issue 57 - red hill special school p&c association€¦ · and discovering lots of crazy, wild...

the

red hillQUARTERLY Red Hill Special

School’s Newsletter

From the PrincipalIssue 57 June 2019

Points of Interest

School resumes –

Monday 15th July

Exhibition Holiday -

Wednesday 14th August

Term 3 ends -

Friday 20th September

Inside this Issue

1 Principal News

3 ECDP

4 Early Years 1,2 &3

6 Early Years 4 & Middle 4

7 Middle 1

8 Middle 2

9 Middle 3

10 Junior Secondary 1




14 Senior 1

15 Senior 2

16 Senior 3

Dear Families

Here we are at the halfway mark for the year. I am sure you will all agree that it has gone quickly. In reading through your children’s reports, I am pleased with all the learning that has occurred for each one of our students. Each learning achievement demonstrated is due to the hard work, intensive planning and differentiated learning programs implemented by the teachers and support staff (and lots of effort from our students).

This semester has also seen successful and meaningful engagement in our community programs. The Senior classes have expressed their opinions after viewing (and critiquing) art at GOMA as well as swinging their clubs with Coach Jay from First Swing Golf. The Junior Secondary sector has enjoyed a variety of programs such as, water safety lessons at Newmarket pool, YMCA gym programs at Bowen Hills, Golf, Yoga and Equine therapy at Brookfield showgrounds. Middle and Early Years’ classes have enjoyed All Abilities Dance classes, Equine Therapy and Yoga with Michelle. These programs are carefully selected to ensure they align with individual student goals. Our focus this semester has been around improving student outcomes in the area of writing. Of course, communication is at the core of everything that we do and we have seen some wonderful gains. Each fortnight the teachers meet in three sectors across the school using a case management approach to discuss writing. We call these meetings, Communities of Practice. During these meetings, teachers have been able to discuss best practice around the teaching of writing and return each fortnight with feedback and celebrations from their case management students. This has ensured that we have a shared responsibility for each of our students and it has been fantastic to hear teachers having conversations, outside of these meetings, around how each student’s goals are progressing.

As we head into Semester 2 there will be some teacher changes. With any change, the best interest of our students is primary in our thinking along with consistency in class programs. Nicole Mooney (Junior Secondary 2) is taking some well-deserved long service leave for the remainder of the year. Kahlile Barringer will be replacing Nicole. Kahlile is very familiar with the students and routines, having spent the last 5 weeks working alongside Nicole planning and implementing the class program.

learning for life E: [email protected] | W: www.redhillspecs.eq.edu.au

Laura Lyall-Wilson is undertaking further study. She will however continue to teach three days a week in Middle 3 (Wednesday - Friday). Amanda Hall returns from long service leave and will be working Mondays and Tuesday in Middle 3 as well as undertaking a communication role across our school. Congratulations to Libby Millard who will be working in an Advisory Visiting Teacher role (Physical Impairment) for the remainder of the year. Julia Miller will be the teacher in Early Years 3. Julia has spent time in this class working alongside Libby, Holly and the students.

Thank you for your support with these changes and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a committed staff and community throughout the first half of this year. I consider this opportunity to be a gift - a gift of working with committed staff who display grace and humility, kindness and professionalism when working with your children. I have been fortunate to work with many parents, therapists and other members of our community as we strive together for meaningful outcomes for your children. Thank you all. I hope you all have a restful two week break from the routines and schedules of school and I look forward to seeing you all again for Term 3 which commences on Monday 15th July.

RachelA/Principal Red Hill Special School

Term 3 will see us continue to build on the great work that makes Red Hill Special School a communication accessible school. Communication is our core business. Communication with families, students and each other is paramount to our daily work.

Just as a dance couldn’t possibly be a dance unless people moved to it, so language doesn’t become communication until people grow to understand and express it back. It has to be a two-way exchange. This is why ‘‘communicating’’ is an action word (Stae-hely, 2000, p.1).

Issue 57 June 2019 the red hill quarterly 2


Classroom News

ECDP

Our ECDP has recently begun its fifth class of students and everyone is settling in well to their new school environment. In term two all of the ECDP classes have enjoyed learning about nursery rhymes. Each fortnight we have explored a different topic and the associated rhymes.

During our ‘night and day’ fortnight we read stories including Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, made wands and learned about the letter ‘S’. While learning about the concept of ‘our home’ we read The House that Jack Built and played pretend games of shops and catching the bus. We went on to read The Old Woman Who Swallowed the Sea, which gave us lots of opportunities to play with sea creatures and water; pretend to be at the beach in our sandpit and sing nursery rhymes like A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea. We are finishing the term with the stories Down in the Jungle and I Am the Music Man.

