NARROGIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, WA
SCHOOL:
Narrogin Primary School is a Government Kindergarten - Year 7 school located 190km south-east of Perth. Of its 340 students, 70 are Indigenous.
PROGRAMS:
Increased community involvement. Working initially through a school/community Reconciliation art project, this has expanded to incorporate wider involvement of parents and other Indigenous community members in the daily life of the school. The cultural activities undertaken since the initial art project in 2005 have been a springboard for the provision of Aboriginal cultural studies in all classes throughout the school. There has also been a strategy of employing Indigenous community members (some of whom have gone on to work elsewhere) written into the school's operational plan. Currently the school employs Indigenous people in the following roles: Transition Coordinator; Morning Literacy Coordinator (x 2); After-School Learning Club (x 2); Early Childhood Literacy, Numeracy and Attendance Coordinator; AIEO (x 2).
Student leadership. The Young Aboriginal Leaders project commenced in 2008 with ten potential student leaders from Years 5 and 6 identified and provided with a weekly leadership course. Two students were elected as Student Councillors for 2009, the first time there have been two Noongar student councillors at the school.
Attendance. Students at risk are identified and meetings with parents/carers, school leadership and the AIEO are held. A celebration afternoon tea is held once a term for students and families as they reach their targets. Students with high attendance rates are recognised at assemblies and in newsletters, and all students who meet their targets are taken on an excursion.
Appointment of an Early Childhood Literacy, Numeracy and Attendance Coordinator. This has improved attendance and enrolments in the early years, where average Indigenous student attendance has gone from the 50th percentile to the 80th percentile. Unexplained absences have been reduced from 22.6% to 7.4%.
OUTCOMES:
Attendance
| | | | | 2007 | 2008
| Indigenous students in severe attendance risk category
| 13% | 3.4%
| | Indigenous students in moderate attendance risk category | 22% | 18% | | Indigenous students in mild attendance risk category | 48% | 22% | | | | | | Indigenous students with high (90-100%) attendance | 46% | 56% |
MORE INFORMATION:
Stephen Doherty, Principal 08 9881 1200 or stephen.doherty@det.wa.edu.au
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