Download - Mount Ommaney Special School Newsletter€¦ · Newsletter September 2015 ... Wed 2nd Sep Sports Day Thu 3rd Sep End of Term 3: Fri 18th Sep Public Holiday: Mon 5th Sep MyTime Event:

Mount Ommaney Special School

Newsletter September 2015 Issue No. 1 – 06.09.24

94 Capitol Drive, Mount Ommaney Qld 4074 Email: [email protected] Website: http://mtommanespecs.eq.edu.au

Telephone : 3717 6888 Fax : 3717 6800

24 Hour Absence Line : 3717 6860 For SMS use only : 0447 100 209

In This Edition:

From the Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Head of Curriculum

Health and Physical Education

Numeracy Coach

Literacy Coach

ECDP (Early Child Development Program)

Early Years Sector Leader

Middle Years Sector Leader

Senior Years Sector Leader

Intensive Interaction Team

Student of the Week Awards P&C

Parent and Community Engagement

From the Support Services (Chaplain)

Advertising

Dates to Remember:

P&C Meeting Wed 2nd

Sep

Sports Day Thu 3rd

Sep

End of Term 3: Fri 18th

Sep

Public Holiday: Mon 5th

Sep

MyTime Event: Tue 8th

Sep

Start of Term 4: Tue 6th

Oct

Pupil Free Day: Mon 19th

Oct

From the Principal- Susan Christensen

Recently Mount Ommaney Special School’s submission Connect – Relate – Communicate was announced as a 2015 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools state finalist. The Showcase Awards State Evaluation Team shortlisted 19 programs as state finalists from 32 regional award winners.

To be announced not only as a regional winner but now also as a state finalist is very prestigious and something we are proud of as a school community. We are especially proud that this award is in the category of Inclusivity as this is at the heart of what we do and how we work.

Professor Garry Hornby (Professor of Education, University of Canterbury and Consultant on Inclusive Education, Barbados) states that inclusive special education involves implementing practices that have established solid research evidence bases for supporting effective special education…it therefore focuses on fostering acceptance of diversity and use of strength based approaches.

Our submission Connect-Relate-Communicate showcased the schools use of Intensive Interaction as an approach to teaching the Fundamentals of Communication. Intensive Interaction is a research based approach initially developed during the 1980s by a team of staff working at Harperbury Hospital School in the UK. It is well recognised as a pedagogy in the UK and was introduced in Australia by Dr Mark Barber in 2005.

Learning the Fundamentals of Communication through this approach underpins further learning opportunities and enhances quality of life for our students and their families. It is really pleasing to witness the progress made by our students.

Our Vision Statement: To provide engaging, relevant

curriculum and innovative, specialised teaching in partnership with families and the community in

a safe, supportive environment.

Issue Date: 2nd September 2015 www.mtommanespecs.eq.edu.au

Mount Ommaney Special School Newsletter of 17

Continued from the Principal

Professional learning, collaboration and teacher leadership to develop self and others

Communication with our families

Effective communication with our families is critical to the work we do and how we work. By completing our

communication survey you will help us to identify ways that we can improve our communication strategies and

hopefully better serve the needs of our families. The link below will direct you to our survey which will take

approximately ten minutes to complete.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQ2WG6W

Speech Language Pathology Week

Last week was Speech Pathology Week and the theme for 2015 is Talk with Me. The week was an opportunity

to give a voice to the more than 1.1 million Australians who have a communication or swallowing disorder that

affects their daily lives. ‘Talk with me’ aimed to help raise awareness of communication and swallowing

disorders in Australia and highlight that communication is a basic human right. To learn more and to access

information and resources please visit Speech Pathology Australia. Thank you to our wonderful, hard-working

Speech Pathologists – Bridget and Amanda. Both Bridget and Amanda are vital team members who

professionally support staff to improve student learning outcomes.

Warm regards

Susan Christensen

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQ2WG6W

http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/talkwithme

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mount-Ommaney-Special-School/852439338114694?ref=hl



From the Deputy Principal – Karen Walton

Senior School Graduates for 2015 – Timothy, Grace and Sarah

It’s that time of the year again, when schools are preparing students, families and processes for the end of the year. At Mt Ommaney Special School, we are particularly mindful of three of our families who have students graduating in December.

