.	PO address	Downs St North Ipswich
	Phone	38135888
	Fax	38135800
	Email	The.principal@ipwsnortss.eq.edu.au
	Website or Contact Person	http://www.ipswnortss.eq.edu.au/

Principal’s foreword

Introduction

Last year saw us celebrate our 140^th Anniversary. Our celebration fete saw our current community as well as those of previous generations come together to remember the past and build for the future. Our professional development has focussed on front ending assessment into planning in readiness for QCAR. In the past year we have had a strong focus on building positive behaviour in the school. We focus heavily on rewards as a positive way of encouraging appropriate behaviour choices as well as clearly defining expectations and embedding the teaching of expectations into the process.

Future outlook

In 2008 we will continue to scrutinise our pedagogy around the teaching of spelling and aim to improve outcomes of our students in this area by focussing closely on direct teaching, formative and summative assessment techniques and individualised programming.In the coming year we expect to continue the positive growth in behaviour management through the development of the School-wide Positive Behaviour Support Program as well as streamline aspects of our literacy strategy. We plan to develop a tracking process throughout the school where student progress is monitored term to term. Students who fall into the safety net are supported through the special needs committee and appropriate programming and intervention provided.

School Profile

Ipswich North State School has a total of 199 students enrolled in a coeducational program offered from prep to year 7. In 2007 20% of students were identified as having a disability that required significant educational adjustment to allow them to engage in class programs. This impacted on student involvement in the 3, 5 & 7 testing since the majority of these students were exempt from participating. This automatically identified them as being below National Benchmarks.

Curriculum offerings

Our distinctive curriculum offerings

· A curriculum framework focussing on Literacy, Numeracy and Integrated studies

· A Special Education Program catering for a range of Disabilities

· Instrumental music

· Language Other Than English (Japanese)

Extra curricula activities

· Recorder Band, Instrumental Band, Choir

· Interschool sport for students from year 5 onwards (Soccer in the winter season)

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are used as an embedded process in teaching and learning. All students have access to computers within classrooms and teachers plan for the incorporation of them in meaningful and connected ways to everyday learning. ICTs may be used as a way to engage individual students or assist in skill building in others. ICTs are viewed not as a stand alone or added element to the curriculum but a natural part of learning.

Social climate

Our School Opinion Survey data indicated that there are fairly high levels of satisfaction amongst students, parents and staff. Learning Climate and curriculum are areas where students have expressed high levels of satisfaction. Parents indicated high levels of satisfaction with the approachability of staff and the happiness of their children to attend this school. Staff satisfaction levels indicated relationships in the school were very satisfactory and work value and recognition was high. Ipswich North is committed to the School-wide Positive Behaviour Support Program which aims at positively rewarding students for making appropriate choices. Expectations within the school environment are taught, clear systems are developed within the school and individual programs are devised to support student in appropriate behaviour choices. Ipswich North R.O.C.K.S. We are committed to Respecting others, Owning our behaviours, demonstrating Courtesy and Kindness towards others and acting in a Safe way at all times. In 2008 we have employed a Chaplain who provides social and spiritual support for students three days a week.

Involving parents in their child’s education.

Parents are encouraged to take part in their children’s education at Ipswich North in a variety of ways. We have an active P&C and we actively seek parent involvement either at meetings, assisting with fundraising activities. Our weekly newsletter helps to keep the community informed. Parents are invited to our weekly assemblies whenever their child may be receiving a reward. Parents are encouraged to assist in classrooms with reading rosters, homework etc. our annual events such as sports competitions, performances and cultural events always pull in a large crowd. Our breakfast club also requires volunteers for assisting with the distribution of toast and fruit. Teachers report to parents in a written format twice a year and encourage parents to meet for formal teacher interview in early semester two.

Qualifications of all teachers

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.

· The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2007 was $9597.25 .

· The major professional development initiatives are as follows: training about students with disabilities, literacy, numeracy, CPR updates

· The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2007 was 100 %.

Average staff attendance

· For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was % in 2007. This information will be provided to all state schools in late February 2008.

Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.

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

Student attendance

The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2007 was %.

Key outcomes in the early and middle phases of learning

Results in the Year 2 Diagnostic Net
	Percentage of students not requiring additional support
Reading	53.3 %
Writing	73.3 %
Number	70 %

.

Our reading, writing and numeracy results for the Queensland Years 3, 5 and 7 Literacy and Numeracy Tests
			Yr 3	Yr 5	Yr 7
Reading	Average score for the school		452	574	629
	Average score for Queensland		527	606	672
	Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark	2007	67 %	64 %	53 %
		2006	90 %	67 %	61 %
Writing	Average score for the school		439	522	575
	Average score for Queensland		523	600	681
	Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark	2007	52 %	68 %	65 %
		2006	87 %	88 %	89 %
Numeracy	Average score for the school		440	575	580
	Average score for Queensland		521	588	648
	Percentage of students at the school above the national benchmark	2007	55 %	68 %	35 %
		2006	77 %	80 %	36 %

Value added

41% of students in year 7 progressed at a rate that could be expected or better in reading overall

17% of students in year 7 progressed at a rate that could be expected or better in literacy overall relative to year 5

28% of students in year 5 progressed at a rate that could be expected or better in literacy overall relative to year 3

School-wide Positive Behaviour Support has seen increased engagement by students in classrooms. Strategies associated with this initiative are also improving levels of disruption by allowing teachers to continue teaching when students misbehave. This should have a positive impact on results. Processes being implemented around the identification and support of students with special needs have identified a number of students who require specialised support. These students are being monitored closely or have been provided with a program to support needs.

Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school

2007 saw improvement in all areas of student satisfaction. Some highlights are as follows. 61% of students were satisfied with what they are learning at this school. 73% of students were satisfied with how teacher advice helped them improve in schoolwork. 74% of students agreed that their teachers helped them to do their best. Parent satisfaction rates decreased in 2007 compared with previous years. However the margins of dissatisfaction moved from very dissatisfied towards dissatisfied and neutral in many areas. The main areas of concern were as follows. 30% of parents were dissatisfied that this is a well equipped school. 20% of parents were dissatisfied that their child was making sufficient progress and that their child works well at this school. 15% of parents were dissatisfied that the school was developing their child’s literacy skills. Staff satisfaction rates significantly improved in 2007. 100% of staff were very satisfied that they have good working relationships with other staff and that they get along with the students at this school. 90% of staff also were very satisfied that they were treated with respect. 94% of staff were enthusiastic about their work in the school and that staff put a lot of energy into their work. 90% of staff were happy working at this school.