The City's Country School

The City's Country School Surrounded by canefields and rainforest at the base of the Kuranda Range, Caravonica is a primary school of around 340 children in years prep to seven, from 239 families. The school was established in 1927 and has enjoyed a steady growth rate ever since. Our grounds are quite extensive and well maintained, with a 'green' image that complements our tropical surroundings. The architectural structure of the school supports flexibility in teacher decisions about classroom organisation. All classrooms are air-conditioned and most teaching spaces are separated by flexible partitions which can be opened when required to facilitate cooperative teaching and learning. This happens only rarely and, for the most part, classrooms adopt a fairly traditional one teacher to one class group approach. Composite classes are established in response to demands exerted by enrolments.

Subjects taught at the school cover Mathematics, English, Studies of Society and Environment, Languages Other Than English (Indonesian), Science, Art, Music, Instrumental Music (strings, brass and woodwind), Health and Physical Education. Competitive sport is highly encouraged among pupils in years five to seven to provide the opportunity to apply
skill learnt during physical education lessons. A musical is produced with children in years six and seven on an annual basis and combines peech, music, art, singing and drama to provide a showcase for skills learnt in the classroom. The school has a choir, an orchestra and a concert band who perform in a variety of public forums and school events.
Students are also encouraged to participate in local public speaking competitions. We have a well-equipped, airconditioned library, and computers are available to children in every classroom including prep in addition to a computer laboratory.

Our school services five disparate communities which comprise Caravonica, Lake Placid, Smithfield, Holloways Beach and Trinity Park. The other children come from a combination of districts outside our normal catchment zone. An outside school hours care facility which operates from 2:30pm to 6pm each school day offers support for families which require it.
This service also offers a Vacation Care Program for each holiday period and for all Student Free Days held by the school throughout the year.

The Parents and Citizens Association at Caravonica is a well informed, proactive and energetic group which is actively involved in the decision making process of the school. Regular newsletters every Monday address school-based and general educational issues, forming the basis of on-going dialogue at various parent-teacher forums. With the advent of the school council, this role has been enhanced and staff and parents establish strategic direction for the school. Parents can access school involvement by assisting in classrooms, working in our tuckshop and attending P&C meetings (which are held on the third Monday of every month). Sports days are well supported by our parents, and there are frequent opportunities to accompany specific classes on excursions and camps. School facilities are used by a wide range of community groups including athletes, cricket clubs, tennis players, a community choir, a karate club and local action groups.

10% of our children are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and the school operates an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander learning unit under the banner of a "best practice" program supported by the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Unit at Central Office. This learning group also uses funding from ASSPA, TAPID , IESIP and ATAS provisions to maintain it.

Each year a student council is elected by the pupils in years 5 to 7 as part of a leadership program. This program encourages and promotes students with leadership skills and potential. The school captains and vice captains assume the role of Student Council Executive.

Caravonica networks with other schools on an issue-by-issue basis. An on-going relationship has been established with the neighbouring school, Trinity Beach, which, because of cultural similarities between the two schools, is frequently involved in addressing issues similar to those at Caravonica.

 Major Issues

The establishment of a behaviour management plan which focuses on reinforcing positive behaviours.

The development of programs which enhance learning outcomes in the fields of numeracy and literacy.

The establishment of structures and processes to support school-based management opportunities.

The continued enhancement of the resource base to support effective teaching and learning.

The continued development of the technology base so that access to information technology is available to all pupils.

Professional development for staff and community so that opportunities to develop enhanced skills are accessed.