Annual School Report for 2019
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ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT FOR 2019 Namoi Valley Christian School 51 Rose Street PO Box 242 Wee Waa 2388 Wee Waa 2388 Phone: 02 6795 3044 Fax: 02 6795 3144 Email: [email protected] Please feel free to contact the Principal, Peter Henderson, in regard to this report. Introduction Message from the Board Teacher standards Parent, student and teacher satisfaction Curriculum External testing results Priorities from 2019 Priorities for 2020 Enrolment Enrolment policy Excerpt of Grievances and Disputes policy Excerpt of Student welfare policy Excerpt of Student discipline policy Excerpt of Anti-Bullying policy Financial information INTRODUCTION Namoi Valley Christian School (NVCS) is set on the main street in Wee Waa, a small agriculturally based rural town in North Western NSW. The school has been operating for 36 years providing K-6 education, with high expectations for student competence, character and faith. The foundational principles of the school are Christian and these values are woven into all aspects of school outlook and activity. Parental participation is significant in classroom assistance and administration, as well as elected positions on the School Board. The quote below is taken from the school’s mission statement and highlights its foundational principles. The purpose of NAMOI VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL is to support Christian parents by providing an educational setting in which teaching and learning of a high standard are founded on Bible- based beliefs, values and behaviors and where parents have ready access to the decision-making framework. Page 1 of 25 The background of students is both indigenous and non-indigenous, 2-parent and single parent families. The staff of 4 classroom teachers and 1 support teacher makes up a dynamic team, committed to the ethos of the school. A number of part-time paid and voluntary staff, including a chaplain under the Australian School Chaplaincy Programme, complements the teaching staff. NVCS is registered and accredited with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). It is a member school of Christian Education National. This annual report for 2019 provides parents, grandparents and the wider school community with information about various aspects of this school’s distinctiveness, performance and development. The report is a legislative requirement under The Education Amendment (Non-Government Schools Registration) Act 2005. The School Newsletters, Curriculum Statements, and Parent Information and Policy Handbook (available from the school) complement the information in this report. The report will be discussed th at the Association Annual General Meeting on Thursday 28 May 2020. The school has procedures in place to ensure its participation in annual reporting to publicly disclose the educational and financial performance measures and policies of the school as identified by the Minister. MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD At the end of 2018 we thought we had seen one of the toughest years in our community through the continued impact from drought. As we entered 2019 the story didn’t improve with a very tough year and well below average rainfall for the whole eastern seaboard of Australia. We finished the year with severe weather, extreme temperatures and severe fires. The continued support from our staff and school community has ensured that Namoi Valley Christian School Inc. continued to make it through another tough year. Namoi Valley Christian School Inc. continues to exist due to God’s plan. In these uncertain times we can always look to our Heavenly Father for reassurance and know that it is He that is in control. A small community such as Wee Waa has defied the odds and continued to support Christian schooling. This is really encouraging for the board and we really appreciate the continued support from our school families and staff. It was encouraging to see the local community come together with a bush dance held at NVCS. It was a great evening and fun distractor from the drought. Thank you to our staff for organising such an important event for the Wee Waa community. During 2019 the board made a number of decisions to continue the quality of education delivered at NVCS. Some of these decisions were: 1. The conversion of the sports storeroom into a new learning support room and library. 2. The library converted into a new classroom for 5/6. 3. Conversion of the Boardroom to another learning support classroom. 4. Installation of a new smart board into the new 5/6 classroom. 5. Sprinkler system for the playground. 6. New shade sail for the sandpit for UV protection. 7. Commencement of a Facebook page and administrator. 