- Located in Pine Rivers Shire - north-west outskirts of Geebung District.
- Established in 1874.
- Remained a small country school until the mid 1970';s when nearby housing developments caused a rapid growth in school population.
- The school now has a busy four-lane highway at the front, a large shopping centre on the western side, All Saints Parish School on the southern side and a small creek and parkland on the other boundary.
- Enrolment in the primary section has fluctuated between its Year 2000 enrolment of 815 and the 1997 enrolment of 970 for the past twenty years. In addition there are 90 children attending Prep.
- Students in thirty-four classes are currently accommodated in single classrooms, double-teaching areas, and modular classrooms. One demountable classroom block is used for non-contact time and
Outside-School-Hours Care.
- To meet the increases in enrolment over the years a variety of classroom designs have been constructed. Movable partitions have been installed in all double-teaching classrooms.
- Two buses transport students from the Brendale, Clear Mountain, and Eatons Hill areas (adjacent suburbs).
SCHOOL FACILITIES INCLUDE:
- An automated Resource Centre with fibre optic links to each classroom and access to the Internet;
- A Music Block for a full-time music teacher and the services of three visiting instrumental music teachers;
- A Special Education Block occupied by Support Teachers Learning Difficulties (1.5) and a Support Teachers Learning Disabilities (2.0);
- Four classroom Prep located within the grounds and running a full-day program;
- A Computer Laboratory equipped with sixteen IBM Pentium computers;
- A large Assembly Hall which is available for school use and for
hire;
- Permaculture Garden;
- Before and After-school Care Programs and Vacation Care Program run by YMCA;
- Pleasant playground with three sets of playground equipment;
- Dental Care Unit;
- Sun-safe Play Areas.
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY FEATURES
- Students come from mainly middle-income backgrounds with student learning potential and outcomes following a normal bell curve distribution.
- Parents have high expectations, are helpful, and are heavily involved in many facets of school life.
- Students participate with creditable performances in:
- ETC (Education Testing Centre, University of N.S.W.) tests in English, Mathematics, Science and Technology;
- the Australian Mathematics Competition (sponsored by Westpac);
- LOTE Competition in Japanese administered by the University of Melbourne and the Australian Multicultural Society;
- Annual School Speaking Competition;
- Tournament of the Minds Competition
- Students compete with success in intra and inter-school sport.
SCHOOL DIRECTION
- Motto: A sound mind in a sound body
- Mission Statement: Quality Education in an open, caring environment
- Behaviour Management Statement: At Albany Creek State School we expect that everyone will think ahead and make responsible decisions that respect the rights, feelings, and safety of all concerned.
- Under a Program Management structure use is made of a well-established committee structure and democratic processes to carry out an annual internal review, set the direction of the school, establish priorities, and provide budgetary recommendations.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Whole school curriculum features include:
- Subject Area Programs;
- Behaviour Management and Social Skills Programs;
- HRE Program;
- Curriculum and Special Purpose Committees;
- Administration & Organisation Folio;
- Extra Curricula (viz sport, camps, excursions)
Located in the immediate school locality are four Prep classes, a
Dental Clinic, a Special Needs area, a Music Block and an Out-of-School-Hours Care facility. Since the appointment of a Support Teacher Learning Disabilities in 1995 the school caters for a number of students with learning disabilities who are integrated into regular classes. (This Special Needs Assistance Program is referred to as our SNAP program). No special facilities other than ramps in some areas have been installed for the SNAP program students.
Assessment and reporting procedures include Parent Evenings
(Term 1), Parent Interviews (Term 1- Yrs 2 to 6 and Term 2 - Yrs 1 and 7) and Report Cards at the conclusion of each semester.
STUDENT WELFARE
The Student Council which is elected by the Year 7 pupils and
invested in March of each year plays a prominent part in school life and is involved in:
- school decision making;
- year-level recommendations;
- organisation of school functions;
- representative duties;
- pastoral care.
A Guidance Officer, Advisory Visiting Teachers, and other
professional support (eg. Behaviour Management Consultants) are readily
accessible to children as needs are perceived.
A well-defined Behaviour Management Program is well supported
by the school community.
In keeping with our Mission Statement parents are encouraged
to maintain regular contact with teachers and administration throughout the year.
STAFFING AND STAFF WELFARE
A summary of staffing details is outlined under "Workforce Plan"
Administration monitor staff welfare needs through:
- year level meetings;
- scheduled monthly staff meetings;
- committees;
- informal and formal discussions.
An "open door" policy is both encouraged and practised.
Staff members are encouraged to participate in professional
development. Chairpersons of committees ensure that maximum opportunity is
given to all staff members to attend.
P&C / SCHOOL COUNCIL/OTHER GOVERNING
BODIES
The P&C Association works in close liaison with the school
Administration and whole school community. Members are encouraged to
participate actively in the school decision making process with the result that the association has representation on school based committees particularly in the areas of Collaborative School Development Planning, HRE, Behaviour Management Policies, Special Needs Assistance Programming and the Hall Committee.
The association is conscious of the need to assist the school
financially and is committed to providing:
- educational equipment and aids;
- sporting equipment;
- ground improvements;
- resource centre allowance.
