Maclean High School Annual Report · them a direct pathway into the workforce. 160 students across...
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Maclean High School Annual Report 8362 2015
Transcript of Maclean High School Annual Report · them a direct pathway into the workforce. 160 students across...
Maclean High School Annual Report
8362
2015
Introduction
The Annual Report for 2015 is provided to the community of Maclean High School as an
account of the school’s operations and achievements throughout the year.
It provides a detailed account of the progress the school has made to provide high quality
educational opportunities for all students, as set out in the school plan. It outlines the
findings from self-assessment that reflect the impact of key school strategies for improved
learning and the benefit to all students from the expenditure of resources, including equity
funding.
Mr Robert Perl
Principal
School contact details:
Maclean High School
Woombah Street
MACLEAN, 2463
www.maclean-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
6645 2244
Message from the Principal
2015 was an interesting and rewarding year. All schools are challenged in bedding down the reforms that have been initiated by the Department of Education. The two that have had a great influence at Maclean are the Resource Allocation Model for Funding (RAM) and the Local Schools Local Decisions. These two reforms give the school the flexibility to move in a direction that is decided by the school community.
A new School Planning process was introduced at the beginning of 2015. There was extensive collaboration with the school community in establishing our Three Strategic Directions for the next three to five years.
They are:
Ensure a positive and engaging learning culture
Use technology to enhance communication and engagement
Strengthen community involvement
To move towards implementing these directions various practices and procedures were introduced. The use of technology across the school for engagement, communication and to strengthen community involvement has been enhanced. Three class sets of Chrome Books were bought to use across all Key Learning Areas (KLAs) giving students that added edge in research and enquiry. Sentral was purchased which is an administrative package to enable us to better track students and communicate within the school and with the community. The use of email has increased the frequency of the newsletter. Plans for 2016 include the introduction of a Chrome Class in Year 7, a Maclean High School Facebook page, enhanced web page, employment of a Para-Professional to support staff in their use of technology.
2015 has been an outstanding year for the students and staff of Maclean High School. We started with the celebration of our high achieving students from 2014. Our dux achieved an ATAR of 96.1. In 2015 the following ATARS were achieved, 96.2, 93.85, 93.7, 93.4, 91.35, 90.4. Along with this there were 11 students to gain a result in the 90’s for a particular subject. The curriculum at Maclean High School is rich and diverse. In 2015 our Year 12 students studied a total of 49 different subjects, while Year 11 students studied 46 different subjects. There were 76 students doing a Vocational Education course which has a Certificate Two qualification attached to it giving them a direct pathway into the workforce. 160 students across Year 11 and 12 studied a course of subjects that qualified them for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). This enabled them to apply for the courses of their choice.
At this point in time 70 students from Year 12 2015 have been offered early entry into university at University of New England, Charles Sturt University and Southern Cross University in courses such as Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Theatre and Performance, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology, Bachelor of Languages, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Zoology, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Advertising, Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology and Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science and Specialisation.
2016 offers new challenges to conquer. As a community we will continue to work towards our three strategic directions. We have made tremendous progress in 2015. This is due to the passion and the dedication of the staff and teachers at Maclean High School. They are very good at their job. With the three strategic directions, our Resource Allocation Model (RAM) and the flexibility of Local Schools Local Decisions, Maclean High School will prepare our students for the 21st century to be competitive in an ever changing market place.
School background
School vision statement
Maclean High School’s vision ensures an environment founded on respect and responsibility that provides a platform for students to achieve their optimum success and be lifelong learners.
School context
Self-assessment and school achievements
Self-assessment using the School Excellence Framework
This section of the Annual Report outlines the findings from self-assessment using the School Excellence Framework, our school achievements and the next steps to be pursued. The Framework supports public schools throughout NSW in the pursuit of excellence by providing a clear description of high quality practice across the three domains of Learning, Teaching and Leading.
This year, our school undertook self-assessment using the elements of the School Excellence Framework.
