Crescent Head Public School

Crescent Head Public School has an enrolment of 178 students and is located in landscaped grounds adjacent to National Parks with views to the beautiful Crescent Head beaches. Our shared commitment to learning at Crescent Head Public School is to develop highly engaged students through innovative, quality teaching in a positive and harmonious environment, where high aspirations and creativity are fostered and students strive to excel.Our students, teachers and parents work together, sharing the responsibility for learning and behaviour in a positive environment.Our school has effectively implemented the Positive Behaviour for Learning approach to student welfare, with a set of core values embedded in all aspects of school life. All students are encouraged to demonstrate the 5C values of Cooperation, Caring, Contribution, Courtesy and Consideration in their behaviour and learning at Crescent Head Public School and are acknowledged for their efforts to do so through the ICON Award system. Crescent Head Public School has a high profile for the achievement of excellence in educational programs including Literacy, Numeracy, Sport, Environmental Education, Information and Communication Technologies and the Creative Arts with acknowledgement by a Director General's Award of Excellence in the Arts. A highlight of our school's achievement in the Creative Arts has been our selection to participate in the Arena Choir in the Schools Spectacular in 2012, 2013 and 2014.Our School excels in the area Dance, Music and Drama festivals and has a reputation for excellence in performance. In 2014 we are celebrating our students' achievements in the NAPLAN Testing with 67% of our students achieving greater than their expected growth in Reading and 59% achieving greater than expected growth in the punctuation and grammar aspect of Writing. 54% of our Year 3 students achieved in the top 2 bands in Reading and Punctuation and Grammar and 42% of our Year 5 students achieved in the top 2 bands in Numeracy. In 2014 our School was runner-up in the Macleay Educational community of School's Spelling Bee and our students have attained 5 Distinctions, 29 Credits and 12 Merits in the University of NSW Academic Competitions.Our School has successfully staged a Public Speaking competition with every student in the school competing and developing their skills and confidence to speak in front of a group. Our school has a strong commitment to provide for individual student learning needs. Enrichment activities are provided in all classes through the implementation of a differentiated curriculum and a Year 3 to 6 Enrichment Group also caters for higher achieving students through problem-solving and critical thinking learning activities.Our School Learning and Support Team coordinates equitable support for students across the school who are experiencing difficulties. All students in Kindergarten are effectively profiled using the Best Start Program to develop individual Learning Plans to ensure that each individual child is provided with explicit teaching relevant to their learning needs. This individualised learning now continues throughout the school with all student progress tracked and monitored against the Literacy and Numeracy Continuums. Student data is regularly analysed and entered on the PLAN Software to facilitate this school-wide process of consistent assessment and evaluation in informing future teaching. Technology is used in all classrooms to support learning through the provision of interactive whiteboards, a connected classroom and i-pads, desk top and lap top computers. During 2015, a major up-grade of the existing computer lab will see the development of a connected learning space with a connected television/whiteboard and up-dated computers and furniture for students.  Crescent Head Public School is an active member of the Macleay Educational Community of Schools and this group is committed to working together to provide the best possible educational experiences for our students. This group provides outstanding opportunities for our students in dance, drama. visual arts, environmental education, debating, spelling bees and student leadership. These opportunities enhance the rich learning opportunities that our school provides and ensure that all our students "Strive to Excel" in their learning pursuits.