We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Dharug and Gundungurra people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and learn, extending our respect to elders past, present and emerging
1. MESSAGES FROM KEY SCHOOL BODIES
Korowal School Board Chair's Report on 2023
DELIVERED BY THE CHAIR AT THE AGM IN MAY, 2024
I would like to acknowledge that we are here tonight on the traditional lands of the Darug and Gundungurra peoples: land that was never ceded I would like to pay my respects to Elders, past and present, and any Indigenous members of our community
This is our 46th Annual General Meeting
I am pleased to deliver this year’s Chair’s report for Korowal School Limited for the year ending 31st December 2023. I deliver it as the current Chair, elected in February 2024, to report on a period overseen by my predecessor, Christopher Lee: a period in which I was Deputy Chair of the Board
2023 saw Korowal School entering a new phase The most important determinant of this was the establishment of the new school leadership team In 2023, the Principal and Deputy Principal, appointed towards the end of 2022, moved past the initial stages of their appointment and began to engage, in an increasingly informed and considered way, with the future of the school As the school moves forward in time they, and the school executive, will be building from the base established in 2023 (and years before), of a stable school, with a proven staff, a sound financial position and a progressive identity
BOARD
Board members at the end of 2023 were Christopher Lee (Chair), David Wright (Deputy), Mat Spiteri (Chair of Finance Committee), Greg Lucas and Michelle Montgomery and Nathaniel Hunter (both newly elected in 2023) The School Principal, Cindy Barnsley, regularly attended and reported to the Board in an ex-officio capacity and Korowal’s Business Manager, Melanie Williams, continued in her role as Company Secretary.
On behalf of the board and the school, I would like to express appreciation for the service of immediate past Chair, Christopher Lee, who resigned in February, following the graduation of his youngest child. Chris was a well regarded Chair and a sensitive, highly ethical, intelligent and informed contributor to the school His strategic vision for the board and the school has contributed to its improved functioning I would also like to thank another long standing board member and former Chair, Greg Lucas His leadership was crucial to the school in many ways. Not least in the establishment of the school in its current location, its financial coherence and its relatively recent increase in enrolments In addition I would like to thank Louise Dungate and Andrea Doherty, who retired as Directors during 2023, for their thoughtfulness, their service and commitment
Board members serve in an honorary capacity and are generally parents of current students or teachers at Korowal They bring a complementary range of skills to the focussed coherence necessary to oversee school operations: their ambit is the effective, strategic and sustainable governance of the school in a complex and rapidly changing world. No school stands in isolation. Its operations occur at all times in relation to the external environment that informs, inspires, contains and places demands upon the school
In this respect it is worth mentioning one action of the board In the second half of 2023, changes to the constitution were put in place to allow the board to appoint three new members, to serve alongside elected board members The intent of this change was and is to fill gaps in the board: to bring on board people with identifiable skills, knowledge and experience in governance This constitutional amendment led to a call for expressions of interest late in 2023 and early in 2024 the appointment of Natalie Young, Angela Gillespie and Suneeti Rekhari to the board This meeting will also see the appointment of new director, Pinou Barr, to the position made vacant by the resignation of Greg Lucas I welcome and look forward to working with all four
With the guidance of AIS and legal adviser Ben Tallboys the board worked, in 2023, to improve the effectiveness of board members through processes of induction and training This effectiveness will be enhanced further by the recruitment of our new board members
ADDITIONAL STAFFING
2023 also saw the appointment of additional new staff Korowal continues to attract applications for employment from high quality teachers That this occurs in a period of school teacher shortages is an indicator of the regard with which the school is held in the community New appointments were made in both the primary school and specialist discipline areas in the high school. One departure needs special mention: Mark Thomas, who retired at the end of 2023 after a large part of his adult working life on staff This included a substantial period as School Coordinator Mark’s idiosyncratic approach to education, his mix of insight, wit and storytelling will be missed
STRATEGIC PLANNING
In 2023, considerable work was done towards the realisation, this year, of a new strategic plan This work, undertaken with the assistance of external facilitators, brought together the best of Korowal. It asked the community to envisage ways in which the school can manifest the best possible learning in the best possible environment It worked and continues to work, through the practical imagination of Korowal people (parents, staff and pupils) and the ongoing constraints of locale, funding and organisational context