One of the things that we do in “Senior School” is to acknowledge the individual achievements of each our young people, in preparation for celebration and also, formal certification when school is completed. Teachers look for photos, web and newsletter articles, end of semester reports, notes from families, possible video clips, awards etc, reflecting back over the last 2-3 years of senior schooling and highlighting the learning progress each young person has made. Then, they gather this information and prepare “Statements of Achievement” about each graduate, which are formally submitted to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

At the end of 2015, Timothy, Grace and Sarah will graduate from MOSS. I have loved listening to the recent conversations about our graduates, as they are so positive and encouraging. Our teachers across the campus are always developing their deep knowledge of students and at the beginning of this next phase of life for our young adults, they can identify and express delight over real student efforts and genuine achievements.

So, as always, sometime in January, senior secondary school students across Queensland will receive their certificates of school/education completion. Our students and other students on highly individualised learning programs receive their Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement. This is a tailor-made certificate for each student – it is an “individualised” certificate (by its very name!!), celebrating the learning of that one young person. (I doubt that there would ever be two QCIAs that are exactly the same, because the challenges and achievements of each student are unique.)

Please have a read below of some of the great things that our teachers are saying about what Sarah, Grace and Tim have achieved. (You might think that the language is a little “formal”: this is because of government requirements around certification.) When you read these, I know that you will join with me in having the heart, the eyes and mind of a parent who has watched your own child grow and learn across their whole life…

Vocalises and gestures to indicate the need for assistance and to interact with familiar adults. Communicates a wide variety of language functions using devices and communication books. Recognises and matches some Australian currency notes and coins with assistance. Follows basic symbol recipes and activates equipment with assistance to prepare meals. Predicts results of football games by choosing symbols indicating the position of teams on a leagues’

table. Applies skills in tenpin bowling activities. Comprehends analogue time and relates this to familiar routines. Applies the social skills of greeting community members and introducing topics of conversation. Rides an adapted bicycle on flat surfaces with support. Completes a familiar route for community newspaper delivery with assistance. Uses a switch to activate cause and effect software on the computer. Moves specific parts of body in a heated swimming pool with physical prompts and verbal cues. Dresses as characters in dramatic and role play activities with assistance.

I’m hoping that these statements give you a little insight into the kinds of learning that has been going on for our senior students. Maybe you can “see” your own child in their class, working towards similar goals.

Please join with all MOSS teachers and other staff who support, encourage and celebrate the successes of our students every day and wish Grace, Sarah, Tim and their families all the very best for the months ahead.



From the Head of Curriculum - Tracy Cronin

Do you know about the wonderful Coaching and mentoring that is happening in classrooms across our school?

We have several coaches and mentors who work alongside class teachers and teacher aides on a specific teaching focus to ensure that school wide practices effectively meet the educational and social learning needs of students. Integral to this are high yield strategies that provide staff opportunities for practical training, research opportunities and school based coaching. Coaching staff lead the development of new practices through professional collaboration and co-development of resources.

Our coaches are:

Intensive Interaction Coach – Janee Williamson

Literacy Coach – Sue Gaston

Numeracy Coach – Bernie Ellis

Drama Coaches – Kate Troyahn and Louise Ruzic

Beginning Teacher Mentors – Shubh Gupta and Alastair Hanna

In order to align coaching and mentoring across the campus the coaches, sector leaders and I met to start rich collegial discussions around coaching and mentoring. We read and discussed a text “Improving Instruction through Coaching” as a starting point for our conversations and action planning purposes.

So what is coaching?

Coaching is a way of sharing knowledge, strategies and ideas about a specific area between colleagues. Coaching is a proven model of professional development that is more successful than traditional models. Coaching increases collegial conversations within and beyond sectors. Coaching promotes life-long learning and enables colleagues to celebrate the successes of individual student learning and achievements. If you would like to find out more about coaching email Tracy on [email protected]

From the Physical Education Teacher – Nicky Champeaux

What an exciting term for PE. Students have been preparing for Sports Day activities with lots of bike riding, bowling, swimming, cross country and relay practice. We began with the senior bowling competition this week in the lead up to our Sports Day on the 3rd September. All students participate in activities appropriate for their individual physical ability. Bonus points are given for any personal best effort so all students have a fair chance to earn points for their team.

