St
Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Walgett, is located in north west New South
Wales at the junction of the Namoi and Barwon Rivers, about three hours from
Dubbo, with an enrolment of 190 students. Walgett is predominantly a farming
community and much of the town relies on the rural economy for employment and
prosperity. The ongoing drought in NSW continues to impact on the Walgett community,
causing hardship to many families. Fifty-five percent of the school population
is Aboriginal.The school is participating in a pilot program to revive the local Aboriginal languages, Gamilaraay and Yuwaalayaay. The program proceeded, then contributed to, the development of the NSW K-10 Aboriginal Language Syllabus. The school hosts language research, supports resource development and conducts classes for adults who teach the language at other schools. Student classes are held throughout the school as a Language Other than English. All students, Kindergarten to Year 4 and Indigenous Year 5 and 6 students study Yuwaalayaay and the program will include all students within two years.
Another initiative is the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ATAS) which is a numeracy and/or literacy program targeting students in the lowest 20% of each class. The strategies in this program complement the classroom literacy and numeracy programs. Students participating in the program include Kindergarten students who are targeted and given experience in cutting, pasting, colouring and expressive language. Students in the program, some of whom have literacy and numeracy skills 2-3 years below expected class level, work with a tutor and follow an individual education plan, jointly developed by tutors, class teachers and parents.
The Wii Guy (meaning clever child in Yuwaalayaay) program is for underachieving Aboriginal children. They are taken on camps to participate in literacy and numeracy workshops structured to ensure success at increasing levels of difficulty. Back at school, these students prepare tasks for the next workshop with an Aboriginal Education Aide. They chat to mentors and Wii Guy students at other schools via internet chat rooms.
These initiatives are in addition to programs which have a focus on working with students in small groups and engaging parents; they include home reading, guided reading, and public speaking.
School-based reading and spelling data indicate that almost all the students improved over three years. Students' attendance at school has improved and there is evidence that they are more confident. Much of the school's success can be told through anecdotes. One example is a girl who came to St Joseph's with Stage 1 skills at the beginning of Year 4. She lacked confidence, generally disliked school, hung her head and answered in monosyllables. Within a term on the school's program, she had progressed academically and was attempting class activities, looked people in the eye, slept in her own room at home and waved to teachers out of school. Her mother was ecstatic! She is now working at an early Stage 2 level after three terms on the program.
Peter Dowling