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TallongPublicSchoolAnnualReport
3154
2015
IntroductionTheAnnualreportfor2015isprovidedtotheschoolcommunityofTallongPublicSchoolasanaccountoftheschool’soperationsandachievementsthroughouttheyear.Itistheresultofrigorousschoolself-assessmentpracticesundertakencollaborativelywithstaff,parent/caregiversandstudentleaders.
Thereportprovidesadetailedaccountoftheprogresstheschoolhasmadetoprovidehighqualityeducationalopportunitiesforeachandeverychildsetoutintheschoolplan.Itoutlinesthefindingsfromself-assessmentthatreflectontheimpactofkeyschoolstrategiesforimprovedlearningandthebenefittoallstudentsfromtheexpenditureofresourcesincludingequityfunding.
TheAnnualreportdescribestheschool’shighqualitypracticesacrossthethreedomainsoftheSchoolExcellenceFrameworkoflearning,teachingandleading.FormoreinformationabouttheSchoolExcellenceFrameworkpleasevisit:http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-the-department/our-reforms/school-excellence-framework
EllieMoore PrincipalSchoolcontactdetails:TallongPublicSchoolBumballaStreet
Tallong,NSW2579
tallong-p.schools.det.nsw.edu.au
(02)48410292
MessagefromthePrincipalIamproudoftheachievementofourstudentsandtheongoingsuccessofthestrategiesbeingimplementedbytheschooltocreatehighqualitylearningexperiencesforourstudents.
Ourschool’ssuccesscontinuedtobeunderpinnedbythreekeyelementsofwellbeing,curriculumandlearningwhichpromotedthequalityteachingandlearningprogramsthatourstudents,staffandparents/carersvaluedandappreciated.
2015sawchangesinleadershipandsomeregroupingofteachers,however,thededicatedstaffcontinuedtoworktogethertoprovideaninclusiveenvironmentwhereallstudentswerenurturedandencouragedtoachievetheirpersonalbest.Ourstudentsweremotivatedtolearnandparticipateinarangeofeducationalopportunitiesprovidedforthem.ThePositiveBehaviourforLearning(PBL)programwasfurtherdevelopedtoimproveschool-wideprocessesforstudentwellbeingandqualitylearninginallclassrooms.
TallongPublicSchoolenjoystremendoussupportfromparentsandthelocalcommunitywho,in2015,wereinstrumentalinsuccessfullysecuringa$21,707VeoliagranttomodifyourCOLAtobecomemoreweatherproofforthecoldTallongwinters.Thestudentsandstaffaregratefulfortheirongoingsupport.
�Icertifythattheinformationprovidedinthisreportistheresultofarigorousschoolself-assessmentandreviewprocessundertakenwithstaff,parentandstudentleadersandprovidesabalancedandgenuineaccountoftheschool’sachievementsandareasfordevelopment.
Schoolbackground
Schoolvisionstatement
AtTallongPublicSchool,ourvision is foracommittedstaffwhocontinually strive tobuildonand improvetheir teaching and organisational practice, andwhowork in collaborationwith the community, to supportstudents in achieving academic success, acquiring skills that prepare them for the future, and developingindividualswhoarecommittedtopracticesthatleadtowell-beingofselfandothers.
Schoolcontext
TallongPublicSchoolisaruralschoolsetinthevillageofTallong,whichisexperiencingagrowingpopulationoverrecentyears.TheschoolissupportedbythecommunityandbyanactiveandcommittedP&Cthroughfundraisingandinvolvementasvolunteersinareasofliteracysupportandextra-curricularevents.ItsstudentcohortisnotofadiversenaturewithmoststudentsofanAnglo-Saxonbackground.TallongPublicSchoolisamemberof theMossValeCommunityof Schoolswhereprincipalsand teachers collaborate inprofessionallearning,studenttransitionandenrichmentprograms.
