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Withers Way Telephone:  
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Annual Report to the
ContentsSchool Council President's Report Student Progress & Achievements Student Pathways and Transitions Student Engagement and Wellbeing
School OverviewEltham High School is a large secondary school on the urban rural fringe of north eastern Melbourne. In 2006 it celebrated its 80th Anniversary as a provider of post-primary education to the Eltham community.
Total school enrolments have continued to be strong. The enrolment ceiling has been exceeded since 2000. The pressure of enrolments at Year 7 has meant that there is little access for students at higher levels coming from outside our immediate neighbourhood.
Parent satisfaction with the school is exceptionally strong in all areas except homework and two aspects of student engagement. These are currently being addressed as part of a wide ranging study skills program and in the Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievement in Schools (IDEAS)
The IDEAS program came at a key moment in EHS history. With long term staff stability, a large number of staff is approaching the close of their careers in teaching; if the distinctive and successful ideas that this highly experienced group of teachers had developed was not going to be lost then a process of knowledge capture needed to be put in place. The first stage of the IDEAS process was the ideal vehicle: it enabled staff not only to work on the new ideas of PoLT and VELS but also to identify and describe the essential personal educational ideas which have made Eltham High School the success it has become.
The process has also enabled the school to identify its essential values: pursuit of excellence; individuality & creativity and “the Deeds that Count”: social and environmental responsibility; respect for diversity & integrity. All actions of the school community are underpinned by these, every student knows about them, they are carried and referred to as part of the student induction process and as part of the school’s student management.
The school is now developing a set of curriculum planning tools which incorporate all aspects of what is known about effective teaching and learning in the 21st century, how ICT can be used to support the learning outcomes of both students and staff and how the school can inspire students by engaging them more directly in learning in the community. The introduction of a VCAL program, continuation of the Advance/Working Community program and innovations such as taking up the Travel Smart Program have demonstrated the potential of these real community links in improving student engagement as measured by attendance. In 2006 concrete steps were taken to identify a suitable model for establishing a sustainable Performance & Development culture in the school. By the end of 2006 the model had been established and was being implemented in stages, during 2007 collegiate groups will be established as the vehicle for improvement.
Participation in the Innovations and Excellence cluster has given staff greater access to and knowledge of what is happening in cluster primary schools and the sharing of ideas, resources and expertise.
In 2004 school morale mean as measured in the Staff Opinion Survey was 60.7 (State Benchmark 59.3) in 2006 it was 76.9 (State Benchmark 60.8) putting it above the 90th%. In 2006 the average number of days absent for each teacher was 8.2. All members of the teaching staff have engaged in a range of professional learning. Beginning Teachers have been participating in the registration process as well as joining all staff in the IDEAS process to revitalise the school through improving teaching and learning. All teachers employed at Eltham High School are registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. The requirements for registration can be found at http:/www.vit.vic.edu.au/content.asp?Document_ID=241 To achieve improved student outcomes staff need to be achieving success in their roles and engaged in a range of professional development activities. Effective professional development needs to be delivered in a supportive atmosphere,
Eltham High School is looking forward to the future and its possibilities. Demand for places at the school is at an all time high, it has put in place an agreed framework for curriculum development and confidently looks forward to the future when new facilities will be put in place to match this curriculum. Principal's ReportIn 2006 we celebrated our 80th anniversary and in so doing we renewed our firm commitment to our school motto “Deeds Count”.
We
began the year with 220 Year 7 students and with a total enrolment of 1304 the
school has been functioning at full capacity.
A range of other initiatives took place throughout the year including the Maths games days; the Science Mentoring program (in collaboration with both Melbourne and Latrobe Universities); the Careers’ Expo; the Work experience Program; The National Day of Healing; The Long Walk; the Travel Smart Program (in collaboration with the Shire of Nillumbik) as well as a range of activities through the “Eltham High School Environment Group” to name a few.
The Performing Arts program has been outstanding. The Drama program has provided a range of opportunities for our students across all year levels. The Instrumental Music Program was as exciting as ever with over three hundred students participating. Our performances at the Royal South Street Bands’ Competition were outstanding. Each band, ensemble and choir with their respective conductor need to be congratulated.
