Principal's Foreword

Introduction

It is with much pleasure that I present the 2008 School Annual Report. It has been a challenging yet successful year for Kilkivan State School and credit must go to all staff, students, parents and community members for their combined energy and effort. Our Triennial School Review which commenced during the latter part of 2007 was completed in early 2008 with a highly successful presentation of processes and outcomes provided by the Principal, Staff and P&C Representatives. It represented a high level of ‘working together' and a true example of ‘partnership'. A new Strategic Plan was developed from the Triennial School Review for the next three year cycle (2008 to 2010). Specific goals and targets are identified and each year an Annual Operation Plan guides the school's progress. These align with Education Queensland's Strategic Plan and are critical to the achievement of our school's expressed aim of encouraging student success in every possible way.

Environmental sustainability provided a focussed learning opportunity across the school. The initial impetus came from the Year 6/7 class and with demonstrated exuberance and enthusiasm quickly brought others on board so that students from Prep to Year 8 were involved in a range of projects. With community assistance from BIEDO, participation in Wondai State School 's Sustainable Futures Day, donations of resources from parents and community and lots of hard work from staff and students, the development of a permaculture garden was beginning to take shape. By the end of the year, students were able to enjoy some of what was produced. Other projects included the chook tractor, stepping stones garden, refurbishing existing gardens, re-establishing the plant nursery, worm farm and recycling projects.

When Channel Seven came to town to promote the Great Horse Ride the school was involved in ensuring there was a good crowd. We put on a sausage sizzle as an encourager and although it was a freezing cold morning, starting around 5.30, the community turned out. Many of our students belong to the newly formed Kilkivan Pony Club and were mounted up to join in a ride into town which they did three or four times until the producer was satisfied they had captured on camera the essence of the Great Horse Ride. It was a great promotion for our town and businesses and provided much excitement for our students and our families.

For the second year, the school's equestrian team headed to Maryborough to represent the school in the Fraser Coast Interschool Equestrian Competition. Team numbers increased from four in 2007 to nine with students from Prep to Year 7 involved. Thank you to the Pony Club in building the confidence and skill levels which enabled more students to participate.

Throughout the year, our teachers also took the opportunity to be involved in a range of Professional Development programs with an emphasis on social skilling/emotional resilience; sustainable futures; areas of curriculum; behaviour management and healthy relationships; as well as programs supporting intervention and inclusive practices. Providing a safe and supportive environment for our students to learn in, and for our teachers to teach in, assists us in ensuring the best outcomes for all.

We are a small school with an emphasis on ‘family'. We care.

Future Outlook

  Although enrolment trends show a decline in growth, the provision of curricula to meet the needs of a diverse population continues to evolve. Exploring options and developing pathways for our secondary students involves the building of relationships with outside providers. The opportunities provided for our young people through school-based apprenticeship and traineeship schemes are new and exciting options. Building onto the relationship with High Schools in the Gympie area will ensure a smooth transition from Year 10 into Years 11 and 12 for our students as they continue their education and work towards their Queensland Certificate of Education.

The school is well placed through focused management of resources and people to continue providing a rich educational experience for all of our students. Our school will continue to implement strategies to build resilience in our students to cope with a demanding world through the Kilkivan Kicks social skilling program which is in its second year; through the maintenance of successful learning support programs; and the continued professional development of our staff.

Proficiency in literacy and numeracy are at the heart of our curriculum programs.

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Our School at a Glance

School Profile

Kilkivan State School is a co-educational school catering for students from Preparatory Year to Year 10. Enrolments for 2008 commenced with 116 students and fluctuated throughout the year between 115 and 125 students. The trend of a declining enrolment has an effect on both human and financial resources and this requires an element of creative thinking and management strategies to ensure our school meets the needs of the school community as a whole.

About a third of our students come to school on one of three bus services. The school services an area approximately 30 km radius of the school. On completing Year 10, students generally continue their education at one of the High Schools in Gympie.

The school is part of the Wide Bay-Burnett Region and is serviced by Wide Bay South District Office. The school is part of the Gympie Alliance of State Schools Association and through this Cluster group participates in a range of professional and educational programs. Because of our location mid-way between WB South and WB West, the school continues to participate in programs with WB West especially sporting/cultural/career-based programs with other P-10 schools.

