newsletter term 1 2019 - west coast sesc€¦ · newsletter term 1 2019 joanne kriziotis principal...

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It has been heartwarming to see all the new friendships starting to form across the school and the

recess and lunch clubs become hives of activity.

All the classes have hit the ground running for the start of the school year and the calendar has been

jam-packed with wonderful learning opportunities for our students. We have been privileged to have

some very prestigious guests visit our school this term: Jon Pritikin, a motivational speaker from

America and some of the top players from the West Coast Eagles! Both of these events, excited our

students and made for memorable days for very different reasons. Jon touched many hearts with his

personal recount of being bullied and how his life turned around to what it is today, with a very strong

message to the students about never giving up. The students were buzzing with enthusiasm and

motivation following his presentation. The West Coast Eagles certainly left their mark during their visit

in the latter half of the term, providing our students with the opportunity to not only meet their footy idols

but to learn some very important footy skills and play a game of footy with them. Chances like these do

not come along every day and we feel very blessed.

Two other notable events this term have been the celebration of Harmony Day and the Bullying No Way

Day. It was amazing to witness our school community coming together and acknowledging and

embracing harmony, diversity, acceptance and friendship. Well done to all involved.

Principal’s Report What a fantastic start to 2019 we have had! I am absolutely delighted with

how our students have fully embraced their new classes and teachers and

have settled into their routines remarkably well.

NEWSLETTER TERM 1 2019

Joanne Kriziotis Principal

As you can see, this term has been packed with significant events and activities, my personal highlight

was the Official Opening of our school in early March. This was a wonderful day attended by very

special guests and we were very grateful for all these dignitaries taking the time out of their busy

schedules to celebrate our relocation and new school. It was lovely to see so many parents attend too.

Well done to everyone involved, especially the students who represented the school beautifully on the

day.

Many of the tasks required Getting Along, Confidence, Persistence and Resilience,

which the students practice through our You Can Do It! Education Program in

Many of our Year 7 and 8 students had the opportunity to go to the Swan Valley Adventure

Camp for a two day camp in the last week of term. Students were exposed to a variety of

activities which both challenged them and took them out of their comfort zones.

school. It was lovely to see the students supporting each other

during activities and seeing the comradery displayed. The

students had a fantastic experience and are keen to return soon.

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Well done everyone! Thank you to everyone involved for making Term 1 such a fun and memorable

term.

I hope that staff, students and parents have a lovely relaxing holiday and all come back refreshed and

raring to go for what will no doubt be, a very busy and challenging Term 2.

Take good care of yourselves over the holiday period.

Best Wishes

Joanne Kriziotis

Principal, WCSESC

SCHOOL INFORMATION

WCSESC has the Messageyou text messaging system which allows instant two-way communication

between the school and our parent community.

It allows the Centre to immediately communicate information to parents relating to their child or send out

Centre-wide information such as reminders regarding events and

excursions, school development days, alerts and other important news

and information.

This system is the preferred parent method for notifying the school of student absences. The Messageyou

number is: 0419 943 649.

OUR NEW WEBSITE

Thank you for your patience whilst we have been establishing our new

website.

We would encourage parents to take a look at the new site and we welcome

feedback.

Up-to-date information will now be uploaded to this website rather than our old one. Our new web

address is as follows:

www.westcoastsesc.wa.edu.au

Why not save this new address as a “favourite” on your computer or laptop.

PARENT CLOSED GROUP FACEBOOK PAGE

Our Facebook page, which is a closed group for parents, is a great

way to stay up-to-date with new school events and programs, keep

abreast of news, see photographs of the students taking part in events

and to connect with other parents and share information.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

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SCHOOL CHAPLAIN

Breakfast Club has been provided to students Mondays, Thursdays and

Fridays this term and has been run between 8:20am and 8:40am on these

days.

Breakfast is a very important meal of the day and students tend to focus and

concentrate better in class when they have eaten. This club has also been

great for students who may be in a rush in the mornings and may not have the

time to eat or who do not enjoy eating too early.

During Breakfast Club, students always have access to cereals and toast and

on specific days pancakes, ham and cheese toasties and yogurt and muesli

are available. We aim to provide healthy and delicious items and gluten-free

options. By increasing the valiant of the food we serve, we have noticed that the number of students has

also increased as a result. When we first started, we had the participation of between four and six

students. That number has now increased to between ten and fifteen students, depending on what is

being served. The crowd favourite is Pancake Friday and it is encouraging to see students come in with

excitement on Friday mornings. Students have also been able to share food with their friends, which has

created a great family atmosphere in the mornings. Going forward we would like to expand Breakfast

Club and we welcome any feedback, suggestions or questions you may have.

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On Wednesday 6th March, the Official Opening of West Coast SESC took place. This prestigious event

was conducted by the Hon. Sue Ellery, Minister for Education and Training and was attended by a

number of local dignitaries and special guests, as well as parents. Our special guests were each

assigned a student host who met and greeted them on arrival, escorted them to the gym and looked after

them following the event. Special thanks to Alex, Charlotte, Claire, Lily, Rebecca and Reece for

undertaking this role beautifully. You all represented the school with such maturity and politeness.

Thanks are also extended to Malidji Ryder, a Year 10 student from Warwick Senior High School who

conducted the Acknowledgement to Country.

The Hon. Sue Ellery was able to take the time to peruse the beautiful school program displays prior to the

ceremony and view the amazing 3D sculptures the students had made with artist Simon Gilby as part of

the Artist in Residency Project.

The formal ceremony took place at 1.00pm in the gym with speeches from Principal, Joanne Kriziotis,

Deputy Principal Christine Lester and the Hon. Sue Ellery, as well as an energetic Zumba showcase by a

large number of students. Their performance brought about lots of smiles and a huge round of applause.

The Hon. Sue Ellery did the formality of drawing the curtain on our new school plaque, which is now

proudly on display at the doors of our reception building.

Following the ceremony, our special guests were invited into our

staff room for afternoon tea and parents were invited to join staff

and students in the Maths building for refreshments.

EVENT - OFFICIAL OPENING OF WCSESC

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EVENT - JON PRITIKIN VISIT

On Wednesday 13th March, West Coast SESC had the privilege of meeting and listening to Jon Pritikin,

a motivational speaker from the US. Jon presented a personal and touching story of being diagnosed

with a learning difficulty at a young age and as a result of this, he was severely bullied at school. His

story captivated students and staff alike and resonated with many, bringing both tears and laughter to

the room.

Jon delivered key messages of believing in your own self-worth, not giving up and allowing key people

that come into your life, to invest time in you. He challenged everyone to only speak positive words to

each other, to never let anyone eat alone at lunch and to stand up for what is right. The enthusiasm that

Jon brought into the room was contagious.

The students were enthralled throughout, especially when he displayed his amazing strength in folding a

frying pan, breaking a baseball bat and bending an iron bar. All of these items will now be proudly

displayed at the school in honour of the poignant message they represent. Students were left feeling

totally inspired and special. This was a memorable day.

