Gooseberry Hill Primary School

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Priority Areas

The School Vision and values to support the vision were developed as a result of extensive work done by the School Council at the end of 2002. The vision as endorsed by them says:

Together as a strong community we strive to foster the potential of each child so that they contribute positively to their world.

The values that underpin this vision and are important to the community of Gooseberry Hill Primary School are
▪ Diversity ▪ Resilience
▪ Integrity ▪ Accountability

The School Council set four focus areas for 2004 in the Strategic Plan. Data is gathered to evaluate each of these areas and to structure the learning program for the future.

It was decided to rename these areas to bring the school’s Strategic Plan in line with the Plan for Government School Education

 

Areas of focus

Comments on progress

Motivated & Engaged Students

 

Curriculum

  • Spelling
  • Gifted & Talented
  • Curriculum Improvement Program – Pedagogy
  • Physical Education

Students at Educational Risk

  • Identification
  • Behaviour Management
  • Pastoral care

Curriculum

Spelling – Spelling has been a focus for the last two years. Our focus on spelling in 2005 has included a whole school spelling bee and making spelling a classroom focus.

Gifted & Talented – programs are held at school to cater for the identified needs of children, with student attending courses in and out of school. Some examples of these courses were a leadership camp, games, rocketry, and young engineers.

Curriculum Improvement Program – Pedagogy. During 2003 all teaching staff worked on developing a framework based on the principles of Teaching & Learning from the Curriculum Framework. This has been refined during 2004 and used as part of the Performance Management process in 2005 onwards.

Physical Education – Each term there has been a sporting focus.

  • Term 1 – swimming, faction swimming carnival, interschool swimming carnival.
  • Term 2 – cross-country, interschool cross country
  • Term 3 – winter sports, athletics faction carnival, participation in lightning carnivals, Eagle Cup (football & Netball)
  • Term 4 – interschool athletics carnival, interschool volleyball competition, swimming, dance sports.
Students at Educational Risk –Students have access to a range of support services including a school psychologist and school chaplin. There is also support from teachers and support staff within the class context.

Behaviour Management – Teachers run specific programs such as Friendly Kids Friendly Classrooms and the school runs The Virtues Project so as to develop strategies for those students who are experiencing difficulty in this area.

Pastoral Care – the School Council endorsed the employment of a School Chaplain, which was funded by the school, P&C and the Kalamunda Council of Churches.

Motivated & Capable Workforce

All staff continued to seek professional learning in a variety of areas. I.C.T. has been a focus over 2004 and 2005 and skills learned on professional development such as making cartoons in powerpoint and developing movies are used in the classroom.

Inclusive, Safe & Stimulating Environment

This area of the strategic plan focuses mainly on the relationships between the school and the community. Data is gathered from those parents who are new to the school and also those who have left the school. New parents in particular make comment about those strategies, which are in place to welcome new students eg buddy classes, Peer Mediators, assemblies, Parent Information Booklet and the Student Diary.

Organisational Capacity to support our school

 

The School Leadership Team which represents all phases of schooling and all members of staff took on the role of the Finance Committee so that decisions relating to the budget could be made in a timely manner.
Furniture replacement continued to be a major strategy for this year.
In 2005 the school has started planning for a multipurpose building that will house the Visual and Performing Arts.

 

 

Last Updated April 3, 2008