Self-assessmentandschoolachievements
Self-assessmentusingtheSchoolExcellenceFrameworkThisyear,ourschoolundertookself-assessmentusingtheelementsoftheSchoolExcellenceFramework.Ourself-assessmentprocesswillfurtherassisttheschooltorefinethestrategicprioritiesinourSchoolplanleadingtofurtherimprovementsinthedeliveryofeducationtoourstudents.OurstaffusedtheSchoolExcellenceFrameworktoinform,monitorandvalidatetheprogressandimpactofourteachingandlearningstrategiesthroughouttheyear.WethoroughlyexaminedtheschoolplantodeterminetheelementsoftheSchoolExcellenceFrameworkthattheplanmoststronglyaddressed.StaffreflectedontheprogressbeingmadeacrosstheschoolbasedontheexpectationsidentifiedintheFramework.Thisprovidesanimportantoverviewtoensureourimprovementeffortsalignwiththesehighlevelexpectations. InthedomainofLearning,oureffortshaveprimarilyfocusedonwellbeing,curriculumandlearning.Thestrongperformanceoftheschoolincreatingapositiveandproductivelearningcultureamongstudentsandstaffhasbeenafeatureofourprogress.Thefundamentalimportanceofwellbeingisprovidinganoutstandingwaytobuildacultureoftrust,respectandvaluingofeachother.Theresultshavebeenevidentinthechangeswehaveseeninthewaysstudentsarerelatingtoeachotherand,importantly,intheincreasedengagementinlearning.Amorefocusedapproachtoindividuallearningneedshasbeenacomponentofourprogressthroughouttheyear.OneteacherundertookprofessionallearningtodeliverTheLanguage,LearningandLiteracy(L3)StrategytoKindergartenstudents.Thisisahighlyindividualizedteachingstrategythattargetsthelearningneedsofouryoungeststudents.Inaddition,studentswithhighlearningneedsarebeingidentifiedearlyandtheirparents/carersareincreasinglyinvolvedinplanningandsupportingtheirlearningdirections.WehavealsodevelopedstrongpartnershipswithourAboriginalcommunitytosuccessfullyincreaseparticipationandcontributioninlearningattheschool. OurmajorfocusinthedomainofTeachinghasbeenoncollaborativepracticeforstaffmembers.Animportantopportunityhasbeenprovidedtostaffinrelationtoplanning,teachingandgrowingasateam.Theuseoftechnologyforlearning,theimportanceofdataanalysistoinformdecision-making,thegrowingofteachingpracticethroughclassroomobservations,reflectionsandfeedback,andthedevelopmentofexpertiseinvitalliteracyandnumeracyprogramsandinnewsyllabuses,allhighlightateachingculturethatismovingstudentlearningtoanewlevel.Importantly,staffaredevelopingevidence-basedpracticethroughtheirreflectionsandevaluationsofourcollectivework.
InthedomainofLeading,ourprioritieshavebeentoprogressleadershipandmanagementpracticesandprocesses.Withachangeinleadership,theconsistencyandeffectivenessofimplementationofourkeystrategicdirectionsthroughouttheyearcontinued,andfacilitatedleadershipcapacitybuildingacrosstheschool.Thisapproachrecognisesthatleadershipdevelopmentiscentraltotheachievementofschoolexcellence.
Thenewapproachtoschoolplanning,supportedbythenewfundingmodel,ismakingamajordifferencetoourprogressasaschool.Theachievementsandidentificationofnextstepsareoutlinedinthefollowingpagesofthisreport.Ourself-assessmentprocesswillfurtherassisttheschooltorefinethestrategicprioritiesinourSchoolPlanleadingtofurtherimprovementsinthedeliveryofeducationtoourstudents.
StrategicDirection1
Studentsarehighlyengagedin21stCenturylearning.