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West Coast SESC joined Warwick Senior High School for the School Ball this year which was held at the

Joondalup Resort on Friday 29th March 2019. The theme was Glitz and Glamour and everyone looked

absolutely amazing on the night.

A very big thank you is extended to Fletcher’s mum and dad who hosted a lovely pre-Ball party at their

house. This enabled the students to meet up first, get excited together, enjoy a soft drink and a snack

before all travelling to the Ball as a group. Sincere thanks also go to Chevy’s mum for arranging and

coordinating the limousines for the evening and for arranging for a special Hot Rod car to be available at

the pre-Ball for a further student photo opportunity.. The students stopped on the way to the Joondalup

Resort at Hillarys Boat Harbour to take the opportunity of having some photos taken in the sunset.

Students had formal photos taken prior to a tasty buffet dinner. Students spent the majority of their time

on the dance floor, even dancing before they had eaten!

Special awards were presented on the night: Best Dressed Male, Best Dressed Female and Ball

Personality of the Year which were given to Liam, Chevy and Fletcher respectively. Congratulations to

these students who were presented with a $50 Westfield Gift Card.

EVENT - SCHOOL BALL

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EVENT - SCHOOL BALL

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Students were absolutely delighted when star players from the West Coast Eagles

dropped in to see them at school this term. Their visit was scheduled for Monday

1st April but this was no April fool!

Jack Darling, Jeremy McGovern, Jack Petruccelle, Jamie Cripps and Jack

Waterman came on site to share their stories and teach the students some

valuable footy skills.

Their appearance at school sent a ripple of footy frenzy through the classes.

Students also had the amazing opportunity to play a short West Coast v West Coast footy game. This

was followed by a signing and a meet and greet and it goes without saying, a photo opportunity or two!

We would like to extend sincere thanks to the West Coast Eagles team for making this visit happen and

we look forward to more opportunities to enhance the relationship with the West Coast Eagles going

forward.

EVENT - WEST COAST EAGLES VISIT

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Wow - what a fantastic term we have had in the Alternatives To

Employment (ATE) Program.

The purpose of the ATE Program is to provide selected students with

opportunities to engage in a range of activities that interest, challenge and

help them to develop desired leisure and recreation skills in a range of

areas.

The ATE Program is offered instead of or alongside work experience, and provides each family with an

insight into the types of ATE activities on offer to their child post-school by a service provider.

In Term 1, the students participated in an interesting and exciting six week Music Rocks Australia

Program, facilitated by Workpower, at the Music Rocks Australia Headquarters in Morley. The students

had the opportunity to learn two songs, Girls Like You by Maroon 5 and Roar by Katy Perry. They had

the opportunity to play a variety of musical instruments including drums, guitar, and keyboard as well as

develop their singing ability.

The students formed their own rock band with the fabulous support from the Music Rocks Ensemble

Directors. They were all so good with our students nurturing and supporting their growth and

development.

PROGRAM - ALTERNATIVES TO EMPLOYMENT

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And the icing on the cake for all concerned was the students showcasing their awesome talents at a Music Rocks Showcase at the Rosemount Hotel on Sunday 7th April. It was truly amazing! They all played their musical instruments extremely well and had a fabulous time. Congratulations to all of our rock stars - Aidan, Noah, Tim, Liam, Anika, Bam and Jaime. You all rock! Thank you to the following Education Assistants - Tamra, Kirsten, Sue and Paula for supporting the students throughout the program. You are stars as well! If you would like further information as to the programs offered by Workpower or Music Rocks, feel free to get in touch with me on 9345 6600, and I would be happy to pass on information.

Allison Nolan

Alternatives to Employment Coordinator


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Zentangle Hands

We started the year with a whole school project. Each student traced around their hand then decorated it

with their name and various ‘zentangle’ designs. Students finished their work with an ink wash and then

cut out their hand design and added it to the whole school display. We love it brightening up the room!

Lanterns and Astronauts

All classes were busily creating star and meteor lanterns as well as astronaut costumes in preparation

for the Twilight Lantern Parade, as part of the Joondalup Festival on Saturday 6th April. Students worked

with a partner to make the lanterns using cane and paper. All students should be proud of their creations

and efforts as the items all looked amazing.

PROGRAM - ART & ENTERPRISE

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Woollen Birds

Colourful wool, feathers and felt were all used to create these bright and beautiful birds.

Pebble Art

Students designed, painted and

glued pebbles onto wooden

plaques to make their original

‘pebble art’.

Heatpacks

The annual production of heat packs has been under way in preparation for our Easter Sale. Students

have been busy tracing, cutting, pinning and weighing wheat to make these ready for our Easter

Enterprise. Well done to all students involved – and Happy Easter!

PROGRAM - ART & ENTERPRISE

Sue Kelly, Fiona Teakle and Gaye Yanev

Art, D&T and Enterprise Coordinators

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The junior cadets at West Coast SESC undertake the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

(SAKGP) within their Bush Ranger lessons. The lessons aim to teach the cadets positive food habits

through fun, hands-on learning. The Growing-Harvesting-Preparing-Sharing philosophy is embedded

across the SAKGP Curriculum. The cadets learn to grow fresh, seasonal produce in the garden and then

use it to prepare nutritious, delicious food in the Life Skills room. They are also given all the skills,

experiences and role modelling they need to learn to make healthier choices about what to cook and

eat- essential learning for life!

Mrs Richelle Dillon and Mrs Sue Jorgeson, our very knowledgeable and experienced Bush Ranger

Instructors, have taken stewardship of the SAKGP in 2019.

This term, we have continued to build and fill with fabulous rich soil a few of our large garden beds. We

have put a variety of fruit, vegetable and herb seedlings in the beds inclusive of cherry tomatoes, rocket,

chives, parsley, lettuce, cucumber and spring onions. We look forward to harvesting our produce and

creating some autumnal salads. The cadets have also been learning about the

importance of worm waste to our gardens and tending to our numerous worm

farms.

The middle school cadets have undertaken a variety of projects around the Centre this term to embed

Aboriginal Totems that were created over the last few years and beautify the grounds in preparation for

our school opening. The cadets discussed the importance of the Totem placement and decided a circle

placement was in-keeping with a traditional circular Aboriginal meeting place. The cadets worked

tirelessly to spread mulch at the school’s entrance and they are to be commended for having pride in their

school. Thank you to everyone involved.

PROGRAM - BUSH RANGERS

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The middle school cadets have also planted a variety of native and edible Bush Tucker plants in the

large garden bed near the flags. These include: Sea Celery, Old Man Saltbush, Midyim Berries, W.A.

Samphire, Native Thyme, Muntries, Boobialla, and a few varieties of Finger Limes. The cadets will learn

about the importance of native and edible Bush Tucker plants within Aboriginal culture, and have the

opportunity to taste the plants as the plants grow and mature. We will be using them in a variety of ways.

