Urangan State High School

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School Report 2006

Principal’s foreword

Introduction

Since 1992 Urangan High has been delivering quality educational services and programmes with an emphasis on innovation in all aspects of our curriculum.

By envisioning our school Motto “Working together to Learn” providing access to quality education …….. access to a better life we are continuing to set the pace in Hervey Bay by providing education choices and practices that are all about:

* Engaging students

* Working together effectively

* Developing real-life problem solving skills

The result is a first class balance of valuable academic experience with a meaningful “hands-on” approach to real-life learning.

Helping students aim high

* High academic achievement

* High standards

* High quality results

* High levels of personal satisfaction

We make no secret of the fact that excellence is encouraged, with a focus on producing outstanding academic results. Good study habits and self-discipline are the rule, not the exception. Proudly, our track record speaks for itself, as we consistently produce results well in excess of state averages”.

We also recognise that fostering mature, confident students happens when you provide a well-rounded education. That’s why we also encourage students to participate in a variety of sporting, cultural and community events, and provide access to innovative extra-curricula activities as well.

Our school provides a positive and dynamic experience for students at all levels. Students are encouraged and challenged to fulfil their potential. Urangan State High School offers highly successful acceleration programs in Music and Information Technology. These programs compliment our diverse range of quality Senior and Junior Curriculum offerings.

We are more than a school; we’re a community – where students are supported and guided, and given the opportunity to graduate with the skills to enter the career of their choice. A good education is a door to opportunity …..Urangan High opens that door for our students.

Ross Zelow (Principal)

Future outlook

The major recommendations to come from our review processes throughout 2006 which form the basis of our Annual Operational Plan for 2007 are:

Strategic Directions 2006 – 2008 are:

1. Teaching and Learning – highlighting

Education Training & Reform and

Middle Schooling.

2. Relationships – highlighting Managing

School Behaviour, International

Partnerships, Community Partnerships

and Student Services.

3. Professional Learning – highlighting

Professional Learning Communities

Mentoring and Professional Development.

2007 Priorities are:

1. Curriculum Development.

2. School Wide Positive Behaviour Support.

We will continue to maintain our strong and productive partnerships with our community, business, industry and other government agencies to allow us to excel in our program delivery and improve the educational and social outcomes for our students.

School Profile

Urangan State High School is a co-educational school located in Hervey Bay in Education Queensland’s Wide Bay South District and has been servicing the community of Hervey Bay since 1992.

Lifestyle is the reason most people give for moving to Hervey Bay and the reason they give for staying. Young couples, growing families, older couples establishing small businesses, retirees - all are captivated by Hervey Bay's enchanting mix of natural attractions, idyllic climate, relaxed pace, modern facilities, broad educational opportunities, exciting tourism ventures and friendly people. All of this is within easy reach of Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Fraser Island and Central Queensland.
Continued strong growth has seen Hervey Bay's population skyrocket from only 30,000 in 1991 to approximately 52,000 in 2006. Trends show this growth rate - one of Australia's highest - will continue well into the next century. The Hervey Bay City Council continues to focus on planning for growth, with intensive town planning, exciting urban designs and upgraded infrastructure.
Industrial growth is matching population growth, particularly in tourism, service industries, retailing and light industries.

Urangan State High School sits at the heart of the rapidly developing suburban communities of Kawungan, Torquay and Urangan as well as the semi rural areas of Booral and River Heads.

The school is involved in and heavily committed to the School Industry Training Experience (S.I.T.E.) Program to provide Years 11 and 12 students with structured vocational training both at school and on-the-job in industry. As well, the school is fully committed to an off campus site with Fraser Coast T.E.S.S. developing programs and courses which target students who are at risk of not successfully completing their secondary education.

The school has an established School Council as well as a very committed Parents and Citizens’ Association. These forums are heavily involved in the decision-making processes within the school. Members of these forums are committed to enhancing student learning outcomes, and providing greater support and guidance with the strategic direction of our school.

Partnerships have also been established with all other schools in Hervey Bay as well as other government agencies with relation to the youth of Hervey Bay, examples include: Queensland Police Service – School Based Police Officer; Queensland Health – School Based Youth Health Nurse; Hervey Bay City Council – Youth Workers; Department of Families – Social Workers; Education Hervey Bay and the Bay State Schools cluster.