Purpose
StudentswithhighlydevelopedskillsusingICTflexiblyandcreativelythroughoutthelearningprocessarebetterpreparedforatechnology-basedworld.Students,throughtheuseofICTwillsolveproblems,workcreativelyandindependentlytodemonstrateandapplyknowledge.ICTinlearningprovideshighengagement,connectedness,developscollaborationskillsandpresentsstudentswithchallengingandstimulatingtasks.Thepurposeincludesenablingstudentstoaccessknowledgeasopposedtoholdingknowledge.
Overallsummaryofprogress
In2016TallongPublicSchool’splanningprocesswasimpacteduponbychangesinleadershipwhichsawthreeprincipalsleadingtheschoolinoneyear.Asaresulttheimprovementmeasuressetoutinthe2015-2017SchoolPlanwerenotallmetin2015.HoweverinICT,thepurchaseofiPadsbytheschoolcommencedthejourneytowardstheintegrationofICTacrossallKeyLearningAreas.
Progresstowardsachievingimprovementmeasures Resources(annual)
Improvementmeasure
Allstudentswillachieve75%ormoreofthechecklistoutcomesfortheirstage.
Progressachievedthisyear
Thisyearwasanexcitingyear,wherewemadethepurchaseof18iPads(6perclass)forstudentuse.Theywereusedsuccessfullyforliteracy(L3)intheKoalas’classroom,foractivitiestoconsolidatelearninginletterformation,phonics,phonemicawarenessandsightwords.Studentsalsousedthemtovideoorphotographtheirlearning,andlearntskillsinbasicwordprocessing.Wefoundthemtobeavaluableassettoourlearningthisyear.IntheKangas’classroom,iPadswereusedlargelyforresearch.InScience,iPadswereusedforanimationsanddocumentationofstudents’work.iPadswerealsousedforteachingcodingandroboticstoallstudentsK-6.
$9,449.95
100%ofstaffuseclassroomICTeveryday
AlotoftimehasgoneintostreamliningtheprocessofmanagingiPads,andasthatprocessismorestreamlined,itwillbeeasierforteacherstohavenewappsandfeaturesaddedfortheirclass’benefitandtoenhancetheirlearningandengagement.Astheyearhasprogressed,teachershavediscoveredmoreandmorewaystoeffectivelyuseiPads.
$1281.38
ICTskillswillbereportedoneachsemesterinreportstoparents
ThiswillbecommencinginSemester2,2016
Nextsteps
Thenextstepsrequiredfor2016toensureStrategicDirection1issuccessfullyimplementedare:
− DevelopascopeandsequenceforteachingI21stcenturyCTskills
− DevelopaStage–appropriateICTskillschecklists
− Evaluateallclassroomhardwareandsoftwareandidentifydeficiencies
o Re-establishafocusonteachingandlearninglegorobotics
o ApplyAppleconfigurator2softwaretopurchasediPads
o PurchaseProwiseTouchPanelforseniorclassroom
StrategicDirection2
Creating students who are confident, resilient, productive, compassionate and successful citizens andlearners.
Purpose
Students,whohavestrategiestomaintainmentalwell-being,arebetterabletosucceed,maintainstrongrelationshipsandshowcareandconnectiontowardsothers,andindoingsoliverichandmeaningfullives.
Overallsummaryofprogress
In2016TallongPublicSchool’splanningprocesswasimpacteduponbychangesinleadership,whichsawthreeprincipalsleadingtheschoolinoneyear.Asaresulttheimprovementmeasuressetoutinthe2015-2017SchoolPlanwerenotallmetin2015.ThePositiveBehaviourModelwasimplementedsuccessfully,howevernosufficientdatawasrecordedtoverifythe50%bullyingreductiontarget.Foundationswerelaidtopurchaseananti-bullyingprogramtobeimplementedin2016.Inaddition,anewschooldisciplinepolicywasdevelopedtobelaunchedin2016.VisibleLearningpracticesweredelayedastheMossValeCommunityofSchoolsplannedfor2016teacherprofessionallearningandimplementation.
