Introduction

Dear Reader,

“Learning For Life” is our mission statement, as well as our core business.  We provide a safe, tolerant, disciplined environment in which young people prepare to be healthy, creative, informed and democratic citizens who are conscious of their environment.  The students are able to participate in a wide, varied and balanced curriculum that assists all Queenslanders to love learning, develop sound judgment skills, a sense of responsibility, an awareness and understanding of the past, and prepare to embrace their future.

 In short, our school values:

Respect        Equality        Consideration      Responsibility     Individuality

We are a small rural school with big expectations.  In partnership with our parent body and the wider community, Yuleba State School promotes and delivers a quality education that is vibrant, innovative and accountable. We believe that nothing breeds success like success.

Yours sincerely,

Roslyn Waldron

Principal

Yuleba State School

Future outlook

2008 is a year for reflecting upon curriculum changes and the depth and  breadth of our curriculum delivery, and dreaming about our future directions as we undergo the Triennial School Review.

 Significant investment has occurred with the purchase and installation of computer hardware and school infra-structure.  2008 will build upon this excellent foundation.  Staff will continue to develop their own ICT learnings, and ensure that ICT’s are embedded in classroom practices and reporting. The curriculum will be realigned to the Essential Learnings, and the QCAR framework will be implemented. Best practice is actively shared and developed.

Sport will continue to be a focus, with the SmartMoves program implemented from day 1 of 2008.  Being Healthy is a significant part of our school culture.  Opportunities abound for students to participate in fitness promoting activities e.g. Active After School Program, football and netball etc.

Never – without any doubt – will we forget our core business.  Reading, Writing and Mathematics – it just may look a little different from what you are familiar with!

Regards

Mrs Roslyn Waldron

Principal

Yuleba State School

School Profile

Yuleba State School coeducational school that is situated 65km east of Roma, drawing its student body from the township and the surrounding area.  The primary employer in Yuleba is the local council. Yuleba State School has a proud history of providing quality education and many of our students are the second generation in their family to be educated here.

By the end of 2007, the school had 37 students, and commenced 2008 with 42 students.

The school offers has two multiage classrooms, with one focusing on the early phase (Prep – 3) and the other on the middle phase (4 – 7).  Our year 7 students feed into Wallumbilla State School to continue their education though to year 10.

Curriculum offerings

Our distinctive curriculum offerings

Multiage learning with provision focusing on the early and middle phases of learning.

Intervention programs.

Learning Support Personnel for students with learning difficulties.

Specialist teachers for Health, Physical Education, Music, LOTE, and Art.

ICT’s integral to teaching and learning.

Extra curricula activities:

PCAP instrumental music program will be offered to students in years 4 – 7, commencing 2008. This includes instrumental music instruction, band work and camps.

Active After School is a free program that is commonwealth grant funded.  This program runs twice a week, on a term by term basis, exposing the children to a variety of different sports and physical activities.

Netball and Football interschool competitions.

How computers are used to assist learning:

During 2007, the school developed sufficient infrastructure to be able to boast 1: 2 student to computer ratio.  We have a wireless network, which enables students to use their laptops anywhere in the school.  Each room is fitted with a smartboard, and these boards have become as integral to the teaching and learning process as the blackboard used to be.  The students have their own passwords and use computers to create powerpoints, publish documents and complete webquests.  Each child has, and uses, their own email address. Yuleba State School will always teach reading, writing and number – but the texts and contexts have broadened to incorporate the multiliteracies of our students’ future.

The school uses the OneSchool statewide database for recording data and developing reports.  Most teaching personnel have their own government provided laptop to assist in preparation, reporting and modeling of computer usage to students.

Social climate

Yuleba State School is a supportive environment where students are encouraged to become active and informed citizens. They are encouraged to socially responsible individuals and take responsibility for themselves whilst always being conscious of the needs of others. 

·         72.2% of students indicated that they were very happy to come to the school, and 22.2% were indicated that they were happy.

·         88.9% of students indicated that they felt very safe at school, with another 5.6% feeling safe.

·         77.8% of students indicated that were very satisfied with how they were treated, with another 16.7 % indicating that they were satisfied.

·         66.7% indicated that they were very satisfied with the behaviour of the school, and another 27.8% indicated that they were satisfied.

Involving parents in their child’s education.

Parents are the school partner.  They have several avenues of participation. 

Primarily, the parents are invited to be part of the P&C, whose role is not only that of fundraiser, but also a consultative body to the principal and teaching staff.

Additionally, parents are actively encouraged to participate with in class activities providing classroom help, and are important helpers during sporting carnivals.

Parents are also invited to attend all school events, such as assembly and other celebration days.

While many methods of communication with the parent body are used, the main source of information is the school newsletter. Additional information is also sent out at key junctures and times outlining what and how students are being taught.  Parents are encouraged to attend interviews with their child’s teacher, which are offered each term.

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.

The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2007 were 10% of our school grant.

The major professional development initiatives are as follows:

            * Prep implementation and training of staff

            * Behaviour Management

            * Coaching qualifications

            * QCAR and alignment planning

            * Professional Development in the teaching of Literacy and the Literacy Framework.

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

The school also has a high commitment to the sharing of best practice, mentoring other teachers, and accessing training online and after school.  We also access district funded, or district run professional development.

Teacher Aides also receive professional development in:

             * Library services

             * The teaching of literacy

The other support staff also receives professional development according to their area of expertise, such as State Purchasing Policies etc.

Average staff attendance

For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 94% in 2007.

Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.

From the end of the 2006 school year, 76 % of staff was retained by the school for the entire 2007 school year.