BEENLEIGH SPECIAL SCHOOL
Parent/Carer Information Booklet
2014
INDEX
INTRODUCTION TO SCHOOL 3
SCHOOL PROFILE 5
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 7
SCHOOL LOGO AND MOTTO 7
VALUES AND BELIEFS 7
WHOLE OF SCHOOL INFORMATION
1. ABSENCES 8
2. ACCIDENTS OR SICKNESS AT SCHOOL 8
3. APPOINTMENTS 8
4. ASSEMBLY 8
5. CAMPS/SLEEPOVERS 8
6. CLASS STRUCTURE 8
7. COMMUNICATION 9
8. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS 9
9. CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS 9
10. END POINT OF SCHOOLING 10
11. ENROLMENT PROCESS 10
12. EXCLUSION TABLE 10
13. GUIDANCE OFFICER 11
14. HOLIDAYS FOR 2014 11
15. HOMEWORK/HOME PROGRAMS 11
16. ISPs/REPORTS 12
17. LOST PROPERTY 12
18. MEDICATION 12
19. MOBILE PHONES 12
20. MONEY COLLECTION 12
21. PARENTS & CITIZENS ASSOCIATION 12
22. PARKING 13
23. RESPITE CARE 13
24. SCHOOL CALENDAR 2014 13
25. SCHOOL RULES 13
26. SCHOOL WEBSITE 14
27. SPORTS CARNIVALS 14
28. STUDENT ARRIVALS/ DEPARTURES 14
29. STUDENT SUPPORT 14
30. THERAPISTS AND SCHOOL TRANSITION OFFICER 15
31. TRANSITIONS ACROSS THE SCHOOL 15
32. TRANSPORT 16
33. UNIFORMS 16
34. VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE 16
PARENT INFORMATION BOOKLET
WELCOME TO BEENLEIGH SPECIAL SCHOOL
Welcome to Beenleigh Special School – a school of excellence within Education Queensland. If this is your first year as part of our school community then we offer you a special welcome and trust that your connection with our school will be positive. We strive for excellence and the best possible outcomes for our students and we ask that if you ever have concerns about your son or daughter please share them with us. They are the most important people in our school.
I trust that this booklet provides you with the information you need to know. If you have any questions we are always willing to answer them for you. If you have any feedback about this document or about our processes we also welcome you to contact us.
I trust 2014 will be a great year for Beenleigh Special School.
Warm regards
Roselynne Anderson
Principal
GENERAL INFORMATION
Address: 52-74 Mount Warren Blvd
Mt Warren Park Qld 4207
Telephone: 07 3380 1111 Fax: 07 3380 1100
Website: www.beenleighspecial.eq.edu.au
Email:
Office hours: 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Monday to Friday
Term Dates for 2013:
· Term 1 commences Tuesday 28 January and ends Friday 4 April
· Term 2 commences Tuesday 22 April and ends Friday 27 June
· Term 3 commences Monday 14 July and ends Friday 19 September
· Term 4 commences Tuesday 7 October and ends Friday 12 December.
School Hours: 8.45 a.m. to 2.45 p.m (drop off between 8:45-9:00 and pick up between 2:45-3:00).
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Please Remember to:
1. Notify school of all absences either by letter or phone immediately including reason for absence.
2. Notify school immediately any changes of telephone or address details.
3. Notify school immediately any changes to respite arrangements or to transport arrangements (also notify respite provider and transport company directly)
4. Provide written details if student requires any medication during school hours and provide medication with label from doctor or pharmacist stating child’s name, dosage and times to be administered.
5. Immediately notify school class teacher if there are any health/ medication changes.
BEENLEIGH SPECIAL SCHOOL PROFILE
OUR SCHOOL:
Beenleigh Special School is located in Mount Warren Boulevard, Mount Warren Park, midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It is set in the pleasant surroundings of landscaped grounds with a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Beenleigh Special School is a facility that meets the needs of students with disabilities in a rapidly growing area. It is centrally located in a wide catchment area that extends north to Loganholme, west to Logan Village, south to Ormeau and east to Jacobs Well. The majority of students at the school reside in the Beenleigh/Eagleby area.
From January 1974 to December 1982, the needs of students with disabilities in the local area were met through a Special Education Unit that was located within the grounds of Beenleigh State School. In January 1983, Beenleigh Special School enrolled its first students. It was officially opened in October 1983 and grew significantly, resulting in new classroom buildings being opened in 1991,1997 and 2010, an extension to the Administration block in 2003, as well as various upgrades both to the administration block and facilities over many years.
Beenleigh Special School has a wide range of facilities and resources that enable the delivery of quality student programs. These include Home Economics facilities, a school Library that encompasses a learning technology area, Environmental Education facilities including a nursery (opened in 1997) and recycling compound, and a Snoezelen Room. The school has three school buses that are in constant use by students accessing community based programs. All of the classrooms are air-conditioned and have Interactive Whiteboards installed.
