Caboolture Special School Newsletter Week 5, Term 2, 2023

Principal News

Dear Caboolture Special School community members

I recently shared with staff a powerful image that caught my eye recently adorning the wall in one of our teaching blocks.   As if on cue, I then witness a teacher and teacher aide in this block lending assistance to a colleague requiring some help; all without hesitation because that’s what we do.  People helping people (both big and small) occurs here many times every day.  We will continue to combine energies and work together for the shared purpose of improving student outcomes. 

School explicit improvement agendas

Our strategic work will remain centred around our Annual Implementation Plan explicit improvement agendas moving forward, namely:-

Refining signature practices focused on communication and curriculum 

eg writing moderation work, Intensive Interaction community of practice workshops, teacher aide professional development sessions

Strengthening school processes that support staff capability building through collegial engagement

eg teacher professional learning communities, Watching others Work (WoW), Classroom Observation and Feedback (COAF)

Embedding Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

eg development of PBL team’s role within the school, strengthening relationships with neighbouring PBL schools

Our current work is the ‘right work’ that improves outcomes for students.

Student attendance

I was thrilled to learn that our school currently has the highest rate of student attendance in any Queensland Special School.  Well done everyone!

To keep our school strong with student attendance please remember:-

• Regular communication between parents and carers and school staff
• Unwavering in our position that every day counts at school
• High standards of hygiene being maintained to help keep us all safe
• Early notification to parents/cares of students who are displaying signs of being ill
• Encouraging late arrivals or early departures from school processes be considered to accommodate other required commitments (eg therapy) rather than whole day school absences

Library

Our library has had a makeover and is one of my favourite places in the school.  Such a warm and welcoming space.  Our students likewise enjoy regular time in the library, with students eager to share with me a book they are enjoying.  

Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson

Filming for this nationwide child safety initiative with a number of our upper school students is set to occur on our school site on Thursday 8 June.  Invited students with the required parent/carer permission will participate in filming for a learning segment of the program.  More about Daniel Morcombe Foundation’s Australia’s Biggest Child Safety Lesson can be found here:-

https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe/keeping-kids-safe/australias-biggest-child-safety-lesson/

Chaplaincy Dinner

School community members are invited to attend this fundraising dinner to support school Chaplaincy services in our district, including of course our own Chaplaincy service here at Caboolture Special School.

Friday, 26 May 2023

6pm-9:30pm Bellmere State School

Contact Julie Hose for event enquiries

0437 917 206

Book here or through https://brushfire.com/sua/dinner/552345 

Mother’s Day Stall

Thank you for your support and to our P&C for their organisation of the Mother’s Day stall.  I hope all of the mothers and special females in your world had a lovely day last Sunday.

Curriculum Planning and Recording

I’ve enjoyed working with a number of teachers this week discussing curriculum planning and the recording of planning in a consistent manner that most benefits our students.

SRV Baseball

The program continues on Saturdays until 23^rd May, from 9-10am.  We have been successful in gaining a $1500 Sporting School Grant for this initiative and the school is funding any shortfall in costs to ensure the program can be offered for free to families.

For more information and to register go to www.srvbaseballaust.net

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) team

Our school has implemented extra layers of student support through our recently introduced PBL Team that is on the ground every school day.  My observations are that the PBL team are already making a positive impact across the school and I am excited about the journey to come in this space.  The Department of Education has a strong interest in how such PBL models can work in schools, as does the Queensland Teachers Union; we’ll be sure to keep these interested parties updated on our progress.

Staff Friday Dress Ups

We have themed dress up Fridays for staff to have some fun if they choose to participate.  Such themed days (that typically bring with them lots of smiles and laughter) complement our ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing:-

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-stress-management-and-health-benefits-of-laughter-3145084

Creative Generation (CGen)

In 2023, Creative Generation—State Schools Onstage (CGEN) will celebrate its 19th year as Queensland's largest youth performing arts program. Providing students with exposure to the industry as young artists through auditions, workshops, professional coaching and rehearsal opportunities. All their hard work and passion will culminate in four incredible performances on Thursday 13, Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July 2023 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

https://creativegeneration.education.qld.gov.au/

Our school will again participate in this spectacular with rehearsals are now underway. 

Tickets for Creative Generation—State Schools Onstage 2023 are now available via Ticketek.

Thank you CGen organisers.

Teacher Professional Development - Watching others Work (WoW) + Classroom Observation and Feedback (COAF)

At our school, the WOW and COAF processes provide opportunities for teachers to grow professionally, through collegial engagement, in a safe and supportive environment.