During 2006, enrolment peaked at 1533 students attending the school in Years 8 to 12.

Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 TOTAL

320 312 375 272 254 1533

The school enrolled 183 (12%) new students in 2006 and 240 (16%) students’ left during the year.

These changes make for quite a mobile school population.

Curriculum offerings

Urangan High’s curriculum focuses on:

● Quality

● Student centred learning

● Knowledge construction rather than knowledge instruction

● Finding alternatives to “From the front teaching”

● Multiple pathways to success

● Downsizing to core competencies – What adds value

All classes are organised on a year level basis.

Year 8:

● Each student studies in the areas of Humanities, Maths & Business, Life & Physical Sciences, The Arts, Technology, ICT, LOTE or Cultural Studies, Sport skill development and Inter-class/house sport.

● During Term 2, students develop a personal curriculum plan for their junior years. (Semester 2 Year 8 through to Semester 1 Year 10.)

Years 9 & 10:

● All students study in 5 study areas each semester.

· Students have to complete a curriculum plan, which identifies how they are meeting minimum study requirements as determined by the Queensland Studies Authority.

● All students complete their Middle years of schooling at the completion of Semester 1 Year 10. At this point students enrol in preparatory senior subjects.

Years 11 & 12:

● All students’ study 5 subjects per semester.

● Students have the opportunity to study a 6^th subject; however this will require some early starts and/or late finishes.

● Students have a wide choice of subjects to study from the Queensland Studies Authority Category A & Category B subjects

Urangan High is committed to an array of teaching strategies that promote the well being of students, teachers and the school community. This improves students’ and teachers’ confidence and contributes to the vision of our school. It also builds community confidence in the quality of teaching in our school.

Teaching strategies at Urangan promote:

● Intellectual Quality

● Global and local connectedness

● Supportive social environments, and

● Recognition of difference

WE MUST BLEND THE OLD TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE NEW

These programs were delivered in 2006 through a school day that operated with in a traditional 9.00 am to 3.00 pm day for the Junior School (Years 8 to 10).

The Senior School (Years 11 and 12) operated a four-day week within an 8.00 am to 3.00 pm day from Monday to Friday.

The Year 11 students had an access day on Friday’s and the Year 12’s on Monday’s to enable traineeships and school based apprenticeships to be undertaken.

How computers are used to assist learning.

Our goal is to create and maintain a learning environment where students and staff can use Information Communication Technologies to support learning and teaching. We believe that the use of Information Communication Technologies as tools will enhance student learning by:

● Positively improving student attitudes and motivation to learn;

● Providing a wider range of teaching methods and encourage teacher personal reflection;

● Increasing curriculum choices for students; and

● Facilitate local and global connectivity.

Annual Highlights

2006 has once again seen Urangan High support, participate and excel in all aspects of school and community life. Highlights included:

Cultural:

● Annual Gala Concert

● Sonic Blast Talent Quest

● Wide Bay finalist for Fanfare

● State Finalist in Rock Eisteddfod

● MAD Music, Art, Drama Workshops for Year 8 students

● Debating & Public Speaking

● Continuation of International Student Program with students enrolling from Italy, Germany and Brazil

● Bi-annual China Trip conducted in September

● School participation in ANZAC Day parades and ceremonies

Sporting:

● 10 Australian Futsal Representatives

● 20 Queensland Country Futsal Representatives

● 45 Wide Bay Representatives

● Queensland Bike Ride participants

● Host for international rugby tour from Whitchurch High in Wales and Portsmouth College in London

● State finalists at School Aerobics Competition – Gold medal winner with Boys Open team

● Participants in Fraser Coast Equestrian competition

Academic:

● 214 students awarded a Senior Certificate

● 94% of Year 12 students applying for a tertiary place received an offer.

● 55% (75 students) of our Year 12 O.P. eligible students (137) attained an O.P. between 1 and 15.

● 240 Year 11 / 12 students undertook structured work placements during 2006.

● 26 students completing Traineeships / Apprenticeships.

● Success with new curriculum structure and subject offerings, whereby students gained the subjects and courses they wanted and there are minimal changes to students subjects / course plans.

● External studies and links with University of Southern Queensland

● 3 students honoured at Building Youth Technology Excellence (BYTE) Awards

Involving parents in their child’s education.

