Arts / Performing Arts Teacher - Goonawarra Primary School

Location Profile

Goonawarra Primary School in Sunbury was established in 1987 to service the Goonawarra and Rolling Meadows Estates.

The 2022 enrolment of 394 students is accommodated in 21 classes. The staff consists of 29.8 equivalent fulltime members comprising 2 at Principal Class level, 31 teachers and 15 Education Support Staff.

The school is set on four hectares of grassed open space with three large adventure playground areas and attractive gardens and outside facilities.

The architecturally designed original school building, which is 31 years old, has many unique features. This building is complemented by the new BER construction which contains six modern classrooms. In addition to the classrooms there is a gymnasium, computer lab available to all students, Visual and Performing Arts venue, a Science and Technology room and a spacious, well equipped, child friendly library.

All classrooms have their own interactive whiteboard and have access to notepads and iPads.

The school has a strong commitment to providing a curriculum which is both supportive of the needs of individual students and which challenges them to achieve their best. The school is committed to strengthening student achievement across all curriculum areas with a major focus of the Strategic Plan being English and Numeracy.

The school is dedicated to empowering students with the core values that will assist them in developing the attributes of responsible citizenship. The core values have been summarised into an acronym of G.R.E.A.T. The school community is now familiar with the sayings ‘Goonawarra is G.R.E.A.T!’ and ‘At Goonawarra we aim to be Generous, Responsible, Enthusiastic, Ambitious and Trustworthy.’ The meanings and the practical applications of these words are regularly explored and discussed in the classrooms.

Through positions such as Junior School Council, House Captains, Choir Captains and events such as ‘Principal for a Day’, student leadership is developed.

Parental input is very much valued at Goonawarra. Many opportunities exist for parents and the local and wider communities to be involved in the life at the school at many and varied levels.

There is a very comprehensive and engaging Transition program from preschool to school and through to secondary school.

The school also offers an excellent Out of Hours School Care Program (Before and After School).

Selection Criteria

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.

Role

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-curricular activities.

Responsibilities

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 classrooms 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.

Who May Apply

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.

Vaccination Requirement

A person is not eligible for employment in the Teaching Service unless that person meets the vaccination requirements on commencement in the position.