WOW is an optional opportunity to spend time with a peer sharing professional practices, with the focus of the interaction being informed by such measures as information contained within the staff member’s Annual Performance Development Plan (APDP).

COAF is part of our required practice and involves a Deputy Principal or myself providing ‘two stars and a wish’ feedback on a teacher’s lesson, with the make up and duration of the lesson being completely of the teacher’s choice.

We pride ourselves on being lead learners here at Caboolture Special School.

School Review

I have accepted an invitation from the Department of Education to be part of a school review team for Week 7 of this term, travelling to Currajong State School in Townsville to assist their school with their required school review.  I look forward to the experience and bringing back my learning to further benefit our students.

Long Service Leave

In Weeks 9 and 10 of term I will be on Long Service Leave, enjoying the company of my dad, son and some mates investing time in some non-work related pursuits in the waters off Central Queensland.  Of course, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure the smooth running of the school is maintained in my absence.

Illness

We are seeing a rise in illness within parts of our State, including within our community. I take the opportunity to remind parents and carers to be vigilant for signs that their child is unwell. Schools are obligated to contact parents or carers and request a prompt pick up of any student displaying symptoms of illness while at school. Having a child sick at school in the presence of others can lead to a spreading of the illness and we thank you for having arrangements in place for the pick up of your child should this need to take place within the school day. Staff always seek the opinion of another staff member before deciding to make a call home for a sick child. While we appreciate that having to pick up and care for a sick child can place an inconvenience on parents and carers, to not do so may mean many families are inconvenienced through the spread of the illness at school.

I want to thank you all most sincerely for your support and for entrusting us with your child’s schooling.

Best wishes

Sheldon Boland - Principal

Deputy Principal - Early Years

Hi everyone!

The cooler weather is here and we are seeing an increase in sickness. Please remember to keep your children home if they are feeling unwell.

We have been having lots of fun throughout the early years over the past 4 weeks! Here are some examples of work around the early years:

CLASS E

Class E have been reading some Dreamtime stories including Warnayarra the rainbow serpent in class. They have also been busy with their addition and subtraction as well as data collection.

CLASS I

This term Class I have been having fun with science experiments! They have been exploring and mixing colours and looking at how they change!

BUS TRANSPORT

Just a reminder to all Parents/ Carers that bus transport applications do take some time to process. If you are planning on moving house or changing any details of your transport arrangements, please allow a few weeks for this to be processed. We submit the transport applications and changes on your behalf and then the application tracks through to Regional Office. Once approved, the application tracks across to Transport and Main Roads for processing. This process can take some time so please let us know as soon as possible in regards to any changes.

Deputy Principal News

Happy Week 5 Everyone!

So much has been happening in our classrooms and school community worth celebrating over the last few weeks and I wanted to take the time to thank our wonderful teachers and teacher aides for the high level of support, care and dedication they provide to our students each and every day.

Teachers are busy delivering a variety of teaching and learning experiences for our students with a high level of engagement and successful learning outcomes being achieved.

Some of our recent learning highlights have been students creating artwork from Indigenous stories, story picture sequencing, counting colour collections, writing a retell of a story with pictures, and writing (through painting) what we like to eat.

Well done everyone!

Kind regards,

Sheree Carter

Deputy Principal

Communication and Curriculum

While in our classrooms we teach, assess and report all the subjects across the Australian Curriculum our students have complex communication needs. To support our students to communicate their needs, wants, ideas and more communication is embedded in all learning experiences planned for students.

Our school vision for communication is -

 “Every student deserves to share their voice and to be empowered to access meaningful communication.”

Students may come with their own communication system or will be exposed to a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) through teaching and learning.

Here are some photos of students engaging with a range of AAC from individual symbols to complete systems.  AAC is on offer for students to use throughout the day in range of activities and locations such as  during eating, play, investigation time and library time as well as staff carrying a system while moving around the school.

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What is AAC ?

AAC is all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they have trouble with speech or language skills. Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Some people use AAC throughout their life. Others may use AAC only for a short time, like when they have surgery and can’t talk.

There are a lot of different types of AAC. No-tech and low-tech options include things like

• gestures and facial expressions,
• writing,
• drawing,
• spelling words by pointing to letters, and
• pointing to photos, pictures, or written words.

High-tech options include things like

• using an app on an iPad or tablet to communicate and
• using a computer with a “voice," sometimes called a speech-generating device.