Drawing on these themes we have had a wonderful term engaging with puzzles, colouring, alphabet and numbers, songs and sensory play.

Signing in by writing our name in the morning

Gross motor play Puzzles exploring the theme of ‘The House that Jack Built’

Making monkey craft

Enjoying play with alphabet

Cutting and pasting to make ‘The Old Woman Who Swallowed the Sea’

Have a great break and see you all in term 3.

Teachers: Jo and KarinyaTeacher Aide: Numia and Ellie

Pretending to be on the bus

Music lessons

Early Years 1, 2 & 3

More to say…I think it’s…EXCITING! It has been another exciting term in Early Years. We have all had a ball…

A big highlight for our group has been our weekly dancing sessions. It has made our Fun Fridays even more fun! Dancing, singing and movement, what else could you ask for?? Dance has helped to incorporate all our learning from Maths and English. We use counting and positional language and as always we are working on our communication. Some of our favourite dance activities have included stomping through the jungle and discovering lots of crazy, wild animals; dancing and climbing our way through the tunnel and swinging to the beat of the music in the lycra hammock. It feels like a very long wait between Fridays for some of us!

Early years are becoming experts at using our AAC devices. Our little superstars are also helping each other out...How amazing! Modelling PODD and using ALD in all activities has been helping us to expand our communication skills. Not only are we using our communication to participate in our learning activities, but we are becoming very good at making requests and bossing our teachers around too!

We continue to use a hands on approach in all our curriculum areas of English, Maths and Science. This has proven to be the most engaging, as it allow us to explore and manipulate all materials and learn whilst we have fun.

EY2 was very lucky to have Emily helping out in the classroom this term, and EY1 & EY3 enjoyed getting to know her too. Emily is studying to be a teacher at Griffith University and completed one of her prac placements here at Red Hill. She did lots of wonderful activities with us all and we will miss her greatly. Emily has gone travelling around Europe for a little while now and we are waiting very patiently for our postcards to arrive!

It has been a very action-packed, exciting term for us all, but now it is time to rest and regroup. We have very busy and very fun times ahead of us when school returns. Please have a happy and safe winter break.

Maryam and Alex having a chat

Sam’s favourite thing to request is little tikes cars

David saying hello in dance

Devlin enjoying dress ups on ‘Fun Friday’


Summer retelling ‘The Three Billygoats Gruff’

Luca balancing

Otto exploring positional language in the playground

Margaret enjoying the ribbon during our clown performance

and workshop


Dancing fun with Luca Maryam having fun with Dave

Olive and Kate having fun at music therapy

Ian ribbon dancing Olive loves sensory play

Luca balancing

Ollie sharing his toys with Rae

Summer dressing up for Fun Friday

Devlin loves dancing

Sam enjoyed painting our letter of the week ‘W’ with wheels

Ollie and Rae Sam showing David how to use the PODD

Summer crawling through the tunnel in dance

Ian planting some seeds with Rae in science


Early Years 4 & Middle 4

Is it that time already? Early and Middle Years 4 are feeling sooooo tired! It’s been a huge term in our class, but we’re finishing the term with big grins on our faces. Our class has worked so hard this semester, not only in our English, Maths and Science but our communication skills as well. It’s been so fun using new pathways in our PODD, playing new games and using our voices to communicate what we thought. Our teacher aides have also put in so much effort to be the best ‘smart partners’ they can be by practising constantly!

During Maths we have developed our switching skills, and have played lots of number games on the IWB. Our favourite game would have to be the spinner game. We take turns at rolling a dice to pick a number and then activate our switch to start the spinner to determine what movement we should do. We all look pretty silly when we have to spin, stomp, clap or shake lots of times while we count! Holly and Steph have even set up our voice output devices while they read stories, or during morning circle. We all think it’s fun to comment the whole way through the session with our funny catch phrases!

Early and middle Years 4 have also proven to be prolific writers this semester. We have written about so many things like the chickens from Term 1, events from last year, activities we’ve done recently, books and songs. We all love to talk about our topic and write about it…. We’ve gotten really good at giving our opinion! In our class we love to celebrate each other and our friendship, so we each have our own ‘Smile Jar’. As another chance to use our AAC and writing skills, we pick a friend and write a nice message to make them smile. It has been so wonderful sharing the love!

