools reporting process.

Ninety-two per cent of parents almost always orusually agreed that:

the way my childs teachers manage theclass helps him/her learn; and

my childs teachers keep records ofhis/her progress.

Eighty-five per cent of parents almost always orusually agreed that:

my child talks to his/her teachers aboutwhat they are learning and why; and

parents and students understand howstudents learning will be assessed.

The Student Satisfaction Survey was completed byten students in Years 5 and 6. Selected questionsfrom this survey were used to find out thestudents opinions about teaching.

All students strongly agreed or agreed that:

teachers support me when I find learningdifficult;

I can approach teachers and discuss thingswith them;

teachers listen to what I have to say; and teachers try to make me do my best.

Ninety per cent of students strongly agreed oragreed that:

teachers encourage my learning; and teachers know how to treat students who

misbehave.

Eighty per cent of students strongly agreed oragreed that they were praised by their teacherswhen they did good things at school, while twentyper cent of students neither agreed nor disagreedwith this statement.

Seventy per cent of students strongly agreed oragreed that teachers provided interesting lessons.Thirty per cent of students neither agreed ordisagreed with this statement.

The responses of parents and senior students tothe surveys about teaching were very positive and

encouraging.Future directions

Class teachers will hold meetings with parents todiscuss and show how students learning isassessed, and how the teachers keep records ofstudent progress.

Teachers will focus on discussing with studentswhat they are learning and why.

Curriculum

Literacy - Spelling

Background

A School Priority Area for 2009-2011 wasLiteracy, with a focus on increased achievementin spelling outcomes for students K-6.Staff members met throughout the year toevaluate the schools teaching of spelling.They:

reviewed their teaching and learningprograms for spelling;

discussed the effectiveness of the newschool spelling scheme for Years 1-6 ;

discussed the effectiveness of the schoolphonics scheme, which is introduced inKindergarten each year ;

assessed and reviewed student progressusing weekly spelling tests for Years 1-6and the K-6 Waddington Spelling Test inTerm 4;

reviewed the teaching arrangements forKindergarten, Years 1 and 2 and Years 3-6; and

reviewed the Year 3 and Year 5 studentsNAPLAN spelling results.

Findings and conclusions

The new school spelling scheme for Years 1-6was effective. Students liked the textbooks and thework was appropriate for individual students at alllevels.Smartboard activities linked to the textbooks wereeffective in engaging Year 1 and Year 2.


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The teaching arrangements for Years 3 and 4, andYears 5 and 6 on three mornings per week wereeffective, enabling small group instruction.

The Kindergarten phonics lessons were mostsuccessful as all four students have madeimpressive progress in spelling as indicated by

their Waddington spelling test results at the end oftheir first year at school.

Waddington Spelling test results showed that moststudents performed at or above the expected level.

The analysis of Year 3 and Year 5 studentsNAPLAN results showed that our students had avery good understanding of grammar andpunctuation. Year 3 and Year 5 were well abovethe state average.

Four students gained credits in the ICAS Spellingtests.

Future directions

The new school spelling scheme for Years 1-6 andthe Kindergarten phonics program will continue in2012.

Spelling class groupings for the Years 3 and 4,and Years 5 and 6 will continue on three morningsper week in 2012.

Targeted students will continue to work at theappropriate levels in 2012.

Teachers will explicitly teach students thesuccessful methods for learning to spell words.

Years 3-6 will continue to compete in the ICASSpelling Competition in 2012.

Parent, student, and teacher

satisfaction

In 2011 the school sought the opinions of parents,students and teachers about the school.

Their responses are presented below.

One-third of the parents, randomly selected,responded to a five-question phone survey whichcovered aspects of teaching, learning and schoolculture.

Their overwhelmingly positive responses arelisted below.

The respondents agreed that, to the best of theirknowledge, the following statements were almostalways or usually true of the school:

teachers provide class activities that areinteresting and appropriate to my childsneeds and abilities;

the school expects students to achieve tothe best of their ability;

my childs teachers know what my childcan do and what my child needs to learn;and

students at the school demonstrate pridein their learning.

Eighty- six per cent of respondents agreed that theschool almost always or usually praises andrewards individuals who are successful.

These survey results are similar to the high levelof satisfaction expressed by those parents whocompleted a parent satisfaction survey in 2010.

Ten senior students completed the StudentSatisfaction Survey for Years 5 and 6. Theirresponses showed a high degree of satisfaction.

All students strongly agreed or agreed that:

they felt safe at school; there is good communication between

the school and parents and carers;

students are encouraged to contributeto decision making in the school;

the school has a positive image in thecommunity;

the school has a good reputation forlearning and is always trying to dobetter; and

they enjoyed being with the otherstudents in their year level.

Eighty per cent of students strongly agreed oragreed that:

the teachers are fair in dealing withmisbehaviour; and

they liked being at school to learn.There was no teacher satisfaction survey becausewe have so few teachers

Future directions

In 2012 staff and the P&C will discuss how theschool rewards and praises the students.

