3. Effective Management & Communication (SENTRAL)
Artefacts
Overall Annotation
IMPACT OF ALL THIS ON SCHOOL: For a large school, with two split sites such as Chatswood Public School, it is important and crucial to develop an effective management and communication channel. Chatswood Public School uses Sentral and incorporates several modules which has positively enhanced effective management and efficient communication.
What: Modules used by staff includes Student Attendance, Academic Progress, Referral System, Extra Curricula Activities, Meeting Agenda and Minutes, Report and Assessment, Three Way Interview Booking and Student Wellbeing. The use of these modules have greatly increased effective communication as it provides a central location for staff to access student wellbeing and performance as well as a communication with the school wide community.
​When: Sentral was introduced to Chatswood Public School in 2016 to assist in effective management processes and and communication across the school. Modules have been systematically introduced to staff to ensure comprehensive training and use.
How: All teachers at Chatswood Public School abide by the NSW DoE Code of Conduct and teachers demonstrate a high standard of teaching by accepting responsibility for their own professional learning and development. Therefore teachers participate in weekly training session on various aspects on Sentral Tuesday morning during whole school staff meetings as well as Monday afternoon Teaching and learning Cycle meetings when necessary.
Why: Chatswood Public School staff members maintain a highly respectful attitude towards cultural, ethnic and religious differences whilst working in partnership with parents and carers. Our school leadership team and staff are highly committed to improving the effectiveness of the management and communication channel and Sentral has proven to a useful and essential tool to accomplish this.
The Significant Impact
Student attendance a required legal record for the school. The Leadership Team uses a range of reports and statistics that allows the team to track the attendance of both individuals and cohorts over time. Reports allow the relevant personnel to monitor explained, unexplained justified and unjustified absences. All staff consistently mark rolls electronically on a daily basis. Class rolls also printed for casual teachers and placed in a central location in the classroom. Patterns of attendance is clearly identified with the generation of graphs and statistical data in percentages. Using the data, teachers, the Learning & Support Team and HSLO are able to work together with parents to support each other to encourage 100% attendance.
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In regards to wellbeing, staff have the ability to look at the negative incidents of all students as well as their progress. It provides the Executive Team, LaST and teachers with access to check data, dates, incidents involved, identify patterns of behaviour, times and location of incidences. Sentral allows us to understand the complete picture in order to deal with student wellbeing effectively. Staff is able to attach statements, provide letters to parents, and identify those who may need support in the classroom as well as on the playground, ensuring Chatswood Public School meet whole school wellbeing practices.
Students who are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, students in disrupted family situations and students with special support, receive supplementary programs and an Individual Learning Program (ILP). The teacher, in conjunction with the LaST, creates ILP’s and these are consistently reviewed to ensure student needs are continuously met.
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Chatswood Public School is utilising the Sentral Academic Report whereby teachers are able to collaboratively write, save and share comments on the system. We have continued to refine and improve the report through constructive feedback. The system allows teachers to deliver clear and accurate information that represent a positive school image.
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The Sentral Dashboard is a virtual bulletin board and members of staff consistently use it to communicate goals, events, display motivational quotes and variations to routines for the week. All meetings are being recorded and minutes taken using Sentral. The meeting agenda is also automatically updated and allows all staff to review and keep up to date with what is going to be discussed and what was said at a meeting to ensure the smooth running of such a large school.
Analysis
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In our self-assessment process the leadership team analysed and reviewed the Management and Communication processes and systems. Meeting Minutes and variations of routine ensure that clear communication takes place regularly to support all school staff and the community for the successful operation of administrative systems. Reporting to the community happens regularly as evidence in the school report.
This evidence set shows our commitment to clear communication with all school members, effective administrative and accountability practices in order to support the whole school community.
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SEF Connections
Under Learning Elements, we are Excelling in Learning Culture as teachers are highly engaged in improvement for themselves and as well as the students. Staff are regularly in-serviced in various areas of Sentral and also take the initiative to follow up on the use of the system. Using information gathered on Sentral, staff then plan, implement and reflect on learning.
For Curriculum and Learning as well as Wellbeing, Chatswood Public School is Sustaining and Growing. Teachers regularly collect and use information to support students’ successful progress in school as well as in transitions. Procedures are in place to include family/caregiver members, Executive staff, LaST, class teachers, Educational service and other community service providers when student needs are identified. In addition, the School Counsellor and LaST have a crucial and positive role in mapping and monitoring a student’s transition. Chatswood Public School also uses Individual Learning Plans to identify and assist with the wellbeing needs and goals of students.
In regards to Assessment and Reporting, Chatswood Public School is Sustaining and Growing. Chatswood Public School analyses internal and external data in order to make worthwhile decisions for students. Teachers at Chatswood Public School regularly assess achievement and is used for creating groupings within classrooms to ensure learning goals are met. Assessments also provide the evidence for reporting student progress. This includes providing students’ strengths and areas for growth. Parents are updated on the progress with written reports as well as the opportunity to meet with the class teacher during formal and informal interviews.
For the Teaching Elements, Effective Classroom Practice, Data Skill and Use, and Learning and Development is noted as Sustaining and Growing. In addition, Chatswood Public School also rate Collaborative Practice and Professional Standards as Sustaining and Growing. The school use data collection, external and internal resources, the creative capacity of all staff to develop and implement practices to address problems or enhance already strong practice based on the collection. Teachers at Chatswood Public School work with a spirit of openness and is prepared for critical reflection, a sharing of their experiences, ideas and expertise with others. As a learning community, teachers engage in professional dialogue on a daily basis with their colleagues sharing their knowledge of effective teaching practice. All staff are consistently encouraged to make a positive contribution to the school culture and are committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
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In regards to the Leading Elements, Chatswood Public School rate School Planning, Implementation and Reporting, School Resources as well as Management Practices and Process as Sustaining and Growing. Under the School Excellence Framework, Chatswood Public School staff have developed (by being collaborative, consultative and data informed) a three year School Plan. The School Plan, endorsed by the P&C, is reviewed and updated annually to maintain currency and alignment. To gauge the effectiveness of its planned strategies a set of milestones has been established which are reviewed on a regular basis.
Future Direction
Learning Elements
Sentral will be an integral communication system for our school projects from 2018-2010 as the student and parent portal will be utilised by staff members. Parents and students will have information at their fingertips including homework tracking, messages and communication from teachers as well class updates on student learning which will include our future projects of Visible Teaching and Learning, Global Connection and STEM focus.
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Teaching Elements
As the committee will be working closely together, collaborative practice and learning development is highlighted to ensure effective management and communication continues. In addition, it will ensure the modules on Sentral will be operated at its full potential including, the continuum tracker, reporting and assessment, and the well-being and referral system.
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As data is stored automatically and readily available, staff is able to access use the information for future planning and improving effective classroom practice and management.
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Leading Elements
As Chatswood Public School is one of the state’s largest primary schools, to effectively use Sental, a committee with a representative from each Stage will be formed in late 2017. Staff members will be be formally trained to oversee modules on Sentral including the communication portals with the wider community. Committee members will also be a point of contact for staff for troubleshooting increasing leadership opportunities for the representatives and providing more avenues for increased communication.