Mandatory school reporting provides parents, staff, students and the community with meaningful information about schools. All Queensland schools are required to publish this information under the following headings for parents and the community.
Descriptive Information St Mary’s School is a Catholic Archdiocesan co-educational primary school located in the fertile Lockyer Valley at Laidley. Laidley is just over an hours drive South-West of Brisbane and can be accessed via the Warrego Highway. Our school is located in a growing area that includes the suburbs of Hatton Vale, Grandchester, Summerholm, Glenore Grove, Kensington Grove, Brightview, Forest Hill and the Laidley Valleys. St Mary’s School is located in the heart of Laidley with an amazing outlook over fields of cultivation up into the Mulgowie Valley. At Present St Mary’s has an enrolment of 210 students from Prep to Year 7. St Mary’s School is regarded highly for its focus on the individual and especially that each student is respected and valued. Our school culture is built around the understanding of respect. Respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment in which we live and learn. It is these values that translate into the relationships between students, staff and parents. This culture of respect and being valued is strengthened through the modelled leadership of the school.
Distinctive Curriculum Offerings At St Mary’s the school curriculum is centred on an outcomes-based curriculum that is specifically framed to meet the needs of the students in each class. It is focused on meeting the student’s academic, spiritual, physical and social needs through a range of student-directed and teacher-directed learning experiences. These prepared learning experiences consider the needs of the individuals at St Mary’s and are aimed to be meaningful, fun, challenging, play-based, integrated and flexible. In accordance with the Brisbane Catholic Education Guidelines, we aim to build “foundations for learning which are life long and life giving”.
Extra-curricular activities At St Mary’s School we provide a number of different activities that compliment the day to day teaching of students. These activities are an important part of school life here at St Mary’s and would often not happen if it weren’t for the generosity of many staff, parents and other community members. These community contributors through their willingness, generosity and talent allow our students to experience a wide range of other activities. We acknowledge their gifts and talents and thank them sincerely for their support. These activities include choir, chess club, interschool sport, speed-soccer, cross country, athletics, swimming, Auskick and dance.
The social climate of the school, includes pastoral care programs The St Mary’s Learning Community prides itself on being supportive and welcoming. These attributes guide the interactions between students, staff, parents and the wider parish community. Students, staff and parents have opportunities to be involved in pastoral care projects and activities such as:
Buddy groups
The Virtues Program
School Liturgies and Masses
Catholic Mission Appeal
St Vincent De Paul
St Mary’s Care and Concern
Parental involvement in their child’s education At St Mary’s we recognise that parents are and always will be the primary educators of their children. With this in mind we aim to support, promote and build on this foundation through encouraging parent involvement within the school.
At St Mary’s we see parents as a key stakeholder in the three way partnership of student education and is therefore highly valued and appreciated. Parent help occurs in a variety of ways from direct support in Support-A-Reader, Perceptual Motor Programs, excursion helpers, swimming instructors through to indirect support including book covering, working bees, tuckshop, assistance with Munch and Crunch preparation and assisting with grounds maintenance. Along with these areas the St Mary’s P&F also works hard to organise social activities for the St Mary’s Learning Community. Parental assistance is both welcomed and encouraged as our school learning environment is enhanced through their ongoing support.
Staffing Information
Qualifications of All Teaching Staff
Whilst the majority of teaching staff at St Mary’s have a Bachelor of Education a number have gone on to do post graduate studies up to a Masters Level.
Many staff have qualifications or majored in other areas including, Middle Schooling, Teacher Librarian, Religious Education, Special Education, Social Science, Outdoor Education and Educational Leadership.
Masters Level 16 %
Bachelor Degree Level 76 %
Diploma Level 8 %
Expenditure on and teacher participation in professional development
During 2009 St Mary’s expended $27185.73 on staff professional development. This amount is comprised of training that has been provided by Strategic Renewal Funding (received from Brisbane Catholic Education) and training provided from local school funds. As a faith community with a core focus on learning and teaching, the staff at St Mary’s School has focused their professional development on a number of key elements from the school Strategic Renewal Plan. The Strategic Renewal Plan outlines key elements that the school has also committed many hours of planning, organizing and professional development. In 2009 this Professional Development included:
Skill development for staff in Information Communication and Learning Technologies.
