Malanda Primary School 24 Mary Street Malanda 4885

PO address	PO Box 15 Malanda 4885	Links. Students | Parents | Staff | Search Where are we ? Google Map. Our town – information courtesy of Tropical North Queensland Local history – Eacham Historical Society
Phone	07 40967888
Fax	07 40965660
Email	info@malandass.eq.edu.au
Website or Contact Person	The Principal, Lloyd Perkins, the.principal@malandass.eq.edu.au

2009 School Annual Report

Principal’s foreword

Introduction

Welcome to Malanda Primary School and thankyou for taking the time to read our annual report for 2008. The report contains some standardised information like student results and attendance rates, and some school specific information like our curriculum offerings and how we deliver them in the classroom. We believe this report gives you a chance to learn a little about us. If you'd like more detail, please contact us either by phone or email via the addresses above.

In 2008 we either achieved our goals or progressed significantly toward them. Of particular note are our achievements in literacy and numeracy where as a result of our attention to quality teaching practices in the early years we achieved high levels of success in the National Assessment Program, Literacy and Numeracy. We also achieved full implementation of the Smart Moves curriculum program.

In 2009 we will continue to consolidate our curriculum planning and development practices and our mathematics program. We’ll implement a grammar and punctuation program and will continue to work with the Queensland Studies Authority’s Essential Learnings for English and Mathematics to ensure our curriculum is comprehensive. We'll continue to offer high levels of support to students experiencing difficulty in learning and keep parents informed of student progress.

During 2009 we’ll undertake a triennial review to evaluate progress towards strategic goals set in 2006 and we will review our Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students.

Future outlook

Our teaching focus in 2009 is towards engaging high average to high achieving learners and moving them further while maintaining our strong commitment to students struggling with their learning. To do this we will strive to make more efficient and creative use of Information and Communication Technologies including online learning opportunities.

Like every school in Queensland we are committed to improving our students performance on the NAPLAN tests for years 3,5 and 7. Our focus here is on improving student comprehension skills. We have identified teaching points that will help students perform well in the tests but have been mindful that we need to resist structuring our curriculum around annual tests.

School profile	2009
Total student enrolments for this school : 404 Year levels offered : Prep to year 7 We are a coeducational facility.

Distinctive curriculum offerings	2009
Our curriculum offerings We offer learning opportunities in the 8 key Learning Areas of the Queensland Studies Authority syllabuses :- English Mathematics Science SOSE LOTE (Japanese) Health and Physical Education Queensland The Arts Technology Our curriculum planning takes account of our local interests and environment. Studies include units about rainforest habitats and the impact of people in these, the impact of Tablelands water quality on the Great Barrier Reef marine lagoon and the local history of Dairying. We have carefully structured units of work in a specific sequence to provide continuity for learners throughout the year and throughout their career here with us. We’ve been careful to eliminate or minimize doubleups of content and have ensured that all the essential learnings are covered by all children.
Extra curricula activities Throughout the year students in the 11 and 12 years age groups are offered opportunities to participate at a district level in various sports including most football codes, netball, athletics and cross country, swimming and basketball.  We also host at least one study tour annually that involves visiting students being billeted by host families. Visiting students participate in school life while enjoying a cultural exchange with Aussie kids. Our senior students participate in leadership programs annually. School and House Captains are elected by staff and Year Six and Seven children. Student council representatives are elected by individual classes. Our School Captains attend an annual leadership camp for primary school children held at the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre. Most of our Year Seven students participate in our Student Leader program. In this program students work in out of class time on projects that assist others or make improvements in our school. After accruing 5 hours of service in a term, their efforts are recognised with a badge awarded on assembly.
How computers are used to assist learning We use Macintosh computers throughout the school to provide children with opportunities to practice what they already know, explore and find out about what they need or would like to know and create ways of communicating and demonstrating their understanding. Children use a range of software for these purposes including online learning objects. The Microsoft Office suite of products are standard installations on our computers, though not all children use them, our youngest learners for example. We have both desktop and laptop technology that connects to our network either wirelessly or via Ethernet cables. Computers are arranged in labs or as separate classroom installations.

Social climate

We believe that relationships are central to our students' success and value the work that goes into building them. We are committed to preparing our students to become positive, active, resilient and productive Australian Citizens. Underpinning this commitment are the values of Honesty and Openness; Initiative; Diligence; Respect; and Supportiveness

This school promotes seven caring attitudes - Listening, Supporting, Encouraging, Respecting, Trusting, Accepting and Negotiating Disagreements.

