Yagoona+PS

Project Facilitator: Dimitra Valentino Team Members: Allison Morris, Allison Mundy, Jessica Pattison, Larelle Ekers. Yagoona Public School has 567 students. This includes 13 students enrolled full time in two multi-categorical classes and two E.D classes for emotionally disturbed students, who attend YPS four days and their home schools one day each week. There are 21 mainstream classes, LBOTE is 98%.The main community languages at Yagoona are Arabic, Vietnamese, Macedonian and Chinese. Mobility is significant; including approved, extended overseas holidays. There is a significant degree of mobility in the local community which has an impact on programs. There are a high proportion of families from low socio-economic backgrounds. Demographically, Yagoona is situated in Sydney’s South West, neighbouring Bankstown. The major programs that have commenced at Yagoona Public - Best Start, PBIS, National Curriculum Implementation, installation of interactive whiteboards, a Connected Classroom, Quality Teaching Framework enhancing all teaching aspects and learning and a particular focus on Numeracy and Literacy. The last two curriculum projects at Yagoona were based on Numeracy: Working Mathematically and Space and Geometry focus. Also, Reading Recovery Program which targets the lowest 20% of Year 1 students has been continually implemented at Yagoona for the last 13 years. In 2010 we have one teacher in training for four students and one teacher trained responsible for three students. Yagoona Public is not PSFP funded and therefore resourcing is a major factor. The school has established a P& C with a small group of enthusiastic parents; however, the school as a community does not have the financial capacity to make up the shortfall of DET funding. Hopefully, the National Partnership Program and the P& C will enable us to update teaching resources. The Student Performance Data Analysis (NAPLAN 2006 -2009) of Year 3 Reading shows a constant improvement at or above region but in Year 5 Reading there is a consistent decline from at to below region and below state means. Our target focus group for the project is across Stage 2 to Stage 3: A Year 3 class (28 students), a Year 3/ 4 composite (28 students), Year 4 (28 students), and two Year 5 classes. All classes are mainstreamed with varied abilities and ethnicities. The 3/ 4 class is streamed as the top achievers at Yagoona Public. The teachers associated with the project are firm believers in keeping students engaged in order to achieve maximum learning effect. Classes are well organised and have daily routines and timetables. Assessment occurs formally every 5 weeks with ongoing teaching time.