Learning
At Maclean High School we are actively involved in all 5 learning elements. It is indicated that we have varying levels of achievement due to the diversity of our clientele and complexity of developing sustainable accommodations and adjustments. An active welfare team is strong, supporting our wellbeing. The introduction of the Pastoral Care period has increased the incident of teaching explicit behaviours across a range of settings. Development of the PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) matrix and the re-boot for staff training has enhanced student welfare across the school.
Teaching
Teachers at Maclean High School are working dynamically in all five areas of the teaching elements. They are involved in peer lesson observations to improve their classroom practice. This is a collaborated exercise across the school. These observations are done in reference to the teaching professional standards. All staff are involved in their own professional development and are proactive in this area. This involves the interaction with their supervisors and consistent reference to the professional standards they must maintain.
Leading
Leadership is an integral part of a successful school. At Maclean High School it starts in the classroom with teachers planning, implementing and reporting. This involves an efficient use of resources across the school. The Executive, putting in place efficient management practices and processes giving consistency across the school, supports this. The monitoring and supervision of staff with their PDP’s (Professional Development Plans) is an ongoing process whereby the executive lead their staff by example.
Our self-assessment process will further assist the school to refine the strategic priorities in our school plan leading to further improvements in the delivery of education to our students.
Strategic Direction 1
Ensure a positive and engaging learning culture
Purpose
Ensure a positive and engaging learning culture through a diverse curriculum including VET courses and a focus on enquiry, literacy, and numeracy to improve student self-esteem and positive behavior for learning.
Overall summary of progress
In 2015 we placed a great emphasis on the increased use of technology to help engage the students and the community. We purchased four sets of Chrome Books and Google Apps for Education. This proved to be very successful.
We undertook a reboot in our Positive Behaviour for Learning Program (PBL) and have developed the matrix for all school settings. Communication has been enhanced with the use of technology with the purchase of SENTRAL and increasing the frequency of the newsletter.
Progress towards achieving improvement measures Resources (annual)
Improvement measure (to be achieved over 3 years)
Fractional truancy is decreased with students attending class and being engaged.
There can be more improvement. Tracking of students has improved and students have been targeted in our transition programs.
$10,000 purchase of SENTRAL.
$60,000 teacher to support senior students.
$40,000 Careers Express program.
Year 8 demonstrates an increased engagement with reading. Improvement in NAPLAN results in the long term for Year 9.
This has been difficult to determine how the literacy and numeracy strategies have impacted as NAPLAN is early in the year.
$20,000 literacy strategies.
$40,000 Quicksmart program.
Community members regularly visit the school.
Numerous community meetings have been held with good attendance. Maclean High School received a Nanga Mia Award for excellence in Aboriginal Education.
$10,000 River of Learning program.
$20,000 community meetings and parent Teacher Nights.
Next steps
Developments for 2016 include:
Maclean High School will hire a Para Professional to help support staff with using technology in the classroom.
A Chrome Class will be established to improve the opportunities for the like-minded students to intensively use technology for their inquiry and research.
The establishment of a school Facebook page.
Strategic Direction 2
Using technology to enhance engagement and learning
Purpose
Effective use of technology to build a positive and interactive learning environment that will enhance student engagement and provide improved communication between school and home.
Overall summary of progress
Maclean High School has made a great deal of progress in the use of technology in the last 12 months. The schools website is current and informative. The school purchased forty Chrome books which have a 90% booking rate and are used across all KLAs (Key Learning Areas). Email is now being the preferred method of communication which has decreased our paper usage. The purchase of SENTRAL has increased our ability to track student’s welfare engagement.
Progress towards achieving improvement measures Resources (annual)
There are competent uses of Chrome Books in every staff room.
Staff using Sentral
This has been achieved with extensive training and professional learning in Chrome Books, Google Apps for education and SENTRAL.
$40,000 for Chrome Books
$10,000 for Sentral
$60,000 for TPL
Documents are emailed and not posted.
This has been successful with email becoming the preferred method of communication.
Website current. KLA information available.
The website is now current and draws attention and positive comment from the public.
