Careers at Cranbourne Primary School

Cranbourne Primary School is a team of dedicated professionals. Our students face greater challenges than other students, but we are committed to ensuring all students achieve academically. Our staff are positive, committed and work as a team to support kids and each other. We work together to give new approaches a try, and have fun while doing it. We encourage you to contact the principal and organise a look around, regardless of whether there is currently a postion available. Lachlan.Yeates@education.vic.gov.au

 

Teaching Approaches

By using evidence based programs we both support teachers and maximise learning for our students.

Approaches include:

  • Spelling Mastery
  • Little Learners Love Literacy (Structured Sythetic Phonics)
  • DIBELS assessments
  • Fluency Pairs
  • Heggerty phonological awareness (coming in 2023)
  • Knowledge rich, integrated curriculum
  • Gradual release Instructional Model

These structured programs provide a platform that teachers can use to deliver outstanding lessons. Teaching is both an Art and a Science. If our programs and curriculum can take the pain out of the Science, you are free to bring the Art.

 

Professional Development

We believe that the best PD is one you use. We provide weekly professional development sessions to teachers, organised around themes. The school's leadership team has committed to never asking teachers to work on more than 2 new things in any term, and time is provided to work with team-mates, practice implementation and learn new skills.

 

In 2023 the school will have a focus on external professional development and school visits. All staff will be able to select areas from a menu, and then either identify their own wish-list of PD or have effective learning sourced for them. We are particularly interested in exposing our teachers to the best practices in the state through regular school visits, and volunteer staff have already visited up to 5 high-performing schools this year.

 

Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) drive much of the work in school, and in addition to these being opportunities to plan the upcoming week, they are also wonderful opportunities to share ideas and learn new practices from peers.

 

In 2023 the school is looking to embed its observation approach and implement a coaching program. Contact the school for more information about this!

 

Wellbeing Programs

We recognise that students need to be taught appropriate behaviours and we use the best from the Berry Street Education model and SWPBS. Our 5 school values are represented by our 5 superheroes. Every morning starts with circle time to give students an opportunity to discuss their feelings before moving into learning.

 

 

Our wellbeing program includes:

  • Fulltime behaviour and wellbeing support Leading Teacher
  • Minimum of 1 ES for every learning community (3 classes) who know and support any challenging students (funded or otherwise)
  • Postive points reward system
  • Lunchtime clubs
  • Student "buddy monitors" to help students during recess and lunchtime
  • Additional ES support on yard duty
  • Breakfast club 5 days a week (never make your own toast again)
  • A wellbeing support dog (good for staff and students)

 

 

A community approach to addressing disadvantage

Our community faces many challenges, and we are fortunate to have a high proportion of student from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (45%), Out of Home Care (6%) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (6%). This diversity is a strength and our teaching team is proud to turn up to work every day and have an impact on students who need a quality education the most.

 

In addition to our quality classroom supports, the school also supports our community. Our Community Hub delivers programs such as adult english language programs, playgroup, social clubs and wellbeing workshops to support our families. As a result, not only are our families well equipped to support their children, but they also generously support the school through volunteer tutoring, lunchtime clubs and social events.

 

School Improvement Journey

The school is at an exciting point in a strong school improvement journey. With a new and energetic leadership team, the school has see significant improvements on all metrics. In year 0 of our 4 year strategic plan, we have already exceeded 7 out of 12 SSP areas, and have made more than expected progress on another 4. This is only the beginning of a transformational period for the school, and we encourage you to be part of the journey.

 

 

Example of Student Attitudes to School improvement from first year of improvement journey

 

 

Example of junior phonics improvement from first year of implementation

 

 

 

2022 Grade 3 Reading NAPLAN (prior to Science of Learning approaches)

2023 Grade 3 NAPLAN Reading (first cohort with Science of Learning approaches)

 

 

 

2022 Grade 4 NAPLAN Writing (prior to The Writing Revolution)

 

2023 Grade 5 NAPLAN Writing (first year of TWR implementation)

 

 

 

 

 

Staff wellbeing

As principal, I know that students can't learn unless teachers are happy.

 

We provide flexiblity for our teachers to fit in with families and life. Teachers work hard, and I am always happy for people to leave at 3:30 if needed, or swap a free session to make an appointment. We endeavour to be flexible with different time fractions and have staff on a wide variety of time allocations.

 

Staff events occur regularly. We have a regular opt-in Friday take-away order and morning teas every fortnight. If drinks are what you are interested in, we have a coffee machine in both buildings and the "special fridge" is popular on a Friday afternoon. 

 

 

I have been working with the team at Cranbourne Primary School since 2021 and I have never doubted my decision to join . Despite implementing a range of changes in that time, the staff are a wonderful and positive team, and we are already seeing an impressive improvement in student results, parent satisfaction and enrollments.

 

If you have already made up your mind to apply, applications for open positions can be submitted through the Department of Education Recruitment Online platform.

 

I also encourage you to email me at lachlan.yeates@education.vic.gov.au, whether to chat, get more info or organise a school tour!

 

Lachlan Yeates

Principal