Contextual Understanding

At Caroline Springs College we aim to promote the lifelong development and growth of students, in order that they achieve their fullest potential as individuals and as members of a healthy local community and an international society, as reflected in our Mission Statement - World Class Learning.
The focus is on developing strategic partnerships between all members of the Caroline Springs community to deliver:
Improved Student Learning
Student Engagement and Wellbeing
Student Pathways and Transition

Our Values
Eight key values underpin our commitment to delivering World Class Learning within a global context:

*Happiness:....Finding satisfaction, joy or pleasure in learning
*Respect:.....Care and concern for each person and giving feedback in ways that promote dignity, pride, self-esteem and a sense of personal identity.
*Achievement:.....A sense of accomplishment and mastery of the goal.
*Lifelong Learning:....Strong commitment to continuous learning, change and self-development.
*Knowledge:....The pursuit of understanding, skill and expertise, continuous learning.
*Responsibility:.....Dependability, reliability and accountability for results.
*Teamwork:....Sharing knowledge and working together effectively.
*Community:....Sharing and supporting a common context, purpose and/or learning environment aiming at making a difference.

College Profile
Caroline Springs College is a K-12 Government College. Caroline Springs is a rapidly growing community within a new housing area developed by the Delfin Lend Lease Property Development Group. The development is situated adjacent to the Western Highway and approximately 20 kilometres west of Melbourne’s Central Business District. A major stakeholder in developing Caroline Springs College was the Caroline Springs Education Services Steering Group founded in 1997.

The College has a strong belief in challenging traditional educational practice and creating evidence informed culture in order to provide the best possible learning environment for its students.

Caroline Springs College is a multi campus institution. Three campuses are planned to include K-9. These are Brookside Campus, Creekside Campus and Springside Campus. Lakeview Later Years is a Year 10-12 Campus. Each Campus has its distinct signature made explicit by specific strategic alliances.

Brookside Campus, which opened in 2000, is one of three schools that comprise The Brookside Learning Centre, and was the first educational facility in the area. The Brookside Learning Centre includes Mowbray College, Christ the Priest Catholic Primary School, a Child-Minding Centre, a Maternal and Child Health Centre, a Pre-School Centre, Djerriwarrh Health Services and the Local Learning Employment Network (LLEN). A number of facilities are shared between Caroline Springs College and Mowbray College including the reception and administration area, staff room, library, arts facilities, meeting rooms, gymnasium, and sports and recreation areas. Other facilities are shared with the Shire of Melton and local Football Clubs.

Creekside Campus fully opened in 2006 and is the Colleges second campus. The Melton Shire has a close partnership with the College and built on DEECD land to create a Pre-School, Maternal and Childcare Centre, Toy Library and Occasional Care incorporated as part of the site. The College has opted to deliver the Pre-School education on site and is the Licensee for the first 3 years. This serves to provide a seamless education.

Lakeview Later Years Campus caters for Years 10-12 and partially opened in 2006 at the Town Centre. Lakeview provides our students with specific Pathways in VCE, VCAL and VET courses. Links have been established with other educational service providers in the local community. It has formed a number of strategic alliances with Melton Shire and Mowbray College, with shared construction of a 3-court indoor stadium, a municipal shared use library and sporting grounds. Melton Shire has contributed to the building of the Performing Arts theatre within the campus. This will provide another community facility.

Planning and construction of the fourth campus at North Lakes called Springside Campus is occurring with stakeholder groups: Melton Shire, Catholic Education and a Private Provider, Independent Colleges of Australia. A Kindergarten – Year 9 Campus is being constructed. The Springside Campus includes a Childrens hub facility for preschool, maternal child health, Toy Library, occasional care and community meeting rooms and spaces. In 2009 the College will open Stage 1 which is Kindergarten to Year 4. The students will have full access to green spaces adjoining the site owned by the Shire of Melton.

Environmental Analysis
The College has experienced rapid growth: see Table 1. Expansion of the Middle Years and Later Years began as a response to community needs, with Year 7 enrolments in 2002 progressing to Year 12 enrolments in 2007. Census data details student enrolments since the Colleges inception in 2000 as follows:

..........February..........August
2000............72...................81
2001..........174.................191
2002..........336.................354
2003..........572.................590
2004..........789.................813
2005........1101................1154
2006........1431................1467
2007........1888…….…...1885
2008…….2330…………2427

Demographics
Caroline Springs College has a multicultural community comprising over 58 backgrounds including people from New Zealand, The Philippines, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Serbia, Croatia, Ethiopia and South America. The Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE) in 2008 is 30.5%. This highlights the importance of global understanding. The Colleges Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) factor in 2008 is 21%. Parents occupations are mixed. The community comprises a relatively large proportion of blue-collar workers and a significant number of people who perform home duties, or are not employed.

Leadership Structures
Currently the College employs nine Principal Class members. There are 3 Principals: one for each Campus and each has an Assistant Principal in charge of Curriculum and Professional Learning. There is an additional Assistant Principal at Creekside campus with a population of over 1100 students who is an AP for Wellbeing. There is an Assistant Principal in charge of Staffing and School Operations. The College Director works across the Campuses directing optimum use of human and physical resources. A Leadership Team -COGS -Coordination, Organization of Global Strategies consists of the Principal Class personnel and twenty Leading Teachers who manage specific areas within the Strategic Plan: Student Learning, Engagement and Wellbeing at Early, Middle and Later Year levels. A highly developed team of SSO staff take responsibility for areas that traditionally have been the responsibility of the teaching staff, Daily Organization and Maintenance.

The staffing profile is young. In 2008, 50.88% of the staff are in the graduate class. The rapid growth of the student population results in high staff additions, in 2008 the College has employed over 80 new teaching and non-teaching staff. A comprehensive mentoring system and induction process is in place. In keeping with its foundation philosophy, the College places a high value on community interaction and participation, particularly the contributions that parents and members of the wider community make to improve students learning outcomes. The College uses numerous formal and informal structures through which parents and community volunteers contribute to the whole College program.

Other Significant Factors
In creating an Evidence Informed Culture, the College has a clear philosophy that supports contemporary pedagogy of Early Years, Middle Years and Later Years organisation and curriculum programs, rather than traditional primary and secondary programs.