We could not be the school we are today without the relationships and partnerships that have been developed and continue to be enhanced with our wider community.

We greatly appreciate the support of our Parents & Citizens Association, Aboriginal & Torres Strait support group, and School Council as these various committees play an integral role in involving parents in decisions about their child’s education at Urangan State High School.

Research shows that parental involvement improves student engagement in the curriculum. We aim to maximise parent involvement through:

● Invitations to functions

● Student centred activities and functions at school

● Advertising flyers sent home with students

● Guest speakers invited to parent evenings

● Parent Information evenings

● Parent Teacher interviews at least twice a year

● Newsletters

Qualifications of all teachers.

Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development.

The investment in our human resources through professional development enhances both the depth and breadth of our curriculum. We are able to offer a broad range of subjects and provide the skills within these subject offerings to improve student outcomes.

The total funds expended on teacher professional development in 2006 was $36 695.

The major professional development initiatives included:

● Various faculty related state conferences,

● QSA workshops

● T/aides and admin staff attending administrators conferences

● EQI conferences and workshops

● Relieving opportunities

● Leadership Development Days

● Teacher release for vocational education training and workshops

● Bay State Schools Conference

The involvement of the teaching staff in professional development activities during 2006 was 80%.

	Average staff attendance
	For permanent and temporary staff and school leaders the staff attendance rate was 93% in 2006.

	Proportion of staff retained from the previous school year.
	From the end of the 2005 school year, 91% of staff were retained by the school for the entire 2006 school year.

	Student attendance
	The average attendance rate as a percentage in 2006 was 89.4%.

Key outcomes in the middle phases of learning

As part of our middle school focus we place a strong emphasis on the transition from primary education to secondary education.

Throughout 2006 Urangan High:

● Created a Head of Department position for Middle Schooling to progress Middle Phase of Learning Action Plan.

● Established links with Bay primary schools eg science and information technology workshops, clowning, music, orientation / transition days, learning support.

● Every student has an individual curriculum plan developed in consultation with school staff, students, parent / caregiver. The students’ junior curriculum plan encompasses from Semester 2 Year 8 to Semester 1 Year 10.

● Acceleration programs developed for Year 8 music and information technology to be trialled in 2007.

● Transition Semester in Year 10 (Semester 2) continues to assist students have a more effective start to their senior years of schooling.

● Extensive use of community support agencies for students to ensure successful completion of their pathways / schooling.

Key outcomes in the senior phase of learning

	Apparent retention rates Year 8 to Year 12.
	Year 12 student enrolment as a percentage of the Year 8 student cohort.	80%

	Outcomes for our Year 12 cohort of 2006
	Total number of Senior Certificates awarded	214
	Percentage of Overall Position (OP) -eligible students with OP 1-15	55%
	Percentage of students awarded Senior Certificates and awarded a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification	23%
	Percentage of students awarded Senior Certificates with OP-eligibility or awarded a VET qualification	78.5%
	Percentage of Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) applicants receiving an offer	94%

	Post-school destination information
	The summary results of the 2006 Year 12 post-school destinations survey, Next Step – Student Destination Report for the school are available through the following link Destination Summary

Other Key Outcomes

	Value added
	The following examples demonstrate our school’s commitment to continually improve the outcomes for our students. ● Acceleration programs developed in 2006 for Year 8 music and information technology are being trailed in 2007. ● Every student has an individual curriculum plan developed in consultation with school staff, students and parent/caregiver ● Continued commitment to Student Industry Training Experience (S.I.T.E.), Education Hervey Bay, Chamber of Commerce, and University of Southern Queensland (USQ). ● Integral partner with USQ and Education Queensland International (EQI) in promoting international partnerships and programs for Urangan High. ● Established links with Hervey Bay primary schools eg. Science and information technology workshops, music, clowning, orientation/transition days, learning support ● Highly successful year in marketing and promoting the school across all areas of academic, social, cultural and sporting endeavours through a variety of community events, school functions, open days and media such as newspaper and television ● Extensive use of community support agencies for students to ensure successful completion of their schooling ● Staff where asked to present at the National Dusseldorp Skills Conference held on the Sunshine Coast during 2006.

	Parent, student and teacher satisfaction with the school
	In 2006 76% of parents, 54% of students and 62% of staff were satisfied that Urangan State High School is a good school and a good place to work.

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