SCHOOL CONTEXT STATEMENT
School Name:
BOOLEROO CENTRE DISTRICT SCHOOL
School Number:
1.
Updated: 07/13
0771
General Information
Part A
School name:
School No. :
Courier:
Principal:
Postal Address:
Location Address:
Portfolio:
Partnership:
Distance from GPO:
Phone No. :
Fax No. :
CPC attached:
Booleroo Centre District School
0771
Yorke Mid -North
Mrs Jenny Stringer
Box 42 Booleroo Centre SA 5482
Stephen Street Booleroo Centre SA 5482
Pirie, Education Director: Terry Sizer
Flinders
280km
86672124
86672201
No
February FTE Enrolment
Primary
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
2010
6.0
11.0
8.0
9.0
14.0
17.0
15.0
16.0
2011
09.0
06.0
12.0
08.0
11.0
14.0
18.0
15.0
2012
13.0
07.0
07.0
14.0
8.0
12.0
15.0
18.0
2013
11.0
09.0
06.0
08.0
14.0
08.0
12.0
18.0
Secondary
0.0
32.0
27.0
32.0
26.0
15.6
1.0
0.0
30.0
31.0
28.0
31.7
19.6
0.0
0.0
30.0
29.0
32.0
26.2
29.6
0.0
0.0
27.0
30.0
26.0
29.0
25.0
TOTAL
270.6
233.3
240.8
223
School Card percentage
NESB Enrolment
Aboriginal Enrolment
13%
0
2
10%
2
4
16%
2
3
15%
1
3
Special, N.A.P. Ungraded etc.
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 12 plus
Similar
Similar figures for 2014, with Aboriginal Enrolment of 1.
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Part B
 Senior leaders
Kirby Chapman: Trade Training, Support Services, Assessment & Reporting, Behaviour Mgmt
Leanne Opperman: Numeracy, Daily Operations, TfEL
 Coordinators
Kathy Kupke: Senior School
Paul Arthur: Primary School
 School e-mail address
dl.0771_info@schools.sa.edu.au
 Staffing numbers
Staffing for 2015 comprises -16.1 FTE. teachers
There are 7 SSOs, 1 Grounds person, 1 Farm Manager.
The Leadership Team comprises: - Principal 2 senior leaders 2 coordinators
 Enrolment trends
Enrolments are declining in number - enrolments into Reception continue to be small and this
impacts upon the total school numbers in the future years.
 Special arrangements
The school is the result of the community led amalgamation of the Booleroo Centre
Kindergarten, Primary School and High School. It is part of MNSEC (Mid North Secondary
Education Cooperative). MNSEC is a cluster of 6 secondary schools who cooperatively share
the delivery of the Senior Secondary curriculum using distance education technology. The
schools participate in combined student musical and sporting activities. The schools are
Booleroo Centre District School, Gladstone High School, Jamestown Community School,
Peterborough High School, Orroroo Area School and Quorn Area School. The Principal and
Senior Leader 7-12 are part of the MNSEC Management Team, attending a meeting once a
term with the Principals and relevant leaders of the other MNSEC schools.
The school is a member of the Pichi Richi Trade Training Centre Consortium along with Orroroo
Area School, Quorn Area School, Hawker Area School, Leigh Creek Area School, Port Augusta
Senior School and the Port Augusta TAFE in collaboration with the Pichi Richi Conservation
Society. The Consortium is establishing future vocational educational opportunities, across a
wide selection of trades.
A Rural Childcare program operates out of the Kindergarten
Year of opening:- 2001
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2.
Students (and their welfare)
General characteristics
 Booleroo Centre District School is coeducational and approximately 15% of the families
are school card holders.
 The majority of students are bussed in from the surrounding farming districts on 6 school
buses.
 Several students with disabilities receive additional support.
 The school has a strong academic tradition and a well deserved reputation for academic
success. Our SACE completion rate over the last 10 years has been 95% and the majority
of students go on to further study, mainly university studies. Again over the last 10 years
an average of 99% of the students have been offered their first choice of tertiary course or
vocational opportunity.
 Sport is an important part of the school and local culture and students participate in a
range of sporting programs.
Pastoral care programs:Each class is allocated a home group teacher who oversees the student welfare of that
group of students
The school has implemented a “Pathways” program for Years 7-12 in 2013
A Pastoral Care Worker also “watches out” for students experiencing difficult life challenges.

Support offered
Student Counselling is managed in a flexible manner with support being provided by the
teaching staff, supported by Support Services Staff. Senior Leaders monitors the learning of
students and works with staff, parents and Regional Staff to
provide support programmes, as required.

