Endeavour Sports High School: Indigenous Program

Indigenous Program

Aboriginal Secondary Students Great Debates 2009
Endeavour Sports High School Year 9 students, Adam Buck, Alex Johnston and Year 10 students Kingsley Dennison and Joel Doyle were selected for a series of debating training sessions held at NSW Parliament House which culminated in final debates on 21^st August in the Legislative Assembly. Jonathan Captain-Webb from Year 11, introduced the topics and the schools.

The audience used an interactive adjudicating system, and Endeavour Sports High School won 70% of the audience vote. This is the second year that we have won the debate. In attendance were our new Principal, Mr. Dale Palmer, Ms Sue Cran, School Education Director, Sydney Region, Mr. Rick O’Brien and Ms. Sylvia Vago, Debating Coach, Aboriginal Elders and parents.
ABORIGINAL EDUCATION

The school encourages and supports the educational needs and achievements of Aboriginal students and educates all students about Aboriginal culture, history and contemporary Aboriginal Australia.

Aboriginal students are supported and given guidance by teacher mentors, both of whom are of Aboriginal background. A special room has been allocated where meetings are held and Aboriginal students may go to socialise. Accommodation is provided through the local Aboriginal hostel, and students are attracted to Endeavour Sports High School from around NSW.

Whole school assemblies are held to promote and recognise the importance of Reconciliation Day and National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week.

Features and highlights include:
- traditional welcome to all from the people of this land
- the presence of local elders
- interactive cultural dance, music and stories
- a demonstration of wood carving
- hands-on introduction to a range of fauna and wildlife ie bush foods and medicine
As the Targeted Sports Program plays a special role in promoting success for Aboriginal students throughout the school, regular visits from prominent Aboriginal sports stars are organised. Aboriginal students are supported and given guidance by teacher mentors, both of whom are of Aboriginal background.

The mentors assist with all facets of the Aboriginal students school life, from welfare to sport.

We now have 59 students enrolled from Years 7 to 12 and we offer a range of educational support programs.

Our educational goals

• To have high expectations of our Aboriginal students and encourage their belief in themselves that they can and will achieve their goals through raised academic performance.

• To inform teaching practice on how Aboriginal students learn best through consultation with parents and the local Aboriginal community.

• To support students through guided and systematic instruction and help them to achieve equitable outcomes with other students

• To engage in discussion with students about goals and bright futures in approactive environment.

• To promote effective leaning and training as the potential to lead to quality employment.

Support Programs

In Class Tuition program

At present we have an in-class tutor for 15 hours per who works with students in Years 7 and 8 to support their literacy and numeracy skills, is usually in English and Mathematics.

Remote Indigenous Students program

Students who are from remote areas receive additional educational support during their first 12 months at the school. This can be in the classroom or on a tutorial basis.

Peer tutor reading program

Students Year 7 who are experiencing difficulties in reading in access the Peer tutor reading program every morning during Roll call. The student works with a Year 11 reading mentor who supports their reading comprehension and vocabulary development.

Counting ON

Students in Year 7 and 8 who are experiencing difficulties in Mathematics are placed in this targeted class where they engage in a range of high-interest activities to develop more efficient methods for doing Mathematics.

Homework support

Students are able to access teacher support to understand, plan and write their assessments. They can access computers including the internet.

Senior Tutorials

Students in Years 11 and 12 receive individual or small group tuition from a tutor during their study periods.

Traineeships

Some of our senior students have accessed school-based traineeships through the Aboriginal Employment Strategy. They attend the workplace for one day a week. The students who have bank traineeships are also accessing Business Services as a subject at school with tutorial support.

TAFE Taster program

We have planned a TAFE Taster program for students in Years 9 and 10 for Term 2 in 2007. Students will attend TAFE for one afternoon per week and experience many of the trade courses such as plumbing, electrical, auto etc

Some of our achievements

By constantly monitoring student performance, we are able to measure students’ progress and the success of our programs. Our team works collaboratively and meets daily to discuss and plan students’ academic and welfare needs. Students are improving academic performance across all years. Some indicators are:

• Good attendance, high retention and low suspension rate
• Completion of homework and assessment tasks to a higher standard
• Students in Years 11 and 12 are able to write an essay using more sophisticated vocabulary and structures
• Senior Aboriginal Studies major works for 2006 were outstanding
• Six students successfully achieved their HSC in 2006 with placements at Sydney University, Newcastle University and other employment.
Please click on this link to see more photos and information about this successful program.