Annual Reporting for 2019

St Brigid’s School Bridgetown

Annual Report to the School Community

2019 Annual School Improvement Plan (ASIP)

Informed by Evidence Qualitative and quantitative

Specific Performance & development goal to

be achieved (stated simply).

Measurable Evidence that will be used to demonstrate progression and

goal.

Achievable What actions will I take to achieve

the goal?

Success Criteria How will you know you have been successful?

Numeracy

• Curriculum Plan shows Y5 and Y3 students still less than the CEWA, WA and National average by more than 10 NAPLAN units.

• Classroom observations highlight inconsistent practice in numeracy.

• Growth between Y3 and Y5 NAPLAN to be higher than national mean.

• Develop a dedicated numeracy lessons structure which embeds proficiencies and problem solving approach.

• NAPLAN data, maths samples, PatM for Y1-6 and MAI for all early year students, and ‘at risk’ (Y3-Y6).

• Peer observations. • Data wall (PATM).

• Targeted intervention within the classroom (growth points – MAI).

• Cluster Sprint focus on the targeted outcomes.

• Consistent numeracy programming.

• CEWA Numeracy Pilot Program.

• Moderated results. • Growth between Y3-Y5

is more than 5 above NAPLAN units than the national mean.

• Data wall. • All staff will be using

Numeracy dedicated time/block.

Writing

• Maintain growth (0.8) from Yr 3 to 5 in Writing.

• Students demonstrate an understanding of the outcomes to progress through ‘Brightpath’ bands.

• NAPLAN data, moderated Writing samples (Brighpath).

• Maintain narrative and introduce recount and persuasive with moderation across the school.

• In-school ‘Brightpath’ workshops.

• Continued growth between Y3-Y5 is more that 5 units above the National mean.

Aboriginal Improvement

• Our school needs to make greater links between the land and sustainability.

• Move from ‘Culturally Aware’ to ‘Culturally Competent’ across all areas of LEAD.

• ‘Waste Wise’ School.

• Measure waste and data analysis.

• Link with local members of community to develop ‘Bush Tucker’ Garden.

• Cycle of Land.

• We will have moved to ‘ culturally competent’.

• ‘Waste Wise’ Accreditation.

Religious Education

• BRLA results indicated a low level content knowledge in Y3 and Y5.

• Every child to learn prayers as listed in the school handbook.

• Teachers to dedicate the appropriate level of time to RE instruction.

• Teacher made tests. • Classroom timetables. • BRLA scores will increase to

levels of CEWA (60%) cohort.

• School celebrations; more use of a variety of prayers.

• Use language appropriate to the celebration.

• Knowledge of prayers increase.

• BRLA to increase.

ECE • Early Years Charter and Philosphy requires updating, alongside staff induction.

• Update the existing Early Years Philosophy and Charter.

• EA Appraisal checklist • Regular ECE meetings • Learning Sprints • Staff Appraisal

• All staff are informed and reflective practice is observed.

Report on the progress towards the school’s ASIP Goals

• St Brigid’s successfully integrated Brightpath across the school (kindy to Year 6). Staff used this tool as a moderation of narrative writing. Results were used to map the progress of children and formulate teaching and learning practice to feedback to students for improvement.

• Origo (Stepping Stones) maths was maintained across the school with staff developing links to the lesson structure and explicit modes of teaching.

Financial and Infrastructure Report St Brigid’s School budgets for annual maintenance each year to ensure school buildings and resources are maintained. The School Board approved the maintenance to be carried out each year. There are also times when necessary maintenance needs to occur out of the control of the current scope of work to be completed. In 2019 variances came well within acceptable levels due to the strategic financial management and planning throughout the school year.

2019 expenditure saw the following building projects completed:

§ Development, planning and construction of Aborginal sustainability program – St Brigid’s Bush Tucker Garden. § Maintenance of school iPad (3 year lease) program. This has seen the school move 1:1 from Year 3-6 and small banks of iPads from Kindy – Year 2.

Enrolments for 2019 stood at 167 students – KG to Y6. Tuition Fees for 2019, will be increased by 2% with total school fees being $1614.25 per student. St Brigid’s will continue to offer the 5% discount if paid prior to 29 March 2019. Families holding a current Health Care card will be eligible for a concession rate on their school fees and associated levies.

Staff wages will still be the major component of the budget next year. In 2019 we continued to invested heavily in social capital being extra Education Assistants and Specialist Teachers, to support teaching staff and maintain DOTT requirements.

Board Chair Report to the School Community With the end of the year on the horizon we commonly feel a sense of being overwhelmed with all the things we have left to do and questioning where has the time gone! It is also a wonderful opportunity to shift the focus and reflect on the year that has been; the achievements, the challenges, what we have done well and what we can continue to work on.

On behalf of St Brigid’s School Board, thank you to all the amazing staff. Your professionalism and dedication towards the education and welfare of our children is unquestionable. Some may refer to 2019 as the year of the baby boom for staff; this has seen us welcome new staff, we thank you all for enabling these transitions to be as seamless as possible. The cohesion between staff at St B’s is obvious and we flourish with a “village” of support; from our standout leadership (Carlo!), our amazing Admin staff ensuring the school operates as a well-oiled machine (thank you Marg & Mandie), our class teachers & specialist teachers to our library staff, canteen, cleaning and grounds staff. We thank you for your ongoing commitment to our children and to our school. A special thank you to Father Roshan for your work in both the school and the parish.

We cannot forget to acknowledge and thank our amazing P&F committee along with all our volunteers who commit their time and energy towards raising funds that ultimately go towards improving our school surrounds, providing additional resources and opportunities for our children’s education.

To our Year 6 graduating students we wish you every success as you move onto high school, this will see an end of an era for some families, so thank you for your contribution to St Brigid’s over the years. We also welcome new students and families in 2020.

Our Board has welcome new members serving alongside longer term members. Thank you to all Board members for their commitment and contribution towards important discussions and decision-making processes, ensuring the best interests of our students, families and school are at the forefront.

• As a Board we have been involved in discussions and decisions in relation to a range of areas, perhaps with the most exciting being the Capital development project; an initial presentation to a CEWA panel in May 2019 requesting funding has seen the proposal for a new classroom, an extension to the administration area and a redesign of the front entrance to our school met with approval.

• CEWA have changed their structure to become an incorporated body. This change means CEWA will be a company with the shareholders being the Bishops of the four Dioceses. The School Board constitution will be under review, clarifying the role of the school board and several CEWA policies will be updated. The assets & liabilities, (except for land titles), along with employment contracts of all CEWA entities will be transferred form the Bishops to CEWA. Schools will still maintain responsibility for their own financial management and budgets.

• This year has been dubbed the year of the audits, with 5 in total. The school board had contributions to the Cyclic Review and the School Registration Audit. • The Board also had input into the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan, currently being finalised.

We are facing exciting times here at St Brigid’s, the strong relationship we have between our school board, parish community and our P&F is something we should be proud of and ensure this continues.

I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year; may you all enjoy some well-deserved rest over the school holidays.

Georgie Reape – School Board Chair

School Principal Report to the School Community Once again, we have completed another very full school year at St Brigid’s. At times, the year has seemed like we were on a rollercoaster of events and happenings, but I have enjoyed ‘the ride’ and you can all take credit on getting to the end of it too. This time of the year, is a time where I invite you all to share in the achievements of 2019 and celebrate being a part of the great school community which is St Brigid’s. For me, this report offers an opportunity to highlight facets of our school which have made it the year that was. To the amazing staff at St Brigid’s – your diligence to meet ever increasing pressures to teach ‘more and more’ whilst managing to find a healthy balance has led us successfully to this point. Each and every one of you, are the ‘real’ reason for celebration as we look back over this year. The St Brigid’s team never fails to ‘stick together’ and rise to the occasion, no matter how demanding the times may seem. Always with the best interests of the children in mind, you give your time and for this, I say a heartfelt thank you. I still believe, I am the luckiest staff member at the school to be supported by such wonderful people. This year we know our results have affirmed the great work happening in our classrooms. Our focus area was Numeracy, however, we celebrated in more than just this learning area, doubling the national average growth in Reading, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation. I know each and every staff member can feel proud of their contribution to this phenomenal student progress. We look in anticipation to 2020 for continued success with the academia at St Brigid’s and so in saying this, I trust that all staff enjoy a well-deserved holiday. If I were to be honest about 2019, two things come to mind about how I would categorically label the year; it was both the year of the ‘Audit’ and the year of ‘Babies’. The Year of the Audit With a total of three formalised audits/reviews this year, our school was monitored for compliance, registration, early childhood standards and academic rigour. These reviews took a cross section of the school community (staff, parents and students) with each and every one of them affirming the dynamic teaching and learning programs we have in place as well as the structures for continual improvement. With such high calibre teachers, and supportive families it came as no surprise each review panel rated St Brigid’s highly. The Early Childhood Staff (Pre-Kindy to Year two) cemented our balanced play-based and explicit teaching which ensured we met four out of seven standards within National Quality Standards (NQS). I would like to acknowledge the valuable efforts both Mrs Muir (Assistant Principal) and Mrs Harrison (Bursar extraordinaire) who worked tirelessly to ensure we ‘sailed through’ these audits. Mandie and Margaret, as if you both didn’t have enough to do….they took these checks in their stride and for this our school is a better place. I thank you both for your continued commitment to St Brigid’s in the face of any challenge – with smiles on your faces, you both tied things together seamlessly and maintained ‘audit’ central control. The Year of ‘Babies’ 2019 saw us welcome the addition of five beautiful staff babies into our community. This also meant the transition of new staff into the ‘School of Smiles’. Mrs Matenaar ‘fitted in’ beautifully making us all feel like we had worked with her for many years. We were extremely blessed to have Mrs Mitchell re-join us in Pre-Primary and didn’t we enjoy seeing her greet the children each day with a beautiful smile. In Year Four we had Mrs Kristoffersson and Mrs Nock tandem the role as class teachers stepping in just before the busy time of reports and the mid-year break hit. When we look back on the movement of our staff for maternity leave, I do have to think, how did we do it? I truly thank the support of our families who firstly trusted the decisions we made in regards to staffing, but who also worked with us (and the new teachers) in making this year successful.