We have hit the ground running within the Bush Ranger Program this term with our first camp for the

year taking place in Week 10 to Swan Valley Adventure Centre (SVAC). The junior cadets were full of

excitement and eagerness to go on camp and take part in a variety of adventure activities. The cadets

had a fabulous time undertaking the following activities: Abseiling, Mid Ropes Course, Team Building

Challenge, Commando Course and Archery. The catering was very nice as well- lasagne, schnitzel, full

cooked breakfast, and meat and salad rolls to name just a few things on the menu. The cadets and staff

certainly didn’t go hungry. The cadets were all well behaved and were a credit to the Centre, their family

and themselves. Camps bring out the best in our students- they encourage and support their peers

without hesitation and are willing to try new experiences within their capabilities. I am continually amazed

at our cadets and their strength, determination and tenacity to achieve individual goals. We are truly

privileged to see the cadets take safe risks in a supportive environment, growing in confidence and

blossoming as individuals. A BIG THANK YOU to all the staff who were involved, either beforehand or

during the camp, in order to ensure it was a smooth and successful camp for all of the cadets involved.


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And finally, another highlight of the Bush Rangers Program this term would have to be the hatching of our

chicks and duckling. Every year, we utilise the services of U Can Hatch Us to hatch chicks and this year,

we included a few duck eggs. The objectives of the program include to:

Observe the hatching of chicken and duck eggs to compare the growth and changes by drawing,

discussing and writing about what is observed.

Use subject specific vocabulary for an authentic purpose.

Understand and sequence the stages in the lifecycle of a chicken.

Understand basic needs (food, water and adequate shelter) of animals and how to care for them.

Understand the relationship between structures and function e.g. hard shell of egg for protection,

and sharp tooth to crack shell in order to get out.

We have enjoyed witnessing the cracking of the eggs shells in the incubator and the development of the

chicks and duckling over the last 3 weeks of term. They have all grown in leaps and bounds. We learnt

the brown chicks are the hens and the yellow/white chicks are the roosters. The cadets have had to

ensure the habitat was well-maintained and their basic needs were met. The little duckling, Lucky, had a

slow and difficult start to life, but with lots of tender loving care he/she survived and is just gorgeous.

Lucky has won over all of our hearts.

The majority of students really enjoyed holding the chicks and our gorgeous wee duckling. They will now

go to a free range farm and live a happy and healthy life.

I had the privilege of speaking at the recent annual Bush Rangers State Conference. I spoke about the

development of the Bush Rangers Program since its inception 6 years ago and all the wonderful activities

the cadets have undertaken, and continue to undertake. I am proud to say that my presentation was well

received and I had lovely comments from lots of people amazed at all the wonderful opportunities our

cadets experience. It is a privilege to have nurtured and developed this program, in conjunction with the

Bush Rangers committee over the years, within the Centre and I cannot thank each and every cadet and

staff member who have worked tirelessly to ensure the program is a success for all of our students.

Allison Nolan

Bush Rangers Coordinator


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There has a been a significant change to the Civics and Citizenship Program this year. It is now being

taught as part of our Upper School Four Way Swaps. All four senior classes participate in a one-hour

lesson of Civics and Citizenship along with the rest of their year group. This has enabled the program

to be tailored to meet the needs of the students in a year group.

The Year 11 group have been introduced to Civics and Citizenship for the first time and the focus has

been on why it is important to vote, what makes a good citizen and why it is important to be a good

citizen. This has led to some interesting debates and students have shared what they would like to

learn about in future classes.

For most of the Year 12 group this is their second year of Civics and Citizenship and we have been

able to examine some of the concepts in more detail and the students have shown that the learning

they achieved last year will enable them to engage with this subject at a deeper lever.

With a General Federal Election imminent the focus for the Year 13 group has been the importance of

voting and whether they are currently registered or not. We will also be exploring the roles of the

various political parties to assist these students to make informed choices when it is time for them to

vote.

During week 9 and week 10 students from all four classes went on excursion to find out how the

Salvation Army assists the homeless in the City of Perth. This was a positive experience for the

students and showed them how the role of being a good citizen can help those less fortunate than we

and how they can get involved. It was very engaging to be put in the shoes of a homeless person even

if it was a lot of walking!!

Karen Spencer

Civics & Citizenship Coordinator

PROGRAM - CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP

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In Term 1, as part of the Cultural Studies Program, students celebrated Harmony Week. The week ran from 17th - 23rd March and inspired everybody to involve, discover and value the country’s richness of culture, religion, language and ethnic diversity.

During the week, the students partook in numerous classroom-based

Harmony Day activities understanding the different cultures across the

world and spreading the message of belonging. For the Harmony Day

class competition, students did a wonderful job in creating some

amazing posters which were judged by four of the Warwick Senior High

Student Councillors. The four Warwick SHS judges were joined by five

other student councilors along with their teacher to be part of our

WCSESC Harmony lunch feast, too. Throughout the week, some of the

students participated in mainstream-organised recess and lunch music and sports programs.

On Wednesday 20th March 2019, at West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre (WCSESC), the

students and staff organized a grand feast during lunch time. Everybody brought in a plate of popular

cuisine from different countries to share. It was a wonderful day where everyone came together to

celebrate diversity and propagated the message of universal brotherhood.

Students and staff were adorned in traditional dresses or something orange, which

signified freedom of ideas and mutual support. Prizes were given to best dressed

male, female student and staff.

Best Collage - AREA G Best Dressed Boy - Avi from Area H (Indian) Best Dressed Girl - Jessica M from Area G (Russian Ballerina) Best Dressed Staff - Michelle (Something British)

Congratulations to the winners. It was a great occasion for our students to have a

good time as well as respect for our Centre’s diverse community.

It has been a culturally fulfilling

term for all students.

PROGRAM - CULTURAL STUDIES

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On Saturday 6th April twenty eight students and their parents attended the City of Joondalup Twilight

Lantern Parade. It was a lovely community event for our school to participate in. This year’s theme was

“Explore the Galaxy”. In preparation for this event, students made elaborate astronomical costumes

and lanterns under the guidance of an esteemed visual artist, painter, sculptor and community artist

Gabrielle Mazalevskis. These creations were put together along with their art teachers during their Art

and Enterprise lessons. The students did really well and gained much out of the experience.

Nimi Mammen

Cultural Studies Coordinator

PROGRAM - CULTURAL STUDIES

http://www.artistgabrielle.com/

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This year we have commenced drama classes in the Performing Arts Studio, a fabulous space where

we have had the opportunity to not only entertain and have heaps of fun, but

also to create personal, emotional and social awareness amongst students.

Classes have included a range of Drama games and activities and these

have been used to teach emotional recognition and expression, non-verbal

behaviours and gestures, listening skills, eye contact, conversation skills,

strategies to handle social situations and social skills.

We have also been developing a range of physical skills and techniques in Drama classes this term

examples of this include; body movement, body language, posture, gesture, gait, co-ordination, stillness,

timing, control; facial expression; eye contact, listening, expression of mood; spatial awareness;

interaction with other performers; dance and movement.

It has been wonderful to see students benefiting from participating in Drama classes with a definite

increase and boost in their self-confidence, imagination skills, exploring emotions, developing on going

cooperation and communication skills and of course having heaps of fun!

We have particularly had some funny times in our improvisation sessions!

