Ramingining CEC HandbookRamingining CEC is an Accelerated Literacy (AL) school. AL commenced in Term 4, 2004, and was implemented with very successful results throughout 2005 to 2008.

Accelerated Literacy is taught EVERY day – for half an hour in the preschool, up to an hour and a half from Years 5/6 up to Year 10 of the secondary area.

Ramingining CEC is an English only school by choice of the community (that is, not a Two Way or Bilingual school), therefore teachers are not to use Yolngu Matha in the classroom. The Assistant Teachers may give additional explanations in Yolngu Matha but all instructions by the teacher and the indigenous assistants in the classroom must be given in English.

All Curriculum areas are taken from the Northern Territory Curriculum Framework (NTCF) for ESL English, Health and PE, Science, Technology, The Arts, SOSE, Mathematics, and Indigenous Language and Culture. Student Profiles are taken from this document.

The Northern Territory Curriculum Framework is an outcome-based program. All areas of the curriculum should be covered. Subjects can often be integrated. The school has a rolling curriculum for Years preschool to Year 10, integrating SOSE, Science, Health etc.

Programs need to be discussed with the Senior Teacher and handed in to the Senior Teacher at the beginning of Week 4 of Term 1, and in week 2 of terms 2, 3 and 4. Most programs are typed - format at the discretion of the teacher. Outcomes, content and assessment should be clearly identified.

The Senior Teacher and/or the Principal will discuss each class program with the class teacher. At the end of the school year, programs and all class records are handed in to be kept as a record of the teaching/learning programs for students for that year. Teachers new to a class should look at previous years’ programs for ideas. You should remember that we are slowly raising the bar of attainment, so what students in Year 4 were doing 2 years ago, should not be at a sufficiently high level now. These old programs are just an indicator.

Each teacher will be provided with a Daily Chronicle to be used as a daybook. Daybooks need to be used for the smooth running of the classroom. These should be completed a week in advance to enable teachers to have a clear idea of the class program for that week, and to enable effective preparation, organisation and discussion with the assistant teacher and tutors working in the classroom.

Programming/PlanningPrograms need to include the following:

1. Yearly overview of each curriculum area2. 10 week overview of each curriculum area3. Outcomes and assessment for each curriculum area4. Accelerated Literacy teaching notes5. Timetable6. Student profiles and groupings7. Behaviour management strategies in line with school policy

Teachers need to plan with their Assistant Teacher (AT) each afternoon, for the next day’s teaching. ATs should keep their own daily book of planning, as they are studying at Batchelor Institute. ATs should stay in the classroom until at least 3:00pm. Tutors and ISAs may leave at 2.30pm Daybooks need to be kept up to date, preferably a week ahead.

Revision packs need to be made up for the smooth running of classes when the classroom teacher is unexpectedly away. These should be changed each term, and left with the senior teacher.

For planned absences such as professional development workshops, business days, etc, teachers need to prepare work to enable students to continue on with the classroom program. Detailed notes need to be provided for the replacement teacher, who may be one of your colleagues, or a relief teacher from Darwin.

Language Arts - ESL EnglishListening and Speaking - Primary

Ramingining CEC recognises that the development of Speaking and Listening is essential to the development of all other areas in English. Therefore it is suggested that Speaking and Listening sessions and activities be programmed weekly e.g. Show and Tell, role play etc. Refer to NTCF for outcomes.

Listening and Speaking – Secondary

It is important that secondary classes pay attention to a planned program of speaking and listening. This could be incorporated into home group time AND all lessons whether maths, science, phys ed, etc.

PhonicsPhonics in primary areas should be taught a minimum of 4 times a week. This is in addition to the Accelerated Literacy spelling program. Sounds taught in the AL lesson should be reinforced during other lessons.

Sight WordsA list of the Mioow Magic100 and 200 most used words is included overleaf. Exercises/word games will be provided by your senior teacher. These need to be practised regularly

SpellingThrough Accelerated Literacy (see sheets following pages, and Spelling Booklet ).

