Introduction

This report provides a summary of achievements for 2007 and goals for the future under several organisational headings including: The School at a Glance; Our Staff Profile and Performance of our Students.

During 2007 we continued a strong focus on reading across all year levels with pleasing results. Literacy Blocks continued in the Junior School with literacy training for teachers and aides.  Relentless Focus on Reading continued with the introduction of  the Support a Talker program with an emphasis on oral language.   Whole school screening in literacy and numeracy was undertaken by learning support teacher. Our student results in Year 3, 5 & 7 Tests in Numeracy and Literacy were strong , however the Year 2 ‘Net’ results identified areas for improvement in 2008.  Opinion Survey results were again consistently above ‘Like School’ and State Averages.  We believe this result again reflects the high expectations, skills, enthusiasm and dedication of staff and supportive parents.  A strong supportive community continues to be a positive feature of Kalkie.

Future outlook

Success continued for preps with an enrolment of 24 with an expectation of increased enrolments in 2008.    Early Years Curriculum guidelines continued to be the basis of planning and implementation.  

The school continued to be organised into a Junior School (P-3), Intermediate School (4-5) and Middle School (6-7).  This approach has resulted in co-operative Team/Year level Unit Planning to enhance consistency and sequenced continuity through the Year levels and between Year Level drafts. 

Implementation of QCAR strategies and OneSchool will become a strong focus in 2008.

School Profile

Kalkie State School is located in Bargara Road Bundaberg as part of the Wide Bay North Educational District.  Our school services the communities of East Bundaberg, Kalkie and The Hummock areas.  This school community consists of students from a range of socio-economic backgrounds.  This school, built in 1878, is steeped in tradition with an excellent reputation for academic excellence, sport, cultural achievements and pastoral care.  The school has an active P&C Association with the community being very supportive of the school and its philosophies.

Total student enrolments February 2007 - 388

Year levels offered – Prep to Year 7 (co-educational)

Curriculum offerings

Our distinctive curriculum offerings

School programs are inclusive, with Special Education Classes and Students with Disabilities integrated into mainstream classrooms.

German is the specialised Language Other Than English (LOTE) program offered to Year 5-7 students.

Selected students from Year 5-7 participate in a ‘Gifted Program’ at Kepnock State High School.

Kalkie continues to be a member of the ‘Boys in Education’ Light House project through the Coral Coast Cluster of Schools.

A distinctive music program is offered at the school and results in many students gaining success at Eisteddfods.  The music program includes individual class lessons as well as String, Brass, Woodwind and Percussion tuition as part of the Instrumental Music Program.

Students voluntarily enter the Australasian Schools Competition through the University of NSW in Science, English, Mathematics, Computer and Writing Skills

Extra curricula activities

Our Music Program is also extended with the School Choir, Concert Band, String Ensemble, Recorder Band and the renowned Kalkie Drum Band, an institution within the school since 1972.

Surf Life-Saving and Surf Board Riding Programs are provided during Term 4 for Year 7 students in addition to the usual Physical Education Program.  Kalkie students continued to achieve sporting success representing the school at district and state level.

Kalkie continued as a Reef Guardian School throughout all year levels.  Kalkie is also a ‘Sun-Smart’ school with staff providing updated information on expectations.

A Multi - Media Club continued to improve with teacher leaders and student members recording in various ways school and class activities through the year with the aim of  enhancing skills and interests within students as well as publishing a collection of photos or movie snaps of student activities as a pictorial record throughout the year.

Social climate

The School Opinion Survey results continued to show a student, staff and parent satisfaction rating of school climate, safety, behaviour and discipline well above the ‘state’  and ‘like’ school averages.  Kalkie State School has a variety of mechanisms to provide a Safe and Supportive School environment.  These include a ‘Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students’ developed in 2007 from our previous Behaviour Support Plan.  This document details clearly how the school manages student behaviour and has the full endorsement of the parent community.  Key elements of the plan focus on ‘positives’ with all staff supporting a proactive approach in conjunction with consequences for inappropriate student behaviour.

Other pastoral care programs are comprehensive and include:  Student Leadership Programs – Student School Leaders, Sports House Leaders, Recorder Band leader, Drum Band Leaders; Year 1& 7 ‘Adopt a Friend’ program which provides valuable support to the Year 1 students during their first year at school (begins as a Prep-Year 6 program in Term 4 the previous year)  The year levels will be changed in the future in line with the introduction of the Preparatory Year in 2007; A ‘Buddy’ Group with Students with Disabilities; Chess Club, ‘Circle of Friends’ program; Multi-Media Club.  All these programs cater for a significant number of students at different times at this school.  We also have support of a Visiting District Guidance Officer andCentre for Learning Management. We will also plan for the commencement of the school  School Chaplaincy Program to further support existing pastoral care initiatives in 2008.

Involving parents in their child’s education.

This school operates an ‘Open Door’ policy where all parents are welcomed and invited to visit to discuss the operation of our school with both teachers and administration.  Parents are a child’s first teacher, and our school acknowledges the importance of the home/school partnership and we strongly encourage teachers and parents to quickly build an excellent relationship for the benefit of the child.  Many parents volunteer their time regularly to assist with a variety of class/school activities and events and this fact is a strong feature of our school.

Activities include:

Morning Reading to an adult (Year 1-3); Home Reading Program (Year 1-5); Literacy/Maths/Craft/Cooking groups

Cultural Events which have significant parental involvement include:

School ANZAC DAY Ceremony, Inter-House Sports Days, Friday Whole School Assembly/Celebrations; daily parades (Juniors – Tuesday/Thursday & Senior – Monday/Friday); Drum Band Play -  outs, Great Australian Morning Tea, School Working Bees, Fancy Dress Ball, Easter Hat Parade, Bike-a-thon, Eisteddfod, Family Fun Day, Celebration Day.

Other Parental Involvement includes:

 Parents and Citizens Association ;  Workplace, Health & Safety Committee; Tuckshop Committee, Management Committee. 

Our P&C Association is an active and very supportive group of parents who meet monthly to discuss a wide range of topics relevant to our school.  Some parents are also involved with Staff representatives as members of management Committee which help formulate strategic directions for our school

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.

The total funds expended on  teacher professional development in 2007 was $13,246.  

The major professional development initiatives completed in 2007 are as follows:

Prep Training Modules, Maths ‘First Steps’, Boys in Education Conference, Values in Education Forum, EAP Training; ICT Pedagogical Framework  Facilitator training, ‘Smart Classrooms’ ICT Pedagogical Framework trial training,  Electronic Whiteboard, ‘Click View’ and ‘Learning Objects’ Workshops; Senior First Aid and CPR Update training; Diabetes, Anaphylaxis, Dyslexia  Information sessions with trained Health Professionals

The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2007 was 96%.

Average staff attendance

For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 95% in 2007.

Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.

From the end of the 2006 school year,  82% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2007 school year.