Peter Wegner was appointed as the Eltham High School “Artist in Residence” through a program funded by Arts Victoria. The Minister for the Arts Mary Delahunty launched the program for Victoria from the school and was very complementary about the quality of students’ art work. Peter worked with the students to produce a number of superb, bound books of students’ work
The “Student Anthology 2006” is an outstanding compilation of student writings. The “Surviving Rounds” unit (in collaboration with “The Learning Partnership” - Melbourne University), culminated in a number of Year 9 students providing advise to pre-service teachers via an illustrated booklet of ideas.
A range of Sport events took place during the year with a number of our students being recognized at the Northern Metropolitan Region 2006 Sports Awards. Similarly the elite Sports Program has had great success. This year’s National Volleyball Competitions have brought home two gold and one silver medal as well as two Sporting Blue Awards.
The Mentor Program was another highlight of the year with 76 staff (both Teaching and Support) collectively mentoring 236 students.
In the VCE Season of Excellence, our VCE-2006 students were well represented in the following exhibitions: “Top Screen” features work of two very talented film makers, Lydia Wagner and James Plant and the work of a very talented VET-Multimedia student Dane Hitchins. These students are also featured in the “Top Designs” exhibition. “Top Arts” featured the work of two very talented artists, Lydia Wegner and Kristian Rasmussen.
Finally, I acknowledge the contribution of all the staff, the students and the community whose hard work, commitment to learning and pride in our school reflect what Eltham High School is all about. School Council President's ReportThe Eltham High School Council met 10 times during 2006, it was a time of getting to know our new Principal Vincent Sicari who had been appointed at the start of term 4 in 2005.
He very quickly made his philosophy of students being central to the work of the school very clear and he was enthusiastically supported by the School Council in this.
Over the year the Council has been kept informed about and participated in the IDEAS process wherever possible and has been impressed by the way in which this has revitalised the school.
Early in the year the Council supported the approach to the Community Cabinet to seek support for the development of a Performing Arts Centre to be shared with the community. This resulted in the Premier announcing that a feasibility study would be held jointly with the Nillumbik Shire Council to investigate the Council initiative for this community. The study was tendered out to a consultancy in August 2006, we are still awaiting its findings.
On a more concrete note the Council received Commonwealth funding of $150,000 to build a Junior School Courtyard with a sheltered outdoor learning area. This project will turn what has been a real eyesore in the school into a shady haven for both junior students and staff. It was planned that the project could be completed during the December-January holidays however scheduling delays meant that while preparatory work was completed much remains to be done before the area is open to students. Work was also complicated by the Region providing the school with a portable classroom to replace our oldest portable which was adjacent to the courtyard. Hopefully the project will be completed during the term 1 holidays ready for student use in term 2.
Our 80th anniversary celebrations on the weekend of the 21-22 October began with the opening of the Eltham High School Arts and Technology Festival on the Saturday afternoon followed by the “Gala Evening” at Montsalvat that same evening. This event also formed the backdrop for the recognition of 21 staff members who had dedicated 25 years or more of their professional life to the students at Eltham High School. On the following day, the school was open for past and current students and families to visit. Decade rooms had been set up with memorabilia of the time and mementos had also been organised for purchase. The official part of this day was the cutting of the birthday cake by the oldest students present (Jock Reed) and one of the youngest students present (Aaron Kitchell) and the inauguration of the new flag pole. There were a large number of people through the school and the feedback was phenomenal. It was a very exciting and satisfying weekend for all who participated.
At the initiative of a parent member of the School Council an investigation into the establishment of an Eltham High School Foundation began. Council is supporting this initiative through funding its development. The Council sees the Foundation as a way in which the community can become more closely involved in the school and students can be supported in practical ways to enhance their education. In 2007 the details both legal and practical will be worked out as the Council makes its final decision on the Foundation’s direction.
A number of long standing Council members are departing at the AGM, I thank you on behalf of the Council for your contribution to its operation and the spirit of co-operation and being here for the students that you have brought to the table. I also thank all the members of the Council for their time and expertise, special thanks to Peter Hanlon for chairing meetings in my absence during 2006. Student Progress & AchievementsStudent LearningThe core performance indicators show that students of Eltham High School are demonstrating high levels of achievement. Based on the AIM data for Year 7 2006 almost every student achieved the National Benchmark in Writing. Marginally fewer students achieved it in Reading & Maths.
