From the new timetable to building upgrades, including the installation of industrial fans and LED lights in the expansive Multi- Purpose Building (MPC) to make exams more comfortable, Singleton High School (SHS) has undergone a facelift.
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Of course, it has all been undertaken to benefit the students, and principal, Jo Gray says although its early days beginning period one at 9.05 as opposed to 9.45am is achieving this goal.
“It is early days but our statistics on attendance, truancy (including fractional truancy) and promptness to class show a clear improvement and we will work hard to consolidate these gains,” she says.
“The change has taken place with little or no disruption. Of course, some families have had to make an adjustment but the overwhelming feedback that I’ve had (and others with close connections to the community) is that the change is welcome and in fact, needed.”
“It has been very smooth and in fact, with students not having so much ‘downtime’ between their arrivals at school and the first period, we’ve had a decrease in morning behaviour incidents.”
Ms Gray says they expect to see an academic improvement that is measurable but of course it is too early to document yet.
However, teachers are reporting a more settled, ready to work attitude among students, so this augurs well, she says.
The move was initiated to increase the length of each lesson from 55 to 63 minutes to bring teaching time into line with best practice in comparable schools, and to more than exceed the Board of Studies indicative hours for senior courses.
This was met with some opposition from parents worried about the earlier start time, and the early finishing time every second Monday.
Ms Gray says they thought there’d be a few more late notes but in fact punctuality has improved.
“You’re much more likely to be delayed starting class if you’ve spent the before school time at a nearby fast food outlet,” she explains.
Long-serving, deputy principal, Ian Skilton concurs and says when he first started at SHS the starting time was 9am.
“It’s gone full circle, and more teaching time will benefit the students,” he says.
“The last bus gets here at about five to nine so those students just go straight to class – things just feel more settled and quieter.”
Ms Gray confirms all the buses are scheduled to arrive at school in time for roll call.
“There are only a few occasions when this doesn’t happen,” she says.
“Don’t forget that the teachers here voted to increase their face to face time with students in the interests of improving the outcomes for students.”
“We are setting high expectations for ourselves and our students and the response has been great.”
The passionate educator says everyone, that is, students, teachers, families and the Singleton community, should have high expectations of their school.
