red hill the...Early Years 3 In Week 5, Early Years 3 had their school sleepover. Activities included trips to the Science centre and Redcliffe Lagoon. The favourite experience at

the

red hillQUARTERLY Red Hill Special

School’s Newsletter

From the PrincipalIssue 51 December 2017

Points of Interest

Christmas Day -

Monday 25th December

Boxing Day -

Tuesday 26th Decmeber

Australia Day -

Friday 26th January

School resumes -

Monday 22nd January

Inside this Issue

1 Principal News

2 Correspondence

3 School News

6 Classroom Programs

9 Community Programs

14 Special Events

Dear Families

Welcome to the term four newsletter. We have had another very busy term which has seen students participate in many learning activities both in and out of the school. Once again the focus of all learning activities has been on communication to build literacy and numeracy.

School Review

The school review was held from 4th – 6th October 2017 and the executive summary can be found on our website. The school found this to be a very supportive process and the findings and recommendations from the review team will help guide the school to write the strategic plan for 2018 – 2021. The Strategic Plan will be completed early in Term 1 2018 and will be shared with the school community before being finalised.

Facebook and email

Our Facebook page has been a great way to share information and photos of students and the amazing work they are doing. We will continue to use Facebook to keep you all updated in 2018. We are also continuing to use email to send out important information on a range of topics to families. Please ensure the office has your up to date email address.

2018

Term 1 Dates: • Monday 22nd January - First day of the school year • Week 3 - Parent information evening• Week 4 and Week 5 - ICP/ Senior Curriculum Plan – Parent/Teacher meetings• Thursday 29th March - Last day of Term 1

Thank you to all families for a great 2017. I have enjoyed my time as Acting Principal and want to thank the school community for their support. Pam will be back in 2018 and I will be taking maternity leave and returning to my position as Deputy Principal in Semester 2. Liesl Harper will be Acting Deputy Principal for Semester 1.

From all the staff at Red Hill we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday break. We look forward to seeing you all in 2018.

Jacinta XavierActing Principal

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

Thursday December 7th 2017

RE: Classroom Spaces 2018

Dear Families From information through the school newsletter over the past couple of years, you would be aware that, as a school community, we have been seeking additional classroom space. In September last year the Department of Education (DET) purchased a house at the rear of and bordering our school, in Lintern Street. This was with a view to future support of our school needs. You will also be aware that this year we needed to place a class in the Multisensory Room (MSR) and another class into a very small space. Whilst not ideal, parents, students and teachers have been positive and programs to students have continued as priority. Throughout this year there has been continued discussion with DET regarding facilitation of classroom space for 2018. To this end, an Agreement will be endorsed by relevant stakeholders regarding the period and terms of occupancy, by Red Hill Special School, of a section of a Block at the previous Ithaca TAFE site in Fulcher Rd. This site is a very short distance from our current school campus. On Monday of this week, I met with a number of parents whose children have been identified as potentially moving to the Fulcher Rd site in 2018. Currently we plan for three classes to operate from the site from the beginning of the school year. Plans have been approved for refurbishments and tenders called to facilitate readiness for the 2018 school year. The plans include for three classrooms, a recreation room and life skills room, incorporating kitchen and laundry facilities. There will also be space for administrative support, staff room and teacher resource development area. Further to tenders closing, the successful tender for the project was awarded to Dickenson Construction. Dickenson Construction began work this Monday, December 4th. Whilst there has been ongoing discussion regarding the class space needs of our school, it has all moved very quickly over the past three weeks. The practicalities of readiness for the 2018 school year has necessitated a great deal of additional work by many of our staff. To each of you a sincere thank you for the times you have literally met with me at a moment’s notice. To all parents, I apologise for the very short notice of plans for 2018. The parents with whom I have been able to discuss the changes for their child next year, each have been positive about the possibilities. Staff that will be working from the Fulcher Rd campus of Red Hill Special School are similarly positive regarding the move. Programs such as Hydrotherapy for example, imperative for individual students, will continue to occur at the Waterworks Rd site. Timetabling of therapy and music therapy will be streamlined to ensure efficient use of staff time with student groups. If you would like to discuss the proposed plans for our school in 2018 please don’t hesitate to contact me [email protected] Regards Pam

Issue 51 December 2017 the red hill quarterly 2

School News

Communication - Christmas Holidays

Communication – Christmas Holidays

The Christmas holidays are almost here and we want to help you continue the amazing communication that the students have been doing at school. There are two Aided Language Displays (from the RHSS PODD) at the back of this newsletter. They will help support the communication journey until we see you again next year.