BUILDING PROJECTS
The school has long recognised the need to renovate and build on site There is a desire to accommodate increased numbers of students and to provide a greater range of options to students In 2023, the school received a grant of $800,000 from the Building Grants Authority for the purpose of improving accommodation Stages in this process were identified, in consultation with architects Hayball, as were costs A decision was made to commence with redevelopments in the primary school area to make classrooms more flexible and amenable This work will be undertaken in 2025. Decisions about further building projects will be made in the future, according to funds and needs
FINANCES
Late in 2023 the board recognised the need to raise school fees by 10% This followed the established procedure of systematically examining current finances and projections around future income and expenditure The key influence upon this was the decision of the state government to significantly increase the salaries of its school teachers It was recognised that this would lead to campaigns to raise the salaries of teachers in the independent school sector, and that Korowal would need to fund these forthcoming increases. Additional factors that contributed to the increase include the need to fund maintenance of and renovations to the aging school buildings
This decision generated concern in the school community and a meeting was called to discuss the rationale. Some parents at the meeting argued the need for increased communication between the school leadership (the board and the executive) and parents This, in turn, led to discussion of the need for a Parents Forum, which would meet each term, and a formal Parents and Friends (P&F) group at Korowal Action regarding this is proceeding in 2024
OUTLOOK
The Korowal community is central to the determination of future of the school For this reason opportunities to build the community and bring members into conversation are of importance There are many places where this can occur These include but go beyond the Parents Forum and the P&F All must work toward the sustainability of the school and all must enhance the quality of the Korowal experience, from large community events like the Fair and Open Day, to
CO-CURRICULAR ENRICHMENT
These offerings were designed to encourage students to cultivate new skills and develop new friendships We also strengthened our connections within the broader educational community via our involvement with the Heads of Co-Educational Independent Schools (HICES) network Korowal joined the Educating For Sustainability Group and attended the inaugural Sustainability Expo, which underscored our commitment to environmental education Our participation in events such as HICES Speechcraft, Regional Cross Country, local futsal galas, and the State Ultimate Frisbee Championships provided valuable opportunities for students to develop confidence and showcase their talents
STRATEGIC PLANNING
A comprehensive review of our strategic plan, facilitated by the Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) Leadership Centre, underscored the unique strengths of Korowal while identifying areas for future growth Through workshops involving parents, the board, and staff, we reaffirmed our commitment to holistic education tailored to meet evolving needs of students
CELEBRATING CULTURE & DIVERSITY
Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week were significant, with the theme "Be A Voice For Generations" deeply resonating across our activities. We welcomed insights from Gundungurra elder, David King, and parent Wayne Cornish, enriching our understanding of Indigenous knowledge and stewardship
KOROWAL SCHOOL BOARD
I thank the Korowal School Board directors for their commitment to the governance of our school Throughout the year, they have generously shared their time and expertise I particularly acknowledge the contribution of Chris Lee, as Chair, and long-term Director Louise Dungate, who stepped down after more than a decade on the board. We also thank David Taylor and Andrea O’Doherty for their valuable contribution and welcomed two new Board Directors, Michelle Montgomery and Nathanael Hunter As part of the board’s commitment to ensuring strong governance, the board sought assistance from Russell Kennedy Lawyers to review and replace the
School’s previous constitution, with a more modern constitution that reflected best practice for independent school governance
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
Campus improvements, including landscaping projects and infrastructure upgrades, further enhanced the learning environment. Sustainability initiatives such as the Food Forest and solar initiatives improved our commitment to sustainability Other notable improvements included the completion of the Covered Outdoor Learning Area (COLA), primary playground upgrade, new science lab roofing, outdoor seating areas, new Pathways study space, new high school bathrooms, the replacement of the roof of the historic administration building, and stonemason repairs
GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING
We worked in earnest to increase our fundraising efforts with $25,012 raised towards the Master Plan with the support of parents and community members Staff applied for numerous grants to support our programs, sustainability practices, and upkeep of the school, culminating in $886,000 in grants.