We celebrated each term with a very full calendar and as usual a number of key events over the year. Too many to list, they would only have been possible with a team effort – thanks to that ‘united as one’ St Brigid’s attitude, where we all pitch in to help out. To our Parents and Friends Association who are always there to ‘step up’ and get into those jobs that others may not be comfortable to organise, we thank you. I often comment, the P&F are at the ‘grass roots’ level of social ‘friends-raising’ and fund-raising where the roles on this committee can be very difficult and time consuming. Thank you ladies for the effervescent attitude you all present – you made it to the end of the year and I hope you may deserve a break. I encourage any new parents to share a role on our valuable P&F committee – we can never say this enough…many hands make light work! I acknowledge and thank our School Board for their careful governance, and support of our school which is always carried out in a professional manner. Regular meetings can be hard (especially in the winter months) but you make the time to ensure our school runs at its optimum. The School Board have assisted with capital development, financial planning and general maintenance this year and is to be commended on offering support in these areas and more. This year we bid farewell to Mrs Susie White who after five years has made the decision to resign. Susie has taken many minutes as secretary and diligently given her evenings to the cause of School Board and for this, we say thank you. There is always a laugh to share amongst the Parish Council who I still maintain are the most easy-going group of people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I feel as though I am around the kitchen table with my family each time we meet. Supported by the guidance of Father Roshan, we discuss pastoral obligations and liturgical celebrations in order to maintain St Brigid’s as not only a school but as a good Catholic School. The St Brigid’s Parish has been a stronghold when we call for help – whether this is for a family in need or simply assistance when planning Masses and setting up a morning tea, the support our school receives from the Parish is always without reservation. I thank the Parish and I look forward to further collaboration together to make 2020 and beyond deliver a more fruitful, hope filled and Christ-centred message to our joint communities. Finally, to the students who make our school what it is, you have made 2019 the year that came and went ‘in the blink of an eye’ with fun and energy. In particular, I acknowledge the ‘big kids’ of our school – the Year 6 Graduation class. As they move onto Middle School so too, we also ‘graduate’ six of our long-serving families. Our school owes much to what you gave and we wish you every blessing for the future. At the end of the school year, it is fair to say this year’s graduates were a melting pot of personality, vibrancy and healthy curiosity. We wish you all every success in the future and do not ever forget your humble beginnings here at St Brigid’s. Thank you St Brigid’s for continuing to provide credence to our motto (Virtue and Honour). A team effort and a message of solidarity is what I aim to continue in our great school in 2020 as we embark on a new build phase, accompanied by continued success with our teaching and learning programs, together with a sense of pride in our school just as the founding Sisters of Mercy came to know. To one and all, I wish our entire community the blessings of a joyous Christmas and a safe and prosperous holiday period. Well done everyone for another fabulous year and I look forward to the beginning of 2020.

Carlo Pardini – Principal

Publication of Information Relating to St Brigid’s

Contextual Information Established in Bridgetown over 100 years ago, St Brigid’s is a co-educational Catholic parish primary school founded by the Mercy Order of Sisters, with 179 students enrolled from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6.