We look forward to further developing the skills learnt so far in Drama, in Term 2 and seeing their

creativity shine through.

Tara Murphy

Drama Teacher

PROGRAM - DRAMA

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We have been busy cooking up all sorts of lovely treats during our first term in

Home Economics. Students have been exploring different recipes that use

eggs. Learning about how eggs are used in a recipe, making scrambled eggs to

savoury muffins.

We have new aprons with our school logo embroidered on and the students

have all been excited to wear them and feel like ‘chefs’ in the kitchen. New

equipment has also been used; waffle machines and electric woks being used to

cook tasty stir fries.

All students have had the opportunity to gain ‘Chef of the Week’ which is

published weekly on the school’s Facebook page. Students are chosen for a

range of attributes including good hygiene practice and resilience to following a

recipe.

The new Year 7’s have

been enjoying finding

their way around the

Home Economics

classroom and building

their confidence to cook

new and exciting foods. I

have been so proud of all

students, the year 7’s

have cooked each

lesson, paying particular attention to their hygiene and the routines of the Home Economics lesson.

Area J did a great job helping with icing the cupcakes for the anti-bullying day. The whole school

enjoyed the cupcakes, especially the butter icing!

I have to give a special mention to Deacon. He made a fabulous teacher helper during his cooking

lesson in the latter half of this term. It has been a pleasure to see Deacon enjoying Home Economics

and I am so proud of his progress. Well done Deacon.

Hayley Hipgrave

Home Economics Teacher

PROGRAM - HOME ECONOMICS

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Students have been working well in Multilit this term. We have two

sessions running this term, in the rooms at the end of the Maths block. It is

great to see the expansion of the program as reading is so important to

our students.

For new parents, the way the program works is the student is initially assessed. Then, if the program is

likely to benefit them, they come along to daily sessions of about twenty minutes. In these sessions,

students work through Word Attack Skills, Sight Words and Reinforced Reading. The most important part

of the program is the Word Attack Skills as this is where students learn to sound out unknown words. This

is a very complex skill and can take some student time.

The tutors this year are Deb Pember, Richelle Dillon, Tam Rojahn, Wendy

Knight and Maggie Niven.

Jacqui Millar

Multilit Coordinator

PROGRAM - MULTILIT

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We hosted two Open Cafés in Term 1. Our first session included Sharadin Shimmin

from the Brightwater Group, Brett Bradley, a representative from Interchange Inc and

the Midlas Disability Advocate Chris Kelly. We held a raffle at the first Open Café

which resulted in Marie Williams winning $200 towards her school contributions and

charges. Well done Marie! We also enjoyed delicious food and time to network

between speakers and following the session.

The second Open Café was attended by Maxine Drake from Developmental Disability WA and Bonnie

Hughes, a representative from the Independent Living Centre. Bonnie shared some excellent

information during her presentation about some of the accessibility features that are built into the iPads

such as ‘Speak Screen’ and ‘Speak Selection’. You can find Tip Sheets on iDevices for iOS12 and iOS6

on their website: https://ilc.com.au/ilcresources/computers-tablets-smartphones/.

Both sessions were well received by parents/carers of current and former students as well as parents

and staff from other schools within the network. This year our Open Café events will pay specific

attention to the need for information regarding the upcoming NDIS changes with presenters sharing their

knowledge of the wide range of tailored services and support networks available.

We encourage all parents to attend the Open Café events as it is a wonderful way to network with other

families who may be able, in some way, to support each other. The next Open Café will be taking

place on Thursday 16th May at 9.30am. The schedule for Open Café sessions for the rest of the year

will be emailed out to parents at the beginning of Term 2.

It is never too early to plan for your child’s future – the Open Café ensures that you have the knowledge

to make informed decisions to help you in the planning process. ALL WELCOME.

Christine Lester Open Café Coordinator

PROGRAM - OPEN CAFE

https://apac01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Filc.com.au%2Filcresources%2Fcomputers-tablets-smartphones%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cchristine.lester%40education.wa.edu.au%7C3ee222af22db4ebc5aa908d6b3eb4de1%7Ce08016f9d1fd4cbb83b0b76eb4361627%7C0%7C0

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Our AMAZING photography students did very well last year in the biggest

student photography competition: the Chevron Focus Environment.

Accolades from the organising body continue into this year. The organisers

each year compile significant marketing material for newspapers, internet,

social media and other mediums to promote the competition state wide. In

compiling the marketing material, they select a small number of photos

from last year’s twelve hundred plus entrants that they feel meet their

needs. We are extremely proud to say that of the four main photos

selected for this year’s marketing material, they have chosen three photos

taken by our students. The main photograph for this year’s marketing will

be Evan’s photo of a Willy Wagtail. They have also selected Fletcher’s

photo of a Dragon Fly and Chris’s photo of a Red Throat Honey Eater. It is

a tremendous honour to be selected to be at the forefront of the marketing

for this year’s competition. The students should be extremely proud of

their achievements. This year’s marketing material is displayed here on the left.

Students continue in their learning of how to download photos from

cameras, edit their photo using editing software and filing their work for

future reference. We have expanded on the editing component of the

program this term with more elaborate software being used by

students. It is pleasing to see students embracing this important facet

of photography.

Students are also provided with the opportunity of taking photographs

at various school functions which enhances their skills and confidence to empower them pick up a

camera and feel confident in taking photographs in most situations. A selection of amazing photos taken

by our students is attached.

It has been a very pleasing term for the photography students and

we look forward to what Term 2 will bring.

Steve Yanev and Gabby Makarein

Photography Program Coordinators

PHOTOGRAPHY

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ASDAN Photography

Phys Ed classes have commenced with students participating in a range of physical activities including

yoga, ball skills and mini games as part of their movement component of Physical Education covered this

term.

A focus on body movement have been a highlight this term and seen the students develop body

awareness, get some exercise and have heaps of fun. Participating in general fitness and developing

essential skills through play is central to our PE program at West Coast.

This term students have had the chance to try a range of sports including cricket, basketball and soccer.

We have also practiced our mindfulness through yoga, had a go at some gym ropes and movement skills

through cricket games.

PROGRAM - PHYSICAL EDUCATION

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Tara Murphy

Physical Education Teacher

PROGRAM - PHYSICAL EDUCATION

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We have a number of students accessing VET / ASDAN courses off school site. Two students are

attending Kiara College Farm where they are completing the Horticulture and Animal Care ASDAN

Modules. This is the first time that we have accessed facilities at the farm which provides students with

a unique opportunity to become immersed in Agriculture at an operational farm school located only 10

km from the Perth CBD. The hands on experiences will include an exploration

of poultry production examining different breeds, chicks and egg production

Hands on exploration of the dairy industry including hand milking. Exploring

horticulture and crop production and

investigating the farm operations. The

students have had a comprehensive

induction and are completing OHS activities

in this beautiful environment. They are

enjoying this experience alongside students

and staff from Dianella Secondary College

ESC.