As we look to the future, we are excited by the opportunities to further enrich our educational offerings and strengthen our community The journey ahead is filled with potential, and I am immensely proud to lead such a dynamic and supportive community. We look forward to working with staff, students and families to bring to life the new strategic plan, with inquiry, agency, community, and connection at its core
Thank you to our staff, families, and students Their commitment to the ethos of Korowal has been vital Through inspiring educational experiences, the cultivation of authentic relationships, prudent management, and financial stability, we have strengthened our reputation as a leader in progressive, independent education As we continue to grow and evolve, I am confident that together, we will keep making a significant impact, fostering an environment characterised by kindness and celebrating each person’s unique talents.
Cindy Barnsley, Principal
Many of our alumni are pursuing careers in science, information technology, design, psychology, music engineering, architecture, law, medicine, performing and visual arts and social sciences They bring a strong ethical framework to decision making
Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA): 1073
These statistics can be found on the ACARA website: www myschool edu au
A mark of 50 or higher in all of their courses was achieved by 93.3%, with 100% achieving at least one Band 3–6 in their courses.
Eighteen students graduated from Korowal in 2023 with 16 achieving their HSC credentials at that time One student completed their Minimum Standards in the following year and was awarded their HSC credentials while one other student is yet to complete all components of the Minimum Standards
It is always challenging to analyse data with a small cohort of students as an individual’s results will greatly affect statistical data The English Extension courses were above the state average and Visual Arts was aligned with the state average while all other courses were below the state average The variations of these results ranged from -2 6 to -9 4 In most cases, this reflected the results of two to four students being below the state average rather than an entire class
All course results were analysed by their respective teachers and evaluated in line with individual student performance to determine potential trends that need to be addressed The general conclusion reached was that there needed to be better examination preparedness and the need to build student capacity to develop more detailed written responses that address examination questions.
Combined Bands 3–6 HSC Results in
Comparison to the State
Extension I Bands E3–E4
All teachers have teacher education qualifications from a higher education institution within Australia or as recognised within the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) guidelines.
6. WORKFORCE COMPOSITION
This description of the Korowal School workforce is extracted from the information published on the ACARA website from the August 2022 census
Kindergarten
Exemptions
In 2010 the Minister, under section 25 of the Education Act 1990, delegated the power to Principals of non-government schools to grant and cancel a Certificate of Exemption from being enrolled and attending school, in certain prescribed circumstances Where the parent of a student of compulsory school age seeks an Exemption from Attendance at school or an Exemption from Enrolment, Korowal will process the parent’s application in accordance with the NSW Department of Education’s guidelines
Management of Non Attendance
Students are required to attend school Parents/ carers are responsible to advise the school of their child’s absence by either phoning the school office on the day of the absence, emailing the school, submitting a form via the Parent Portal
Students who arrive at school after the start of the school day must present to the office and sign in advising the office of their reason for being late, this needs to be verified by their parent/carer.