Word SkillsGenerally the following areas should be covered. (You will also have groups working below and extension groups working above these areas).

Transition - a-z character names and sounds Magic words 100 plus words from AL book

Year 1 - a-z character names and soundsAlphabet names and 3 letter patterns (cvc)Magic words 100 plus words from AL book

Years 2 - Revision of the above 3 letter patterns and blends and clusters

Magic words 100 plus words from AL book

Years 3 - Blends and clustersMagic words 100 and 200 plus words from AL book

Years 4 - Middle sounds, long vowel sounds and complex soundsMagic words 200 plus words from AL book

Year 5/6 Middle sounds, long vowel sounds and complex sounds Basic grammar

Magic words 200 plus words from AL book

ReadingAccelerated Literacy (see separate sheets)

Hand Writing - PrimaryHandwriting needs to be practised at least 15 minutes everyday.

Practice books are provided. Your senior teacher will help you decide which is the appropriate book for your students.

It is school policy for Years 2 onwards to be taught to write all 3 names (English, Yolngu name and family name). This should be practised regularly.

Story writing : Written ExpressionStory writing needs to be practised 1-2 sessions per week for Early Childhood (Years Transition to 2) and 2-3 sessions per week in the middle and upper primary (Years 3-6).

Some of these sessions may be included in your Accelerated Literacy program.

Practice for the National Assessment Program (NAP) All classes should ensure that worksheets utilise a variety of strategies as used in NAP tests e.g. missing words, multiple choice (shade the bubble), finish the sentence, underline the correct word, circle the correct word, number the boxes in order.

MAP practice examples can be found on the DET website, under Curriculum, Assessment, NAP.

Test Situation Practice: Years 2-9Every week a test on either spelling, comprehension, or maths must be done under test situations. The test should comprise the work that has been done in class for the last 2-3 weeks, but no help must be given. That is – the children should be able to complete the work. It is the test situation that is being tested, not the level of the work.

Every Friday afternoon, the folder with that week’s test should be handed to the office, at the same time as your marked roll. The principal and/or senior staff will hand it back by the end of the afternoon. It does not have to be marked before handing in.

MathematicsIn 2009, the primary focus for curriculum updating continues to be maths. We will all work collaboratively to develop new policies and procedures, and to build on the work started in 2007.

Outcomes need to be obtained from the NTCF. There is a plethora of resources in both the primary and the secondary storerooms, and the AL room. Additional new resources have also been ordered. It is essential for successful maths teaching, that teachers cater for all students’ individual needs by dividing their class into two or three sub groups.

It is the Primary School policy to teach i. Number 2 days a weekii. Measurement 2 days a weekiii. Space 1 day a week

Assessment tasks in maths should be in the style of NAP tests – see NAP practice examples.

Health and PEFor outcomes refer to the NTCF. All Primary classes can also use the ICASS material for help in planning.

The classroom Health Program must include the following:

i. An Ear Health Routine (Nose blowing, exercise and ear cleaning).ii. Face and hand washing before class, morning and afternooniii. Cleaning teethiv. Regular discussions on how to use the toilet properly.

Secondary ClassesThere is a planned yearly program for secondary students on growth and development, puberty and sexual health that is conducted separately for boys and girls several times during the year. Specialists come in from Nhulunbuy and Darwin. Your normal health lessons should be planned from the NTCF.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste are available for secondary students.

Perceptual Motor Program (PMP)Pre-school, Transition and Year 1 & 2 run their PMP two to three times per week, depending on the weather. The ESL teacher and the ILSS teacher will normally assist the class teachers, assistant teachers and tutors to conduct the program.

The equipment is stored in the PMP shed. Teachers will work out a roster for getting the equipment out, and putting it away, and ensuring that the shed is locked up.

Primary School – Daily Phys EdTransition to Year 6 classes meet on the basketball court at 8:15am for 20 minutes of planned Phys Ed activity. That is – from 8.15am to 8.35am.