We have two students enrolled into a Certificate II Automotive Vocational Course

at Midland TAFE, expanding their knowledge about all

things car related. Well done to Boyd and Noah for settling

back in to the routine of a

more adult learning

environment. Both students

are working exceptionally

well completing theoretical

components of the course

using Electude, a learning

platform, as part of their

individualised curriculum.

Lily is completing her final TAFE studies in her

Certificate II in Kitchen Operations by applying her

culinary skills in the Pavillion Restaurant on the North

MET TAFE Joondalup Campus. Lily is exceeding all

expectations in her journey through TAFE and is on the

cusp of achieving far beyond our expectations. We are

very, very proud of your efforts Lily.

Christine Lester

VET Coordinator

PROGRAM - VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING

28

Term 1 Workplace Learning was off to a great start with seventeen of our students going out to work

between week 3 and week 5. There was a big change to The Department of Education’s policy and

procedures for WPL this year, putting all these changes in place ensures a safe working environment for

our students.

Once again the students will be participating in either ASDAN Workright or ADWPL (Authority Developed

Work Place Learning) Programs. Both require the filling in of logbooks regarding working and the

workplace. As per last year, our Year 11 and 12 students only participate in WPL once a week with the

Year 13s out twice a week. This is working out with very positive results and the students are getting a

taste of the workplace, as well as more life skills at school.

We are always looking for new workplaces so if you or any of your contacts would be happy to have one

of our students one or two days a week, then please get in touch and I can step them through the

process. We have some students looking to get into child care or office work so these contacts in

particular would be very helpful.

We are very grateful to our WPL partners for giving our students a range of experiences that they are

enjoying. We are supported by a range of supported and unsupported work sites at the following

businesses: Activ, Coles Warwick, Good Sammy’s in Osborne Park, Paraquad, Workpower Belmont and

Malaga, Noranda Nursery and McDonalds Beldon.

PROGRAM - WORKPLACE LEARNING

Karen Spencer and Amanda Clancy-Lowe Workplace Learning

Coordinators

29

Selected Year 13 students have been given the wonderful opportunity to participate in the 2019 Year 13

Social Group which has been taking place at Landsdale Farm School twice a term. West Coast SESC

have been working collaboratively with Dianella Secondary College ESC to give selected students the

opportunity to develop their communication and social skills, particularly when meeting other people of a

similar age in a setting outside of the school environment.

The social and emotional outcomes for this particular program include developing communication skills

by introducing themselves in a group setting and introducing others, developing effective listening,

questioning and conversational skills as well as self -management skills.

The educational outcomes link directly to the ASDAN Towards Independence module ‘Getting to know a

group’. We have enjoyed one session this term with the focus being on getting to know you activities,

with students sharing information about themselves, investigating the likes and dislikes of their peers

and introducing students from the other schools to the group.

Our students have shown exemplary manners, self-confidence, respect for others and integrity in their

relationship building. I would like to thank all staff for supporting in this program.

Lisa Broxton

Year 13 Group Coordinator

PROGRAM - YEAR 13 SOCIAL GROUP

30

A new year means a new start, new opportunities for learning, new friendships and new routines for all of

us here at West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre. A big part of this settling in period is digging

in deep and using our social emotional learning skills to help us be successful, happy and plan for an

exciting year ahead.

Classes have been focusing on what it means to be happy and successful and how our You Can Do It!

keys of Confidence, Persistence, Getting Along, Organisation and Resilience contribute to our overall well-

being. A big part of this is embedding our keys into all our lessons and using You Can Do It, alongside our

Zones of Regulation toolkit, to help us consider the ranges of emotions we feel and what strategies we can

use to get us back on track and working to the best of our ability. Many classes have also been using their

own You Can Do It! gratitude and reflection journals at the end of each day to give students an opportunity

to think about the positives, practice their mindfulness and consolidate their learning.

We’ve looked at the science of happiness, interviewed our classmates about their own success stories,

revised what it means to be Confident, Organised, Persistent, Getting Along and Resilient and taken part

in a range of classroom challenges where we’ve needed to put our skills into actions. The students are

demonstrating some great progress in their social emotional learning and really tapping into their Getting

Along and Confidence keys as a part of lunch and recess clubs, sport and drama. It was also fantastic to

see all our You Can Do It! principles echoed in the presentations by John Pritikin and the West Coast

Eagles when they visited this term.

We can’t wait to see what next term will bring as we focus

in on building our CONFIDENCE once more. We CAN do

it!!!

PROGRAM - YOU CAN DO IT!

Tara Murphy

You Can Do It! Coordinator

31

The students at West Coast SESC have shown great enthusiasm to start another new year of Zumba

Fitness and have settled in quite nicely with laughter and excitement into the first term of 2019.

It has been a pleasure to meet some of the new students who have joined the Zumba Session this term

and they have embraced dance and movement and are enjoying the journey so far. We look forward to

building more connections with these students to help bring them out of their shells and to discover their

own unique way of expression. We look forward to more fun and dancing next term! Remember that the

world is your dance floor so keep dancing!

One of the highlights of this term was the opportunity to perform at the school’s Official Opening

ceremony in March. We were excited to wear the school uniform for the performance … do you think that

we got mistaken for students? Hahaha. On a serious note, the students rose up to the challenge and

blitzed the dance routine titled ‘Azukita’, which they collectively chose to perform for all the wonderful

parents, teachers, students and guests of honour and we couldn’t have been prouder! Our students

teach us how brave, capable and resilient they can be with a ‘can do’ attitude when given a new

challenge like this and that they can be pushed out of their comfort zones, try new things and overcome

any barriers - one of the many benefits of Zumba!

Zumba Fitness is not only good for muscle movement, it also helps with co ordination, balance and self

expression. Students learn new dance styles and songs to sing,

and more importantly because of the infectious music and easy

to follow routines, it is a wonderful way for the students to let lose

and forget any worries for that half hour each week and

destress the mind. It also gets their happy hormones racing to

keep them on task for the rest of the day and challenge them-

selves further. Zumba truly is a holistic approach to fitness.

Rachel and Vahida

Zumba Fitness Instructors

PROGRAM - ZUMBA

32

Nimi Mammen

Cultural Studies Program Coordinator

The beginning of this year saw us welcome our students back from a well-deserved holiday and jump

straight back into our programs. We welcomed four new students to our class this year; Aaron, Abbigail,

Ami and Blake, and they have fitted perfectly into our class.

As we have new additions to our class, some of which are new to the school, we have undertaken some

much-needed revision on our Zones of Regulation. This has allowed our students to regulate their

emotions and strive to be in the best possible mindset to be ready to learn and

enjoy their days at school.

In our literacy sessions we have been studying our class novel Kensuke’s Kingdom

which follows the story of a teenage boy, Michael, marooned on a deserted island,

or so he thinks! Michael soon finds out that he is not alone and must abide by

certain rules placed upon him by the island’s inhabitants. Will Michael be able to

be rescued from the island with these rules in place? How will he manage to get

home when he is not even allowed to light a signal fire? We are sure to find out as

we near the end of our novel, stay tuned!

