Ongoing Graduate Teacher - Generalist Primary - Sorrento Primary School

Location Profile

Sorrento Primary School is the southern-most school on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, and has served the students of the local area for almost 150 years on several different sites. Its current setting is in attractive grounds near the centre of the historic Sorrento township. Current enrolment is 270.  We are a welcoming, intergenerational community with strong ties to local businesses and organisations.

Our school values are Respect, Integrity, Persistence, Collaboration, Learning and Resilience.

The school¿s guiding principles are to provide a high quality education through a curriculum that has breadth, depth and relevance. The school is strongly committed to empowering children by placing an emphasis on literacy and numeracy and catering to the special needs and abilities of each student. Students are encouraged to think deeply and thinking is made visible via the Design Thinking (No Tosh) approach.

Multi-age classrooms are used from year 1-6. Multi-age classes are restricted to two year levels. A teamwork approach to curriculum planning promotes consistency of delivery throughout the entire school.

Students are encouraged to become more self-aware as learners through developing an understanding of the Characteristics of an Effective Learner. They work, with their peers and teachers to develop these characteristics and to appreciate that they can continually improve these habits. Sorrento PS's characteristics are: Creative, Self-Motivated, A Challenge Mindset, Reflective, Resilient and Persevere.

Art, Music, Science (STEM) and Physical Education are taken as specialist subject areas. The school has a strong music program including a school choir, a school band and an instrumental program. In Years 5 and 6 students have access to the Options Program where they choose from a variety of workshops; this allows them to follow a passion or learn new skills and develop new understandings.  All students participate in a wide variety of sports, including an extensive swimming program in our on-site pool.  Indonesian is taught from Foundation (Prep) to Year 6.

There is a whole school approach to student wellbeing and management, with all staff taking on a shared responsibility for all students. A Restorative Practice approach is used to assist students to resolve issues and restore relationships. Respectful Relationships is taught across the school and regular Circle Time takes place. Students are supported to regulate their behaviour by gaining an understanding of the Zones of Regulation and by developing a toolkit of resources to draw upon.

A whole school buddy program is in place and interested senior students are trained as Peacemakers; they assist younger students to solve minor playground issues.

The school has grounds for sport and recreation as well as a heated swimming pool. Families and community members are always made welcome in the school, with volunteers being a vital aspect of the daily life.

Program Benefits 

This position attracts an incentive payment of $5,650 (pre-tax) for the successful candidate who meets the eligibility criteria set out under conditions of employment. 

Role 

The primary focus of the range 1 classroom teacher is on further developing skills and competencies to become an effective classroom practitioner with structured support and guidance from teachers at higher levels and the planning, preparation and teaching of programs to achieve specific student outcomes. 

These teachers teach a range of students/classes and are accountable for the effective delivery of their programs.  Range 1 classroom teachers are skilled teachers who operate under general direction within clear guidelines following established work practices and documented priorities and may have responsibility for the supervision and training of one or more student teachers. 

At range 1, teachers participate in the development of school policies and programs and assist in the implementation of school priorities.  
The focus of a range 1 classroom teacher is on classroom management, subject content and teaching practice.  New entrants to the teaching profession in their initial teaching years receive structured support, mentoring and guidance from teachers at higher levels. 

Under guidance, new entrants to the teaching profession will plan and teach student groups in one or more subjects and are expected to participate in induction programs and other professional learning activities that are designed to ensure the integration of curriculum, assessment and pedagogy across the school. 

Teachers at range 1 are responsible for teaching their own classes and may also assist and participate in policy development, project teams and the organization of co-curricular activities. 

Responsibilities 

Core responsibilities include: 

• Planning and implementing a range of teaching programs or courses of study 
• Teaching an area of the curriculum or a general curriculum to a year level 
• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting student progress in key learning areas 
• Implementing strategies to achieve targets related to student learning outcomes 
• Maintaining records of class attendance and recording student progress 
• Implementing effective student management consistent with the school charter. 
• Working with a mentor to participate in professional development planning, implementation and reflection developing a professional portfolio 

Additional responsibilities may include but are not limited to: 

• Supervising a range of student activities including support and welfare programs 
• Contributing to a range of co-curricular programs 

Who May Apply 

To be eligible to apply for a position advertised through the Teacher Graduate Recruitment program, a teacher must:  

• have completed their course requirements and graduated in the last 4 years, and 
• not be employed as a teacher by the department at the time the advertised position is to commence 

Applicants must also be currently registered or eligible for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching. 

Conditions of Employment 

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. 

The appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check. 

A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. 

Eligibility for incentive payments: 

• The successful candidate is committing to a minimum of 1 year employment at this school 
• The successful candidate will not be a Graduate Teacher Incentive recipient from a previous vacancy 
• The successful candidate must not be employed as a teacher by the Department at the time the advertised position is to commence 

Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx 

Selection Criteria 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs. 

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.  

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents. 

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching. 

SC6 Demonstrated interest in working with students with Special needs. 

EEO AND OHS Commitment 

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.  The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.  It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines). 

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the Department. Mobile: 0477 726 801 or email on: [email protected] 

Child Safe Standards 

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at: 

Child Safe Standards: Policy | education.vic.gov.au 

DET Values 

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DE’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DE’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DE values is available at: 

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx 

VIT LANTITE 

To be eligible for employment, transfer or promotion in the principal or teacher class a person must have provisional or full registration from the Victorian Institute of Teaching. In addition, from 3 August 2020, to be eligible for employment in the principal class or teacher class, a person who graduated from a Victorian Initial Teacher Education program after 1 July 2016, must demonstrate that they have passed the literacy and numeracy test for initial teacher education (LANTITE) requirements. This condition is satisfied where the LANTITE requirement is part of the Victorian Initial Teacher Education program complete.