$20,000 two staffing
Next steps
Developments for 2016
The use of a Para Professional to further enhance the website and support staff with technology.
The introduction of a school Facebook page.
Enhanced use of Sentral.
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Strategic Direction 3
Strengthen Community Engagement
Purpose
Involving community members with varying cultural backgrounds in student learning and engagement to continue building a positive and cohesive school.
Overall summary of progress
Maclean High School won a Nanga Mia Award for “Outstanding commitment to increasing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal histories, culture and experiences of Aboriginal people”. This is a result of our River of Learning Program which involves the whole school community. The P&C are very active in the school and the development of some programs. The parent and teacher nights were well attended, as were the information nights that were held throughout the year.
Progress towards achieving improvement measures Resources (annual)
A variety of communication channels are used with the community.
During 2015 email was promoted as our preferred method of communication. We increased the frequency of the school newsletter and the schools website was upgraded.
$20,000
Access to current information is improved.
The purchase of Sentral enhanced the information available to parents and staff. The currency of the schools website has been beneficial.
$10,000 for Sentral
$10,000 for staff training in Sentral
Next steps
Developments for 2016
Further develop the website and maintain its currency.
Introduce a Facebook page.
Introduce the parent portal on Sentral.
Next Steps
Key initiatives and other school focus areas
Key initiatives (annual) Impact achieved this year Resources (annual)
Aboriginal background funding
River of Learning
AEO
Intervention
AIME
Maclean High School received a Nanga Mia award for excellence in Aboriginal Education. This was a result of the River of Learning program
Our Aboriginal Education Officer has supported our Indigenous students and has positive liaison with the community.
During Term 4 a teacher was hired to work with a group of disengaged students. This proved to be successful as there was a positive change.
AIME is a dynamic educational program that is proven to support Indigenous students through high school and into university, employment or further education at the same rate as all Australian students. AIME gives Indigenous students the skills, opportunities, belief and confidence to grown and succeed. Maclean High had a number of students attend this program.
$20,000
Elders contributions Student contributions
$60,000
$25,000
$4,000
Socio-economic funding
Gifted and Talented Students
Technology Support
Student Support
Maclean High supports our gifted and talented students to attend various workshops and educational experiences to extend themselves and work with other gifted and talented students. An example of this is the “Girls in Engineering” workshop at Sydney University.
Maclean High introduced Chrome Books and Google Apps for Education. A teacher was released to support this implementation and train staff to be competent in their use in the classroom.
A qualified teacher was employed to support senior students in the Leading Edge Program. Also a Barista course was run to give the senior students the opportunity to gain employment qualifications.
$20,000
.2 = $25,000
$100,000
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
SC07-HSC09 SC08-HSC10 SC09-HSC11 SC10-HSC12 SC11-HSC13 NAPLAN 11-HSC14
NAPLAN 12-HSC15
Retention to Year 12 (SC to HSC / Year 9 NAPLAN to HSC)
School State
Student information
It is a requirement that the reporting of information for all students be consistent with privacy and personal information policies.
Student enrolment profile
Enrolment continues to remain steady between 950 and 1100.
Student attendance profile
The Years 7 to 12 attendance profile shows the attendance rates for this group and comparisons to both the region and the state in 2015.
Retention Year 10 to Year 12
Maclean High School has been above both the state and the similar schools group for retention from Year 10 to Year 12 for the past 4 years.
Post-school destinations
Proportion of students moving into post-school education, training or employment
Year 10
%
Year 11
%
Year 12
%
seeking employment 0 20 15
employment 70 30 30
TAFE entry 10 20 15
university entry 0 0 25
other 15 15 10
unknown 5 15 5
In 2015, of the students leaving Maclean High, 35% said they would attend university in the next few years but many were keen to seek work first and travel before continuing study. 20% were interested in further training. 30% said they had work opportunities lined up and Melbourne was a popular destination for this cohort.