Our Friday morning life skills lessons have seen our students cooking an array of breakfast foods for

themselves and for others. It has been great to see the students choose from an assortment of different

breakfasts and prepare their own meals. The students have also been very keen to take the orders of

staff members and prepare a meal for them too. I would say that Friday mornings have become a

highlight of the week for many of the staff and students in Area A. Some of the foods we have cooked

this term have included waffles, pancakes, English muffins with an assortment of fillings, crumpets, toast,

French toast and eggy bread.

AREA A

33

AREA A

During our STEAM sessions we have been investigating amazing architectural structures and artwork.

This has inspired our students to build their very own amazing structures and art from Lego. These

structures were not only visually pleasing but also practical, from weight bearing bridges to earthquake

resistant skyscrapers. Our students’ Lego artwork was inspired by both pop-culture and our students’

interests ranging from video games through to favourite foods. It has been great to see the creativity of

our students and to see them work collaboratively as a group and value each other’s opinions and skill

sets.

As we near the end of term we all are looking forward to enjoying the holidays and returning back in Term

2 to undertake some special programs, stay tuned!

Zac Redknap

Area A Teacher

34

Area B students have settled into their new school year well. The Year 11 students have show great

resilience and organisation skills in coming to terms with the changes in an upper school environment.

The students are getting along well and the classroom is proving to be a positive learning environment.

The students are to be commended for helping to create this positive atmosphere.

This term there has been a real focus on assessment to enable the capabilities of the students to be

documented and gaps to be identified. The students have participated well in these assessment activities

and are now able to be assigned tasks to ensure that they are in their optimal learning zone.

The students are focussing on comprehension in literacy, as this is a vital life skill. The students have

been investigating the skill of inferring by looking at photographs and trying to determine what might be

going on. We have also been using the skill of activating prior knowledge as a way of improving

comprehension. We will be continuing with these types of skills over the rest of the year to assist the

students to better develop their comprehension skills.

AREA B

35

AREA B

Money has been the focus for numeracy with students at varying skill levels. The aim it to ensure that

students can effectively manage their money in real life situations. This will be done through practising

various techniques from simple recognition of money to be used and ability to give change, to more

complex tasks of identifying best buys and calculating percentage discounts.

For our ASDAN studies we will create a Publisher digital portfolio to document the ‘Using Computer

Technology’ skills of the students. The students will create their own timetables and showcase their

abilities in editing and accessing entertainment through technology.

We have also been jointly reading a class novel called ‘Wipeout’. This has helped with comprehension

skills and provided a platform for classroom discussion.

Most of our students also participate in work placement on a Thursday and/or Friday. When they are not

at work they are learning some vital business enterprise skills which will help them in their future work-

place roles.

It was also my pleasure to attend the Senior School Ball with Laura this year. It was a wonderful night and much fun was had by all.

We are looking forward to a busy year with many individualised, interesting

and engaging tasks to be completed along the way.

Karen Spencer

Area B Teacher

36

Area C has had a busy start to the year and all the students have settled back into the school routine well.

In Maths, students have been focussing on money and time, completing work sheets and computer based

exercises and also practical, hands on activities.

In Literacy, students have been working their way through the comprehension boxes and the novel,

Stormbreaker is being read to the students. On a weekly basis the students write an account of what they

did on the weekend and also complete getting to know you activities.

During Art and Enterprise the students worked really hard and made beautiful lanterns for the Twilight

Lantern Parade as part of the Joondalup Festival and other creative pieces including the Easter heat

packs.

Area C enjoyed their excursion to the Salvation Army where they learnt about the various programmes

they have to help the homeless back into society, jobs and homes.

AREA C

37

Our Year 12 and 13s attended their first Year 13 Social Group at

Landsdale Farm and met students from Dianella Secondary College

Education Support Centre. This will

continue next term.

We were visited by some of the first team from the West Coast Eagles and our students participated in

question and answer time, before being taken to the oval for a kick about with the players which the

students really enjoyed.

Area C also participate into a year based swaps programme where the students are put

in year levels. These are Health, Civics and Citizenship, Horticulture, Relationships and

getting to know a group.

Craig Smith

Area C Teacher

AREA C

38

It has been a lovely term with students and staff settling well into their new classroom. Students have hit

the ground running and have had a very productive ten weeks. We have had some staff changes

mid-term with Donna and Richelle relocating to another class and Steph taking their place Monday to

Friday. Thanks to Catherine, Marise, Natalie and Steph for all the hard work that you do and care and

attention that you give to the students of Area D. We have also had a TAFE prac student called Leigh in

our class for 2 weeks this term. It has been lovely having her assistance in class. It has been a pleasure

working with everyone this term and we look forward to an equally productive Term 2. We wish you all a

happy and safe holiday.

Students have enjoyed attending various options this term. In Sport, students have been focusing on

teamwork skills through sports like bocce, basketball and more recently cricket. Next term they will be

focusing on tennis.

In Drama, students have been focusing on the Abilities Film Festival 2019. Students from schools across

the nation had the opportunity to enter individual short films using Imovie technology and techniques from

Drama. Students were very engaged in this task. Towards the end of term students have been

undertaking Drama activities, focusing on the You Can Do It Keys of Getting Along, Persistence,

Confidence, Resilience and Organisation.

In Home Economics, students have been making easy meals such as toasted

sandwiches with their choice of fillings, waffles and savoury muffins.

In Art they have been making costumes and

lanterns for the Lantern Parade in Joondalup in

April.

In Health, students have been learning about protective behaviour, particularly focusing on bullying, how

to spot it and what to do when you are being bullied or you see someone else being bullied. This tied in

well with the Bullying No Way Day that we had at school recently. Students have also been learning

about the qualities of being a good friend and how to be a good friend to others. Next term we will be

focusing on personal hygiene.

AREA D

39

In Science, students have been learning about acids and bases with Mrs Millar. They have been enjoying

conducting various experiments in the Science lab at school.

In Life Skills, the focus has been on students independently

making a meal of their choice for the class to eat. They have also

been learning how to carry out various household chores.

In Firetech, students have been learning how to control their

thymio bots by inputting direction and using sensors. They have

been taking them through obstacle courses and building courses

out of Lego.

The class also went on an excursion to Sculptures

by the Sea in Cottesloe. They took public

transport there and participated in a tactile tour.

They also completed an ASDAN activity that

required them to find different sculptures at the

event, record the name of the sculpture and the

artist that it had been created by.

Everyone had a lot of fun.

As you can see, it has been a very busy term in Area D. Keep up the great work guys and

I look forward to seeing you refreshed in Term 2.

Christine Norman

Area D Teacher

AREA D

40

This term Area E students have persisted and displayed resilience through what has been an exciting and

at times, challenging transition to high school. It has been wonderful to see the new formed friendships

amongst the class and the ever growing confidence of each student as they find their feet at West Coast.

Area E has focused largely on the introduction to the Zones of Regulation Program. This has supported

students with their emotional regulation while experiencing many changes in a new school environment.

We have enjoyed making different faces to match a variety of emotions while looking at ourselves in the

mirror. At times we were shocked by what our faces actually looked like!

