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COOMBABAH SECONDARY SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
Coombabah Secondary Special Education Services support students with disabilities and operate within Education Queensland’s “Inclusive Education” policy. Students participate in all aspects of school life including mainstream form classes, school parade and sporting activities.
WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT IS OFFERED?
Support is provided to meet the needs of individual students and they attend mainstream classes wherever possible.
Specialist teachers or teacher aides provide support to students in mainstream classes.
Type of support provided includes:
· notetaking/scribing
· accessing equipment
· explaining ideas
· simplifying and repeating instructions
· assisting with written tasks
Special education staff supervise a games room during breaks. Students may come in to use the Playstation, play table tennis and soccer table or play cards and board games. This provides the students with a safe environment in which to socialise with their peers. Footballs, vortex, Frisbees, bocce and pole tennis are also available for outside use.
(photos)
OTHER SUPPORT OFFERED
Special Education staff support mainstream teachers in modifications to content, and/or alternative assessments and suggested classroom strategies.
Coombabah’s physical environment is conducive to wheelchair access to all areas within the school. Specialised toileting facilities and equipment are available.
Students access Education Queensland Speech Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, and/or Occupational Therapists when necessary. Specialist staff also liaise closely with other support agencies Eg Montrose, Cerebral Palsy League Qld.
SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF 2007
Teaching team
Adam Darragh
Lynda Hunt
Kathleen Clune
Catherine Engel
Chris Walsh
Vee Naidu
Teacher aide team
Angela Brown
Sue Deale
Rebecca Dyer
Paulina Ford
Jan Miller
Liz Warn
ALTERNATIVE SUBJECTS CURRENTLY OFFERED IN INCLUDE:
· English for Life
· Maths for Life
· Oral Language
· Enrichment Studies
· Technology
· Work Readiness Skills
· Skills for Living
· Studies of Our World
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES SUBJECT INFORMATION 2007
YEAR 8
English for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses visual materials, multiple intelligences, drawing/diagrams
Maths for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
Oral language
· an alternative program developed by Education QLD Speech Language Therapists
· practising functional communication
· extension of vocabulary
· social skills
Skills for living
· an alternative program focussing on developing daily living skills
· Eg meal preparation, shopping, budgeting, public transport
Enrichment
· provides opportunity for assistance with assessment items
· clarification of content from classes
· help with homework
YEAR 9
English for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses visual materials, multiple intelligences, drawing/diagrams
Maths for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
Oral language/Enrichment
· an alternative program developed by Education QLD Speech Language Therapists
· practising functional communication
· social skills
· assistance with assessment
Skills for living
· an alternative program focussing on developing daily living skills
· Eg meal preparation, shopping, budgeting, public transport
Work Readiness Skills
· focuses on developing basic work skills
· short and long-term goal setting/planning
· career planning, pre-employment education
· introduction to work experience
Technology
· basic computing skills
· word processing
· introduction to simple data bases and spread sheets
· power point and some multimedia Eg animation, photo editing
Studies of Our World
· investigates the local area
· explores Australia and our society
· investigates current world issues
YEAR 10
English for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses visual materials, multiple intelligences, drawing/diagrams
Maths for life
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
Oral language/Enrichment
· an alternative program developed by Education QLD Speech Language Therapists
· practising functional communication
· extension of vocabulary
· social skills
· assistance with assessment
Skills for living
· an alternative program focussing on developing daily living skills
· Eg meal preparation, shopping, budgeting, public transport
Work Readiness Skills
· expands on Year 9 topics
· Car-wash work project on campus
· Includes on/off campus work experience
· transition planning
Technology
· expands on Year 9 topics
· digital cameras
· more advanced photo editing
· movie maker
· publisher, excel
Studies of Our World
· expands on topics covered in Year 9
· legal issues
· rights and responsibilities as an Australian citizen
· travelling overseas
YEAR 11
English for life