The staff and parents collaborate to provide a welcoming and enriching learning environment for a diverse student population. We embrace cultural differences knowing that here at St Brigid’s we can all grow in our understanding of each other and our shared human yearnings to be accepted, understood and respected for who we each are as persons.

In a faith-filled environment, St Brigid’s children are encouraged to grow in integrating their faith and lives as Catholic Christians. Our children can strive to reach their potential through the integration of spiritual, academic, sporting and cultural learning experiences. Specialist classes are offered in Science, Drama, Music, Physical Education and Japanese across the school. Tuition in a range of musical instruments is available and staff facilitate options for children interested in a range of activities such as sustainability gardening, dance and movement, cooking, bird box making, scarecrow designs and, art and craft. There is ample opportunity for the school staff and students to interact with others in the community (both Parish and the wider context) of Bridgetown. The school's Early Learning Centre Team offers students the opportunity to work in a play-based environment consolidating skills and understandings necessary for abstract learning in later years. Kindy and Pre-Primary facilitate lessons with the ‘Kath Walker’ learning style and pedagogical lens. The aesthetics of classrooms reflects both this learning style together with contemporary elements.

St Brigid's School is a school with a strong belief in families and the love and support members give each other. As part of our school family, we welcome input from parents at all times. We aim to support and encourage each other. We have gained a real sense of pride and joy in our vibrant and flourishing learning community here at St Brigid’s, where children, parents and staff together aspire daily to our school motto "Virtue and Honour".

Teacher standards and qualifications Teaching qualifications All teaching staff members are registered with the Teacher Registration Board (TRB) and qualifications include Masters Degrees, Bachelor of Education Degrees and Diplomas/ Graduate Diplomas of Teaching. All staff members are required to undertake the relevant Accreditation requirements.

Qualification No. of staff

Master in Education 3

Bachelor of Education (4 year trained) 11

Bachelor of Arts in Education (3 year trained) 0

Graduate Dip of Education 2

Total staff 16

Professional Development Cost to the school for PD: Average of $ per teacher? $405.00

Staff attendance

• The average attendance rate for staff in 2019 was? 94.3%

Workforce composition

Male Female 3 24

Teaching Staff Teaching Staff 2 12

Non-teaching staff Non-teaching staff 0 12

Indigenous Indigenous 0 0

Non-Indigenous Non-Indigenous 3 24

Grounds staff Grounds staff 1 0

Admin Officer Admin Officer 0 1

Student Attendance at St Brigid’s

In 2019, the average attendance rate for the entire school was 91.25%. Attendance rates for each year group were as follows:

Grouping

Average rate of attendance

Kindergarten

86%

Pre Primary 90%

Year 1 89%

Year 2 91%

Year 3

90%

Year 4

87%

Year 5

91%

Year 6 90%

Overall, the attendance rate is high and absences are due to genuine illness or personal circumstance.

If a student is absent from school, a parent is required to contact the school by 9.00 am. A written note must also be supplied to the class teacher explaining the absence on the day the student returns. If a parent does not contact the school when their child is absent, the school will contact the parent/guardian via an SMS at 9.15am. Each Monday of the week, unresolved absentees see a printed letter sent home to families. These letters are to be signed and returned to the school as soon as possible. If a student has a high number of absences then a parent is required to attend an interview with the Principal.

2019 NAPLAN Information

Academic goals and school improvement areas for the 2019 school year were primarily targeted towards the area of Mathematics as the school embarked on a Maths Pilot Program, in partnership with CEWA.

Year 3 Australian School Mean St Brigid’s School Mean Reading 432 417 Writing 423 407 Spelling 419 414

Grammar 440 456 Numeracy 408 405

Year 5 Australian School Mean St Brigid’s School Mean Reading 506 492 Writing 474 463 Spelling 501 499

Grammar 499 493 Numeracy 496 474

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction

Based on informal and formal settings of conversation and meetings around St Brigid’s, it can ne confidently stated that the climate of the school is one of support. Parents are happy with the positive and high levels of exceptional behaviour at St Brigid’s. All parents, students and teachers are continually encouraged to raise issues or concerns with the appropriate personnel within the school with the mantra of ‘no surprises’ to anyone.

Post-school destination at the end of 2019

St Brigid’s is a ‘feeder school’ for Kearnan College for those families who choose to continue in Catholic Education.

School No. enrolled

Kearnan College, Manjimup 5

Bridgetown High School 11

Bunbury Cathedral Grammar 2

Manjimup Senior High School 1

School Income

Please refer to the ACARA website: http://www.myschool.edu.au/