Progresstowardsachievingimprovementmeasures Resources(annual)
Improvementmeasure
Playgroundincidentsofbullyingwillreduceby50%andwillbeevidencedintheschool’sbehaviourdatabase
PositiveBehaviourLearningwasimplementedfromK-Yr6.
1staffmemberattendeda“LeadingaPositiveCulture”course
The‘FriendlySchoolsPlus’planningcommencedinTerm4.
AFairDisciplineandEffectiveLearningPolicywascollaborativelydeveloped.
$500
VisibleLearningpracticeswillbeevidencedinallclassroomsandIndividualLearningPlans(andPersonalLearningPlansforAboriginalstudents)willshow80%oftheirtermgoals.
Tobecompleted–SDD2016Term2,MossValeCommunityofSchoolsPlanningforStaffDevelopmentDayin2016ILPsandPLPsareinplaceforAboriginalandspecialneedsstudents
Allstudentsvolunteertotakeonschoolresponsibilitiesannually.
PeerSupport/StudentLeadership
GardenProgram
SRC
Nextsteps
Thenextstepsrequiredfor2016toensureStrategicDirection2issuccessfullyimplementedare:
− RefocusonaweeklyPBLruleinthenewsletter,atassembliesandthroughvisualrepresentations
− Launchanti-bullyprogramFriendlySchoolsPlus
− ImplementFairDisciplineandEffectiveLearningPolicy
− ProvideCyberBullyinginformationandeducationforstudents,teachersandparents
− CompletethereformofthestudentleadershipmodelandSRCrolesandprocedures
StrategicDirection3
Deliveringconsistentlyhighstandardqualityeducationinallclassrooms.
Purpose
Ourpurposeistomaximisestudentlearningandacademicsuccess.Qualityteachingandmeetingtheneedsofalllearnersisourcorebusiness.Ourpurposeistoproducestudentswhoarehighlyliterateandnumerate,whoaresupportedtoreflectontheirprogressandsetlearninggoals,andwhocanapplytheirknowledgeacrossallKeyLearningAreas.
Overallsummaryofprogress
In2016TallongPublicSchool’splanningprocesswasimpacteduponbychangesinleadership,whichsawthreeprincipalsleadingtheschoolinoneyear.Asaresulttheimprovementmeasuressetoutinthe2015-2017SchoolPlanwerenotallmetin2015.
Progresstowardsachievingimprovementmeasures Resources(annual)
Improvementmeasure
5weeklyTENandL3assessmentdatashows90%ofstudentsmeetingexpectedoutcomes.
OngoingdocumentationandrecordingofKindergartenstudents’progressinreading,hearingandrecordingsoundsandspellingthroughouttheyearshowedthatmorethanhalfofourKindergartenstudentsmetthebroadtargetsforL3inallareas.
$1610.00(L3course)
$4,1833.74(casualsupplyteacher)
IncreasedproportionofstudentsachieveaboveNationalMinimumBenchmarklevelsinNAPLAN–WritingandNumeracy.
SMARTdatafor2015showsthatanincreasedproportionofYear3studentsachievedabovetheNationalMinimumStandard(Proficient)intheNAPLANtestsforWritingandNumeracy-Writingfrom0%to20%-Numeracyfrom0%to30%.TherewasnoincreasedproportionofYear5studentsachievingatproficientlevelin2015NAPLANtestsforWritingandNumeracy.
Increasedproportionofstudentsinproficiencybands(NAPLAN)aswemovethemiddletothetop.
SMARTDataforNAPLANresultsindicatedthatin2015therewasanincreasedproportionofYear5studentsinproficiencybandforReading.TherewasanincreasedproportionofYear3studentsinproficiencybandsforWritingandNumeracy.
100%ofteachingstaffhavedocumentedevidenceandProfessionalLearningPlansinlinewiththeProfessionalLearningFramework.
Allteachingstaffmetthistargetin2015.