Please chat with your child using their communication system as often as you can. We have attached the Christmas Aided Language Displays (ALDs) so that you can chat about all of the Christmas and New Year activities that you are doing. You will definitely want to have this on hand for Christmas Day. Print off as many ALD’s as you like, you could even use them as placemats between now and Christmas to remind you to keep chatting!

You can be an excellent communication partner by using the Christmas ALD when you are: • Wrapping presents • Decorating the Christmas tree • Writing Christmas cards • At Christmas parties • Doing Christmas cooking • Present shopping

After the holidays we would love to see photos of you and your child chatting using the Christmas ALD. Best wishes for the silly season, enjoy your holiday and keep chatting.

Jacinta Xavier, Liesl Harper and Ian Healey Leadership teamRed Hill Special School



Communication

The curriculum focus at Red Hill Special School is communication to build literacy and numeracy. This school wide priority means that everyone talks with students using their individualised communication system throughout the school day.

Numeracy

This term we have been learning about 2D and 3D shapes, patterns and how to collect and interpret data. Students have been engaged in a wide range of activities to support the teaching and learning of these concepts. Students have particularly enjoyed asking questions using AAC to collect data.

Literacy

This term as part of our balanced literacy program the focus has been on independent writing. It is great to see students using a wide range of alternate pencils to write for real reasons. Students have been engaged in a range of writing activities including sign on, writing letters to friends, writing about photos and ‘just write’ sessions.

Students of the Week

At assemblies students receive student of the week certificates. Congratulations to all of our ‘Students of the Week’ from this term. To recognise the great work they have been doing in class. Pictured below are some students of the week from term four.


Assembly

The school has assembly every Friday. Students sing the National Anthem and the school Super Hero song. They also present what they have been working on to other classes.


Sensory Program

In collaboration with the school’s therapy team, term four saw the start of a sensory program for some of our Junior Secondary and Senior students. The program ran for two mornings each week and focused on gross motor movement and communication.

Classroom Programs

ECDP

The ECDP we would like to take the opportunity to wish all our families a very safe and happy Christmas. Some of our young ones we will see again next year, but many will be heading off to “big school.” Please keep in touch and let us hear about their new adventures.


Golf

Early Years 3, Middle 2 and Middle 3 students had a great time learning golf this term. They finished off the term with a visit to Victoria Park Golf Complex to play Putt-Putt to practise the skills they had learnt. Special thanks to Coach Jay from Frist Swing Golf for organising such a fabulous excursion. Check out our amazing golf skills!

Swimming and Hydrotherapy

Our school Hydrotherapy pool has just been upgraded from chlorinated to salt chlorinated, making it much more comfortable for students and staff.

YMCA

Some students attend a weekly YMCA gym program. Students participate in a specialist gym program and are becoming more confident using the gym equipment each week.


Music Therapy

Each class has a weekly music therapy session with our trained music therapist. The students always look forward to these sessions which combine communication with music making activities.

BAMD

Bust a Move Dance continued to run classes this term. All the students who participate in the classes have enjoyed learning the dance routines.


Community Programs

Horse Riding

Students continue to enjoy horse riding at the McIntyre Centre. This program provides our students with many opportunities throughout the week to communicate with their peers, teachers and parents about their experiences in this program.

Snackshop

Every Friday Senior 2 students and staff organise and run our school Snackshop. Students enjoy visiting the Snackshop to purchase their morning tea using their AAC.


Camps

Early Years 1

Early Years 1 had a great time on our recent school sleepover. We enjoyed outings to both Southbank and Lone Pine Sanctuary. Three of us stayed overnight in our classroom, and for some of us, it was our first school sleepover which was very exciting! We all enjoyed exploring the huge adventure playground at Southbank, as well as seeing some of the sights (such as the big wheel). We had a fun afternoon and evening back at school, relaxing with some favourite DVDs. Our second excursion was to Lone Pine Sanctuary where we had fun meeting the koalas, and feeding the kangaroos and wombats. We had a big lizard try to join us for lunch! All in all it was a wonderful time away with our friends.

Early Years 2

In week 4, Early Years 2 had their school sleepover. Staff and students had a great time with the highlight being a trip to UnderWater World on the North Coast.


