WILTJA PROGRAM AT WOODVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, SA
Wiltja is an annexe of Woodville High School, a Government secondary school in Adelaide. All of Wiltja's 55 students are Anangu from remote and isolated communities across 'The Lands', the Tri-State Western Desert area (NT, SA and WA).
WILTJA
The Wiltja program operates with autonomy but is based within Woodville HS, and is responsive to the Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Educational Committee (PYEC). It works in close collaboration with the Wiltja Residential program, a boarding arrangement used by all Wiltja students.
The Wiltja program is the urban annexe of the secondary programs being offered by Anangu schools in the tri-state area. The opportunity is provided for students to access urban secondary schooling, and to complete South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) courses.
There is a Bridging Program after students have been selected by their home community and home school to attend Wiltja. This program focuses on literacy and numeracy as well as independent living skills (such as traveling around a large metropolitan city). Most students are English as Second Language speakers.
In Stage Two, Wiltja students participate in mainstream Woodville HS classes with some support from Wiltja staff. Again, literacy is the biggest issue and is fundamental to all further study. Wiltja rather than Woodville HS retains responsibility for literacy work even once students have entered the mainstream.
Students are supported by the Wiltja Residential Program staff in their education, recreation and cultural transition. All students participate in an after-school tutorial program that is designed to support the school-based program. There are youth workers at the Wiltja residence in Northgate who help maintain a teaching and learning focus.
FOCUS ON ACADEMIC SUCCESS
There is a clearly articulated commitment to academic success, even to the extent of limiting the 'extra' things that the students are offered (for example - Crocfest, careers expos, cultural performances). At the same time, Wiltja offers Pitjantjatjara as a language and while there is a disinclination to steer the students towards vocational education, there are subjects offered which related to the range of employment opportunities available on the Aboriginal Lands. These include Tourism, Business Studies, Geoscience, Land Management, Health and Wellbeing, Media Studies, Information Technology, Web Design, Legal and Economic Studies, and Australian Studies.
ACCELERATED LITERACY
Wiltja has had a long-term commitment to Accelerated Literacy (formerly the Scaffolded Literacy program). "We have contributed to developing the Accelerated Literacy (AL) approach," past principal Bob Lines says. "We have helped develop rich texts, and taken AL pedagogy into subject areas not previously seen as literacy areas such as Geoscience, SOSE and Maths."
DATA
"We measure constantly in AL," acting principal Ashley Dorr says. "We use it to find out what the kids know, the progress they are making or not making, and that gives us an opportunity to fix the problem. Instead of tracking students from one year to the next, we have noticed there can be marked changes across a year, so we collect data more regularly on student progress."
Data collection includes: TORCH comprehension test in Term 1 and Term 4; spelling tests in Term 1 and Term 4; maths tests in Term 1 and Term 4; ESL scaling in mid-year; AL running records before and after the teaching of particular passages in books (around three times a term).
RETENTION OF YOUNG MEN AND THE CURRICULUM
In 1999-2003 there were no male SACE graduates from Wiltja. In 2004-2007 there have been eight. "Every time a boy gets through, there is huge pride in the family about their achievement, and this becomes self-perpetuating," Mr Lines says. "There is status in the communities attached to finishing Year 12. Each of the boys who has left here has been a model as a possible future community leader. People in the communities expected the girls would get through 'because they are the ones who can learn' but now the boys are succeeding too.
"We do challenging subjects to make the curriculum more interesting and accessible for boys. In literacy, this means studying Macbeth and Beowulf, not teenage fiction aimed at low-level readers. The introduction of Geoscience has helped too because it is linked to pathways to the future, a link to a possible economy."
STUDENT SELECTION
"There is a nomination process by their community and school," Ms Dorr says. "Families will nominate children. Agencies and schools also nominate children who are at risk, distressed, abused, and we assess these kids and do as much as we can. We are not out there with an assessment scheme cherry-picking the best and brightest. We look for kids who are interested in having a go. We take on some kids who are extremely challenging, but we monitor how many we have at any given time. They don't all come down ready to rip through Year 8 - on the contrary, most are several years behind their mainstream equivalents."
RELATIONSHIPS
"We have kids living a long way from home, who are emotionally challenged, often lonely, often their families are having problems, and the only think that can counteract that is relationships, and the sense of purpose attached to those relationships," Mr Lines says. "Relationships are to do with high expectations and valuing kids. A kid comes in, the way you respond to them gives the message that you believe they have potential, they're valued, they have something to contribute. It's not just 'we're here to look after you, entertain you and give you a good time'. It's communicating, ?We know you can do well at this'."
OUTCOMES
Wiltja Year 12 SACE graduates:
1998 2
1999 1
2000 2
2001 1
2002 5
2003 5
2004 5
2005 3
2006 2
2007 5
* Virtually all of the 2007 SACE graduates are the first members of their families and communities to complete Year 12.
Wiltja retention:
2006 Three students in Year 10 from 11 who commenced Year 8 in 2004
2007 Five students in Year 10 from eight who commenced Year 8 in 2005
2008 14 students in Year 10 from 14 who commenced Year 8 in 2006
COMMUNITY COMMENT
"Wiltja is a school for Anangu that helps our children stay and finish Year 12. We like the way Wiltja works to improve opportunities for our students and are pleased with their progress. Wiltja has been working for our children's futures for a very long time and is helping to keep our communities strong." - Katrina Tjitayi, Director PYEC
*WILTJA WAS A HIGH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER AT THE 2007 DARE TO LEAD EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP IN INDIGENOUS EDUCATION AWARDS*
SELECTION PANEL COMMENTS:
"The Wiltja program is comprehensive, well designed, and tailored to meet the specific needs of its clients. It displays long term vision and strong leadership. There is evidence of good strategic planning and improved outcomes. There is clear support from the Anangu community for the way that Wiltja works to improve outcomes for Anangu students and in so doing helps to keep the communities strong."
ACTING PRINCIPAL: Ashley Dorr
MORE INFORMATION: 08 8347 1520 or www.woodvillehs.sa.edu.au
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