School Development Planning (SDP) element #25

In Australia all schools private and government are required to submit details to the Myschool website.  This site enables parents to peruse the details of their school about student performance and other matters.  There is a view in respect of this site that it enables parents to select the school to which they want to send their children. This has restrictions if a government school is chosen as students from within the zone for that school are generally expected to attend that school.  There are exceptions that I have gone into in another place.

In my view the Myschool website is a manifestation of a Federal Government that is too focused on academic results and not the whole child.  Government schooling is constitutionally a matter for each Australian state but the Federal Government wields the power of fiscal grants to maintain some control.  I suggest you Google 'Gonski andAustralian schooling".

SDP element #25	The Myschool website requirements.
Aligned SE criterion	In a general sense the parents can access the site for their school as an extra line of communication.
Current school documentation and situation	The school has detailed documentation about the Federal Government obligations in respect of reporting data for the Myschool website.
Development objectives for 2016	Meet the obligations for the Myschool website
Resources needed ·       people, ·       money ·       time ·       location ·       stationery ·       IT	·       Administrative staff ·       Clerical time ·       The school site ·       Relevant IT data bases
Timeline to achieve the objective(s)	Guided by the formal timeline for information.
Process for achieving the objectives	Gather and deliver the required data.
Outcome(s) of the assessment of the attainment of the objective(s)	The required data has been delivered on time.

One SDP element to go!

This site has considerable interest from US followers.  I'd love a comment or two about why this is so.


May the Force be with you!



GD

School Development Planning (SDP) element #24

To any US readers my sympathies about the Las Vegas massacre.  It beggars belief.  We Australians have very tight gun laws and do not constitutionally have the right to bear arms.  This is all down to a recent prime minister who bit the gun control bullet after a massacre shooting in Port Arthur Tasmania our southern most state.

*********************************

This is about keeping up to date with curriculum changes as done by the quasi government bodies who have such responsibility.

SDP element #24	Relationships with quasi government assessment bodies appointed by the State or Territory.  This applies more to secondary schools and the need to meet tertiary entrance requirements.
Aligned SE criterion	NA
Current school documentation	The school has clear and stable documentation about these relationships.
Development objectives for 2016	Keep abreast of the State’s adjustments to the ANC and apply these in the school. Induct new staff into these relationships.
Resources needed ·       people, ·       money ·       time ·       location ·       stationery ·       IT	·       Administrative staff (primary) keep abreast of the ANC changes and inform and mentor teachers in implementing the changes. (In secondary schools ‘curriculum coordinators’ and ‘senior subject teachers’ would be responsible for keeping all relevant staff up to date.) ·       This is an ongoing check and act process with the communications coming out of the state body that controls the adjustments to the ANC.
Timeline to achieve the objective(s)	Ongoing throughout 2016
Process for achieving the objectives	Awareness by the administrative staff and mentoring the changes. Ensuring that too much change is not attempted.
Outcome(s) of the assessment of the attainment of the objective(s)	The ANC as administered in the school is up to date with the latest changes to the ANC

Almost there in this long haul of SDP elements.


May the Force be with you!


GD

School Development Planning (SDP) element #23

For me the traditions of the school are vital as the strong bonds that bind the individuals of the school community, staff and students, together.  These traditions include the rights of passage from primary (elementary) school to secondary (high) school and the graduation of the final year students.

The traditions also bind the parent community and the members of the general community to the school.

SDP element #23	Maintenance of and respect for the symbols that are part of the culture of the school.
Aligned SE criterion	Criterion #17:  Our school respects the traditions of the school culture.
Current school documentation and situation	The school documentation affirms the importance of school cultural traditions : school uniform; the school anthem; the school motto; academic awards; sporting awards; community service awards; graduation ceremonies year 6 to secondary school and final year secondary school; school captains.  A special tradition is community service to the aged and to disadvantaged children.  The documentation is current and needs no adjustment for 2016.
Development objectives for 2016	Induct new staff into these symbolic artefacts and behaviours that are part of the school culture. Update the database for the aligned SE criterion.
Resources needed ·       people, ·       money ·       time ·       location ·       stationery ·       IT	·       Mentor teachers ·       Tine slots for induction ·       A school site process
Timeline to achieve the objective(s)	Term 1 induction
Process for achieving the objectives	Teacher peer mentors induct the new teachers and other new staff.
Outcome(s) of the assessment of the attainment of the objective(s)	All staff continue to understand and promote the relevance of the symbols of the school’s culture and to reinforce this to students. Through staff and student wellbeing surveys there is strong evidence of  staff and students feeling a sense of belonging to this school community.

May the Force be with you!


GD

School Development Planning (SDP) element #22

Hi readers!  Been away again on grandparent duty.  This time I was in the north west of Western Australia, iron ore mining country.  Everything is big, on a grand scale.  It is dry red earth country but fascinating in its own way.  It is very hot in the summer regularly reaching 40 degrees celsius.

This is all about staff being responsible for keeping up to date.  It is part of the culture of the school.

SDP element #22	Best practice teaching and the related staff professional development.
Aligned SE criterion	Criterion #11: We the school staff accept responsibility for keeping up to date.
Current school documentation and situation	The school documentation affirms the responsibility of each staff member to self assess performance and seek development in areas where they perceive a need.
Development objectives for 2016	The administrative staff and significant peers to make available information about development opportunities. Update the data base for the aligned School Effectiveness criterion.
Resources needed ·       people, ·       money ·       time ·       location ·       stationery ·       IT	·       Administrative staff and mentor peers.
Timeline to achieve the objective(s)	Throughout 2016 the mentoring to occur.
Process for achieving the objectives	Mentoring by the administrative staff and significant peers.
Outcome(s) of the assessment of the attainment of the objective(s)	Staff members demonstrate that they are keeping up to date by reports to their mentors which are shown to the Principal.

We are almost at the end of the SDP.

May the Force be with you.


GD