Nextsteps
Next
Thenextstepsrequiredfor2016toensureStrategicDirection3issuccessfullyimplementedare:
− Teachingstaffcollaborativelyplanforassessmentandreportinganddevelopadatabankforin-schoolassessments
− AllstudentsareplottedontheLiteracyandNumeracyContinuums
− Staffcapacityisbuilttoplananddifferentiateprogrammingtomeetallstudents’needs
− VisibleLearningpracticesandteacher/teacherobservationswillinformtheimplementationofbestteachingpracticesineveryclassroomtoimprovestudentoutcomesinallKLAs
− Scopesandsequencesaredevelopedfortheexplicitteachingofdevelopmentallyappropriateskillsandunderstandings
TALLONGPUBLICSCHOOLSTUDENTSGREETTHE2015KANGAROOMARCH
(RE-ENACTMENTOFTHE1915KANGAROOMARCHTHROUGHTALLONG)
Steps2
Keyinitiativesandotherschoolfocusareas
Keyinitiatives(annual) Impactachievedthisyear Resources(annual)
Aboriginalbackgroundfunding
DevelopmentofPersonalLearningPlans
SLSOsmallgroupfocusonmathematicsandreading
AboriginalCulturalDay
$3,214.00
Englishlanguageproficiencyfunding
N/A
Targetedstudentssupportforrefugeesandnewarrivals
N/A
Socio-economicfunding
OneSLSOlearningsupportforreadingandmathematicsTerms1,2,3and4
$13,843.11
Lowleveladjustmentfordisabilityfunding
OneSLSOtoassistKindergartenstudentwithprostheticlegbelowthekneetoadjusttoschoolgroundsandtomovementwithwalkingframe
$2,540.88
Supportforbeginningteachers
TPL–BeginningTeacher
$1,987.42
Otherschoolfocusareas Impactachievedthisyear Resources(annual)
LanguageLearningandLiteracy(L3) OneteacherwasinvolvedinL3(Language,LearningandLiteracy)trainingthisyear.Itwasamammothcommitment,throughwhichagreatdealwaslearntabouteffectivestrategiesforteachingliteracy,particularlytoKindergartenstudents.Thetrainingwasmulti-facetedandincluded12professionallearningsessionsatColoValePublicSchoolwithatrainerandfotherL3teachers;mentorvisitsfromatrainer,whowatchedtheteacherinactionandprovidedconstructivefeedbackonteachingpractice;ongoingdocumentationandrecordingofKindergartenstudents’progressinreading,hearingandrecordingsoundsandspellingthroughouttheyear.MorethanhalfoftheKindergartenstudentsmetthebroadtargetsforL3inallareas.
$1610.00(course)
$4183.74(casualsupplyteacher)
StudentinformationStudentEnrolment
Gender 200920102011201220132014 2015Male 19 19 19 23 29 33 32Female 9 11 6 8 16 23 27
Studentattendanceprofile
WorkforceinformationReportingofinformationforallstaffmustbeconsistentwithprivacyandpersonalinformationpolicies.
Workforcecomposition
Position Number
Principal 1
DeputyPrincipal(s)
AssistantPrincipal(s)
HeadTeacher(s)
ClassroomTeacher(s) 3
TeacherofReadingRecovery
LearningandSupportTeacher(s)
1
TeacherLibrarian 1
TeacherofESL
SchoolCounselor 1
SchoolAdministrative&SupportStaff
2
RFFteacher 1
Total 10
TheAustralianEducationRegulation,2014requiresschoolstoreportonAboriginalcompositionoftheirworkforce.
In2015,nomemberofstaffwasofAboriginalbackground.TeacherqualificationsAllteachingstaffmeettheprofessionalrequirementsforteachinginNSWpublicschools.