A person may use different types of AAC because there are many ways that we all communicate. An AAC system means all of the tools of this type that a person uses.

Some people wonder if children need to be a certain age before they can use AAC. Research shows that AAC helps people of all ages (even those younger than 3 years old)! You can use AAC early. There are no thinking skills, test scores, or other milestones that you need to reach before AAC can help.

Talking and Motivation

A lot of people wonder if using AAC will stop someone from talking or will slow down language development. This is not true—research shows that AAC can actually help with these concerns! People who use AAC can also learn how to read and write.

What types of AAC are used in class?

* Pragmatic Organisation Dynamic Display (PODD) is a book of symbols and words to support communication between people with complex communication needs and their communication partners. PODD is a way of organising whole-word and symbol vocabulary in a communication book or speech generating device to support expression and understanding of language for people with complex communication needs.

The aim of a PODD is to provide vocabulary for use in multiple environments, with a range of messages, across a range of topics. It is designed to be a tool in someone’s ‘toolbox of communication methods’ that is useful all the time. Selection of words and symbols in the PODD can be made by pointing, looking or other combinations of methods.

Proloquo2Go is a AAC app designed for iPads that similar to the PODD however on a digital platform. It provides symbols and words organised into a range of categories including a core word page of common emotions. It is completely customisable for a range of users. Proloquo2go also has natural sounding text to speech as and added feature to the digital format.

Key Word Sign  (KWS) is a tool or strategy which can be used to support children and adults with communication difficulties to understand and get their message across to others.

Key Word Sign (KWS) adds signs to spoken words. The key words in a message are signed. KWS is not a sign language, but it borrows the signs from the sign language of the country it is used in. In Australia this is Auslan.

Common Key Word Signs 

What can you do to help ?

Let your class teacher know if you are using any form of AAC or communication strategy in the home environment. Class teachers are more than happy to work together to support your child’s communication journey.

For further information and more specific advice for your child consult a Speech Language Pathologist. 

Report Cards 

Semester 1 report cards will be emailed out to familes at the end of this term. 

Have you updated your contact details to ensure emails are received?

Please contact office staff to enquire or make changes. 

Katie Rogers 

Head of Department - Curriculum 

Amazing work is happening.

During weeks 3 and 4 Katie and I spent some time working with our dedicated teachers to analyse and discuss our students absolutely amazing writing samples as we continue our work to develop our students writing abilities.

Teachers were given some extra time off class to examine their student writing samples and work with a great new tool called the Writing with All Tools Continuum to work out what the next goal will be towards improving writing success with our learners.

Students have been encouraged to explore a wide variety of writing tools to work out what is the best type of approach to supporting students to put their thoughts onto a surface.  Keyboards, pens and pencils, alphabet boards and flipcharts are some of the many creative ways we know how to engage our learners.

My New Gallery

Guidance Counsellor - Building Self Esteem

Self-esteem is feeling good about yourself, liking yourself, feeling that you are a worthwhile person. For almost all parents there are times when you worry about your child’s self esteem. Self esteem enables them to try new things without too much fear of failing, to reach out and make friends, and to manage problems they are likely to meet along the way. Good self esteem builds a solid foundation for life.

An important part of self esteem is feeling that you have a place in the world where you belong – that you are part of a family where you matter.

What parents can do to help build self esteem

• Tell your child often that you love them and you are glad they are who they are
• Show you love them by spending time, listening to their point of view, being willing to help them achieve their goals
• Support their learning – take an interest without taking over. Be involved in the school
• Encourage friendships and make their friends welcome, and get to know them
• Encourage hobbies or interests – a busy child is less likely to get into trouble
• Let your child assist you with something eg. Cooking, fixing the video
• Keep and cherish momentous of their success
• Help them to solve their problems themselves by talking through the issue, offering ideas or alternatives and helping them follow through.

All children need their parents for love and support. You are the most important person in their life. How you support them will affect them for the rest of their life. Parenting is not easy but it can be a most rewarding job when you see that the child you have reared is a happy, capable and caring person.

For further information:

• Respite Australia
• Raising Children Network Autism
• Connect MyTime Australia
• To find a psychologist, head to the Australian Psychological Society
• Look into becoming a member at a men’s shed (which have a special interest in supporting fathers and male supporters of people with autism)

Asha Kumar

Guidance Counsellor

Business Managers Bulletin

Are you going to be going to the Caboolture Show?

Caboolture Special School will be exhibiting some of our students work.  Go along and check it out.

Biddy Adams

Business Manager

Star Students