Student management
A whole school Student Behaviour Management Procedure that is in line with the DECD
policy is in place. As with all procedures, the Student Behaviour Management Procedure was
developed in consultation with staff, parents and students. It covers classroom and yard
behaviour, expectations, procedures and consequences. Strong support and responsibility is
given to the classroom teacher to manage student behaviour. Leaders provide a second level
of support.
 Student government
There are two SRCs operating at the school a Junior and a Senior School SRC.
Representatives from all year levels meet regularly and take a significant role in
decision making and student welfare. Three teachers take responsibility for supporting
the SRCs. SRC members in year 7 to 12 are given the opportunity to attend various
leadership development programs as they become available.
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 Special programmes
The Accelerated Reader program is well embedded within our Junior and Middle
School Curriculum.
Mathletics is available for all classes from Reception toYear 8.
Reading Recovery and Early Intervention Strategies are in place.
Our school music program is supplemented by Instrumental Music, provided weekly by a
visiting teacher and private music tuition is offered by local teachers.
Our school is also involved in the Regional Choir and the MNSEC Showcase
Students have the opportunity to undertake sporting activities through SAPSASA, MNSEC
and Knockout Sports.
A whole school camps and excursion program is in place.
3.
Key School Policies
The Booleroo Centre, Primary School and High School were amalgamated as of the
beginning of 2001. Procedures are being constantly updated and reflect the status of the
school as a single school.
4.
Curriculum
 Subject offerings
Booleroo Centre District School provides access to a broad curriculum with high quality
teaching and learning, within a caring and supportive environment.
The Kindergarten teaching, learning and assessment programmes are based on the Early
Years Learning Framework. The curriculum is play based and is designed to promote and
develop real life skills by utilising student interest.
The Junior and Middle School curriculum is based on the Australian Curriculum and is being
phased in accordance with DECD guidelines.
The Senior School curriculum is based on SACE, Australian Curriculum and SACSA. Year
10 students study subjects that are a combination of Australian Curriculum, SACSA and
SACE.
A comprehensive range of Senior School subjects is offered face to face or through
distance delivery via MNSEC or the Open Access College.
Distance delivery through MNSEC is supported by teacher visits at least once a term.
Students are encouraged to undertake Vocational Education and Training particularly
through School Based Apprenticeships, Community Studies and Vocational Studies
courses.

Special needs
The Senior Leaders and the Coordinators manage the monitoring and assessment of
students with Special Needs. Once assessed, NEPs are developed for students in
consultation with service providers, teachers, parents and students to ensure that the
students’ needs are best met.



Special curriculum features
The school has an active Agricultural programme
In 2005 we began exploring, as a community, the concept of Sustainability. A consultant
was hired and a concept plan was drawn up. Concepts being explored include; electricity,
water, sustainable farming, permaculture and technology. The whole school from Birth to 12
is involved in this initiative.
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Through a range of grants the school has been able to develop a significant Wetlands
area.

Teaching methodology
A range of teaching methodologies is utilised across the school and staff and students are
encouraged to use technology appropriately.

Assessment procedures and reporting
Consistent monitoring of student progress is an essential feature of our school.
Reports are produced termly, varying between a full formal report and progess reports.
Parent / teacher interviews are offered termly
 Transition is an important process within the school and is greatly enhanced by the Birth to
12 nature of the site. Playgroup is held weekly at the Kindergarten. It is organised by a
parent and assists in the transition from home to preschool. The Kindergarten Director works
closely with the Junior School Co-ordinator to ensure that transition from Kindergarten to
Reception occurs seamlessly.
At year 8 students from the three feeder schools (Wirrabara Primary School, Wilmington
Primary School and Melrose Primary School) undertake a transition programme which
involves several shared learning experiences by the year 7 cohort.
5.

Sporting Activities
The school holds annual athletics, swimming and cross-country competitions based around
a 2 house system, Rogers and Dunstan. The school is involved in SAPSASA and MNSEC
sports with an excellent record of student representation and parent support.
Basketball, tennis, football, cricket, swimming and netball are offered out of school hours by
the community and a range of sporting activities is available through Knockout Sports.
6.
Other Co-Curricular Activities
 General
Parent Information Night, sleep ins and year level camps, curriculum excursions and camps,
end of year concert and presentation night, local choir performances, performing arts
productions, MNSEC band, MNSEC Showcase performances, MNSEC socials and formal,
school socials, school year book production, after school religious education for Catholic
students, Christian Option Seminars.
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7. Staff (and their welfare)
 Staff profile
 The teaching staff is made up of a blend of teachers who have been at the school for
many years and some recently appointed teachers. As with the teaching staff, some of the
members of the SSO staff have many years of experience whilst others are relatively new to
the job. The SSO staff is deployed as follows: Finance Officer, Receptionist/EDSAS/DATEX
Manager, Computer Network Manager, Laboratory Assistant, Library Support, Learning
Support, Groundsperson, Farm Manager.
 Professional Development.
All members of staff are encouraged to become involved in professional development
especially that which complements the Site Improvement Plan and the staff member’s
individual performance Management focus Areas.
 Performance Management
A Performance Management Policy is in place and utilised. The policy was developed in
accordance with the DECS Performance Management Policy. Regular meetings are held for
all staff and training and development is closely aligned to performance plans and the Site
Improvement Plan
 Access to special staff
Specialist staff is accessible through the York Mid -North District Education
Office
8.