Margaret enjoys jumping on the mini trampoline with Emily

Otto goes over the obstacles during our gross motor program

See you all back for Term 3!

Teachers: Libby, Kate and RaeTeacher Aides: Holly, Alex, Ash, Amanda and Numia

Angus stirring our purple cake batter

Hannah and Imelda playing the shakers!

Indi and Owen playing in the playground

Holly, Corey and Steph having a singalong!

Izzy deciding if Sofia is ‘heavy or light’ was pretty funny!

James and Lisa spinning at the park!

Sofia switching ‘more’ during numeracy

Zoey all smiles during Morning Circle!

We’re so excited for what term 3 has in store for us but now, it’s time for a rest!

Teachers: Steph and HollyTeacher Aides: Lisa, Nerida, Imelda, Amanda and Julie

Middle 1

It was a busy and productive term 2 in Middle 1 classroom. We have read and listened to many informational and imaginative texts, as well as learning about their differences. We have also enjoyed all the hands-on activities in Maths and Science. Furthermore, we gained benefits from all extra-curricular activities: Equine Therapy, Swimming and Music Therapy.

Teacher expectations and parental support definitely encourage our students to work hard and give new things a try. We celebrated a lot of success, receiving recognition with many certificates. More importantly, we accomplished many of our academic objectives.

We all developed a sense of belonging to our class. We stepped out of our comfort zone to make new friends, meet new people and share our knowledge with them.


Violeta and Max used water paints and brushes to create an art work independently

Fred shows Jess his favourite character in HelpKidzLearn on classroom computer

We loved the clown show from Ferny Grove SHS students

Max and Fred like to float on a mat and do some good kicking in swimming with Alyssa


Middle 2

Term Two has been full of action in Middle 2. In week three we celebrated our Mums through literacy, art and cooking. The students in Middle 2 described their own Mums as fantastic, cheeky, nice and delightful, happy, fun and pretty. We made beautiful photo frames and yummy cupcakes for Mother’s Day. Our Science investigations of living things continued this term. The students planted flower seeds and kept a diary of their observations as the seeds started to sprout. All students used their senses to observe their growing plants describing what they saw, smelled and felt. The most common description was that the seedlings smelled “yucky.” As part of our Mathematics learning, we played a position and location game, giving each other instructions to place an object in a particular location. Much fun has been had putting dolls under tables, party hats inside fridges, teddy bears in front of lifts, books in drawers, teddy bears under gates and balls beside slides.

This term we have participated in an All Abilities Dancing lesson on Fridays. All students have engaged with this programme, by moving their bodies in different ways to different beats. Paw Moon, Fareed and Susie demonstrated particular enthusiasm for jumping in the hoops or on the coloured mats. Isla demonstrated enjoyment, effort and skill when ribbon twirling. Niamh enjoyed turn taking with the dance teachers when selecting songs. She also suggested body movements for all to attempt. Niamh demonstrated her ability to pirouette like a ballerina. Charlotte demonstrated skill, enjoyment and great communication when moving to the song “I jump and I stop”. Dancing lessons have provided an opportunity for all in Middle 2 to participate together and experience fun and laughter as a group.

A highlight of the term has been supporting Griffith University student Julia on her final internship. All the students in Middle 2 quickly adopted Julia as part of the classroom team and demonstrated willingness to communicate with her using their individual communication systems. During her internship, Julia linked the letter of the week to our sensory cooking activity. The students have used their senses to explore

Thanks for a great term. Have a great holiday.

Teachers: Jess and TaniaTeacher Aides: Seb, Danya and Lauri

Paw Moon counts a beat of 8 on the drum in dance lessons

Niamh plays the position and location game, placing the

teddy in front of the lift

Charlotte jumps on the coloured mats in dance lessons

Isla leads the horse at Equine Therapy

Susie sings the ‘Looking in the Mirror’ song in dance lessons


Middle 3

Middle 3 has enjoyed all the extra-curricular activities we have done this term. These have included Yoga, Music Therapy, Golf and Dance. Kate, Darbi, Cody, Maddy, Alan and Annie have learnt so much in each of the lessons. Many thanks to the staff that run these classes.

We have also kept ourselves busy reading books and writing everyday. It has been rewarding observing the improvements students have made over the semester. A favourite activity has been role playing going to the shops and learning about money. It has been fun taking turns being the shop keeper or the customer.