8. Appointment of Mr Carl Learson - New Business Manager. Page 2 of 25 9. Support of a Parenting Program in May. 10. NVCS Open Day 11. Visit from the Hon. Sarah Mitchell (Minister for education and early childhood learning) 12. New backup server and antivirus software. 13. School Chaplain - Mr Christian (Chippy) Petersen 14. New laptops for Years 3/4 Retirement of Merrill Johnson At our AGM in May Mrs Merrill Johnson retired from the NVCS Board after many years of service. We thank Merrill for her commitment over the years to the board and thank her for the support. Merrill was instrumental in organising the rosters for the Wee Waa show gate for many years. Merrill also ensured catering was undertaken at our working bees and school gatherings and worked hard within the school as a volunteer helper when her children attended the school. Thank you Merrill, from the board, for your service to NVCS. Addition of Alison Downes During 2019 we also saw the addition of Mrs Alison Downes. Alison had retired from the board in 2018, however as Mrs Diana Morrison stepped off the board to commence a teaching position, Alison rejoined the board and brings a wealth of expertise from her years of serving on the NVCS board prior to her leaving in 2018. Retirement of Mr Peter Hicks During 2019 we also saw the retirement of our Business Manger Mr Peter Hicks and the commencement of Mr Carl Learson. We thank Peter for his years of service with NVCS and have appreciated his support of NVCS as our Business Manager. We wish him all the best as he commenced a new role as the business manager at Mount Annan Christian College in Sydney. During 2019 we met with Carl Learson our new business manager and Stephen Carter, from Carinya Christian school, to investigate the process of moving into Year 7 in the future and how Carinya’s experience in Gunnedah could help NVCS. Teachers Aides We continue to support the quality of education and attention given to helping students. In 2019 we saw the addition of 2 more teachers aides. Mrs Louise Stiller commenced in Term 3 and Mrs Joanna Weaver in Term 4. The additional teachers aides ensure we have every classroom now staffed with both a full-time teacher and a teachers aide. Mrs Louise Stiller replaced Mrs Montana Carrett whom left due to the birth of her first child with husband Luke. We wish Montana and Luke all the best as they start their new family. Return of Kathy Pereira During 2019 we saw the return of Mrs Kathy Pereira as our state executive officer (SEO). We had been previously support by Mrs Rachel McClure in 2018, however, Kathy took over the role in 2019 as Rachel stepped back due to family reasons. We look forward to continuing our great relationship with Kathy into 2020. Association Membership We continue to encourage members of our school community to become members of the association. We continued to interview and add to the association during 2019 and look forward to building it during 2020. Page 3 of 25 Board Training The board continued to attend training to fulfil NESA requirements. Board members attended training in Moree in regard to Resolve Governance. The AIS NSW Symposium in Sydney and annual Board training in Melbourne with CEN National were both attended by the Board. Visit from Mr Hugh MacCallum Mr Hugh MacCallum, the CEO of CEN HUB, visited the board in August and spoke to the association members in regard to CEN HUB and the support offered to CEN schools. Hugh also met with the board and presented a talk in regard to CEN support as we seek new directions with the school in the future. SafeWORK NSW Inspection During 2019 we instigated an inspection of the school by SafeWORK NSW to ensure we are providing a safe environment for our students. It was encouraging that the audit did not identify any immediate issues and SafeWORK NSW were satisfied with our compliance with WH&S legislation at NVCS. CEN HUB We continue to review policies that are adapted from the CEN HUB. Policies are critical in the running of a school and ensure full compliance with legislation. Working Bees We continued to hold our bi-annual working bees throughout the year. These events are essential to ensure the school is maintained and clean for the beginning of the year and mid-year terms. Working bees also provide an excellent opportunity to meet other parents from the school and allow an opportunity for parents to contribute to the school community. We wish to thank those that have turned up to the working bees so faithfully each time and contribute on these days. We continue to pray as a board for the growth of NVCS and encourage our school community to invite others to check out Christian schooling and the Christ centred learning at NVCS. In His service, Tim Weaver (on Behalf of Namoi Valley Christian School) Russell Morrison (Chair, Treasurer), Carl Learson (Business Manager), Tim Weaver (Secretary), Alison Downes, Rick Walker, Andrew Flower, and Peter Henderson.