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online
Photo Story
Scootle
Professional Learning in Spiritual Formation
Student Protection Training
First Steps Speaking and Listening
First Aid and CPR refresher for all staff
One staff member trained as a Workplace Health & Safety Officer
Special Needs – Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Enhancing Religious Education
Regular collaborative curriculum planning.
Percentage of staff involved in Professional Learning: 100%
Average staff attendance The average staff attendance for the school year, based on unplanned absences of sick and emergency leave for periods of up to five days 2009: 97.93%
Proportion of teaching staff retained from the previous school year: 93.49%. This represents two staff members leaving and both of these were part-time staff members who gained work closer to home.
Key Student Outcomes
Student Attendance Rate Average Student Attendance Rate: 94.4 % The 2009 national testing for students in Years 3, 5 and 7 was the same style of testing as used in the previous years. This means that it is only possible to validly compare the 2008 results with the 2009 results, as earlier tests are based on a different testing style. In 2007 and earlier, testing was based on the Queensland curriculum. The 2008 and 2009 tests were conducted on a national basis, which did not take into account differences in curriculum and timing between the states. (In some instances in these national tests, Queensland students were tested on elements of the curriculum they had not yet been taught.) This also means it is not possible to compare the results of one state with another, as the curriculum varies from state to state.
Parents, staff and students are regularly offered opportunities to contribute their thoughts and ideas about the school through a variety of ways. These include:
Surveys published in the school newsletters
Monthly Parents and Friends Meetings
Parent Teacher Interviews
Casual Conversations
Staff Meetings
Compliments, Comments and Concerns slip in the newsletter
Feedback from students, parents and staff is valued and appreciated as thoughtful and constructive feedback has helped and will continue to guide the future direction of St Mary’s. This feedback is then used in our Strategic Renewal Planning and Goal Setting. Responses have been of a very positive nature and show a genuine appreciation for the efforts of staff and parents at St Mary’s.
Value added by School Report Progress in respect to the School Renewal Goals – See attached reports below.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School 37A John St, (PO Box 166) Laidley, QLD 4341
Principal: Mr Nathan Haley
ST MARY’S LAIDLEY SCHOOL GOALS 2009
Teaching and Learning
We intend to:
Develop a school plan for Information Communication Learning Technologies
Hardware and infrastructure audit undertaken – Term 1
Upgrade of infrastructure – Term 2
15 new computers purchased – Term 2
Upgrade of operating system – Term 2
Provide high quality Professional Development for staff in:
First Steps – Speaking and Listening
Cath Grealy from BCE engaged to lead all staff in training – Terms 1 & 2
Science – Life and Living
Four staff engaged in CTJ Science workshop and then peer mentoring – Term 2
ICLT – Audit of staff skills, staff sharing of professional knowledge
Professional Development in Encyclopaedia Britannica, Scootle and Photo Story.
Workplace Health & Safety
All staff trained in Student Protection – Term 3
Donna Stokes trained as a Workplace Health & Safety Officer
All staff trained in CPR
Further development and implementation of Oral Language Program in the Early Years
Implementation of First Steps Speaking and Listening along with a designated First Steps Speaking and Listening supporter.