Qualifications %ofstaff
Undergraduatedegreeordiploma 100%
Postgraduatedegree 10%
Professionallearningandteacheraccreditation
Thefollowingprofessionallearningwascompletedbyvariousmembersofstaffin2015;
• AccreditationatProficientLevel(1teacher)• Language,LearningandLiteracy(L3),
ClassroomTeacherProfessionalLearning(1teacher)
• StaffDevelopmentDays(Allteachers)• TeacherAwardInitiatives(Allteachers)• TakingOffWithNumeracyPhase2
(1teacher)• AnnualSASSPAConference(1SAM)• LeadingaPositiveCulture(1SAM)• AchievingAccreditationatHighly
AccomplishedandLead(1teacher)• UltimoPrincipalsNetwork:Performanceand
DevelopmentTraining(1teacher)• CoreFinancialLiteracy(1Principal)• PluggingintoNature–LearningOutsidethe
ClassroomwithiPads
Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Scho
ol
K 93.4 100.0 94.5 95.5 95.2 92.41 94.5 91.8 100.0 96.5 94.9 94.0
2 92.5 97.6 92.2 94.4 97.6 94.33 96.1 98.2 98.3 92.9 97.8 96.94 95.9 93.6 98.6 94.8 96.4 90.85 98.9 95.3 95.7 91.9 98.2 91.46 97.6 na 95.9 94.1 98.5 95.1
Total 95.0 95.1 95.5 94.5 96.5 93.8
StateDo
E
K 94.7 94.7 94.3 95.0 95.2 94.41 94.2 94.2 93.9 94.5 94.7 93.82 94.4 94.2 94.2 94.7 94.9 94.03 94.5 94.4 94.4 94.8 95.0 94.14 94.5 94.3 94.3 94.7 94.9 94.05 94.4 94.2 94.2 94.5 94.8 94.06 94 93.8 93.8 94.1 94.2 93.5
Total 94.4 94.3 94.2 94.7 94.8 94.0
FinancialinformationFinancialsummary
Thissummarycoversfundsforoperatingcostsanddoesnotinvolveexpenditureareassuchaspermanentsalaries,buildingandmajormaintenance.
Afullcopyoftheschool’s2015financialstatementistabledattheannualgeneralmeetingsoftheparentand/orcommunitygroups.Furtherdetailsconcerningthestatementcanbeobtainedbycontactingtheschool.
Dateoffinancialsummary 30/11/2015
Income $
Balancebroughtforward 63,507.27Globalfunds 60,561.83
Tiedfunds 35,360.20School&communitysources
20,223.10
Interest 1,273.00
Trustreceipts 23,045.95
Canteen 0.00Totalincome 140,464.08
Expenditure
Teaching&learning Keylearningareas 16,867.22
Excursions 7,171.28Extracurriculardissections
15,061.11
Library 1,642.28
Training&development 5,311.38
Tiedfunds 39,840.07
Casualreliefteachers 12,555.89
Administration&office 25,972.17
School-operatedcanteen 0.00
Utilities 8,840.08
Maintenance 1,600.43
Trustaccounts 1,710.15
Capitalprograms 0.00
Totalexpenditure 136,572.06Balancecarriedforward 67,399.29
SchoolperformanceNAPLAN
IntheNationalAssessmentProgram,theresultsacrosstheYears3,5,7and9literacyandnumeracyassessmentsarereportedonascalefromBand1toBand10.Theachievementscalerepresentsincreasinglevelsofskillsandunderstandingsdemonstratedintheseassessments.
TheMySchoolwebsiteprovidesdetailedinformationanddatafornationalliteracyandnumeracytesting.ClickonthelinkMySchoolandinserttheschoolnameintheFindaschoolandselectGOtoaccesstheschooldata.