A group of our middle and senior school students have been participating in a ball skill program run by Lifestream. This program runs for 7 weeks with an hour long session each Monday. This week we joined with students from the Diverse Learning Centre across at Centenary High School. There were lots of smiles and laughter as students played together and got to know each other. Riya summed it all up with “I love it”.

17 of our students travelled to Darling Point for the annual Fun Run. Students walk, run and use walkers, wheelchairs, strollers and bikes - whatever mode of transport they require to enable them to participate. Following the run and a picnic lunch, prizes are awarded and the music is cranked up for some dancing in the park. Sarah won a prize for best effort in the Fun Run and Izzy H. won a prize for great dancing. Emma from the ECDP came with mum to support her big sister Izzy G. Emma walked about 200m on her walker which was a massive effort since she has only been using it since the beginning of this year.

We look forward to seeing family and friends who are able to come along to support their young person at our Sports Day activities.

mailto:[email protected]



From the Numeracy Coach – Bernie Ellis

Across semester two the teacher aides at MOSS have been participating in professional learning around the different aspects related to teaching numeracy. These sessions cover areas such as the use of concrete materials, the sequence of teaching numbers as well as how numeracy can be reinforced consistently across all aspects of the students’ school day. By delivering these coaching sessions our teacher aides gain further knowledge which assists them when supporting curriculum activities in the classrooms. The sessions are being delivered by Bernie Ellis who is supporting MOSS this year with its numeracy program.

From the Literacy Coach – Sue Gaston

Writing

This term our focus for literacy is on writing. You may well say my child can’t write; they don’t have all the skills they need to write; they can’t hold a pencil and they don’t know the alphabet.

Proficient writing composition is the goal. This means composing a message, independently, that is understood by the intended audience and achieves a meaningful goal. Notes to friends, a shopping list, a written schedule, a daily journal all fit this description.

It does not have to be a 500 word story or analytical essay. It is not copying or tracing over words. It is using letters to create words to make a message.

The staff are exploring with the students ways for them to have access to the full alphabet, to allow them the opportunity for them to begin to write, even if they do not have the motor skills to use a pen, pencil, iPad or computer keyboard. There are modifications available to all of these tools to make them more accessible. There are also other options for giving students access to the alphabet. One of the most popular is the alphabet flip chart.

Many of our students are in the emergent stage of literacy learning. For writing, this means they are learning to use the chosen tool to write with. Just like any child who is in the emergent stages of literacy learning they need to learn to use the pencil. Our children will start with scribbling and then follow through many different stages to become proficient writers, our students are no different and may take a long time to make progress. Just like little children, if they don’t start to write words within a week of being given a crayon, we don’t put the crayons away. Our students need many, many opportunities to practise their writing, and it may take a very, very long time to get a product that we would consider writing. Let’s encourage, praise, and celebrate our students’ efforts to become writers.

Here are some images of the possible alternative pencils for writing.

http://www.janefarrall.com/blog/2012/12/19/lots-of-alternatives-pencils-for-everyone/writing-with-alternative-pencils-2/



From the Early Childhood Development Program – Sandra Schuptar

We recently celebrated Early Childhood Intervention Awareness Week in the ECDP.

What is Early Childhood Intervention and why should we be celebrating this? That’s a good question. I am pleased you asked.

What is Early Childhood Intervention? Early Childhood Intervention is the process of providing specialised support and services for infants and young children who have developmental delays or disabilities, their families and communities, in order to promote development, well-being and community participation. These services are provided using a family-centred approach, recognising the importance of working in partnership with the family. Recent scientific evidence shows that early experiences will shape our lives by affecting the way the young brain develops.

Mount Ommaney ECDP is honoured to be able to offer our families a range of different programs. Each of the teaching teams is highly skilled at using a wide range of early childhood evidence based practices – with a strong emphasis on play based principles of intervention that support the individual needs of the children. So you are going to see our teaching teams working within a ‘school based’ environment, surrounded by age appropriate games and resources. We ensure that children’s early experiences are positive, fun and progressive and that they have a secure foundation for their development

Why celebrate early childhood intervention? Because what the children and families achieve in those early years needs to be recognised and shouted out to the world.