Review and evaluate current reporting processes
Staff surveyed on current practices – end of Term 2
Parents surveyed in current practices – end of Term 2
Refine Student Tracking Folders and processes
Undertake a Whole School Curriculum Audit of Outcomes/Essentials taught
Friends program implemented with Year 4 Students – Caroline Chisholm Centre
ST MARY’S LAIDLEY SCHOOL GOALS 2009
Leadership and Management
We intend to:
Begin discussions for the establishment of a St Mary’s School Board
George Kendall engaged to discuss introduction – Term 1 & 2
School Pastoral Board discussed – June P&F meeting
Parents and staff participated in School Board Conference
Review and renew the Staff Handbook
Engage with the School Renewal Framework & School Validation Process
Timeline developed for 2009 – Term 1
Parent and staff surveys developed – Term 2
Data collated – Term 2 & 3
Component Validation occurred Term 4
Staff aligned Professional Goals with School Renewal Plan
Continue planning for the implementation of an OSHC program
OSHC discussed in line with new building project
Discuss further the establishment of the Lockyer Valley Resource Centre
Playgroup commenced – end of Term 1
Facility upgrade occurred during Term 4 ready for use as office spaces.
Review functions and purpose of the St Mary’s Library
Staff survey developed and completed – Term 2
Parent survey developed – Term 2
Parent Survey conducted – Term 3
Reviewed morning supervision – Term 1 (Modified morning play introduced)
Engage with P21 Building Project – Strategic Building Planning
Architect engaged in Term 1
Community and Staff consulted with regards to School Building Plan
School Building Projected planned and drafted
Project went to tender and a builder appointed
Enhance school facilities by expending National School Pride funding
Information Communication and Learning Technology equipment purchased
Asbestos removal undertaken
Re-painting occurred
Playground and shade covers installed
Minor building works implemented
Continue to develop sustainable practices within the school
Paper recycling commenced with Anuha Recycling
186 000L water storage capacity implemented under the Federal Government – Green Voucher Program
ST MARY’S LAIDLEY SCHOOL GOALS 2009
Ethos, Faith and Spirituality
We intend to:
Review and critique school practices in regards to the School Vision & Mission Statement
Will occur in line with the introduction of the School Pastoral Board – Beginning 2010
Continue to strengthen the relationships with the GLR Parish and in particular St Patrick’s, Laidley
Inaugural Gala Evening – 31st October 2009
Youth masses introduced and promoted
Anointing mass attendance – Years 6-7
Establish and maintain sacred spaces in classrooms and around the school
The Year 4 class developed an outdoor prayer space – Sacred Garden
Further develop staff understanding of Spirituality and Faith Formation
Fr John Dobson – Breaking open the Gospels - Jan 2009
Fr Carlos Gilbert – Christian Meditation – May 2009
Staff pilgrimage to St Stephen’s Cathedral and Mercy Centre – July 2009
Establish Priorities for resourcing of Spiritual and Faith Formation Initiatives
Priorities established in consultation with the APRE & staff
Budget allocated and managed by APRE
ST MARY’S LAIDLEY SCHOOL GOALS 2009
Partnerships and Relationships
We intend to:
Reinforce the importance of the P&F and develop the P&F understanding of the role of a School Board
Brief outline of the role of a School Pastoral Board – June P&F meeting
Further promote active participation in the school’s P&F
P&F meetings advertised in advance through the School Newsletter
Work closely with the St Patrick’s Parish in the development of the Lockyer Valley Resource Centre
Principal engaged in discussions with Parish Priest and Laidley Pastoral Council
Strengthen links with community groups and businesses
Joined in partnership with Laidley News Express & IGA for Bushfire Appeal
Joined in partnership with Laidley Rugby League to take on a Laidley District State High School student for a traineeship through the Australian Training Company
Further develop Pastoral Care and Community Support
At St Mary’s School we provide a number of different activities that compliment the day to day teaching of students. These activities are an important part of school life here at St Mary’s and would often not happen if it weren’t for the generosity of many staff, parents and other community members. These community contributors through their willingness, generosity and talent allow our students to experience a wide range of other activities. We acknowledge their gifts and talents and thank them sincerely for their support. These activities include choir, chess club, interschool sport, speed-soccer, cross country, athletics, swimming, Auskick and dance. 
The average staff attendance for the school year, based on unplanned absences of sick and emergency leave for periods of up to five days 2009: 97.93%