Parent/caregiver,student,teachersatisfaction
TheopinionsofparentsandcarersweresoughtinTerm4onCommunication,StudentWelfareandICTdirections.CommunicationThemajorityofparentsthoughtthat“SchoolStream”wasaneffectivewayofcommunicatingmessagestoparents.Anumberofparentsmentionedthattalkingdirectlytoteachersorofficestaffworkedwellforthem.TheNewsletterwasalsomentionedas“workingwell”.Followup–openingmorecommunicationchannelsonalllevels–electronic,notesandface-to-facecommunicationopportunities.StudentWelfareThevastmajorityofconcernbyparents/carersherewasthatdisciplineneededtobefirmerandfollowedthrough,andthatbullyingwasanissueintheschool.Followup–implementationofnewwelfareanddisciplinepolicyand“friendlySchoolsPlus”antibullyingprogramin2016ICTWhenaskedwhethertheywouldbewillingtoallowtheirchildtobringtheirowndevicetoschoolififitwasstoredsafelyandusedforlearningpurposes,75%ofparents/carersansweredintheaffirmative.FollowupIn2016,aforumwillbeheldforparents/carersinTerm2,regardingICTineducationalsettings.The“BringYourOwnDevice’willbediscussedfurtherasapossiblescaffoldforintroducingthisatTallongPublicSchool.
Aboriginaleducation
AboriginalCulturalDayAllstudentsfromAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderbackgroundaccompaniedtheprincipalandaparenttoattendAboriginalCulturalDayatGlenquarryPublicSchoolon30October.Itwasaneventfuldayofarts,craftsandsport.Ourstudentshadawonderfultimeandhadtheopportunitytomeetstudentsfromsurroundingschools.
MulticulturalEducationandAnti-racism
PerspectivesonMulticulturalEducationwereembeddedinlearningacrossthecurriculum.KindergartenstudentsparticularlyenjoyedtheirstudyoftheJapaneseculturewithmanytastingfoodstheyhadneverbeenexposedtobefore.
EnvironmentalEducationandSustainability
AGardenClubwascommencedinTerm3,2015andcompaniesandorganisationswereapproachedtodonateresourcestothisproject.Asaresultfourhealthygardenproducebedsweredevelopedandsustainedbystudentsgivingupsomeoftheirlunchbreakstoplant,weedandwaterthebeds.Someproducewascookedandenjoyedbystudentsasthegardendeveloped.Thisworkwillcontinuein2016.withagreateremphasisbeingplacedoncompostingandreducingwastefromlunchwrappingsandclassroomresource
TheArtsAnumberofseniorstudentsrepresentedTallongPublicSchoolatTheOperaHouseandperformedintheSchoolsInstrumentalMusicFestival.TheyjoinedmanystudentsfromallovertheStateandplayedintherecorderconsort.Itwasanexcitingandnevertobeforgottendayandeveningexperiencesforstudents,teachersandparentsalike.SportManyofourstudentsexcelledinsportingactivitiesthroughouttheyearastheyparticipatedintheBongBongSmallSchoolsGalaDays,theSwimmingandAthleticCarnivalsandTheCrossCountryRaces.AnumberofstudentsfromTallongPublicSchoolprogressedtoDistrictlevelcompetitions.SchoolCamp@CampWombarooAttheendofTerm3wehadanovernightcamp,opentoallstudentsK-6,toCampWombaroo.Staffinattendanceweretwoteachersandthreeparents.Alargenumberofstudentsattendedandhadanamazingtime!Foralotofstudentsthiswastheirfirstovernighttrip.Manystudentswerepersonallychallengedastheyovercamefearofheightswiththegiantswingandtheverticalchallenge.Otherstudentsdiscoveredanaturalabilityforarchery,whileothersdiscoveredyouhavetobequitestrongtoworkabow!Youngerstudentswereinvolvedincreativeproblemsolving,shelterconstructionandbushwalks.Anoverarchingthemeofthecampwasabouthavingfunintheenvironment,whilealsotakingcareofit.Thismessagewassharedwithstudentsinmanydifferentways.ThestudentsofTallongPublicSchooldidtheirteachersproudwiththeirwonderfulbehaviour,particularlyastheywererespectful,responsibleandsafeatalltimes.Itwasaterrificexperience,enjoyedbyall.