0
200
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1200
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Stu
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Year
Enrolments
Male Female
0
25
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75
100
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Att
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ate
Year
Student attendance rates
School State DoE
Support for beginning teachers
Training and Professional Learning
Mentors
Teachers are released to pursue their goals in their PDPS. They are also given extra time for programming, lesson observations and lesson preparation.
The teacher mentors are given time off to supervise and mentor their beginning teachers.
$40,000
$10,000
Year 12 students undertaking vocational or trade training
In 2015 43% of Year 12 was enrolled in at least one Vocational Education course. Vocational courses can contribute to an ATAR and many students took advantage of this opting to sit for the non-compulsory exams. Popular courses in the vocational field that are offered at Maclean High and do contribute to an ATAR include; Hospitality, Primary Industries, Metal and Engineering, Construction, Business Services, Tourism, Information Technology and Automotive.
Year 12 students attaining HSC or equivalent vocational educational qualification
131 students sat for the HSC with 125 being awarded a HSC. Some students opt to do a Pathways Course whereby the HSC can be accumulated over 5 years. 28 students received a Certificate II in their vocational course. Hospitality was the most popular course with 19 students gaining all their competencies.
Maclean High caters for students from all backgrounds with interests ranging from highly academic to hands on work skills. Our Coffee Cave Barista training was very popular this year with all Hospitality students, and many others, honing their skills on our commercial coffee machine. Free coffee and hot chocolates were provided to parents and staff on all parent/teacher nights. This was a welcome treat but gave our students real training and experience.
This year, in partnership with TAFE, we were also able to offer courses in Work, Health and Safety Building and Construction, Responsible Service of Alcohol, Responsible Conduct of Gambling, Safe Food Handling, Real Estate and Road Works Construction.
Workforce information
Reporting of information for all staff must be consistent with privacy and personal information policies.
Workforce composition
Position Number
Principal 1
Deputy Principal(s) 2
Assistant Principal(s) n/a
Head Teacher(s) 11
Classroom Teacher(s) 51
Teacher of Reading Recovery n/a
Learning and Support Teacher(s) 2
Teacher Librarian 1
Teacher of ESL n/a
School Counsellor 1
School Administrative & Support Staff 9
Other positions 23
Total 101
The Australian Education Regulation, 2014 requires schools to report on Aboriginal composition of their workforce.
Maclean High School has a significant Indigenous component in the composition of the school workforce. There are 3 identified Indigenous teachers, an Aboriginal Education Officer and 6 Aboriginal Learning Support Officers.
Teacher qualifications
All teaching staff meet the professional requirements for teaching in NSW public schools.
Qualifications % of staff
Undergraduate degree or diploma 100%
Postgraduate degree 20%
Professional learning and teacher accreditation
All teachers at Maclean High School have a Professional Learning Plan and have established 3 to 5 goals that are aligned with the school’s strategic directions and the teachers’ personal professional direction that they want to pursue.
There are currently twenty teachers who are in the maintenance cycle of their accreditation. This involves them collecting evidence to show that they are proficient in addressing the seven teaching professional standards. All teachers are required to be in accreditation and maintenance from the beginning of 2018. All teachers are currently addressing the teaching professional standards as part of their Professional Development Plan.
Financial information
Financial summary
This summary covers funds for operating costs and does not involve expenditure areas such as permanent salaries, building and major maintenance.
A full copy of the school’s 2015 financial statement is tabled at the annual general meetings of the parent and/or community groups. Further details concerning the statement can be obtained by contacting the school.
Date of financial summary 30/11/2015
Income $
Balance brought forward 652,103.46
Global funds 728,342.86
Tied funds 769,546.80
School & community sources 422,526.53
Interest 19,755.09
Trust receipts 51,351.56
Canteen 0.00
Total income 2643626.30
Expenditure
Teaching & learning
Key learning areas 155,664.18
Excursions 256,030.78
Extracurricular dissections 186,194.16
Library 15,568.34
Training & development 2,518.89
Tied funds 763,513.75
Casual relief teachers 235,089.93
Administration & office 186,593.78
School-operated canteen 0.00
Utilities 151,543.07
Maintenance 55,959.90
Trust accounts 67,094.52
Capital programs 0.00
Total expenditure 2075771.30
Balance carried forward 567855.00
NAPLAN
In the National Assessment Program, the results across the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 literacy and numeracy assessments are reported on a scale from Band 1 to Band 10. The achievement scale represents increasing levels of skills and understandings demonstrated in these assessments.