· may run parallel program to English Communication
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses visual materials, multiple intelligences, drawing/diagrams
Maths for life
· may run parallel program to Pre-Vocational Mathematics
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
Work Readiness Skills
· expands on Year 10 topics
· includes off campus work experience
· transition reviews
· basic driver education
Technology
· expands on Year 10 topics
· game making
· more advanced excel
· introduction to designing web sites
YEAR 12
English for life
· may run parallel program to English Communication
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses visual materials, multiple intelligences, drawing/diagrams
Maths for life
· may run parallel program to Pre-Vocational Mathematics
· an alternative program focussing on practical life skills
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
· uses real life experiences to consolidate learning
Work Readiness Skills
· expands on Year 11 topics
Technology
· expands on Year 11 topics
YEAR 7 TO YEAR 8 TRANSITION PROGRAM
Coombabah Secondary Special Education Services offer a transition program for students in Year seven. The program aims to provide students with confidence in making the change from primary to secondary school. It provides students with opportunity to experience the different world of high school and meet other new students who will also receive support. The program is held over two days late in Term 4 and includes:
· orientation of the school campus
· participation in lessons
· meeting staff and teachers
· getting to know other students
Information packs are sent to primary schools or advisory visiting teachers late term 3 or early Term 4.
(photos)
INTERSCHOOL POWERED WHEELCHAIR SPORT
Students using powered wheelchairs participate in sport on Tuesday afternoons at Ashmore PCYC. Schools from across the coast are involved with students from Year 5 up allowed to play. Students play balloon soccer and wheelchair hockey and have a great time with some also playing for Gold Coast Heat on weekends. Wheelchair sport is made possible through the generosity of Tim (parent) who kindly referees the games each week, Ashmore PCYC for the use of their facility and donations/fundraising by schools and businesses to assist with the high cost of transport.
(photos)
SCHOOL WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
Work experience is a valuable part of the Work Readiness Skills subject.
Students participate in a “School Work Experience Program” during Year 9 to prepare them for off campus work experience in Year 10 and Year 11. They prepare their resume, apply for jobs in writing and conduct mock interviews.
School staff are very supportive of the program and find that the students are hardworking and committed to their tasks.
Jobs students may experience at school include:
· gardening around the school (planting, weeding, pruning).
· working in the library (re-shelve books, use the computer to process loans and returns and cover new books).
· school office (organising envelopes for end of semester reports, stamping school forms).
The program is expanded in Year 10 to include a Car Wash business - developed and run by students on campus.
CAR WASH PROGRAM
Students completing Work Readiness Skills researched a business that could be run on campus. They chose a car wash after surveying the teachers and discovering how many dirty cars were available! Students are responsible for advertising, dealing with customers, purchasing the products needed and washing the cars. Their hard work is rewarded by participating in activities of their choice at the end of term Eg movies, bowling, TimeZone.
(photos) (link to Brochure)
MEMORIAL GARDEN PROJECT
A small group of volunteer students were involved in developing a memorial garden for Brittany Anderson, who sadly passed away in May 2005. Students are responsible for regular garden maintenance to ensure this area is kept clean and beautiful.
(photos)
SENIOR TRANSITION PROGRAM
Coombabah Secondary Special Education Services offer a senior transition program for students in their last two years of school. The program provides opportunity for students, family members and staff to begin planning for life beyond high school. This planning looks at the areas of:-
- work and further study
- living skills
- leisure and recreation
Transition involves the interested parties meeting twice a year to discuss the goals set out in the Personal Future Action Plan (PFAP).
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Camp
· 2005 Lake Ainsworth (photos)
· 2006 Tallebudgera (photos)
Annual invitational athletics championships for students with disabilities
(photos)
Alternate activities
· Fishing
· snorkeling
· lawn bowls
· bush games
· mural painting (photos)
· craft (photos)
Excursions
· Brisbane / Southbank (photos)
· Indy - Click Here
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