There has been a measurable improvement in 2006 in comparison with 2005 in both Reading and Mathematics. This may in part be due to the improvement in the identification of students needing literacy and numeracy assistance as they move from Grade 6 to Year 7. Another complicating factor in comparing 2005 with 2006 is that in 2005 the test was administered on line in 2006 unfortunately it reverted to a pencil and paper test.
The number of students undertaking VCE has remained relatively high; it is school practice to encourage as many students as possible to complete their VCE.
The numbers and ranges of abilities of students undertaking VCE makes it likely that the median study score will approximate the state median study score for all studies.
Comparing EHS Unit 3 & 4 VCE results with the results for Like Schools indicates that EHS students performed better than 75% of students in English and in the average for All Studies and at the mean for Further Maths (the maths undertaken by most students).
Outstanding results were achieved by students in Literature, Outdoor and Environmental Studies and International Studies: Eltham High School students achieved results at or better than 90% of the students enrolled in those studies. Student Pathways and TransitionsThe 2002 Yr 7 cohort was identified in 2003 as a group requiring more diverse pathways and different approaches to learning. In Yr 9 they went on the first leadership camp and in 2006 as Yr 11 they had the opportunity to choose between VCE and VCAL. 22 students chose VCAL, of these a small number left before completion to take up employment or other forms of training. Completion rates have continued to be close to 99% over the last 3 years in VCE and completion of VET studies and VCAL is also high.
Retention of students from Year 7 to Year 12 has remained high. The number of students at Year 12 in 2006 was 94% of the number who commenced in 2001. Of the students enrolled in Year 7 in 2001, 67% were still enrolled in Year 12 in August of 2006. This real retention rate is better than 90% of all schools in Victoria. Student enrolment is at an historical high, the enrolment ceiling of 1275 has been exceeded every year since 2002. Demand for Year 7 places is strong, making it difficult to accept enrolments at other levels.
Destination data graphed here relates to On Track, a telephone survey of students, conducted in April of the following year. Other destination data indicates that in 2006 89% of students undertaking Year 12 applied for a tertiary place. Of these 62% received a university offer and 30% a TAFE offer. 76% of those offered a tertiary place received either their 1st or 2nd preference.
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
In 2002 student absences were at an unacceptably high level. A new roll marking system, as well as focus on different ways of teaching were investigated and began to be implemented. Accurate marking of rolls is a problem in a school like Eltham High School where there are a wide range of activities such as a music program running parallel to the timetabled classes. It requires a complex response to track student attendance accurately. Electronic roll marking was introduced in 2004, many of the pre-existing problems of counting students’ attendance were overcome. In 2005, across all Year levels, except Year 10, absences fell to below 25th%, meaning that attendance was better than in 75% of all school.
Accurate counting was augmented with a focus on Teaching and Learning supported by engagement with the IDEAS program and the implementation of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards. The development of purpose and focus statements and a clear, agreed, set of values is driving curriculum development; along with the development of planning tools to ensure that students are challenged to think at higher levels, take more responsibility for their work and make better use of ICT. The implementation of much of this will be in 2007 during the “actioning phase”.
One outcome of the work currently underway will be to increase students feelings of connectedness to school in the future. Future DirectionsIn 2007 the school will be preparing for its first Strategic Plan, to commence in 2008. The core business of this school is teaching and learning, over the past three years a process has been undertaken to establish what the principles of learning and teaching are that are characteristic of Eltham High School and then how they can be matched to what is known about the principles of learning and how student outcomes can be improved.
This process will be carried forward with the development and implementation of comprehensive curriculum planning tools, the implementation of an eLearning plan and the creation of a Performance and Development culture which will support staff in the improvement in their work and student outcomes.
As a part of the development of the curriculum planning tools there will be a continuing focus on developing the thinking curriculum.
The implementation of the senior year of VCAL will be completed. Students will be supported with the introduction of a more direct focus on literacy and numeracy improvement.
Linking students and their learning more directly with their community in order to increase their engagement will be pursued through the development of a range of real projects modelled on the successes the school has had with Working Community and Travel Smart. This will also increase student opportunities to develop and demonstrate leadership skills. Expansion of the House Leader system into the Junior School will also enhance the skills that students are bringing with them from the primary feeder schools, something identified through the Innovations and Excellence cluster. Financial Performance
School Contact Information
This report contains summary data extracted from the School Level Report. If you would like to access the School Level Report, please contact The Principal at the address above |
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