Learning for life Rockhampton Girls Grammar School ANNUAL REPORT 2009 ISSN 1837-8706 (Print) ISSN 1837-8714 (Online) Non Scholae Sed Vitai Contents Communication objective Communication objective .......................2 Purpose of the Report Purpose of the Report....................................... 2 Availability of the Report................................... 2 The Rockhampton Girls Grammar School 2009 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees for the Our vision .................................................2 Minister for Education and Training has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Our mission ..............................................2 Section 49 of the Financial and Performance Our school ................................................3 Management Standard 2009. Our history................................................3 The Report: highlights the achievements of the School; Our year in review....................................4 profiles the history of the school; Speech night address....................................... 4 details school management and governance; Our organisational structure ..................5 outlines progress against the objectives of the Our school environment .........................6 School’s Strategic Business Plan 2009-12; provides an Outlook for 2010; and Our people ................................................8 provides a copy of the audited financial; Staff profile........................................................ 8 statements (as required under Section 62 of the Staff relations.................................................... 8 Financial Accountability Act 2009). Staff Retention .................................................. 8 Staff professional development ........................ 8 Availability of the Report School profile ...........................................9 Copies of this Report are available from: Student information........................................... 9 The Secretary to the Board of Trustees Curriculum directions........................................ 9 Rockhampton Girls Grammar School School Management ..............................12 PO Box 776 Rockhampton Q 4700 The School’s financial systems ...................... 12 Phone: 07 4930 0900 Annual audit.................................................... 12 Email: [email protected] Information systems and record keeping........ 12 Website: www.rggs.qld.edu.au School location and contact details ................ 12 School support groups .........................12 The Parents & Friends Assoc Inc (P&F)......... 12 Our vision The RGGS Race Day Committee Inc............. 13 By 2012 Rockhampton Girls Grammar School will The RGGS – Old Girls’ Assoc Inc (OGA)....... 14 be recognised as one of the paramount schools in Board membership ................................15 Queensland, sought after by families desiring a quality regionally based educational option for their Board statutory functions and powers ............ 16 daughters. Board reporting ............................................... 16 Consultancies ........................................18 Our mission Overseas Travel .....................................18 The Learning for Life value structure of Our performance in 2009.......................18 Rockhampton Girls Grammar School underpins the School’s ethos which is committed to providing for Focus 1: Community engagement.................. 18 girls from diverse backgrounds, in a caring Focus 2: High performance culture ................ 19 environment, access to a dynamic yet balanced Focus 3: Financial sustainability..................... 19 curriculum through which they can achieve their Finance 2009 .................................................. 19 maximum potential, preparing them to become Capital works for 2009.................................... 20 confident, responsible young women motivated to Outlook for 2010.....................................21 work and think independently and prepared to contribute positively as citizens of the world. Letter of Compliance .............................24 Financial Statements .............................25 2 Our school Our history Rockhampton Girls Grammar School (RGGS or the In 1883 a movement began to establish a girls’ School) is set atop Athelstane Range overlooking grammar school in Rockhampton and with a Rockhampton in Queensland, Australia. decision by the Trustees of the Rockhampton Rockhampton is regarded as a leading centre of Grammar School to close their female department, education for students of all ages. the Rockhampton Girls Grammar School began to take enrolments. RGGS is an independent non-denominational school for girls offering day and boarding facilities The prime site on the Athelstane Range was for the continuous education of students from Prep selected as being appropriate and in 1891, to Year 12 with boarding from Year 6. Our students construction commenced on the School building, come from diverse backgrounds across the state, designed by Mr E.M. Hockings, to accommodate 50 the Northern Territory and internationally. day and 20 boarding students. Besides offering excellent educational opportunities The building was enlarged three times - in 1897, for primary and secondary school students in 1899 and again in 1901 - to meet growing demands Central Queensland, continuing students also have as students were enrolled from kindergarten to access to the Central Queensland University (CQU) matriculation. which has established a first-class reputation for its educational offerings, particularly in Business, RGGS opened its doors to the first four boarders Health and Engineering. and thirty-three day students on 11th March, 1892. With Miss Helen E. Downs as foundation The School also works in partnership with the Headmistress, the School was officially opened on Rockhampton College of TAFE which offers an 19 April 1892. excellent variety of courses and study options for girls seeking to broaden their education. Our girls have the option of taking up school-based traineeships and vocational education (Voc Ed) subjects as part of their courses. The School provides a smooth transition across three levels: Junior School (Prep–Y5), Middle School (Y6-9) and Senior School (Y10-12). Boarding students are accommodated in three separate boarding houses (Kollar, Jackson and Luck). Kollar House provides single rooms, with separate internet and phone access for senior students. RGGS began the 2009 school year with 320 students of whom 143 were boarders and 173 were day pupils). On the departure of Miss Downs, the School presented her with a gold replica of the School badge, and on her death she bequeathed it to the School to be worn by the Head Prefect who was to be known as the Helen E. Downs Prefect. Prue McKeague was a 1985 senior who died during the Christmas holidays. At the suggestion of some of her classmates and the Old Girls Association, a platinum replica of the Helen E. Downs badge was commissioned. This badge of office is worn during the year by the other Head Prefect who is referred to as the Prue McKeague Prefect. Photo 1: Paterson House 3 Our year in review The outside courtyard will also be updated with new seating and lighting and by early 2010 the old library Speech night address will have been converted into two general learning areas for use by Year 6 and 7 students. Rockhampton Girls Grammar School has a unique Through the Building Education Revolution, under mixture of proud history combined with the National School Pride Program, the School has contemporary thinking that embraces change and constructed a shaded play area, with playground innovation. equipment and soft fall adjacent to K Block to be Our young people are changing and have spent used by primary students. their entire lives surrounded by and using The School will also receive a grant to the value of computers, videogames, digital music players, video $844,000 under the Primary Schools for the 21st cameras, cell phones and all the other tools and Century Program, which will be used to create a toys of the digital age. general assembly and activity area for the primary The combination of ubiquitous access to information students. and amazing new technological connectivity will None of these achievements would have been dramatically influence how our children will be possible of course without the teachers and staff, all educated in 2010 and in the future. of whom I thank for their commitment and The Board of Trustees has engaged the services of dedication to the education of young women at Mr David Loader to work with the Board, the Rockhampton Girls Grammar School. Principal and the broader school community to I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of the accelerate the development of new educational parents and students who have worked so hard to approaches which are better suited to the new raise money for the School, especially the P&F, the knowledge, economic, social and technological Cattle Club, the Race Day Committee and the Old conditions of the 21st century and will provide rich Girls Association for their passion, commitment, learning opportunities for our girls. dedication and ongoing support. David is one of Australia’s leading educators and is The RGGS Race Day is now recognised as a major passionate about making the school experience event in the Rockhampton calendar and attracts a more relevant and appropriate for every student, is large crowd each year. The event this year raised in committed to