All teachers, assistant teachers and tutors are to participate. Please ensure all adults play an active role in the program. Teachers may be released on a rotational basis. The senior teacher will organise this.

Primary SportThe Sports program is divided into two groups – junior and upper primary. All teachers are involved in the running of the sports program. Sport is held at different times throughout the year to allow for the weather.

Assessment

Reports need to be completed for students who have attended at least 10 days per term and need to entered into CeTool by the beginning of Week 8 Semester 1 & 2. Detailed explanation of CeTool is given as a separate document.

An Absent Card needs to be placed in student files for those who have attended less than 10 days per term. The number of days attended must be filled in on the card for each term.

A photocopy of students reports need to be placed in student files. Student record folders are kept in the Senior Teacher’s office (secondary) or the Al room (primary) and are a legal and confidential document. They are used to display attendance records, reports, NTCF Profiles, any diagnostic test results, reports from Specialist Teachers eg. Special needs, hearing, behavioural difficulties etc in chronological order.

The student record folders should also contain work samples from each student to support profiles. They should have an attached context sheet explaining purpose, task, and instructions etc with regard to indicated profile.

Attendance for each student should be documented at the end of each Semester accompanied by Home Room Teacher’s comments.

Student Scrap Books needs to have samples carefully annotated placed in it each term, according to what is being profiled that term.

One or two samples carefully detailed and annotated need to be glued into Student Scrap Books for each profiling band.

Standardised testing i. South Australian Spelling Test, twice a year (beginning of Term 1 and

end of Term 4

ii. Count Me In Too – SENA testing, Transition to Year 8

iii. Accelerated Literacy – See following sheet for reading and writing

NutritionThe school nutrition program includes breakfast from 7.30am to 8.15am, or until the final busload of homelands students has been delivered to school. Foods will be selected from Weetbix, porridge, toast with peanut paste or Nutella, scrambled eggs, eggs in the hole, etc.

At mid morning (10.15am), a healthy snack is provided. This may be fruit, muesli bars, cheese sticks, a muffin, dried fruit and nuts, etc.

At lunchtime, (12.10) a main meal, a piece of fruit and a drink are provided. Students select their own food. Their choice includes sandwiches, salads, and hot foods. Once we week we may have a pie day.

Parents contribute $15 per week for students in the morning preschool group, and $35 week for primary and secondary students. All parents are encouraged to contribute.

Contributions will be monitored for the first few weeks, and a “no pay-no food” system may need to be implemented for non contributing families. However current policy is everyone is fed.

Staff may pay $25 in advance if they wish to have lunch and morning tea.

This is deducted from indigenous tutors pay automatically. Other staff have to pay Curran at the front office - make sure you get a receipt.

NAP participation and test administration

The national assessment of literacy and numeracy for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 commenced in 2008.

NAP is to be conducted in the week from 11 to 15 May 2009 (Week 5, Term 2). All students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 throughout Australia will be assessed using common tests.

It is a requirement that all schools with students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in this testing program. Please ensure that Week 5 is identified in your school planning and is dedicated to conducting the testing program.

The testing is to be conducted over a three day period (Tuesday to Thursday with Friday of that week identified for ‘catch-up’ testing.

Indigenous Language and CultureRamingining CEC is an English only school by choice of the community (that is, not Bilingual), therefore teachers are not to use Yolngu Matha in the classroom. The Assistant Teachers may give additional explanations in Yolngu Matha but all instructions by the teacher must be given in English.

Refer to the NTCF for outcomes. In 2009, there is a programmed Language and Culture session for each class, taken by Daphne Banyawarra and the indigenous tutors in each room. An overview of the program is provided.

Teachers should make an effort to relate all curriculum areas to the student’s own culture. Assistant teachers need to be used to help in the planning of integrating cross cultural aspects into all subject areas.

Each primary class will have their Language and Culture time, followed by their Library lesson. During this time, teachers and the assistant teacher will meet with the AL co-ordinator (or the Principal) to discuss their AL program.