A sense of community is promoted through the school with participation in and support of a range of community events. We have a strong student council and this year student leaders from Year 10 and Year 9 have been representatives on a newly formed Regional Youth Council, meeting with student leaders from other high schools in the Gympie Regional Council area.

Curriculum Offerings

Kilkivan State School provides a wide variety of learning experiences for students through curriculum programs in all nationally agreed key learning areas. Participation in academic competitions, e.g. University of New South Wales Maths, English and Science competitions; LOTE competitions; Tournament of Minds; Maths Challenge; Maryborough Technology Challenge; sporting competitions; public speaking competitions; Healthy Living Expo; Creative Industries and music eisteddfods are a feature of the enrichment activities offered by the school.

Technology curriculum for students from Years 6 to 10 is developed through programs in manual arts and food and textile studies. Computer skills are developed through dedicated programs and access to both primary and secondary computer labs. The integration of information and communication technology in school curriculum programs continues to evolve with the installation of computer workstations in classrooms connected to a dedicated curriculum server. ICT and computers in classrooms are viewed as being vital tools to enhance and support learning.

A dedicated Special Needs Support Program has provided assistance to students with diverse learning and behavioural needs. Funding through specialized grants has enabled purchase of human resource time to work one on one with individual students or small groups of students. The support of, and regular access to, a Guidance Officer, Behaviour Management specialist, School Nurse and Community Nurse has assisted students and their families to cope with their particular needs.

Social Climate

This school enjoys a very caring and developmental social climate that has a common focus upon support and experiencing success. In working together, the school community has identified the need for continuing development of social skilling and hence the introduction in 2007 of the Kilkivan Kicks social/emotional resilience program which provides a common language to reinforce a range of relationship and values concepts. Its continuation throughout 2008 enabled further scaffolding for the support and development of those things we hold as most important in developing our young people as caring and contributing human beings.

Involving Parents in their child's education

Parental involvement in each child's education is encouraged and ample opportunities exist at various levels to enable parents to be engaged to an extent that best suits them. This involvement ranges from attendance at events and functions to volunteering to assist with class activities through to involvement at a decision making level through the P&C Association or Committees. Parents are encouraged to meet with staff informally at a School/Family barbecue in first term and continue the relationship throughout the year and onwards in monitoring/reporting the progress and achievements of students.

Qualifications of Teachers

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development

  •  The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2008 was $21,973.00

•  The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2008 was 87 %.

•  The major professional development initiatives were as follows:

•  Teacher satisfaction with access to quality professional development was 64.3%.

Average Staff Attendance

  For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 95% in 2008.

Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.

From the end of the 2007 school year, 85% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2008 school year.

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Performance of our Students

Student attendance

The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2008 was 92 %.

Key outcomes in the early and middle phases of learning

Through student tracking procedures, classroom teachers and learning support teachers gather data at timely intervals about how students are progressing. Throughout 2008, the school responded to the needs of students presenting with learning difficulties and disabilities through a range of small group and individual programs. Resources for Learning Support became a priority in second semester to meet the demands of classrooms for assistance. With an increase in behavioural issues affecting learning, the need for professional development especially for our Learning Support teachers was highlighted. A number of classroom teachers also accessed behavioural workshops in an effort to improve the learning environment.

Other Key Outcomes

 Value added

The extras that are available to our students through special projects, excursions, sporting and cultural activities are the result of the dedication and commitment of both staff and parents and the interest and ability of our students. 2008 has been a very busy year with many successes celebrated throughout and in particular on Awards Night held annually in November/December.

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school

School Opinion Survey Satisfaction levels indicated a drop in satisfaction levels. This is disappointing in terms of the efforts put in by staff to make improvements in areas of behaviour management and in particular in rewarding ‘good behaviours'. Efforts to improve learning and expectations to lift standards was met with resistance by some students and described as being treated unfairly.

•  Primary student satisfaction ‘that this is a good school' = 45.8%.

•  Secondary student satisfaction ‘that this is a good school' = 33.3%.

•  Parent satisfaction ‘that this is a good school' = 57.1% .

•  Teacher satisfaction with ‘I am happy working in this school' = 53.3%. However, only 13.3% of teaching staff indicated that they were dissatisfied. 100% of non teaching staff were either satisfied or very satisfied with working in the school.

Wanda MacKenzie

Principal

26/06/09

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