LOOK AT WHAT I CAN DO! Ben was only two when he started in playgroup. He had no words but he enjoyed life and knew how to play. Michelle (mum) wondered if Ben would ever talk. He loved picture symbols and grew to enjoy using these supports until one day he knew the words. Today he is getting ready to go to Prep. He is a master at negotiating; he is able to resolve the conflicts that often occur between his peers. He is ready to go into ‘big school’.

This is worth celebrating.

Elliot arrived at school last week laughing and giggling, delighted to be in his school with his friends. Elliot has always found groups of people a challenge and often likes to be by himself. But this day he took my hand and lead me to Lyn in the office to ‘say hello’ in his giggly happy way and on the way there he also stopped to ‘say hello’ to someone he did not know.

This is worth celebrating.



Continued From the Early Childhood Development Program

Recently I had a visit from Emma who is in pre-prep. She cautiously walked into my office with her teacher holding one finger to say hello. This was one of the first times she had walked without her walking frame in the ECDP.

This is worth celebrating

We first met Isaac when he was 10 months old. His mum carried him into playgroup. He had already had numerous operations to correct physical issues and his family were looking at many more operations to come. He could not hold his head up and was not going to look at anyone. He did cry a bit in the early days. He could not raise his arms or sit up by himself….. but little by little we all started to see changes. He noticed the moving toy, he enjoyed the social play with the adult, and he LOVED the nursery rhymes on the SMART board and our bubble song. He learnt how to choose his favourite songs from the picture symbols.

This term Isaac has started in a kindy program. He is now walking with his walker. It’s hard work as he has to concentrate so much. He smiles ALL the time. And he hasn’t finished yet… there is more growth and development to come. He is going off to mainstream kindy next year. Is mum nervous? OH YES! But she is a brave and a courageous mum and knows that Isaac is going to achieve far more than any of us even imagined.

This is worth celebrating

Every day we can find something to celebrate because we know that the variety of early childhood intervention programs for children who are struggling in their development makes a difference in their life, as well as their families and friends.



From the Early Years Sector

It is hard to believe that we are more than half way through 2015! What a busy year the Early Years have been having. Firstly I would like to welcome the families of our new students who have started this term, as well as welcome back families who have returned from illness or have moved back into the area. It is amazing how much our sector has grown!

This term we have set up a whole group Play Based Learning session. Each Friday morning all the students in Early Years come together to work in new groups on different aspects of play. This allows the students to get to know unfamiliar staff, as well as interact with different peers and develop social skills with new friends. The teaching staff have all enjoyed getting to know students who they do not normally

work with too. Each group takes on a different aspect of play such as dramatic play, fantasy play, active play, exploratory play and manipulative play. There have been some amazing interactions between students as well as interactions between students and staff. After the play we all enjoy morning tea together. It is wonderful to see all twenty seven students eating together.

Swimming has not been on this term as we all prepare for sports day. Each week in PE the students have been developing their ball skills, practising their running and getting ready to join in with the relay races. It should be an exciting day, and we look forward to seeing the students come dressed in their team colours and have a fun day.

All the classes have continued on with their literacy and numeracy development. This term all the groups are focussing on days of the week, as well as personal stories. The work up on the walls and being saved onto the students files is evidence of the students’ learning and enjoyment. It is amazing to see how far the students have come since the beginning of the year.



From the Middle Years Sector

The start of the second semester is an important transition point in the year for the Middle Years Sector. Through generating the report cards at the end of Term Two and the recently completed Individual Curriculum Plan process we have had a chance to reflect on student progress, the effectiveness of the teaching strategies we are using and the appropriateness of student’s individual goals. We have met as a team and put in place a plan for this term which we think will meet the needs of all students and most importantly is going to be lots of fun for staff and students.

We have been fortunate enough to welcome a new student, Emily, into middle school this term. She has settled in wonderfully well and is a great addition to our sector. As a result of this extra number we have received some additional teacher aide support in the form of two new staff members, Olivia and Georgia, who are both doing a great job and bringing a lot to energy and skills to our classroom.

When a student finally leaves our school it is our intent that they have maximised their capacity to engage with the broader community. This intent is embedded throughout all our sectors. This term in middle years, we have an exciting initiative in place where our students are getting the opportunity to mix with some students from the Special Education Programmes from some of our local schools. Some students will visit Centenary High School to partake in a ball skills programme run by the LifeStream organisation, while other students will get a chance to interact with other students during some structured recreation activities at our school.