Our class is so lucky to have our teacher aides, Michelle and Erryn, supporting us. Michelle has facilitated Art experiences for the students this semester. In Science we have been studying the needs of ocean animals. During our Art lessons, we made a diorama which included a fish, water, seaweed, rocks and coral.

the ingredients for zucchini chocolate cake, lemon ice blocks and coconut ice. We all pulled a funny face when tasting the lemon ice blocks. Fareed clearly declared that they were “yuck!” We are all very thankful to Julia for spending her internship in our classroom and we wish her every success in her future teaching career.Middle 2, you are to be congratulated for all your hard work this term. Together you have made great gains in your group skills, communication efforts and in your learning. Enjoy a well deserved Winter holiday.

Teacher: KatrinaTeacher Aides: India, Sheri and Nick

Kate dress-up Maddy and Alan Shopping

Darbi Music Therapy

Maddy conducting a meditation class

Michelle with Cody doing Art

Quiet reading


Dance

Junior Secondary 1

Wow! How fast the year is going! Junior Secondary 1 has had another great and busy term.

The highlight of our term was School Camp! We were lucky enough to go alongside senior 3 and we all had the best time. Our favourite activity was definitely sailing in Mooloolaba. We also went to Australia Zoo, the park, out to dinner and enjoyed playing games, being with all our friends and of course the BUS. The camp gave us an opportunity to use our Individualised communication systems and PODD’s in different contexts and align our schoolwork with fun outings- using the map at the zoo, checking out the animals and their habitats for science, following directional language and of course having fun with our friends! We also were lucky enough to be invited to the annual Fun Run at Darling Point which was another great day out where we got to participate in lots of fun activities.

I would like to thank Middle 3 students, families and staff for a great semester. It has been an honour getting to know and work with you all. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

See you next semester.

Teacher: LauraTeacher Aides: Michelle and Erryn

Bubbles in dance class

Leah making a plant collage in science

George ready for a day at the ZOO

Max enjoying Sailing on camp

Claudia going UP the ramp on the obstacle course

Matthew ready to go sailing

Where is Max? Max is IN the box


Fun Run finishers

Junior Secondary 2

Our news for this term is that we have had an extra team member for the last 4 weeks. Kahlile has been a student Teacher in our class and has fitted in so beautifully that we plan to keep her. I am taking leave for semester 2 and Kahlile will be the new Teacher in JS2 starting next term. We have loved having her as part of our class, in particular for introducing us to some new maths games. The transition into next term should be smooth. The other highlight of this term was the week 7 Fun Run at Darling Point. I was incredibly proud of JS2, not only for their incredible athletic performance but for their mature and responsible behaviour throughout the whole day. It was great to see.

Have a great hoilday and look forward to seeing everyone next term!

Teacher: AmeliaTeacher Aides: Helen and Aimee

Zac doing some measurement work

Tom matching in maths and working independently

Sam in full swing

Louis matching in maths

Some St Laurence School volunteers joining us for maths games

Louis and Kahlile at the Fun Run

Braken at the Gym


Junior Secondary 3

Term 2 has been a blast and Junior Secondary 3 students have been busy little bees right to the end! They have worked hard during assessment time and I am impressed with their continued effort.

Our program continues to be jam packed and JS3 know our daily schedule well. This term we have engaged in writing our own imaginative and informative texts as well as discussing the features of different text types. We had our second attempt at growing beans and this time we found our green thumbs. It was exciting to watch our plants grow but then someone forgot to water the beans and they didn’t survive the weekend… WHOOPS!

We ventured out to the Bay for the Darling Point Fun Run and it was a lovely day out, enjoyed by all! A walk by the water, a play on the playground, sausage sizzle, face painting AND a disco…what more could you ask for? We had a ball!

We started up golf with Coach Jay this term and I think it’s safe to say that we are all well on track to starting our journey to ‘The PGA Tour’.

Have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy Term 3. Teachers: Nicole and Kahlile Teacher Aides: Seb, Cam and Lauchie

Spot the Gus!

Amelia the fish

Professional golfer, Amy

Park swings with Maisie

Great swing Angus!

New mates - Flyn and Joomie

Face paint is the BEST

Amelia, lining it up


Junior Secondary 4

Junior Secondary 4 has had a fabulous Term 2. Our timetable has been full of physical activity. Everyone has enjoyed our weekly Water Safety lessons at Newmarket Pool. The pleasure had by all and the progress made by everyone has been inspiring.

We welcomed Coach Jay for another round of golf lessons. Following Golf, we often visited the park for morning tea. It was always fun to eat al fresco and enjoy some free play outdoors.

