Jimboomba State School offers an integrated curriculum which focuses on outcomes-based education in the Key Learning Areas of: English, Mathematics, Science, Study of Society and Environment, Health and Physical Education, Languages Other Than English (Japanese), Technology and The Arts.

Incorporated into the school’s curriculum framework are school programs and strategies for literacy, numeracy, inclusion, intervention, information and communication technologies early childhood, drug education and sport. Teachers co-operatively plan units of work using the learning outcomes from Study of Society and Environment or Science areas as their main focus; outcomes from all the other Key Learning Areas are then integrated. At the end of each unit, parents are usually invited to come to the school to view their children’s achievements.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES IN 2008

A major focus for Jimboomba this year has been around updating and aligning our whole school program. A whole school literacy and numeracy program is currently being developed in alignment with the Essential Learnings and the Queensland Curriculum Assessment and reporting framework. A major goal of staff development in curriculum is for teachers at the Jimboomba State School to gain an understanding of the new directions of the Mathematics Syllabus. This key learning area promotes thinking, reasoning and working mathematically as essential elements of mathematical knowledge. To achieve this aim, most in-school professional development will focus on providing information about the five strands of Mathematics to enable teachers to increase their knowledge in lesson design. Teachers will also be funded to attend all professional development opportunities initiated by the Logan-Beaudesert District as well as by commercial providers.

With the appointment of a school’s Head of Curriculum, whose expertise is in multi-media, all staff will be required to increase their knowledge of information and communication technologies. A draft program of this area will also be trialled.

With the selection of a new Science Coordinator, it is an opportune time to revisit the Science Syllabus. In doing so, the Smart State education agenda by the State Government will be supported by ensuring that the best possible standards of Science will be implemented from Prep to Year 7.

All interested teachers will be inserviced in all aspects of the Early Years Curriculum.

In order to improve teachers’ abilities to make consistent judgements about students’ learning, all teachers within each year level will partake in moderation activities so that the process of assessment will enable students to demonstrate outcomes.

Another important focus for teachers is to incorporate daily physical fitness activities into Health and Physical Education programs to improve student learning. Professional development will include the accessing of one of the world’s top educators, Mr John Joseph who will present to the whole staff the most recent findings in brain research so that this information will translate into powerful strategies to enhance student performance.

Eligible non-teaching staff who wish to avail themselves of traineeship opportunities to upskill their knowledge in information and communication technologies or administration will be fully funded. All teacher aides will continue to develop their expertise in strategies to support the Learning Support and Special Needs teachers in delivering programs for students in need of literacy and numeracy intervention as well as inclusive practices.