Koondrook Primary School is situated in the small rural township of Koondrook. Our school is located on Murray Parade, Koondrook, in the Shire of Gannawarra. Situated in a delightful bus setting, the school is tucked into a bend of the Murray River.

Koondrook Primary School is part of the Murray Plains Cluster of schools. Enrolments are drawn from within the town and the surrounding farming district, as well as some students coming from the twin NSW town, Barham.

Over the past three years, enrolments have increased from 49 to 80+ students. Expectations are that student numbers will continue to trend upwards.

Koondrook Primary School currently operates four classes (Prep/1, 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6). The school has a current staffing of four full-time teachers which includes the principal and two 0.6 teachers, a full-time and a 0.6 teacher support and 0.4 Business Manager. Koondrook has a range of teaching staff from beginning teachers to experienced staff. We have small class sizes and the school prides itself on the diverse curriculum offered to all students.

During 2013 we moved into a new school, under the BER umbrella, it is a modern facility with up to date technologies, 2 learning areas, a shared project space and an administration and toilet area. In 2015 the increase in student numbers saw the installation of a double portable classroom. We work in flexible learning spaces with the students having the choice of a variety of working spaces within the classrooms. The opportunities provided through this learning environment have resulted in enhanced team teaching and planning, more sophistication in delivering a differentiated curriculum and greater assistance to students at point of need.

Koondrook Primary School has a purpose built Pre-school on site which offers three year old and four year old Preschool programs. Some of the Preschool students in the area also access Preschool in Kerang and Barham. We have established strong ties with all the Preschool centres. Students exiting Koondrook Primary School attend either, Kerang or Barham Secondary Schools. An outstanding transition program exists to enable smooth transition from Preschool to school, and then on to secondary school and the school liaises closely with all institutions.

The Victorian Curriculum was implemented in 2016. We offer a full curriculum including LOTE Indonesian, Music, Science, ICT, Stephanie Alexander Gardening and Cooking Program, Reading Recovery as well as MACC and MARC weekly services. During 2015 we introduced the Walker Learning Approach to Koondrook Primary. The Prep to Year 2 students participate in Investigations and the Year 3-6 student's work on Educational Research Projects. Our student Leadership Program ensures that the students have the opportunity for student voice in what we do at Koondrook Primary.

SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.

SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.

SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement.

SC5 Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated experience in reflecting upon practice and engaging in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.

The classroom teacher classification comprises two salary ranges- range 1 and range 2. The primary focus of the classroom teacher is on the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. The classroom teacher engages in critical reflection and inquiry in order to improve knowledge and skills to effectively engage students and improve their learning.

As the classroom teacher gains experience his or her contribution to the school program beyond the classroom increases. All classroom teachers may be required to undertake other duties in addition to their rostered teaching duties provided the responsibility is appropriate to the salary range, qualifications, training and experience of the teacher.


Classroom teacher Range 2
Range 2 classroom teachers play a significant role in assisting the school to improve student performance and educational outcomes determined by the school strategic plan and state-wide priorities and contributing to the development and implementation of school policies and priorities.

A critical component of this work will focus on increasing the knowledge base of staff within their school about student learning and high quality instruction to assist their school to define quality teacher practice.

Range 2 classroom teachers will be expected to:
- Have the content knowledge and pedagogical practice to meet the diverse needs of all students
- Model exemplary classroom practice and mentor/coach other teachers in the school to engage in critical reflection of their practice and to support staff to expand their capacity
- Provide expert advice about the content, processes and strategies that will shape individual and school professional learning
- Supervise and train one or more student teachers
- Assist staff to use student data to inform teaching approaches that enable targets related to improving student learning outcomes to be achieved.


Classroom teacher Range 1
The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs. Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers.

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice. New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels.

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school.

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organisation of co-curricula activities.

The role of classroom teacher may include but is not limited to:

- Direct teaching of groups of students and individual students;

- Contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a curriculum area or other curriculum program within the school;

- Undertaking other classroom teaching related and organisational duties as determined by the School Principal;

- Participating in activities such as parent/teacher meetings; staff meetings; camps and excursions;

- Undertaking other non-teaching supervisory duties.

Teachers currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and qualified to teach and/or have demonstrated experience in the curriculum area(s) specified for the position.

The Department values diversity and is committed to workforce diversity and equal opportunity in schools and all education workplaces. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx