Curriculum

Achievement progress and engagement.

Parnngurr Community School is a community governed school. It is the central focus of the community and is highly regarded, the parents of Parnngurr are supportive of the school and are keen to send their children to be educated. The community, whilst keen to embrace the educational opportunities, is also keen to work with its students and teachers to reinforce Martu culture which is reflected in the school’s mission statement.

The School Context

Parnngurr is a small and very remote Aboriginal community in the East Pilbara. Its services include school, store, clinic and Ranger Station. Eco nomically it is highly disadvantaged. Apart from service providers, the population is an integral and active part of the Martu nation, speaking dialects of Martu, engaging in Martu religious and cultural practices, including male initiation. This requires families to be mobile to meet their cultural obligations.

English is a second or third language. Our students therefore;
– Are fluent speaker of one or more Martu dialects,
– Have a strong set of Martu values,
– Are EALD learners, and
– Have disrupted attendance.

Within this context, the Martu community makes very clear its vision for school, this being for students to learn enabling English language literacy and numeracy skills for the necessary interactions with mainstream Australia. It is made equally clear that intergenerational transfer of cultural knowledge is an essential element of children and young peoples’ learning. These expressed goals are what directs the school teaching and learning program.

Another important element of the context that impacts on student learning is the transience of the teaching staff, including the leadership.It is therefore appropriate that we have a modified curriculum as per the WA curriculum policy.

The Student Learning Cycle

The School aims to develop strong Martu men and women by ensuring they attain educational outcomes that will provide them with a wide range of life opportunities while valuing their Indigenous culture.

– Student entry age is flexible, but the minimum age is 3 1/2 unless approved by the Principal.
– Students may remain enrolled at the school to the age of 20, at the discretion of the Principal.
– At the time of enrolment the Parnngurr Community School enrolment form, including medical Pro-forma, should be completed by the teacher.
– Roll books must be filled out on a daily basis, with the attendance/enrolment totalled for each day, as per the guidelines in the Orientation section.
– If a teacher becomes aware that a student has left the community on a permanent basis the Principal must be notified so that transfer procedures can be enacted.
– Roll books must not be taken from the school grounds without authorisation from the Principal.