Years 5 and 6 students will be encouraged tocontribute their ideas and opinions about makinglessons more interesting and the contribution theycan make to school policies.


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Professional learning

The school places great importance on theprofessional learning of its teachers and supportstaff.

The principal or relieving principal attended the

School Education Group meetings each term andthe New England Regional Conference at Inverell.

Staff members participated in school developmentdays at the beginning of Terms 1, 2 and 3.

Two staff members attended the Regional SmallSchools Conference at Moree at the beginning ofTerm 2.

The principal attended the Small Schools PlanningDay at Moree and the Gwydir Learning Groupmeeting at Warialda.

The principal attended the CAP Development Dayin Moree.

A teacher attended the Athletics Officials Coursein Tamworth.

The principal attended the Best Start trainingcourse at Croppa Creek.

Teachers and support staff participated in the CPRtraining course at school.

Our SLSO ran a course on our phonics andreading schemes for new parents and a staff

member.Our Senior School Administrative Managerattended the Learning Management and BusinessReform course in Moree.

Teachers attended selection trials for varioussports; zone and regional swimming, crosscountry and athletics carnivals; and tennis andsoccer competitions. They gained valuableprofessional experience.

The average expenditure per teacher onprofessional learning at the school level was$905.21.

The total school expenditure on teacherprofessional learning was $2715.63.

There were no new scheme teachers workingtowards accreditation.

There was one new scheme teacher maintainingaccreditation at Professional Competence.

School planning 20122014

The school planning policy provides direction forthe preparation and implementation of schoolplans including the identification of priority areas,intended outcomes and targets that are consistentwith the NSW State Plan and the Departments

planning documents.

School priority 1

Outcome for 20122014

Increased achievement in K-6 literacy studentoutcomes with a focus on reading and spelling.

2012 Targets to achieve this outcome include:

progress of seven levels (to Level 7 or above)in the schools reading scheme by

Kindergarten students; progress of nine levels (to Level 16 or above)

in the schools reading scheme by Year 1students;

progress of six levels (to Level 22 or above)in the schools reading scheme by Year 2students;

students show age appropriate progress inspelling using the Waddington DiagnosticSpelling Test and the South Australian

Spelling Test; and Year 3 and Year 5 students meet the National

Minimum Standards in 2012 NAPLANLiteracy tests.

Strategies to achieve these targets include:

developing Personal Learning Plans (PLPs) inliteracy for targeted students;

explicit teaching of phonics to K-2 studentsusing the schools phonics scheme;

regular benchmarking of K-3 studentsreading progress using the schools readingscheme;

continuing with the School Magazine lessonsat the appropriate level for Years 3-6 students;

continuing with the Macquarie UniversitysMULTILIT reading program for targetedstudents;

explicit teaching of spelling skills for allstudents K-6;


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continuing with small group lessons inphonics and reading for Kindergarten, andspelling for Years 3 and 4, and Years 5 and 6;

assessment of students spelling performanceusing the Waddington Diagnostic SpellingTest (in Term 4) and the South Australian

Spelling Test (in Terms 1 and 3).

School priority 2

Outcome for 20122014

To sustain the schools record of achievement innumeracy as seen in our students NAPLANresults from 2009-2011.


the majority of students sitting the 2012NAPLAN Numeracy tests will be above theNational Minimum Standard;

Best Start for Kindergarten and schoolassessments indicate students are achievingappropriate stage outcomes; and

PLPs developed for targeted students.Strategies to achieve these targets include:

North Star participates in the Targeting EarlyNumeracy Program (TEN) - introductoryyear;

smaller group maths for Years 3 and 4, andYears 5 and 6 on three mornings per week;

continue with the schools maths scheme; continue with the Best Start for Kindergarten

program; and

staff develop PLPs in maths for all targetedstudents.

School priority 3

Outcome for 2012

2014Staff confident in implementation of the newNSW Syllabus documents.


staff develop awareness of NSW syllabusdocuments for English, Mathematics, Historyand Science.

Strategies to achieve these targets include:

staff attend professional development courseson the new syllabus documents; and

staff become familiar with the new syllabusdocuments by using the internet andparticipating in meetings and schooldevelopment days.

About this report

In preparing this report, the self-evaluationcommittee has gathered information fromevaluations conducted during the year andanalysed other information about the school'spractices and student learning outcomes. The self-evaluation committee and school planningcommittee have determined targets for theschool's future development.

Marian Thatcher Principal

Sue Nixon Relieving Principal

Michael Sky Staff RepresentativeJane Bush Staff Representative

Julia Thatcher Staff Representative

Christina Smith P&C President

Year 5 Student Representatives

School contact information

North Star Public School

Edward Street North Star NSW 2408

Ph: 07 46763128

Fax: 07 46763269

Email: [email protected]

Web: www. northstar-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

School Code: 2765

Parents can find out more information aboutAnnual School Reports, how to interpretinformation in the reports and have theopportunity to provide feedback about these

reports at:http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asr
http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asrhttp://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/asr

Documents

North Star ASR 2011