The My School website provides detailed information and data for national literacy and numeracy testing. Click on the link My School and insert the school name in the Find a school and select GO to access the school data.
NAPLAN - Literacy (including Reading, Writing, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation)
Year 7
0
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40
4 5 6 7 8 9
Pe
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 7 Reading
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
SSG % in Band 2015
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Percentage in bands:Year 7 Writing
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2011-2015
SSG % in Band 2015
0
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40
5 6 7 8 9 10
Per
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of
stu
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 9 Reading
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
Year 9
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40
4 5 6 7 8 9
Pe
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 7 Spelling
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
0
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 9 Writing
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2011-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
0
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40
5 6 7 8 9 10
Pe
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 9 Spelling
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
NAPLAN - Numeracy
Higher School Certificate (HSC) (mandatory) In the Higher School Certificate, the performance of students is reported in bands ranging from Band 1 (lowest) to Band 6 (highest).
The 2015 HSC results were pleasing. Maclean High School students achieved 11 Band 6’s and 95 Band 5’s. Emily Watson was our DUX with an ATAR of 96.2.
Parent/caregiver, student, teacher satisfaction
Each year schools are required to seek the opinions of parents, students and teachers about the school. Their responses are presented below.
In 2015 the school sought the opinions of students, parents and teachers about the school. This is done through formal surveys as the “Tell Them From Me” survey and questionnaires done at the various parent and teacher evenings giving ample opportunity to provide feedback.
Parents and teachers are also represented on various committees where they have direct input into decision making and planning for the school.
The Principal and the Deputy Principals regularly attend the P&C meeting, the AECG meetings and the SRC meetings having direct input and consultation with these groups.
Policy requirements
Aboriginal education
In 2015 Maclean High School was awarded a Nanga Mia award for “Outstanding commitment to increasing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal histories, culture and experiences of Aboriginal peoples.” Below is a description of the River of Learning Program that underpins this award.
Celebrating six years of the River of Learning Program
Throughout the past six years students at Maclean High School have had the opportunity to be part of a program that recognizes, appreciates and respects the local Aboriginal Culture. Aboriginal Elders have been welcomed into the school and have become an integral part of the program. This year celebrates the sixth year of the River of Learning Program – unique
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Percentage in bands:Year 9 Grammar & Punctuation
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
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Bands
Percentage in bands:Year 7 Numeracy
Percentage in Bands
School Average 2010-2015
State DoE % in Band 2015
to our school and acknowledged far beyond our Clarence Valley.
The success of the program lies with: Year 7 students who have embraced the program each year; the Aboriginal community who has been willing to share, listen and celebrate with us; Maclean High School staff who are enthusiastic in seeking new learning strategies for their students; Macquarie University who has sponsored many of the facets of the program and those staff and community members who have given up their own time to ensure that Maclean High School’s vision became a reality.
The following gives a short outline of what the River of Learning Program really encompasses.
Cultural Tour
Term 1 each year all Year 7 students (usually in their core class groups) spend half a day touring Aboriginal Cultural sites around Brooms Head. Costs for the excursion are covered by Maclean High School and this ensures all students can attend. Elders lead students in a discovery based program that allows them to develop real life knowledge of how Aboriginal people in our area lived and students sample some of the Indigenous food. Each year a survey has consistently indicated that 12% of the year group have never visited Brooms Head. As this excursion occurs in Term 1 the inclusion of the Year Adviser has provided increased opportunities for student staff rapport. Surveys conducted at the end of the tours have shown that students really appreciate the chance to meet the Elders and the reports by adults attending indicates how enthusiastic and respectful the students are.