School Facilities
Buildings and grounds
The School has recently undergone a major re-development that involved upgrading
many areas of the school and the construction of new classrooms for the Middle School.
The areas included in the redevelopment have been decorated using colours
recommended for learning.
A state of the art Gymnasium funded by many years of school fund raising in conjunction
with DECS was completed during 2011.
BER funding has refurbished the Home Economics Centre and constructed a 4 GLA.
The Pichi Richi Trade Training Centre funding has financed the refurbishment of Tech
Studies and aspects of Agriculture and construct a shed in which will be housed tools for
the Wet trades building course.

Air conditioning.
All classrooms, the administration area and the library are air conditioned.

Specialist facilities
Specialist areas exist for Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Science, Technical Studies
and Home Economics.
The Resource Centre is well appointed and incorporates Internet access through several
computers available for student use.
Three fully equipped computer rooms and pods spread throughout the school provide
information technology facilities. A distance education facility provides for flexible
delivery. Numerous Ipads are now available for student and staff use
The school has a sports oval, tennis and basketball courts and access to the community
swimming pool. There is a large agricultural facility with access to 10 hectares of
cropping land. Our agricultural facility has recently been supplemented with an additional
34 hectares of land leased from AUSBULK for a peppercorn rent.
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
Student facilities:Year 12 students have use of a common room.
There are extensive play ground facilities.
All year levels have access to microwaves and fridges are available for student use in the
Junior School. Most buildings have wheel chair access through the use of ramps.

Staff facilities
All teachers at Booleroo Centre District School have an office space.
All staff work areas have computing facilities.
.
Access to bus transport
DECD buses and private contractors transport students to and from the surrounding
towns. The DECD buses are made available for school excursions. The local Community
Bus may also be utilised for camps and excursions. The school recently were granted a
Variety Charity Sunshine Coach for the use of excursions which occur over DECD bus
times prior to 8.45am and after 3.10pm.

9.
School Operations
 Decision making structures
Through regular meetings, all community members, staff in staff meetings, students
through the SRC and parents through the Governing Council contribute to decision
making in the school. The Governing Council has several sub committees that encourage
parental involvement.
 Regular publications
A newsletter is published weekly.
Weekly notices are provided for staff – covering the current fortnight
A daily bulletin is provided for staff and students.
Class newsletters and student diaries are a means of regular home contact.
An annual School Year Book, curriculum and parent information booklets are available.
There is a school website and the school enjoys a high level of good publicity through
the local newspapers.
There is also a school facebook page.
 School financial position
The school is in a sound financial position.
11. Local Community
 General characteristics
The school is located in the Southern Flinders Ranges. The local community is mixed
farming with several small towns servicing the area.
Booleroo Centre is a service centre for the local farming community and includes several
small industries that provide employment, outside of the farming industry.
Tourism plays an important role in the local economy and mountain biking is fast
becoming an attraction.
The Booleroo Steam and Traction Weekend and the Melrose and Wilmington Shows are
well attended annual events.
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
Parent and community involvement
All school activities are well supported, with a high level of parental interest.
The local community takes pride in the school and has high expectations of its students.

Feeder schools
Melrose Primary School,
Wilmington Primary School
Wirrabara Primary School.
 Commercial, industrial and shopping facilities
Facilities in Booleroo Centre include:- a supermarket, fast food outlet, butcher, Post
Office, 2 banks, real estate agent,/insurance agency, hairdresser, hotel, agricultural
machinery and chemical outlet and a service stations
Booleroo is a short distance from the regional towns of Port Pirie, Port Augusta and
Jamestown.
 Other local facilities.
A district hospital, medical clinic, ambulance service, aged care home, a range of
outreach services, police station, community gym, CFS and SES facility and an airstrip
are located in Booleroo Centre. There are churches of several denominations, in the
district and a swimming pool with a well established swimming club operates in Booleroo
Tennis, cricket, football and netball facilities are available in the community and a strong
competition for each through local sporting associations
 Availability of staff housing
Some Government housing is available and some private rental accommodation is
available at times. At any one time, several houses are available for purchase within
Booleroo Centre and the surrounding towns.

Local Government body
The local government body is the District Council of Mount Remarkable.
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