ExcursionsWalking around townWalking excursions around town do not need parental permission. You need to notify the senior teacher and principal the day before to ensure that it is appropriate. Sometimes there may be things happening in the community that you don’t know about, and it may not be appropriate.

It has been great when classes walk around the town and read to people at the shop and other places where people may congregate. The more exposure the school gets, the more people will understand what we are trying to do when teaching the kids.

Driving, in the local area (day trip) : Two week’s notice

Any permission note for an excursion needs to be cosigned by the Senior Teacher or assistant principal.

Any excursion involving travel in a vehicle needs a permission note at least 2 days in advance to the parents, and use of the vehicle needs to be planned well in advance with the Principal.

The educational outcomes to be gained by the excursion must be clearly outlined.

Driving, in the local area (overnight trip) : Four week’s notice

Any overnight excursion needs two weeks advance notice and permission notes to the parents, but at least one month advance notice and discussion with the senior teacher and Principal.

All documentation needs to be provided at least 3 weeks prior so that Departmental permission may be organised .

Interstate excursion At least 3 month’s planning lead in time with principal and senior teacher.

All paperwork including risk assessment needs to be completed and handed in to the Principal at least 6 week’s prior.

LibraryThe school has a teacher in the library who provides one structured library session per week per primary class, and sessions as negotiated for secondary. The teaching assistant and any tutors are to accompany students to the library and remain with the class at all times. The teacher does not need to stay with the class, but should walk students to the library door, and collect them at the appropriate time.

Students need to be regularly reminded how to care for all books.

Borrowing Class Library books - Teachers are responsible for the care of these books whilst they are in the classroom. All library books must be borrowed on the computer.

The Librarian will talk to each staff member about Library policy

Teachers Resources - Teacher's resources should stay in the library so everyone can use them. Borrow them for 1-2 days ONLY and then return them. Please be sure to put them back in the correct place (shelf).

Both the Librarian and your senior teacher are valuable resource people to assist you with your resource gathering, planning and programming.

Books to be taken home, and returnedTransition to Year 10 classes should send home a reading book with the children in their shoulder bag.

The books to be utilized should be at a level that the children can read independently.

Books are stored in the AL room in the metal shelves. The senior teachers will help with selection of appropriate books as per previous class sets and AL texts.

Books need to be checked in and out by the class teacher.

Books in the Home

This is a government funded program. (They stole our name)

Children will be given another two books to take home and keep at an appropriate time in Term 1, maybe all those at school on Friday week 6, the first attendance collection day..

Teachers DutiesSchool times 1. Teachers need to be at school before 8.00am

2. Morning bell is 8.15am - teachers need to be in their class by this time. Primary students are expected to line up at the door in an orderly fashion and wait for the teacher to walk them to the basketball court. Older students can be allowed to meet at the basketball court if that suits better.

3. If teachers let students in class before 8.15am, they MUST be supervised at ALL TIMES. No exceptions.

4. As a general rule in the primary school, the sessions from 8.15am – 10.15am then 10.40am to 12.10pm are for English and maths skills acquisition. This includes Accelerated Literacy time

5. Normally theme work including Science, SOCE, Art, should be restricted to afternoon sessions, 12.50pm -2.00pm

6. Morning recess 10.15 – the students need to walk to the canteen to collect their morning tea. Early childhood classes may like to leave their room at 10.10am.

7. Lunch time is from 12.10pm to 12.45pm. The teacher on duty may play some warning music at 12.40pm to let everyone know that it is nearly the end of lunchtime. All teachers and students should return inside by 12.50pm.

Yard duty All teachers are expected to do yard duty. This is part of your duty of care. Some teachers are scheduled for duty in the canteen.

Cleaning It is the responsibility of all teachers and their students to make sure that their classrooms are kept neat and clean. This includes washing student’s tables regularly and emptying rubbish bins daily.