River of Learning Celebration Day
Aboriginal Studies is woven into all Key Learning Areas in Year 7. All work undertaken by the students is displayed in June each year as part of the River of Learning Celebration Day. 300 students, parents, staff, community members and Aboriginal Elders join together to marvel at what the students have learned. Through Indigenous games, Yaygirr language, dance, student work and much more an amazing sense of understanding and inclusivity seems to encompass all that attend. It is a feeling hard to explain – you just need to come in 2016 so you understand! At the conclusion of the celebrations 600 sausages are consumed as we join together in a massive sausage sizzle.
River of Learning Art Exhibition
2015 saw the inaugural Art Exhibition. 185 parents, students and community members had the privilege of viewing art work from students from Year 6 through to Year 12. It was a night of pure enjoyment and appreciation of the talent of our students. This night set the scene for the following River of Learning day.
It has been a privilege to work with so many wonderful, enthusiastic and visionary people. What started as an idea has become a living breathing program that we, as a school community, can be extremely proud.
Multicultural Education and Anti-racism
All students are introduced to the Anti-Racism Grievance Officer and their role during Year Assemblies.
There were six allegations of racist language being used at school in 2015. These were referred to a Principal and the students involved interviewed and statements taken by the Anti-Racism Grievance Officer. In five of the matters a student was found to have used racially offensive language and, as a result, was reprimanded for their behaviour, made an apology to the student/s who took offence and gave an undertaking to not repeat the language. This meeting was always undertaken in the presence of the Principal or Deputy Principal. Aboriginal students
were offered the support of the AEA (Aboriginal Education Officer) or Aboriginal Learning Support Officer at this meeting. No student was a repeat offender.
A record of each of the offending student’s behaviour was kept on the school’s welfare/behaviour tracking program RISC.
One allegation was found to be a misunderstanding. It seemed to have resulted from hearsay spread through gossip after “witnesses” were interviewed. A meeting involving all students involved was held to resolve the misunderstanding.
The school also conducts a cultural awareness program in which nearly all students and staff in the school have participated. The SRC has two Indigenous representatives from Years 7 to 11. These programs are designed to counter racial stereo-types and foster cultural awareness and understanding.
Other school programs
Quicksmart
Quicksmart is an intervention program first implemented at Maclean High School in 2010 as a National Partnership initiative, assisting students with numeracy problems and helping to improve their short memory. The program focuses on numeracy deficiencies and encourages students to be able to more readily use mental arithmetic, where basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division become a lot easier. This rebuilding in basic numeric foundation and function will help improve long term engagement with, and understanding of, Mathematics.
The program runs for a year, where students are withdrawn from class three times a week and given one-on-one assistance by two trained Quicksmart instructors. Students are selected on NAPLAN results and teacher recommendation. They are tested before and after the course, as well as during each session using a computer program. Results are sent to the University of New England where they are studied and published as ongoing research into brain automaticity and numeracy, in children and teenagers.
The University uses the Effect Size statistic which is used to show improvement that has come from students experiencing the program. Effect Size statistics can be understood in the work of Hattie, J. (2009) Visible Learning: A synthesis relating to achievement.
Effect Size below 0.2 is considered poor. Growth over an academic year for a student cohort is established within a range 0.2 to 0.4.
Effect Size scores of 0.4 to 0.6 are considered strong.
Effect Size scores between 0.6 to 0.8 are considered very strong; and
Effect Size scores above 0.8 represent substantial improvement in the order of approximately 2-3 years’ growth.
In 2015, fourteen students participated in the Quicksmart Program and the results from the university analysis were: All Quicksmart students 1.992. This improvement is in excess of the expected yearly growth of students’ scores as measured on the Australian-normed standard test data.
These results indicate a strong gain for Quicksmart students. This improvement is in excess of the expected yearly growth of students’ scores as measured on a set mathematical diagnostic test of 5 scale score points. The Indigenous students had a higher average gain than the overall Quicksmart group.