And that’s it from us… Have a wonderful holiday and we’ll catch you next term!

Teacher: PipTeacher Aides: Steph and Nerissa

Joomie the artist

Fun Run FUN

The Darling Point Fun Run provided us another day of perfect weather for a walk and a BBQ by the bay. A couple of our favourite literacy activities have been our “Question of the Day” and playing Hangman.

Alec getting his face painted Kyden at gym

Kyden at the Darling Point Fun Run

Sophia at the finish line at the Darling Point Fun Run

Marie-Louise at golf Amaya practising her swing at golf


Senior 1

This term Senior 1 has visited the art galleries at Southbank Parklands and Brisbane CBD to find art in the community. After the excursion students wrote a review of what they saw, expressing their opinions about the activity. Student responses were mixed as to whether they would like to go again. Responses ranged from they enjoyed the activity to they did not want to go again because the art was “terrible”. Roma Street Parklands was popular and so were the interactive venues such as Museum of Brisbane at City Hall and Gallery of Modern Art.

A big thankyou to all the amazing students of JS4 - Alec, Amaya, Kirti, Kyden, Marie-Louise and Sophia, for all your hard work and bringing your best self to school each day.

Our class has been fortunate this term to be supported by some very talented student teachers and teacher aides undertaking their prac placements – Alia, Cecily, Olivia and Emilie.

Have a great break over the holidays.

Teacher: JaneTeacher Aides: Deb, Lauri and Lachlan

Tom swimming at GOMA

Marcus at GOMA

Will about to be eaten by a shark at GOMA

Computer time at GOMA

Cam, Sam and Will at Roma Street Parklands

Lyam and Sam getting a selfie lesson from Sol

Madi at Roma Street Parklands Tom at GOMA

Marcus being cheeky choosing the Blues over the Maroons


Cam racing ahead of the group

Lyam spinning in the Botannical Gardens

Madi and Claire getting ready to spin in the Botannical Gardens

Have a terrific holiday and see you all in term 3.

Teacher: YolandaTeacher Aides: Jenni, Sol and Claire

Senior 2

This term Senior 2 has had the opportunity to participate in a Community Access Art Program. Each Tuesday we have accessed the community to look at different pieces of art such as paintings, sculptures, videos, pictures, garden beds, and building structures. We have visited New Farm Park, Redcliffe Jetty, Museum of Brisbane, QUT Museum of Art, QLD Art Gallery, GOMA and Botanical Gardens. The highlight of the term was of course our camp to Caloundra. Unfortunately, the weather was not kind to us. However, we made the most of our time visiting The Ginger Factory, Bellingham Maze, Mary Cairncross Reserve, and everyone’s favourite, ten pin bowling.

Redcliffe Jetty

Roma St Parklands

Mary Cairncross Reserve

QUT Museum of Art

Senior 3

Time flies when you are having fun and that has certainly been the case in Senior 3 this term! We have been very busy accessing the community with camp in week 5 and an outing each week. Camp was a blast! We spent two nights up at the Sunshine Coast where we visited Australia Zoo, sailed with Sailability at Mooloolaba, we went out for dinner one night and enjoyed walks along the esplanade. Each Friday Senior 3 has been hitting the streets of Brisbane! We have visited New Farm Park, GOMA, Roma Street Parklands, Mt Coo-tha Botanical Gardens, South Bank and City Botanical Gardens. Our outings are focused on ‘viewing own and others artwork’. At GOMA and the art gallery we commented on the art

Wishing everyone a terrific break and look forward to seeing everyone next term.

Teacher: NickiTeacher Aides: Tim and Deb

through using the PODD. At New Farm Park, Roma Street Parklands and Mt Coo-tha Botanical Gardens we chose flowers and plants to take photos of and then created a collage back at school. At South Bank and City Botanic Gardens the girls requested places that they would like a photo taken (because what teenager doesn’t love a selfie) and we have some special artwork to come.

Abbey, Darah and Lily at South Bank

Darah Sailing

Abbey Sailing


Lliy said this was ‘fantastic’ Abbey with Caramel the goat

Jenita-Faith is very happy on outings

Have a great holiday from Senior 3

Teacher: AnnaTeacher Aides: Deb, Helen, Maureen and Campbell


Jenita giving her opinion Lily giving her opinion

Darah had the best view of the tiger

Abbey and Darah at the beach

issue 57 - red hill special school p&c association€¦ · and discovering lots of crazy, wild...

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