Attendance is registered in the school’s administrative database, Sentral, which automatically generates an email to families for each absence or unexplained late sign in Families going on extended leave must complete an Application for Leave form (in accordance with legislation) and submit to the school office for authorisation from the Principal The parent is notified of the outcome via authorised certificate or directly from the Principal
Korowal maintains a dedicated approach to addressing student non-attendance and works with students, parents/carers, external agencies and various staff within the school to identify issues impacting on a students ability to attend school regularly. The consideration of the students wellbeing, learning difficulties and learning goals, in addition to their outside of school life circumstances when working with the student to improve their overall attendance
To monitor and improve attendance, Korowal School has implemented a 4 stage process to support staff in managing their responsibilities for the overall improvement of students attendance
Stage 1 – Indicators of potential Attendance Concerns
Stage 2 – Action of Identified Indicator of Attendance Concern
Stage 3 – Attendance Referral & Support
Stage 4 – Graduated Attendance Improvement Plan
Retention Rates and Post-School Destinations
Of the 26 students enrolled at the end of Year 10 in 2021, 69 23% went on to graduate from Korowal in Year 12 in 2023
Each year it is an absolute pleasure to hear the stories of our recently graduated students As is often the case, Korowal’s 2023 graduating students have made important life decisions based on their whole selves, taking into account their wellbeing, strengths, capacity, purpose and their passions. Numerous students have taken a gap year to build life skills, travel and experience new places, and undertake paid work and save
Students who moved into further study are working towards qualifications in a diverse range of areas including Art, History, English, and Engineering Students from our graduating class of 2023 were accepted at the following institutions:
University of Sydney
National Art School
University of Technology Sydney
Charles Sturt University
Newcastle University
Australian Defence Force
8. ENROLMENT POLICY
Enquiries for enrolment to Korowal School can be made by completing the Expression of Interest Form on the school’s website Once an initial enquiry is made, contact is made to offer a tour, and an e-version of the Primary Student Parent Handbook and/or High School Student Parent Handbook, an Application Form and Fee Schedule are sent to the enquirer. Upon receipt of an application form, the pre-enrolment process begins and can include the following:
• Interview with the Class Teacher and/or Leadership Team
• Contact with previous school
• Contact with medical professionals as identified
• Interview with specialist teachers/counsellors as identified
Enrolment to Korowal School is in accordance with the Disabilities Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standard for Education 2005
Parents and students are required to read and sign documents applicable to enrolment prior to commencing at Korowal School.
Once enrolled, students and parents are expected to support the school’s ethos and comply with the school policies and guidelines to maintain the enrolment Our Enrolment Policy can be found on our website: https://www korowal nsw edu au/whowe-are/policies/ or via a direct link: Enrolment Policy
The school is committed to the achievement of the highest standards of education in which the security, protection and comfort of students and staff retains the highest priority Policies and guidelines are issued for all staff, responsible in any way for the conduct of educational activities at Korowal School Korowal School strictly prohibits any form of corporal punishment Furthermore, the School does not encourage or condone the use of corporal punishment by any other persons, including family members Korowal School implements policies and procedural guidelines to support students, parents/caregivers, staff, Executive staff and the Board of Directors to guide decisions, achieve positive outcomes and create boundaries for acceptable behaviour. The policies and procedural guidelines are developed in accordance with the educational goals, purpose, and values of the school and in accordance with legislation All policies are regularly reviewed by the Executive Team All guidelines remain subject to all current Child Protection Legislation Policies are available on request from the Korowal School Office, via the school intranet (Google Drive) and a selection of policies are available on the Korowal School website: https://www korowal nsw edu au/who-we-are/policies/
Following is an overview of key policies: Student Welfare, Anti-bullying, Discipline, and Complaints & Grievances
9. O Policy
Whole of School Wellbeing Policy
One of Korowal School’s aims is to create a safe and supportive environment in which students, teachers and families feel valued The School seeks to promote a learning environment where we:
• minimise risk of harm
• support the physical, social, academic, spiritual and emotional development of students
• provide policies and programs that develop a sense of self-worth and foster personal development
• are mutually supportive
• respect each other, the values and ethos of the school
• provide equal opportunity for all.
We believe that it is essential to an individual's personal growth to flourish in connection with other human beings One of our roles as educators is to assist students who behave in ways that are inappropriate or unacceptable within the context of the school's values We are interested in changing these behaviours in such a way that students feel they belong to our community What remains important is that unacceptable or inappropriate behaviour is dealt with and change is achieved.
Changes in 2023
Nil
Access to full text
The full text of the Whole of School Wellbeing Policy is available on request from the Korowal School Office, via the school intranet (Google Drive) and on the Korowal School website: https://www.korowal. nsw edu au/who-weare/policies/
in 2023
Anti-bullying Policy
Korowal School does not tolerate bullying in any form. In a school that values relationships, we require all stakeholders to support our proactive and responsive anti-bullying processes Our goal when dealing with matters relating to bullying is to restore a respectful relationship between those involved To this end we:
• support the person who is the target of the bullying behaviour
• support the person who is exhibiting the bullying behaviour
• provide appropriate skill building for all those people impacted by this behaviour
The school’s response to bullying is built on an evidencebased framework that is informed by current research and includes the Method of Shared Concern and Restorative Practices
Student Discipline Policy
We are interested in changing inappropriate behaviour in such a way that the student continues to feel that they belong to the school community.
