Absences below average

Last year, Woy Woy Public School had an enrolment of 489 and absences over the year were below the state and district averages.

These were among figures provided in the school's recently-released annual report.

The school had 58 new students throughout the year, which equated to a 15 per cent change to the enrolment.

Many of the new students came from transient backgrounds and the report said that a result of this was that many new students had learning and behaviour problems which required special attention and resources.

Of 61 students attending Year 5, only 44 attended the school the previous year.

"The school P&C continued to function outstandingly, providing much-needed financial support for the students," the report said.

Various community groups used the school's facilities over the year.

The school hall was used by Woy Woy Little Theatre and a Tae Kwon Do group.

The Koorana Homework Centre for Aboriginal students also used three rooms for two afternoons a week.

The school cricket nets and oval were used by the local cricket association for practice and competition matches.

Some of the major achievements in the arts included all students participating in a performing arts program, a dance group performing at the Central Coast Dance festival, Woy Woy High School variety night and the school fete, Lara Reed representing the school at the Central Coast Junior Dance Ensemble at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, the school choir performing at the welcome ceremony for the Mexican Olympic team at Homebush and students performing at Olympic Torch Relay ceremonies at NorthPower stadium.

Sporting achievements included the rugby union team being joint winners of the Central Coast Mat Burke Shield, the girl's soccer team reaching round four of the state knockout, district representation of 14 students, Natalie Hart representing the school at the NSW State swimming carnival, and Ryan Sainty representing Sydney North and the Central Coast in rugby league.

General achievements included students performing well in the Australian Schools' English, science and maths competitions, a successful paper recycling and compost program and a diamond award to the school canteen.

The school had a total income of $366,386 and an expenditure of $363,914.

Those figures do not include expenditure areas such as permanent staff salaries, building programs or major maintenance.

During the year there was an increase in expenditure for casual relief for teachers and administration, utilities, maintenance and capital works over the previous year.

Nine computers were purchased to bring the total to 57 and students' learning focused on word processing and the Internet.

The school's Internet service was upgraded to provide faster and more efficient access.

The school also had a high multicultural component with 13 percent of students coming from a non-English speaking background and 38 students from an Aboriginal background.

The school also catered for students with various disabilities of varying degrees.

"All our special education students are willingly accepted into our school community and are considered to be an important part of the school's culture," the report said.

The school was concerned for a small group of students whose poor behaviour during the year disrupted the learning of other students.

During the year, 418 misdemeanours were reported by staff of which 40 were reported for fighting, 112 for aggressive behaviour, 141 for disobedience and 125 for disruptive behaviour.

"Strategies to improve the educational opportunities for these students included time-out sessions at lunch time involving counselling, a lunch-brunch program to improve social skills of targeted students, exclusion from cultural and sporting activities and suspension."

The school focused heavily on literacy and performed above the State average.

In numeracy, male students were significantly above the State average while females were marginally above the average.

Woy Woy Public School 2000 annual report