Sources of revenue for the P&C Association include:
- parent contribution scheme;
- receipts from functions organised by the school;
- spellathons, chocolate drives etc.;
- tuckshop operating daily; and
- hire of assembly hall.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
A School Council was formed at this school during 1998. The
main functions of the School Council are as follows:
- to monitor the school's strategic direction;
- to approve plans and school policies of a strategic nature, and other documents affecting strategic matters, including the annual estimate of revenue and expenditure for the school;
- to monitor the implementation of the plans and school policies; and
- to advise the principal about strategic matters.
Membership of our School Council is as follows:
- four parent representatives and four school staff representatives;
- the Principal of the school and the President of the P&C.
OTHER SCHOOL SPECIFIC INFORMATION
- Since its implementation in 1998, results in the State-wide Testing Program involving Years 3, 5, and 7 show that Albany Creek students often achieve above the State average and above the Like Schools average in all areas.
- Likewise, results in the Parent, Student, and Staff Surveys conducted on a State-wide basis by Education Queensland since 1998 indicate strong positive support and appreciation for the school and state education.
- The school operates on a traditional graded system.
- Length of traditional lunch breaks has been altered to reduce child exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day.
- Japanese is the LOTE studied by Year 6 and 7 students.
- A technology aide was appointed as a Workplace Reform initiative in 1996.
- An annual Speaking Competition is conducted for students in Years 5 - 7. Parents and wider community are invited to the finals.
- Approximately one hundred students are involved in a successful instrumental music program.
- An average of one hundred students from Year 7 travel to Sydney and Canberra by bus each year as part of the school curriculum.
- A Peer Tutoring Program caters for reluctant readers from Years 4-7.
- The school fosters participation in Theme Weeks. eg. Book
Week.
- Visiting educators work with specific classes each year. eg. Family Planning conduct classes with Yr 5 and Yr 7 students. Spinal Education and Awareness Teams work with selected Year Levels across the school.
- A Local Consultative Committee comprised of members of the various unions represented at the school provides valuable input into decision- making.
- Parent involvement is welcomed in the committee system.
- The school has a well-established Prep / Year 1 Transition Program.
- Home Learning Program is conducted for parents of children in the lower grades to assist parents with their children's learning.
- A Parent Tutor Program has proved beneficial for parent helpers at the school.
- An annual Fancy Dress Ball is held for students in Years 1& 2, a Bush Dance is held for students in Years 3 & 4, while Years 4,5,6, and 7 participate in an annual concert.
- Thursday morning, child-centred, whole-school assemblies are attended by many parents. A Years 1-3 assembly is held weekly as is a Years 4-7 parade.
- Choirs perform in concert and entertain locally.
- The School Recorder Band plays on Assemblies and for Sports Days
etc.
- Four teachers work on a permanent / part-time basis.
- Tournament of Minds teams have competed with success.
- Chess competitions for students are encouraged.
- Student Teachers from QUT, Kelvin Grove Campus, UQ, and Griffith University are catered for through a practicum teaching program.
- The school produces a Year Book depicting many of our activities in written or pictorial form.
- The school celebrated 125 years of operation in 1999.
- A school assembly hall was built during 2000 and officially opened on 15 October, 2000.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
As a school community we aim to provide Quality Education
in an open, caring environment and promote a variety of intellectual,
social, emotional and physical values asset out below. We believe that the Albany Creek State School's goals align appropriately with Education
Queensland's vision for all students to become active citizens in a
learning society.
INTELLECTUAL:
- Cater for individual needs to afford all students the opportunity to realise their academic potential through the design of relevant, inclusive, flexible, intellectually challenging and innovative
learning experiences and assessment strategies;
- Encourage a desire for learning;
- Motivate students to strive for learning independence;
- Present knowledge that can be used and applied;
- Provide a variety of useful, problem-solving strategies for a changing and challenging environment;
- Foster critical thinking skills;
- Encourage the development of creativity;
- Encourage students to achieve academic excellence.
- Foster an environment that embraces Information Technology
SOCIAL:
- Encourage students to achieve a high standard of behaviour and appearance;
- Encourage the practice of desirable social interaction;
- Develop in our students responsible character traits;
- Emphasise common courtesies;
- Develop students' skills for meaningful interpersonal relationships;
- Enable students to develop positive interaction with the environment and, working across generations, share and develop new blends of skills and knowledge.
EMOTIONAL
- Assist students in developing a positive self concept;
- Encourage students' acceptance of responsibility;
- Promote assertive attitudes;
- Enable students to appreciate the feelings and sensitivities of others;
- Help students strive for and achieve personal excellence.
PHYSICAL
- Promote desirable attitudes towards health and physical development being mindful of the school motto - A sound mind in a sound body.
QUALITY OUTCOMES
We believe quality outcomes within our school will be achieved
by making learning experiences:
- Active rather than passive;
- Child oriented;
- Guided by systemic, school and community expectations;
- Structured to allow full pupil participation;
- Varied;
- Based on the "democratic" model stated by Gordon M.A. Mork
We believe quality outcomes within our school will be achieved
by selecting content, which is:
- Designed to cater for individual needs;
- Related to objectives and expectations;
- Within the child's ability;
- Socially oriented;
- Aimed at fostering desirable behaviour;
- Structured to address perceived inequalities related to gender/class/ethnicity or disability;
- Designed to develop critical thinking skills.
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