Quicksmart Students and NAPLAN
Student growth in Naplan results for the 2015 indicated the Quicksmart cohort had performed well in comparison to the other students who had not completed the Quicksmart Program in 2014. Their growth in Naplan results ranged from 13 marks to 97 marks. This is the increased mark to how they achieved in Year 7.
Sport
The Recipient of the Pierre De Coubertin Award for 2015 was Year 12 student Chianna Dane. This award recognized secondary school students who demonstrate values which are consistent with the Olympic movement through participation in sporting activities.
For the first time Maclean High School students, including the Rotary Interact Club joined together and competed in the Grafton Jacaranda Dragon Boat races.
Carly Leeson has had an outstanding year of sport, especially in the world of cricket. Carly was named in the U18 NSW Cricket Team, played for Australia at the Indoor Cricket Junior World Cup Series, named as Captain in the World Cup final against New Zealand, named in Australian Shooting Stars Open Women’s Cricket Squad. Carly was named as the Country Cricket Female Player of the Year for 2014/2015.
A contingent of twenty three Maclean High School rowers travelled to Taree in March to compete in the Combined High Schools Rowing Regatta held over the course of the weekend. The students conducted themselves with maturity and sportsmanship throughout the two day competition. The success of the rowers bears well for the future of rowing at Maclean High School and testimony to the time and effort put in by the coaches and school staff involved in rowing.
Girls Rugby League-Trish Douglas Memorial Shield
Maclean High School Girls Rugby League team travelled to Lennox Head to play Tweed River High School in the final of the Inaugural Trish Douglas Memorial Rugby League Shield. Maclean High ran out winners 3 tries to 2. An emotional Luke Douglas (son of Trish Douglas) was proud to present the shield that will stay at Maclean High School for the next 12 months.
Central Australia
Maclean High School students embarked on an 18 day excursion to the centre of Australia from 7th – 24th September. Forty four students and four staff accompanied the students through western New South Wales, South Australia, the Northern Territory and outback and central Queensland. In all, a journey of over 8,000. The excursion has been part of the Social Sciences Faculty and the Year 9 Geography curriculum since 2008. The excursion covers iconic geographic features such as Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and the Devils Marbles. The students visited historical and cultural sites such as Silverton, Broken Hill Sculptures, Woomera and Coober Pedy. Students were able to experience opal noodling, gemstone fossicking, camel riding and helping archaeologists work on 90 million year old fossils found at Winton. They also had the opportunity of walking on a salt lake which had recently been flooded by monsoonal rain which fell months before in Central Queensland as well as exploring limestone caves and old silver mines.
School Performance 2015
Arts
The Music Faculty was run off its feet in 2015 and had many memorable highlights to show for it.
Firstly was a visit from renowned guitarist Terry Murray and his vocalist partner Gillian Eastoe. These energetic and entertaining performers took students from Year 7, 8 and elective Music on a journey through the development of Rock Music, from the early Blues to current chart toppers.
Lauren Illig (violin) and Zephyr Skipper (guitar/vocals) were selected for the North Coast Region Music Camp where they were able to work with other ‘like-minded’ musicians to create concert pieces of various genres.
Another brilliant performance was that of Kate Thomson who was invited to play (violin and vocals) at a concert with internationally famous pianist David Helfcott. Kate was also accepted into the choir for Sydney Schools Spectacular.
Year 10 students embarked on our annual pilgrimage to Sydney for our ‘Encore’ excursion. During this trip, students’ experienced a cruise around the most spectacular harbour in the world, a tour through the ABC/JJJ studios where they got to meet several celebrities such as Charlie Pickering, a lunch at the Hard Rock Café, ‘Thriller’ the Michael Jackson Tribute’, a tour through Allens Music store, and of course “Encore”, the best of last year’s HSC students performing in Australia’s most iconic building, the Sydney Opera House.
School Teacher, Helen Bowie, set up a new Music program for the school, a Music Enrichment Program. This program involves students from all years who have a keen interest in Music and want to work with other like-minded students from all years, regardless of skill level or background.