It is when a student's behaviour does not change, despite our best efforts, that discussion and flexibility of approach become necessary For a successful outcome, it is important that there is a willingness on behalf of both the student and carers to participate in the process
The full text of the Anti-bullying Policy is available on request from the Korowal School Office, via the school intranet (Google Drive) and on the Korowal School website: https://www korowal nsw edu au/who-we-are/ policies/
The full text of the Student Discipline Policy is available on request from the Korowal School Office, via the school intranet (Google Drive) and on the Korowal School website: https://www korowal nsw edu au/who-we-are/ policies/
Changes
CURRICULUM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
We continued our schoolwide focus on curriculum design and development to create higher quality and consistency in our written and assessed curriculum that we began in earnest in 2022 We have completed a detailed evaluation of our learning continuum and continued to enhance some of curricular strengths including dialogic practice and Oracy, transdisciplinary learning, and enhancing formative assessment and student voice across the curriculum
We also engaged in an intentional and planned professional learning groups that targeted schools goals, and continued to improve our assessment practices, and the design and implementation of new Mathematics and English syllabi for K–10 classes Acting as “critical friends”, these groups provided a structure and processes for collaboration and growth-oriented action research to improve teaching and learning throughout the school.
CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME
In 2023, we continued to expand our co- curricular programme to complement the academic programme and offer students opportunities to learn in different contexts, to both develop existing interests and develop new ones, and to expand social opportunities.
This is a significant programme in terms of its involvement from staff and we expanded to include include Sustainability, Chess, Science Extension, STEM, Craft (Knitting, Crochet & Felting), Fitness and Tournament Games
This provides enrichment opportunities for students along with the opportunity to develop social connections with peers with similar interests across Years 7–10
This also allowed our students to learn with various staff members from across the high school.
11. INITIATIVES PROMOTING RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY
In the Primary School
2023 saw continued embedding of our initiatives promoting respect and responsibility This was rewarding after the years of lockdown and the process of reestablishing our programs of events and learning experiences that promote these values In 2023, we maintained our commitment to our school rules:
Look after yourself
Look after other people
Look after your things
Look after other people’s things
Look after the environment
Above all, be kind
These were referenced in Personal Development programs, in our Restorative Practice work and in our primary school assemblies, where we are able to discuss core safety, academic and wellbeing issues as they arise all the while linking them with these rules Primary school assemblies became an important place where we were able to work directly with the whole student group to ensure responsibility and safety across our school environment An example is the change to seated turning circle pick-up stations for each class, requiring students to change from running around and playing while waiting for parents to sitting in a designated area and having their names marked off a collection roll. This change was made for the children’s safety and was soon accommodated by students
We had camps, incursions and excursions that built upon these core ways of being, providing students with the opportunity to contextualise their understanding of respect and responsibility outside of the regular school setting An example is the NSW Government's Responsible Pet Ownership program came to visit to educate our Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students on how to interact safely and responsibly with dogs in the community
Our Bush School days continued to be a wonderful way in which our students experience and build respect and responsibility for each other, their teachers and the environment We were very fortunate to have our Bush School budget plus additional fundraising from the Bush School BBQ to engage several fascinating educators to run special workshops: Linda Jackson OAM, Uncle David King, Zoarana McDavitt, Alan Page, Sanne Mestrom and Emily Cooper from Hands, Heart and Feet (supported by a generous contribution by a family) These workshops not only expanded the accompanying class teacher's and students' learning experiences, but also provided opportunities to relate and respectfully communicate with new educators
Uncle David King's NAIDOC themed workshops were developed to be responsive to his observation of the students' trepidation of aspects of nature – they were scared of a swooping magpie and worried about him lighting a campfire. David worked with the children to understand the balance of nature and for all elements to be respected and valued