Complimenting this, we also explored the five keys from the You Can Do It Program with some students

already receiving awards for their Persistence, Resilience, Getting Along, Confidence and Organisation

skills. Well done to Deacon, Stephen, Ethan, Elliot and Ella for tremendous You Can Do It efforts.

Recess and lunch time is always a favourite time of the

day and this term has seen Area E participating in a

variety of clubs. By attending the clubs it has allowed

our class to try new activities and meet other students

in the school. Some favourites have been karaoke,

Zumba , girls group, basketball, library and the most

popular one of playing in the amphitheatre area.

AREA E

41

Zumba is a real favourite recess club

on a Tuesday and Stephen, Elliot

and Logan thoroughly enjoyed

participating in a Zumba showcase at

the ceremony of our Official Opening.

While we have had lots of fun we have also had been working very hard in class. In Literacy, we have

been working in groups to develop our reading and spelling skills. Additionally, some students have

begun exploring using a keypad for a functional approach to Literacy. Numeracy has largely explored

number skills this term but a class favourite has been looking into chance and tallying results, particularly

with our heads and tails game!

Well done to everyone in Area E for a great start to the year. Enjoy the school holiday

break and I look forward to seeing what next term brings!

Emily Dayman

Area E Teacher

AREA E

42

The beginning of each new school year marks the point where all students can make a fresh start

especially for Year 7 students who are all starting their high school experience for the first time. Area F

have welcomed our new Year 7 students with open arms and together have created a classroom where

students feel safe and come to school

ready to learn every day.

I look back and reflect on this past term

with all the activities that have kept us busy

so far this year with a big smile on my face

as we have all come so far since that first

day.

Our daily timetable has established itself with a daily morning routine of Literacy, encompassing activities

which include recalling and writing about weekends, daily reflection paragraphs to goals for the coming

week. This follows Maths groups where students head off to classes and have learnt how to transition to

others classrooms and with other students. Area F have a range of options during the middle of our daily

timetable including Home Economics, Art, Science,

Drama and PE. As you can see from our many photos

the activities are always been completed with much

energy and enthusiasm. Area F always enjoy a challenge

and a practical element to classroom activities. Another

classroom favourite is Life Skills, cooking and eating. We

also enjoy our daily crunch and sip home room sessions

where we sit as a group around a table and discuss social

conversational topics.

We are very involved in everything and anything to do with animals and this has

become a theme over the term. Highlights have included the many insects we have

either found or researched, especially in Science with our ongoing research

projects. The Chickens Hatching Program and learning all about everything

chickens, especially which came first the chicken or the egg????? Chicken

reproduction and not to forget our end of term Chicken Challenge.

AREA F

43

Our major highlight would have to be the Swan Valley Adventure Camp, which definitely solidified the

class bond and their understanding of what it means to be part of a team. We definitely gained trust in

each other through the many trust games and activities we participated in. As a whole the class has

developed a team approach towards most daily activities and we have certainly seen the beginning of

some lovely friendships emerge throughout the term.

Finally, I would like to highlight the daily learning about emotional regulation and zones, extending to the

understanding of others around us. Our class has commenced a lifelong learning journey reflecting on

themselves as individuals, to where they belong in the group as a whole and understanding others around

them. We spend time talking about what zone they are in, then spend time looking at relaxation

strategies and emotional tools, including quiet time each afternoon.

I wish everyone a well deserved rest over the holidays. Next term is going to be exciting, with many more

projects and challenges planned and of course energy filled activities.

Stay safe and I look forward to Term 2.

Natalie Mathews

Area F Teacher

AREA F

44

In Area G this term, we ……...

AREA G

Worked hard in Class as we got to know each other

Welcomed our new student Jasmine. Jasmine is eating one of the amazing

‘worm’ pies we made in Life Skills Continued our amazing work as Bush Rang-

ers by picking up litter around the school

Participated in the Bullying No Way Day

Read, made and served up some delicious Wombat Stew

Identified Australian Flags, the WA flag and the emblems of our State

45

And most importantly we ……...

Jacqui Millar and Erica Waldock

Area G Teachers

AREA G

Did morning fitness on the oval every day

Made The Zones of Regulation

multi-coloured cheese sandwiches!

Created an amazing Harmony

Day display poster and won 1st prize

Made delicious things in cooking

like chocolate crackles, scrambled eggs and blueberry pancakes

Discovered the mural of Flags that was painted by WHS students.

Smiled as we did it all!

46

AREA H

It has been a phenomenal start to the year for Area H as we have had the great pleasure of getting to

know each other.

The main focuses for this term in our class have been developing functional skills as well as creating a

routine for the students when developing their Literacy skills through a weekly story. During our story of

the week, students work on the same story, but analyse different aspects as the week progress. The

week begins with the students understanding key points of the story and recognising key word and

progressing to students reading small sections of the story and arranging sentences associated with the

story.

These functional skills have included developing an opinion by

expressing their likes and dislikes either verbally, using a

communication device or drawing a picture. This has been

demonstrated during break times when the students have been picking

a song, when creating various textures during our sensory science

lessons and making simple food associated with a toaster and a

sandwich press in our Life Skills sessions.

We have also been encouraging the students to participate in particular games such as Uno and Pop Up

Pirate to develop their turn taking and social skills after lunch.

47

In Firetech lessons, the students have been investigating thymio robots and how they can affect their

movement patterns. They have used this knowledge to set the robot to follow a course as well as create

artwork. They have investigated how the robots have reacted to sound and used this to create a

successful battle station.

Next term we will be transitioning from identifying public and private

behaviours to developing an understanding of the types of relationships we

have through the help of the circle concept.

Wishing the students and their families a very happy and safe holiday!

See you next term!

Anthony Raschilla

Area H Teacher

AREA H

48

It has been a busy and productive start to 2019 in Area I. The senior students in my classroom, each with

their own unique personality, have settled well - for some into a different classroom with new staff

assisting them and new peers. The students are finding their feet and getting used to the senior school

expectations of becoming a more independent and self-motivated learner. There has been new routines

and expectations to learn and follow and I am pleased to report that all of the students, in this short

amount of time, are following the class routines with a new-found level of independence and confidence.

The students in Area I have been learning to navigate the TEACCH

work skills task boxes system. The aim of the TEACCH approach is

to increase and maximise the students’ independence, and their

ability to follow a visual schedule by completing work skills tasks

independent of direct adult prompting and cueing. The TEACCH

system is a highly structured and visual work system. Over the last

two years, we have created a variety of work skills task boxes that

focus on literacy, numeracy, fine motor, packaging, assembly and

office tasks. This year we are adding to our collection with more advanced and industry specific task

boxes which is in part due to the fact that the students I taught last year had almost mastered our current

collection!

The curriculum in Area I is based on developing the students’ functional literacy and numeracy skills, as

well as independent living skills. They have been enjoying learning how to prepare and cook basic

snacks, and clean up after themselves.