Tie up the rubbish bag and take it to the trailer straight after lunch. This gives George time to empty the trailer before the end of school.

The school cleaners clean classrooms twice a week. This includes vacuuming carpets and mopping floors. The cleaners should not have to pick up paper rubbish from the floor. The students should do this.

Please let Curran know if the cleaner does not clean your room on the designated day. Also – teachers please remind the cleaners when you see them, that it is your room cleaning day.

Transition, Year 1 & Year 2 – Monday and Wednesday, Years 3, 4 and Years 5 & 6 – Tuesdays and Thursdays.Years 7/8, 8/9 and home ec - Monday and Wednesday, Years 10,11 and 12 computer room- Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Electrical Appliances i. TV's, videos and stereos are NOT to be turned on unsupervised.ii. Computers - students must be monitored when using computers at all

times. iii. All electrical appliances need to be covered at the end of each day to

keep them as dust free as possible.

Video CamerasThe video cameras are mainly for the use of the multimedia students. Teachers wishing to use a video camera other than the one allocated to their area, need to organize to borrow one with Eric. Video cameras are stored in the computer room and must be returned there each day.

Digital Camera

Each class has its own digital camera. Teachers are responsible for locking this away each day.

AssembliesPrimary assembly is held once a week. The time will be determined at the start of each year, but it is usually Friday at 11.40am.

Each class is given the responsibility to run the assembly; this changes weekly. Students need to be given the opportunity for public speaking. Each class is also asked to bring something to show at each assembly. Senior Teacher awards are also given. Teachers can choose topics for awards e.g. a reading award, listening, behaviour, etc, but must keep a list in their program and ensure that a different child is selected each week.

Secondary assembly will be held at 8.15am on Monday.

Whole School Assembly is held once a term on the last Friday afternoon at 2pm.Teachers are asked to choose one outstanding student to receive an incentive prize from each class, and there is usually an attendance prize as well.

PhotocopyingPhotocopying - photocopiers are an essential tool for schools. They are also extremely fragile and need to be treated with care. They are very expensive to maintain, therefore please use with care.

The big black and white photocopier in the library is for multi-copies. There is another copier in the staff room, and a colour copier in the secondary staff office.

The small copiers in the AL room and the office are for office use only – not for teacher use. They have a very limited life span.

Teacher preparation areasThe school is very short on space – offices and teachers preparation areas. All primary preparation is to be done in the Library. The Library at one end will be in use as teaching space for library lessons and Yolngu Language and Culture lessons classes that Daphne conducts. Teachers using the resource end of the library need to work quietly so as not to disturb classes at the other end.

The ‘AL Room’ is now an office for the ESL/teacher release person, the AL coordinator and maybe others. It is a teaching space for the ESL teacher..Access during school time is restricted to those people or to people working with them.

Sports ShedIt is the responsibliltity of all teachers to keep this shed clean and tidy. The doors should be kept locked out of class times e.g. before school, recess and lunch time. If you give out sports equipment, it is your responsibility to make sure it is returned.

StoreroomsIt is the responsibliltity of all teachers to keep these rooms clean and tidy. The stores are for all staff, so please use sparingly and return unused items (e.g. wool, glitter).

Do not keep non-consumerables (e.g. guillotine,) in your room.

The primary/admin area storeroom has most of the exercise books, pencils, rulers, art paper etc. The secondary store and the secondary ‘office’ have a limited amount of stationary.

Yard Clean up This is the responsibility of the whole school. Please be an active cleaner. We have regular emu parades, but each teacher on duty should encourage rubbish pick up by the students. Tube icy poles as rewards are available in the canteen.

Ex Laundry Room : now T Shirt storeroomAs this is the storeroom for the Tshirts, this room is not to be left unlocked at any time.

T Shirts – UniformEach student will be given two T shirts on Friday of week one. Further T shirts will be given out on a regular basis to new students or those returning late to school. As distribution has to be recorded, please do not give out T shirts without permission.

T shirts are given as a reward for regular attendance.