Our Year 6 buddies did an outstanding job of nurturing our new Kindergarten students' transition to school, including the delicate stepping away once the Kindergarten children were settled in to allow them space to make their own connections and begin to take responsibility for their own property and routines at school A lovely dynamic occurred when many of our Year 5 students stepped into the role of unofficial buddies for our youngest students too, simply because they saw the need and felt responsible and connected to doing the right things to help others
In the High School
Respect and responsibility are fundamental to the ethos of Korowal High School, influencing all aspects of our school culture This commitment to core values is evident in our daily interactions and activities, guided by principles that align with both individual rights and collective responsibilities:
Celebrate the difference in others
Celebrate the gifts of others
Allow people to be vulnerable
Help others find strength
Uphold the rights of others to be themselves
Celebrate the identity of all
Keep everyone mentally and physically safe
These values are lived in the high school, in Oracy, Open Dialogue and Restorative Practices. They form the basis for how we navigate relationships and support each other in our academic and personal growth
The Korowal High School biennial Cabaret is more than just a performance event; it is a living embodiment of our school’s values It brings together our community in a celebration of creativity, diversity, and mutual support, highlighting the best of what we can achieve when we work together and uphold the principles of respect and responsibility
Whether it was singing, dancing, acting, or playing an instrument, Cabaret allowed students to display their individual talents It provided a safe space for students to express themselves openly and take creative risks because the environment of trust and support encouraged them to share their vulnerabilities through their performances, leading to powerful and authentic artistic expression
The collaborative effort of each student helped individuals find strength in their peers, boosting confidence and fostering resilience Cabaret championed the right of each student to be their true selves in a supportive and collaborative atmosphere, in which students explored and expressed their identities through their performances The celebration fostered a sense of pride and belonging among students, reinforcing their unique contributions to the school community
In 2023, we continued to reinforce the practice of Morning Circle, starting each day with a greeting and acknowledgement of our connection to one another.
Our assemblies were a regular gathering of the students and staff where we shared the learning happening within the high school and reinforced the ways in which we celebrated diversity in the Blue Mountains Region
y y g your job? 7 9/10
Job satisfaction
All things considered, how satisfied are you with your present job? 7 3/10
Wellbeing enablement
In general, how satisfied are you that your school supports and enables student wellbeing? 8 3/10
I’m so grateful to you all for creating such a collective atmosphere of kindness, care, compassion, joy, adventure, social justice, environmental stewardship, curiosity, rigour, creativity and integrity at Korowal.
Our son benefitted from the opportunity to develop mature, constructive and creative relationships with peers and staff as he moved through secondary school Amidst the uncertainty of adolescence, his development was supported and stimulated and he in turn supported and stimulated others as together, they sought to find voice and character
They are a model of what community should be.
Our rainbow family has felt so welcome at this school.
Parents
Parents continue to give feedback and raise concerns with class teachers, administrative staff, Executive staff and when necessary, the Korowal School Board Families have access to the School’s Complaints
Handling Policy and Protected Disclosure Service, which are both available on the Korowal School website
A member of the Executive team strives to greet parents each day in the turning circle at drop-off and pick up to form relationships and field any questions or concerns parents may have
The above recounts are from parents of our 2023 Year 12 graduating class
Any member or non-member of the Korowal Community can complete a Complaints, Compliments or Suggestions Form, located on our website: https://www.korowal.nsw.edu.au.
Students
Students are supported to ask questions, raise concerns and seek help from their Year Mentor, Stage Advisor and the Wellbeing Coordinator The Executive Team is also available and readily hears proposals, feedback and concerns raised by students Graduating students were invited to reflect on their time at Korowal
Below are some of the comments received:
They are my family, they are my loved ones and if they ever need anything they can call me.
At Korowal, there’s such a respect for everyone. It is beautiful being around people like that.
It’s a school that doesn’t feel small, it makes you feel like an integral part of a community.
13. SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following graphs and tables display the dissection of income and expenditure for Korowal School Limited for year ended 31 12 22
2023 Recurrent and Capital Income
2023 Recurrent and Capital Expenditure