A number of our students have had the opportunity to take part in exciting excursions already this term. The day out on the Southport Seaway aboard a yacht with the amazing crew from Sailors with disABILITIES is an experience that will live long with those that took part. For those with Facebook access, the school page has photos which illustrate just how good the day was. We also were fortunate enough to go and participate in the Darling Point Special School fun run. This is a really well organised event along the foreshore with police closing off the streets as athletes with a disability from all over Brisbane compete within a fun and inclusive atmosphere.

Term Three is traditionally the time of year when there are a lot of germs and bugs about. Could we please ask if your student is not well enough to come to school and learn or is at risk of spreading sickness to their classmates that you keep them at home. We have a number of vulnerable students within our sector whose health can be seriously compromised if they fall ill.



From the Senior Years Sector

In Term Three we have continued to deliver a rich, differentiated academic programme to the senior students. It has been a pleasing time, with the students demonstrating new learning and developing skills across all areas of the curriculum. The programmes we deliver are driven by the students’ personal goals contained either in their ICP or SET Plan documents. We are very proud of the students’ hard work and appreciate the support of the families which help to consolidate and enrich the programmes the students are experiencing in class.

Literacy

Within our literacy units we have focussed heavily upon developing the students’ communication skills. Our unit has been centred upon responding to texts with all the students enjoying our shared reading sessions. This term our books have been focused around Australian animals, leading up to going to Lone Pine Sanctuary. We have used these as a stimulus to encourage clear choice making, with students being asked to express a preference based on the topics covered in the texts. Our pedagogy continues to be informed by The Four Blocks method with the introduction of a new focus on writing within our literacy sessions. We have worked closely with our literacy coach, SLP and OT to identify the best “pencil” for each student. Our ASDAN programme is only available to the Senior Students in our school. It has the intention of introducing our students to some independent life skills. The ASDAN programme is designed in such a way that it can engage learners of varying degrees of ability. It is also a programme that students can be engaged in through post school providers. This term we have continued to work through the unit looking at food hygiene and preparation. It has been very exciting to see the development in the students’ ability to follow procedural text and produce some tasty food like Rocky Road, Mint Slice and handmade pasta.

Health and Physical Education Programme

Third term is an important one for our Health and Physical Education Programme. Under the guidance of our PE specialist Nicky, the students have enjoyed developing their ball skills with Taylor and Bella having the opportunity to travel to Centenary High School and participate in a fun ball skills program with some new friends from their special education programme. This week as part of our PE programme, we got to participate in the Darling Point Fun Run. This is a very well organised event which allows students to participate alongside other students with special needs from a wide range of Brisbane Schools. TJ, Sarah and Bella had a great time getting on the bike and riding along the Wynnum Esplanade. Taylor and Isabel enjoyed walking along with the group. Sarah was awarded with a ‘Special Effort’ Award for her participation in the day. The students then enjoyed having a little dance in the disco after the speeches

Numeracy

Our numeracy focus has been incorporated into our Ten Pin Bowling this term, with the students counting the pins that get knocked over. We are then working on addition with numbers up to ten. The Senior Block also continues to count and recognise coins and notes when staff come and buy food from the snack bar.

Science

As part of our science programme our students were fortunate enough to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. We discussed many of the animals in class and it was fantastic to see the students interact and enjoy the sensory experience of the animals. The highlight of the day was seeing all the students enjoy feeding the kangaroos.

Another successful and busy term in A Block.



From the Intensive Interaction Team

Congratulations again to the enthusiastic, dedicated, expert team at Mount Ommaney Special School for your announcement as State Finalists for the showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools for 2015. This is well afforded recognition of your leadership in knowledge and practise of Intensive Interaction, and offers a tremendous inspiration and motivation to our colleagues across the many special schools providing Intensive Interaction to their students.

Network Ten visited the school to produce a promo which will be shown in October at the Showcase Dinner. And speaking of celebrity, a Griffith University film team will be coming to Mt Ommaney to catch on camera our students being themselves, interacting with their classroom staff and peers. Some students are a little camera shy and others just cannot get enough. The film students are closely liaising with Louise, and each student will have their chance to shine.