Food OrdersFood orders need to be faxed in before school on Mondays, in order to be filled and taken to the barge by Thursday 2pm

Staff shop at:Woolworths Casuarina Ph Fax Coles Casuarina Ph 89279055 Fax 8929 7171

You need to ring to speak to Bush Orders, then fill in appropriate paperwork. Some stores will not take new customers if they are over committed.

The easiest way is to set up a generic order for DRY, FROZEN, CHILLER on separate pages, then adjust this each week

Barge Perkins Shipping is the freight carrier used in Arnhem Land, and new teachers are encouraged to open an account with them upon arrival. The service usually arrives on Tuesday mornings and the school will usually pick up the supplies for staff.

As the barge also brings supplies for the classrooms and the canteen, staff and senior students are expected to help unload the troop carrier and the trailer when it arrives back at school. If you have ordered food, you are definitely expected to help.

Housing All tenants are required to sign a Tenancy Agreement with Territory Housing, which outlines your responsibilities as a tenant. Lyn Evens, the Housing Manager, will visit from Nhulunbuy shortly, to arrange the leases for new tenants.

In summary, you are provided free accommodation and electricity as this is paid for employees by DET to Territory Housing. It is your responsibility to keep your house and yard clean and tidy.

Report any defects ie leaking taps, air conditioner not working, to the Principal. The forms are kept in the outside office (Curran’s work area) on the bookshelf, and should be filled in, signed, and given to Principal, or placed in the Principal’s in-tray.

These forms are then faxed to Lyn in nhulunbuy, who raises an order for DIPE who issue work orders to Ramingining Homelands. Minor ‘building’ and plumbing repairs are usually fixed the same day; electrical or air conditioning problems will take longer as there is no electrician or air conditioner mechanic in town.

Replacing light bulbs is your responsibility. The school has a supply of fluorescent lights that you may access, but we do not keep ordinary light globes.

Relocation AllowanceStaff new to a locality are given a relocation allowance. Please make sure you fill in the form and give it to the Principal.

This allowance is to buy essential cleaning equipment that you may not have been able to bring with you eg mops and buckets, rakes, brooms, and other things for your house.

Air ConditionersThe filters on the air conditioners need to be cleaned each fortnight; sometimes each week if you live in a dusty area, or there are earthworks or building going on nearby.

Brush the dust off with a small brush then wash in water and disinfectant. Allow to dry before replacing in unit.

The grille at the front of the unit also needs to be brushed off, wiped over to keep it clean.

The air conditioners are not serviced by anyone else on a regular basis. The regular cleaning maintenance is up to you. Servicemen only come out once every ten weeks, so it can be a long wait for repairs. GardensThe lawn grows very quickly in the wet season. It is your responsibility to keep it mown. If you do not have a lawnmower, you can arrange for:

Jasmane (Year 11) to do it as part of his Transition to Work program $30 usually

Shire parks and gardens workers to do this by payment of $30 to Shire

The school has a variety of lawnmowing equipment. When there is a school “borrower” lawnmower working, you may borrow this by arrangement with the principal. At the moment, only two ‘borrowers” are working. Ange has one, and Lot 155 will have the other. Two more are waiting to be fixed. If anyone wants a job, see me. I have the parts, just not the expertise.

The other mowers are kept for school use, and are not to be borrowed, as breakdowns happen at an alarming rate, and it is essential that the school yards are kept mown.

George comes around and does the outside areas on a regular basis with the tractor/slasher.

Mosquitoes.Mosquitoes and fleas breed in the long grass. Keep it short. Snakes ???

Be aware that if you walk through long grass in the open areas, you will get bites on your legs.

USE INSECT REPELLANT ALL THE TIME FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS

BEWARE OF SANDFLIES IF YOU GO NEAR THE COAST. Your life will be misery if you get covered in sand fly bites. Use repellant, and renew it every few hours. They are so small you won’t see them, but you’ll feel the bites the next day (and for a week after as you scratch yourself to distraction)