Early Years 3

In Week 5, Early Years 3 had their school sleepover. Activities included trips to the Science centre and Redcliffe Lagoon. The favourite experience at the Science Centre was walking through the rotating tunnel. Swimming in the Lagoon and eating fish and chips at Redcliffe was a camp highlight. Two students slept over at school and enjoyed some sensory activities in the afternoon and the novelty of showering and sleeping at school....oh, and McDonalds for dinner.


Community Based Learning

Each week different groups of students and staff take their learning experiences into community settings. Some students do the weekly class shopping while others enjoy leisure and recreational activities.

Councillor Peter Matic

A special thank-you to Councillor Peter Matic for visiting our school this term and bringing a plate of festive morning tea treats to present to each of our classes.


Create Queensland

Create Queensland - Regional Roadshow visited Red Hill Special School on Tuesday 7th November. The Middle school classes had great fun with a number of activities including operating robots with remote controls and using Green Screen Magic. Students enjoyed experimenting with the effects of a ‘green screen’ by replacing the background with exciting images and videos.

Deloitte

A special thank you to all the volunteers from Deloitte who helped transform the outlook from our pool by painting the concrete walls and planting a new garden. Your help is very much appreciated and the area looks great!

Special Events

Staff Development

On October 16th, our Term 4 Pupil Free Day, our amazing class teachers ran a number of informative sessions for our staff. These sessions were very well received by all who attended them and we thank them for their dedication in sharing their wisdom.



Farewell

This term we bid farewell to a number of our valued staff members. Melissa and Karina our Speech Language Pathologists are off to work at other locations next year. Sara our Middle 2 teacher is heading to NSW. James one of our teacher aides has graduated from his studies and is off to Asia to work. Blake from our cleaning team has a job in project management. Kath (OT), Jacinta and Chare will be off for a while on maternity leave. We wish them all the very best and cannot thank them enough for their tireless efforts at Red Hill Special School.

Christmas Concert

Well done to all our students and staff who were stars in our annual Christmas Concert on the last Thursday of school for 2017. Friends and family watched on as each class sang, danced and played music to perform. Great work everyone!


Annual Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s RHSS awards:

The Communication Award, for improvement in their individual communication skills (presented by Kate Jones MP) – Zenon Wouters and Louis Hong

The Morgan Kitts Award, for students overcoming major health issues (presented by Alison and Tony Kitts) – Zac Ward and Jess Mancer

The Quota Award, for performing beyond expectations (presented by Courtney Colless, Quota) – Angus Ross

The Spirit of Red Hill Special School Award, for outstanding values in line with school expectations (presented by Rod Smith, P&C President) – Will Barton


Graduation

Red Hill Special School held its annual graduation ceremony at the Broncos Leagues Club on Saturday 18th November. Four of our graduating students celebrated the end of their schooling with family, friends and school staff. All graduating students received a ‘seniors’ shirt courtesy of the school P&C Association. We wish our graduating students (Claire, Troy, Kodey, Kyle and Isabella) the very best for their futures.


Special Thanks

A very special thank-you to all the organisations who worked tirelessly this semester to raise funds for our school. Your efforts are very much appreciated.

St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace - $2000 Cricketers Club - $1500

FRI 22 SEP 2017THE CALEB LUNCH

Fund Raising Luncheon

Caleb’s Lunch - $4000

Gambaro’s Real Housewives of Sydney Lunch - $19000

People Involved: • Maria and Sarah Greenhalgh - organisers of the lunch• The Real Housewives of Sydney (Krissy Marsh, Victoria Rees, Nicole O’Neil, Matty Samaei & Melissa Tkautz)• John Gambaro and staff • Nick Penklis (Space Real Estate) • Volunteers from Red Hill Special School - Jake, Samantha, Kirsten and Jane

People & businesses who contributed raffle/auction items: • Mariane Jewellery and Watches • Alfa Romeo & Brisbane Fiat • Gambaro Hotel, Gambaro Seafood Restaurant and Black Hide Restaurant• Esteem Medi Spa • Verve Hair (Leigh Welch)• Brooklyn Beauty Bar (Brooke)

Documents

red hill the...Early Years 3 In Week 5, Early Years 3 had their school sleepover. Activities included trips to the Science centre and Redcliffe Lagoon. The favourite experience at