AREA I

49

On a Thursday, the students in Area I undertake a work skills preparation program completing realistic

and valid work skills tasks in a simulated work environment. The aim of this program is for the students, in

a safe and supportive environment, to learn and practise work skills behaviours that they may in the future

be able to generalise to a real-life work environment. The students have been learning about Workplace

Health and Safety behaviours in a practical manner as everyone must wash their hands thoroughly and

wear protective gloves at all times. Hygienic behaviours are constantly reinforced and are mandatory. So

far this year, the students have put advertising material in one hundred and fifty conference bags for the

Bush Rangers State Conference, made foils for Maree Harding Hairdressing and shredded paper for pet

stores.

We are always looking for more achievable and valid work skills tasks from businesses that the students

can learn and complete, and will add to their repertoire of knowledge and skills. If you can help in any way

and would like to discuss the tasks, please ring me at school on 9345 6600.

I am pleased to report that Aidan and Noah from Area I have started workplace

learning in 2019 and are displaying outstanding work skills behaviours. They have

settled in well to their new work environment and their supervisors have

commented on their great attention to detail and amazing work output. Keep up the

great work, Aidan and Noah!

Allison Nolan

Area I Teacher

AREA I

50

Welcome to our first newsletter in Area J for 2019. We have a great vibe in our class with Mrs Gill

teaching on Mondays and Wednesdays and our lovely new teacher, Mrs Sophie Baker in on Tuesdays.

As you know, in the upper school our students go out to work place learning on Thursdays and Fridays. If

they are in school on either of those days, they have become part of Mrs Nimi Mammen’s class in Area K.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, we have been putting our minds to

Maths with a focus on handling and representing various amounts of

money. We have a classroom banking system and each student has

a turn being banker. The students have saved up $120 of school

money each, but last week we had to withdraw $47.50 from their

classroom money to “pay” for their community access trip. This

required much money being exchanged, change calculated and new

balances checked.

Even though it is not real money, everyone is very careful to keep track of their spending and savings

closely.

We have also set up a daily mindfulness routine during homeroom each day.

We check in with our Zones of Regulation to

see what zone we are in, then spend time

doing a mindfulness relaxation, meditation or

walk, with the intention to get ourselves - or

keep ourselves- in the green zone (where we

are ready to learn and make our best

decisions). Salty is very helpful during

mindfulness as he loves relaxing and chilling

out with the students. He especially loves the

opportunity to go for a walk with everyone. He makes us all feel very relaxed and happy

In English we have been writing about the good things happening at school or at home. The Year 12s

and Year 13s had plenty to write about after the School Ball at the end of March. They all looked amazing

in their suits and gowns. It was so special to see them at their finest, with dazzling smiles and happy

excitement.

The guys all looked like they came straight from a James

Bond movie looking very suave and dashing in their suits.

The girls looked like princesses and movie stars - they held

themselves with such confidence and grace. I am sure

they will all treasure their happy memories of the night

AREA J

51

AREA J

We welcomed one new member to our class this year - Daniel, and he has settled in so well, it is like he

has always been with us. Daniel has proven himself quite a whiz with technical constructions and

meccano.

Daniel, Fletcher and Sully have also been enjoying going to the STEM classes with Firetech each week.

As usual we continue to study the concepts of You Can Do It. This term we have been revising what it

means to be successful and how it feels to successfully accomplish something you have set out to do.

Our students identified and wrote down their accomplishments and reflected on how they felt when they

achieved them. Here are some of their success stories:

Bam: “I am proud of coming to school, it makes me feel happy, good and safe.”

Anika: “Dancing to Bollywood music, made me feel good, happy and glad.”

Jaime: “I am proud of receiving an art award. It made me feel proud happy and surprised.”

On Tuesdays, we have been cooking up a storm in the Life Skills Room during functional Literacy. We

have been learning how to read recipes and food labels. In Maths we have been measuring using trundle

wheels and our footsteps, creating an evacuation map for Area J. We have also been looking at

protective behaviours, revising the circle concept and distinguishing between public and private.

We hope you all have a lovely rest over the holidays and Easter.

Next term is going to be great, see you then.

Mrs Gill and Mrs Baker. (and Salty – woof)

Area J Teachers

52

AREA K

As quick as it can be, Term 1 has concluded with some exceptional output delivered by the students. They

have worked to the best of their capacities in all areas be it academic or non-academic.

Over the term, they engaged in Life Skill activities towards developing relationships and independence by

preparing milk shakes for the whole centre. The students actively, with supervision and guidance, mixed

the correct amount of milo to the milk to make that lip-licking milo shake for all the students. Furthermore,

they developed the skill of organisation by folding the washed and dried tea-towels for the Home

Economics Department.

Students have been developing their financial skills by completing Little Mock Shop tasks and adding

items to the cart during online shopping lessons. They have also been reading and summarising news of

their interest from the local newspaper as apart of community awareness.

Culturally, they have been enriched by getting a chance to see the

Japanese gifts that were sent by the Sister School. They worked

together and mutually respected as a team to reinforce the concept of

“Bullying, No Way!” and living in “Harmony” as a part of their Life Skills

learning.

Additionally, they were a great team

of support during the organisation of

the Harmony Day.

53

On Thursdays and Fridays the students of Area J and K, who are not yet

involved with workplace learning, are learning the skills needed to work in a

pizza shop. They worked collaboratively in setting up the business by deciding

on a name, the menu and associated prices to make the enterprise run

successfully.

Over the 5 weeks in Term 1 they

made a sale of $258; for which the

credit goes to their yummy pizzas;

pepperoni, ham and cheese, simply cheese and cheese with onion. These great entrepreneurs are Trae,

Ben, Rebecca, Fletcher, Reece, Evan and Ayden.

As a result of all their hard work, the

students earned their YCDI certificates

that acknowledged their display of the

five keys of life.

Area J and K students in Week 10 participated in experiencing the life of a homeless person by visiting the Beacon House and Doorways, operated by the Salvation Army. It was an enriching experience for all.

A busy, but nonetheless fantastic

term ended with a much needed

relaxing morning tea in week 10

on Wednesday 10th April.

Jayden, who was one of our class students, has moved on in life by being successful in getting a position

at an alternative to education program. We wish him the very best for his future.

Nimi Mammen Area K Teacher

AREA K

54

TERM 2 2019 AT A GLANCE

APRIL

Monday 29th April First Day of Term 2 for Students

Wednesday 1st May Monday 3rd June Big Plan WA Day (Public Holiday)

Thursday 2nd May Tuesday 4th June

Anzac Ceremony Upper School Law Courts Excursion

Wednesday 8th May Wednesday 5th June Big Plan WA Day Celebration

Good Sammy’s Tech Savvy Teens Course Commences

Thursday 6th June Thursday 16th May WOW Course Commences Open Café

Friday 21st June Wednesday 22nd May Open Cafe

Biggest Morning Tea

WCSESC School Board Meeting

Wednesday 22nd May—Friday 24th May Years 9 & 10 Camp

Wednesday 29th May Year 13 Social Group

Friday 31st May Wednesday 3rd July

Staff Development Day Year 13 Social Group

MAY JUNE

JULY

newsletter term 1 2019 - west coast sesc€¦ · newsletter term 1 2019 joanne kriziotis principal...

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