As such, we endeavour to:

• Cater for each child as a unique individual and valued member of a team
• Utilise quality teaching practices (pedagogy)
• Enhance school/ community partnerships
• Improve learning outcomes through outcomes based education and cooperatively planned units of work
• Support staff in their endeavours to develop professionally
• Be accountable for student outcomes and all aspects of school business

After eight years of schooling at Malanda Primary our students would ideally be able to think, create, communicate, investigate, participate, and reflect. They would be positive; have a realistic level of self-esteem; be able to solve problems; make informed decisions; be responsible and accountable for their actions and they would be able to cooperate with, tolerate and appreciate others.

Our school prides itself on the warm and caring environment we have created here. Students are explicitly taught internal control psychology that assist them take responsibility for themselves and make healthy decisions. Student emotional development is also supported through the You Can Do It (Program Achieve). Explicit lessons for all year levels tackle the foundations of organisation, persistence, getting along, emotional resilience and confidence. A “connecting” room has been established and is staffed during lunch hours to assist students having difficulty managing their behaviour. 

Religious Education classes are held every Monday in either a Catholic or Combined Religions group. For non participants in RE, the school offers a values program that picks up school values and elements of Character Education programs.

Involving parents in their child’s education.

Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s education at Malanda Primary School through programs like :

Guided Reading - three days per week

Art programs

Classroom helper

Information sessions  - eg. Support a Reader, Support a Writer.

Tuckshop

Parents and Citizens Association activities

Parents are also encouraged to participate by taking part in parent teacher interviews, international visitor programs, information evenings and class culminating activities.

Qualifications of all teachers (as at term 4, 2008)

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development. 2008

The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2008 was $14073 .

The major professional development initiatives were as follows:

Literacy training, teacher Aides

Literacy Training teachers year 1-3

ICTS

Professional networks and Associations

Regional conferences

The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2008 was 94 %.

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, 91% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2008 school year.

Student attendance

The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2008 was 93 %.

Key outcomes

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) – results.

Reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy results for Years 3, 5 and 7.

Domain	Measures		Yr 3	Yr 5	Yr 7
Reading	Average score for the school		365	475	542
	Average score for Queensland		371.1	466.1	528.1
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	92.2 %	86.4 %	95.3 %
Writing	Average score for the school		388	482	533
	Average score for Queensland		391.8	468.9	522.7
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	94.1 %	93.1 %	92.3 %
Spelling	Average score for the school		360	468	546
	Average score for Queensland		366.7	462.0	528.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	92.2 %	88.1 %	90.8 %
Grammar and Punctuation	Average score for the school		369	489	528
	Average score for Queensland		370.4	476.6	518.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	88.2 %	84.7 %	87.7 %
Numeracy	Average score for the school		362	474	548
	Average score for Queensland		367.9	458.2	539.0
	For the school the percentage of students at or above the national minimum standard.	2008	94 %	96.6 %	96.9 %

Results in the Year 2 Diagnostic Net
	Percentage of students not requiring additional support
Reading	85%
Writing	98%
Number	93%

Value added

Malanda State School provides our students with a sound education and a range of supportive and developmental learning activities. The school has close community ties which enhance the cooperation between home and school. Student data demonstrates that the education and support students receive greatly assist them in transition to high school and higher education.

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school

Parents and students agree that ours is a quality school. When surveyed in 2008, 97% of parents responded that they believe our school to be a good school compared to a state average of 84%. When asked how satisfied they were with the education their children are receiving, more parents that than average agreed that their child was getting a good education here, 87%,  compared to a state average of 78%.  When students were asked they responded similarly, 88% of students said they were satisfied compared to a state average of 79%.

In the annual opinion survey, 70% of staff indicated that they were satisfied with staff morale in the school.

Parents feel that they are listened to and that our teachers are very interested in their student's progress. Students feel that they can talk to the adults in our school and be heard. Parents are very supportive of their children's activities and attend school activities and functions regularly.

Further information

Our Annual Financial Return and the accompanying commentary can be downloaded from our website. Note : These are large files and may take some time to download on a dialup connection.

Our Annual Operation Plan with associated performance targets for 2009 can also be downloaded.

Our 2009 NAPLAN Plan can also be downloaded.