The highlight of the year was the school musical “The Addams Family”. The process began in July 2014 when we gained the rights to perform one of the wackiest musicals with one of the most iconic families ever. Right from the first audition day we knew we were on a winner. The talent we have at Maclean High School is phenomenal!
The Student Representative Council’s (SRC) ethos is that it makes a significant contribution to Maclean High School, to our local community and to the wider community as a whole. This sense of community spirit is vital in ensuring that our young school leaders become the leaders of the future. It is also about giving back to society what it has given to you and thus never underestimating the importance of a well-balanced education and being able to participate in the numerous good causes that exist in the community.
The SRC members work together as a team and, most of them, were all too willing to put their hand up to help. Some of the activities we were involved in included, raising money for the Heart Foundation, Leukemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave, Lower Clarence Relay for Life, Biggest Morning Tea, NSW Cancer Council and “Wear a Beanie Day”.
The SRC also introduced a mentoring system for the Year 7 SRC representatives who have been paired with a Year 12 SRC representative. The mentoring system was supposed to ensure that each Year 12 SRC representative helped the Year 7 students and ensured they regularly attended SRC meetings. At the Induction we changed one aspect and that is, we asked the parents to come out and pin the badges on their children after they had been introduced and the SRC Oath recited; which this year was given by Senior SRC representatives.
PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning)
Following on from Lyn Parker’s (PBL Head Teacher) visit to our school to conduct the School-wide Evaluation Tool (SET), the PBL Committee had a planning day. During this time we developed a matrix adding descriptors which are relevant for each setting of FRESH shown in our school playground, classroom and other areas around the school.
For example, FRESH in the playground would look like this:
Fair is to resolve conflict respectfully, calmly and fairly.
Respect is to include everyone and have empathy for others.
Effort is to place litter in the bins provided.
Safe is to stay inbounds.
Honest is to show good sportsmanship.
Posters were placed around the school to promote these values to the school community.
SeaWorld Resort Hotel
This year in Term 2 Year 12 Hospitality students attended SeaWorld Resort to work in a number of sectors in the Hospitality industry. These ranged from Housekeeping, Public Area Cleaning, Reception, Human Resources, Concierge, Front of House, Engineering, Stores and Kitchen. Working in these sectors allowed the students to gain valuable knowledge of what actually happens in the Hospitality industry, whilst providing them with opportunities of work to see if they would like to enter this area of work in the future.
Regional Public Speaking Final
Maclean High School the North Coast Local Final in the “Plain English Speaking Award” placing both first and second in the event. Speakers, invited from all schools across the region, were required to present a 7 minute prepared speech followed by a 3 minute impromptu and were scored based on the content, structure and delivery of their speech.
Gabrielle Oehlmann’s speech “Ferminism – a Filthy Word” was a standout in the prepared speech while Nicholas Kelly-Flett’s speech “Spiritual Revolution” was thought provoking.
Rural Fire Cadet Program
Maclean High School had the wonderful mentoring program of Rural Fire Cadets running in Term 2 and 3. The cadet program allows students to understand fire and the prevention of fires. The program this year was set up with three levels to the format, firstly the 32 cadets, the local Rural Fire Service volunteers and there was the introduction of a mentor group, whereby junior members of the local rural fire service mentored the cadet group. This worked very well and allowed Maclean High School students, who would normally not be part of this program, to complete other higher training to be part of the Cadet Program. There were many activities and new skills that the cadets developed during this time. At the end of the program the students are presented with a certificate.
Year 10 Career Express Class
The Year 10 Careers Express Class is a voluntary group of 30 students who go unpaid into the workforce every Wednesday. The diversity of their employment includes; animal services, solicitors, beauticians, bee keeping and child care. Maclean High School appreciates the employers across the valley who open their doors for the Career Express Class, in June for Work Experience and then again for Year 11 and 12 students doing workplacements for their vocational subjects. On the job is the only true way to see how the world of work operates and to gain insight into that field of employment.
