Page 1 of 8 14 th November 2018 Principal: Sheldon Hooper Email: [email protected]Deputy Principals: Kirsten Maclean and Jayson Gilbert Website: www.redcliffspecs.eq.edu.au Telephone: 3897 5111 Address: Klingner Road REDCLIFFE QLD 4020 Newsletter No. 10 Week 6 Term 4 2018 Graduation Year 12 By the time you have this newsletter, the Senior Graduation ceremony will have been completed. I wish to thank all the staff for their commitment in organising a fantastic event for all students and families. These types of celebrations do not just happen: just as we have the mantra of “one child, many teachers”, we may need to include the following - “one celebration, many staff.” Therefore, I ask, in the near future, you take the time out of your day or week to thank the staff of RSS for the work that they have done. Reporting Staff at present are busy collating evidence and bringing together professional judgements on the work of all students for Semester 2. Essentially, report cards are the culmination of a Semester’s work and give a brief description of the context for learning in a learning area for the semester and the achievement of the learning expectation. 2019 Leadership Speeches and Elections For 2019, Redcliffe Special School will have the following Student Leadership Structure: • School Captain x 2 • House Captains – 2 Sharks and 2 Dolphins • Senior Student Leaders School Leaders play a vital role both in the school and by representing Redcliffe Special School in the wider community.
“Mum, Miss Collins told me to be sure you go to the school for the meeting tonight. She says it’s very
important.”
“You’re not in trouble, are you, Omar? Teachers only ask parents to come to school when there is a
problem, don’t they?”
“No, Mum. She says she is looking forward to meeting you.”
When Rasheeda got to the meeting, it wasn’t like she had expected. Lots of other parents were there,
and they were talking with each other and with the teacher. It seemed quite friendly. The teacher
explained what the children would be learning in school this term and then asked the parents to talk to
two different people they didn’t know.
Rasheeda felt a bit shy about this. Luckily, the other parents at her table started talking to her. They
asked her what school was like in her home country. “Oh, very different!” she told them. “Over there the
teacher talks and the children listen. They don’t learn in groups. They start early and they go home at
lunchtime.” The other parents seemed interested.
Miss Collins also spoke with her, “Rasheeda, I wonder if there’s anything more you would like to know
about how Omar is going or what we are doing at school? We want to be sure you feel welcome, so if
there is anything the school can do to help you or Omar settle in, please, let us know.”
What feeling included is all about
Children come from an endless range of different families, backgrounds, cultures and religions. They
also have a variety of interests, learning styles and abilities. Despite all of these differences, everyone
should feel included and welcome within their school community. Positive school communities create
opportunities for children, families and staff to feel included. They make help and support accessible
and find lots of ways to invite people to take up the support being offered. They help everyone benefit
from understanding experiences and cultures that may be different to their own.
When children feel included, when they are part of a community that promotes inclusion and respect for
everybody, they show more caring and compassion towards others, and they feel safer and more
secure. They are also better learners and have better mental health and wellbeing. In a positive school
community, every face has a place, every voice is valued, and everyone has something to contribute.
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School communities from around Australia chose care, compassion, respect, understanding and
inclusion as important values for children to understand. These are things that children can learn about.
The best learning happens when children see the adults around them putting values like these into
practice. Feeling included is important for mental health, and is supported best when diversity is
respected and valued.
What parents and carers can do
Get to know other families, take an interest in others’ different backgrounds as well as what you
have in common.
Set up a 'buddy system' where families who have been at the school for a while buddy up with new
families to provide welcome and support.
Encourage children to include and appreciate others’ cultural and individual differences.
KidsMatter offers a range of evidence-based information sheets for families that have been developed by mental health professionals experienced in child development.
Free and readily accessible, the information sheets cover a vast range of topics relating to children’s social and emotional development. Professionals may find resources helpful in their everyday practise, and may also like to refer them to organisations and practitioners working with children and their families. You may copy these materials freely provided acknowledgment is made to the sources.
This term in M1, we have been learning about the Australian Indigenous
Culture. We have been reading Dreamtime stories, creating art and playing
traditional indigenous games. One game we played was called Diyari
Koolchee originally played in South Australia by the Diyari people. The
idea was to knock skittles over by first bouncing the ball off the wall. We
had lots of fun!
Students: Ella M., Jordan, Ella B., Lafi and Christian
Staff: Michele, Shanelle and Elle
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This term, M3 have been
learning all about division and
multiplication.
We have played games, made
area models, drawn arrays,
used fact family triangles, and
practised solving word
problems.
Students in M6 have been very involved in a variety of learning activities.
Jayden O. often takes pride in supporting his friend, and together they are
helpful shoppers. Tristan is putting the finishing touches to our shop for
the Middle School’s Box Town. Jayden G. used blocks to map the activity
room. Rory thoroughly enjoys swimming.
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In Geography, we have been learning
about our local area.
We invited our friends from M4 to go on 2 beach walks with us. Luckily we were able to borrow
2 beach wheelchairs, so everyone was able to get their feet wet! (except for Daemen who was,
unfortunately, away).
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M8 gained another new student this term. His name is
Blair, and we have already been amazed at how well he
has made friends and settled into RSS.
M8 is enjoying being out and about in the community
going to the Library, Parks, Shopping and Swimming
regularly.
Cooking Sports Day
Sports Day
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Our culminating activity for Geography was BOX TOWN! It was a great activity, with all Middle
School classes creating a Town. We had a Hospital, Police Station, McDonalds, Vet, Car Yard, JB
HiFi, Cinema, Pool, Park, Fish’n’Chip Shop, Shoe Shop, Pet Shop and much more!