The Early Years team are implementing Intensive Interaction across a number of the classes, and we are exploring and discussing the parallels between Intensive Interaction, and early learning and teaching philosophies and approaches, most especially the role of play in learning and development. Intensive Interaction focuses on supporting the development of the Fundamentals of Communication. Teachers scaffold children through their key early communication milestones, sensitively responding to the learners with strong understanding of their cognitive, social, emotional, physical and developmental learning needs. The Intensive Interaction team at Mt Ommaney contribute to a wider professional learning community. Intensive Interaction leaders from across a number of special schools meet each term and are committed to strengthening the use and understanding of II through the provision of professional development, mentoring and coaching across our state, presenting and sharing our knowledge in many forums, and ensuring all stakeholders are engaged in understanding, and are supportive of Intensive Interaction.

It’s certainly been a creative, exciting and busy year so far!

Janee Williamson Intensive Interaction coach

Saying Goodbye to a Much Treasured Staff Member and Friend – Lyn Farrell

We have lost a wonderful friend and colleague, Lyn Farrell, recently, after her battle with cancer. Lyn was the kind of person who should have been cloned so we could have one of her in every room. Her patience and compassion were never ending; even in her last days Lyn’s concern was for her family and friends. She loved the children in her care just as if they were her own. We were blessed with Lyn’s presence for so short a time, but we will always remember and celebrate Lyn’s loving and generous spirit.



Student of the Week Awards

Below is a list of the students who have received special

‘Student of the Week Awards’ at Assembly recently…

Abbey…for working very hard when horse-riding (Personal and Social Capability)

Annalise…for doing a great job using the switch to turn the blender on (Personal and Social Capability)

Ben…for great work with numbers 1-4 (Numeracy)

Daelle…for fantastic participation in the drama program (Personal and Social Capability)

Dylan A…for finding and ordering the letters in his name (Literacy and Communication)

Dylan A…for great work with numbers 1-4 (Numeracy)

Grace… for fantastic participation in the drama program (Personal and Social Capability)

Hayden…for recognising numbers in groups between 1 and 4 (Numeracy)

Isabel…for fantastic participation in the drama program (Personal and Social Capability)

Isabella D S…for fantastic effort when completing classroom tasks (Personal and Social Capability)

Isabella D S……for identifying words and matching them to their picture (Literacy and Communication)

Izzy G…for over-coming her fears and consistently wearing a helmet at horse riding(Personal and Social Capability)

Joseph…for responding verbally to activity choice questions (Literacy and Communication)

Katana…for being an enthusiastic friend and building friendships with peers in her class (Personal and Social Capability)

Max…communicating to familiar and unfamiliar people with a new PODD book (Literacy and Communication)

Oscar…for enthusiastic participation during music lessons (Personal and Social Capability)

Sarah…for following instructions in a cooking program (Personal and Social Capability)

Taylor…for her wonderful ability to learn a new skill while cooking (Personal and Social Capability)

Tim…for fantastic participation in the drama program (Personal and Social Capability)

T.J… for fantastic participation in the drama program (Personal and Social Capability)



From the P&C

After School Program

Thank you to the team from Multicap who have been delivering an after school program on Wednesdays throughout Term 3. While numbers have been small, the feedback has certainly been positive. Please contact Nick Martin on 0428 877 504 or at [email protected] if you would like more information. This program is available free of charge to families.

Baby & Kids Market

Thank you to all the families, staff, community members and businesses below who volunteered their time or made donations for what turned out to be our most successful Baby & Kids market to date. In combination with the art show, the event raised over $8000 towards the P&C’s current fundraising goals.

Volunteers Business Supporters

Lynelle Armitage Hollie Bayley Michael Bourke Louise Burns Rachel Byrne Susan Christensen Deb Collins Mark Cramer Grace Cramer Karen Cramer Julie Crighton Ginnine Critchley Jason Duckering Lynda Fincham Judith Gillingham Adrian Goldsworthy Tennille Graham Isla Green Jim Green Shubh Gupta Alastair Hanna Sarah Hansen Stu Havill Michelle King Sabrina Lengsfeld William Martinez

Jean McCausland-Green Jen McDonald Kiran Minish Bettina Moffatt Reilly Nugent Dani Pack Brien Peckover Liza Raggatt Shabnam Rigg Helen Roughton Louise Ruzic Sandra Schuptar Brett Swann Carolyn Swann Charlotte Thompson Brenda Tyrrell Patrick Tyrrell John Vandeleur Sondra Vandeleur

4MyEarth Apikali Baby Bee Hinds Baby Brands Big Show Qld Bim Bam Boom Cheeky Wipes Clean Conscience Dance Along Kerry Grovia Little Bairn Wholesale Little Innoscents Little Kids Collective Little Munchkins Toy Hire Jack n’ Jill JuzKidz My Lil Pouch Nappydays Nip Naps Oz Baby Trends Scott Cislowski Coffee Simone Perele, Jindalee Telstra The Kids Depot

Community Supporters

Cr Matthew Bourke Rotary Club of Brisbane Centenary Tarnya Smith MP

Vacation Care – September/October School Holidays

Uniting Care Community will be operating a Vacation Care Program at MOSS during the September/October school holidays. Anyone who is interested in care for their child, and has not already enrolled, should contact Uniting Care on telephone: 3270 6451 or via email: [email protected]

The next P&C meeting will be on Wednesday 2 September at 6:30pm in the Staff Room. All welcome.

Sondra Vandeleur - P&C President

mailto:[email protected]



Parent and Community Engagement – Jim Green

Providing opportunities for relevant consultation ensure decisions reflect school needs – whether for an individual student or the school as a whole. Greater community ownership and trust of school directions and

decisions can be developed through open and authentic consultation.

Communication

Parent Information Brochures

Thank you to the families who have been contributing feedback and testimonials for parent information brochures. The brochures are being developed as a resource for families to share the specific learning goals and activities of each sector. Thank you also to Carolyn Swann who has been leading this work in my absence on Mondays.

Learning Partnerships

Intensive Interaction Parents as Partners project

‘Parents as Partners’ is a proposal which aims to develop collaborative learning partnerships between teachers and parents of students in the Intensive Interaction sector. The project will include opportunities for teachers to support families to connect with their children using Intensive Interaction strategies in the home.

Australian School Plus is an organisation that has been founded to match donors who are passionate about education, with schools that will benefit the most, so all students have the opportunities they need and deserve to fulfil their potential. ‘Parents as Partners’ has been selected by Schools Plus as one of 20 projects across to Australia to receive funding. More news will follow shortly.

Community Collaboration

Australian Department of Education Presentation

Our recent work in the area of Parent & Community Engagement has drawn attention from the national Family-School & Community Partnerships Bureau. The Bureau has invited us to present our work to the Australian Department of Education in Canberra. Furthermore, the invite is accompanied by a $2000 grant to prepare the presentation. While we acknowledge that we are in the early stages of a more strategic approach to family engagement, this is wonderful recognition of the positive approach from both staff and families to form meaningful learning partnerships for the benefit of our students.

Decision Making

P&Cs Queensland Conference

The P&C’s Queensland annual conference is on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September. I will be attending along with two members of our P&C. Presentations include Harnessing the Power of Social Media and Community Partnerships to turbocharge your fundraising. We hope to come back with lots of ideas to build on the partnerships between the school and families.

Jim Green, Education Program Officer



From the Chaplain- Hollie Bailey

Key Word Sign Course

As school Chaplain, I have been involved in organising a Key Word Sign course that has run for 10 weeks over this term. There was significant interest in this course and some people could not attend due to the timing – if this is you and you could be interested in future courses, please let me know.

MOSS Sibling Support Day Camp in the September School Holidays

We are holding our first MOSS Sibling support day camp in the September school holidays. I will keep you posted with how this camp goes and future opportunities for MOSS sibling support camps or events.

Taking Maternity Leave

On a personal note, I will be taking maternity leave from the 5th November as my husband and I are having our first child. We are very excited about this and I plan to take 12 months maternity leave. I will hopefully be replaced by another local chaplain who has capacity to fulfil the role at MOSS. Thanks for all your involvement in Chaplaincy activities this term.

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Download - Mount Ommaney Special School Newsletter€¦ · Newsletter September 2015 ... Wed 2nd Sep Sports Day Thu 3rd Sep End of Term 3: Fri 18th Sep Public Holiday: Mon 5th Sep MyTime Event:

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