STUDENTS:
The enrolment at Beenleigh Special School is consistently between 78 and 90 students who come to us from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. The nature of the student population has altered significantly in recent years and now consists of children aged between 4.5 and 18, who have a wide range of disabilities. Most of our students have very high support needs and a number also display severe and challenging behaviours. The school caters for students with physical, intellectual, vision and hearing disabilities and students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Some students also require close medical/nursing care whilst at school.
The educational needs of students attending Beenleigh Special School are determined using a statewide education adjustment process. Data from this process is used as a basis for enrolment at the school.
STAFFING:
Beenleigh Special School has a staff led by a Principal and a Deputy Principal. Currently there are 15 classroom teachers, 1 Head of Curriculum, 1 Guidance Officer, and non-contact teachers. The staff also includes over 20 teacher aides, a Business Services Manager, an Administration Officer and an Education Program Officer. The grounds and buildings are maintained by a full time Schools Officer and four Cleaners.
The school is used as a base location for therapists and advisory visiting teachers and currently supports Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Regional Nurses, Speech Language Pathologist, and Advisory Visiting Teacher School Transition Officer.
PROGRAMS:
The programs offered by Beenleigh Special School focus on the long term goal of developing skills to maximise students’ independence and to prepare them for life beyond the school environment.
The curriculum that guides teacher planning and learning experiences is the Australian Curriculum. At the end of each semester, student progress is formally documented and reported to parents/carers.
All students at Beenleigh Special School have an Individual Support Plan (ISP), or for Senior Secondary students a Senior Education Transition Plan. This document contains measurable priority goals for each individual student. These goals are specifically designed and developed by specialist teachers in consultation with the parents/carers, school staff, students and support personnel. Education teams work together to implement the ISP, and constantly monitor and evaluate each student’s progress.
Students and staff at Beenleigh Special School access a variety of off-campus environments to enhance the delivery of programs. These may include hydrotherapy centres, environmental education facilities and practical pre-vocational centres.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
At Beenleigh Special School, we understand the importance of forming practical and positive relationships with parents/carers and community members. For this reason we provide many opportunities for formal and informal contact among members of the school community.
The school is well supported by a small but dedicated Parents and Citizens’ Association. The school has received financial assistance from several community organisations which has assisted to enhance the quality of resources and facilities used in the delivery of student programs. The programs are effectively and regularly supported by the use of volunteer community members.
Beenleigh Special School also serves the community by providing valuable work experience and training to students at various local high schools, workplaces and tertiary institutions.
CONCLUSION:
Beenleigh Special School is a positive and supportive environment in which to learn and work. Since it officially opened in 1983, the school is proud of its achievements and the quality services that have been provided to students and the local community. Our school is committed to responding to future challenges in a highly participative and proactive manner.
Our Statement of Purpose:
Providing individualised learning, in a supportive environment, to maximise student independence
Our Logo and Motto:
We value:
· students as learners· respect for one another
· the dignity of the individual
· parent, staff, student and community participation
· the right of all members of the school community to feel safe / · cooperation
· sharing
· choice
· excellence in teaching and learning
· the contributions of others
We believe we should:
· provide safe, caring, challenging and supportive learning environments· recognise and celebrate achievements
· provide high quality programs
· promote community awareness and participation
· efficiently use available facilities and resources
· strive to enhance facilities and resources
· enjoy learning and teaching
· pursue excellence
· acknowledge and reflect upon feedback / · offer choices
· be accountable and responsible
· empower others
· share responsibilities
· maximise potential
· trust each other and be trustworthy
· communicate openly and positively with others
· consider future possibilities
· recognize, understand, embrace and value differences
GENERAL PROCEDURES
1. ABSENCES
If your child is absent from school for any reason please notify the school office. This may be via a phone call to the office (3380 1111) after 7.30 a.m. or a note to class teacher the following day. Please explain the reason for the absence.
If your child receives transport assistance, please notify the bus or taxi providers also.
2. ACCIDENTS OR SICKNESS AT SCHOOL
Parents/Carers are requested to keep a child who is unwell at home. Where it is considered that a child is unfit to be at school, the parents/carers will be contacted by either the school nurse, administration staff or the class teacher.
If an accident occurs, first aid will be administered and the parents will be notified. If the accident is serious, parents/carers will be contacted immediately, and further action will be discussed. An ambulance will be called if necessary.
Parents/Carers should ensure that the school has the correct current contact telephone number (and emergency contact numbers) to enable contact to be made as soon as possible when necessary.
On all occasions that a student is picked up from school early, Principal or Deputy Principal will co-sign with the parent/carer that the student was collected early.
3. APPOINTMENTS
Parents are invited to make an appointment to see relevant school staff at any time to discuss issues pertaining to your child. Timely notice is desirable to ensure that necessary arrangements are able to be made.
4. ASSEMBLY
Assembly is held every Monday morning for Junior, Middle, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary School students. The program includes the National Anthem, student weekly awards, notices from the staff and any announcements of special events to be held during the week.
5. CAMPS
During the year some groups may participate in camps in an external environment. If your child is involved in a camp, you will be notified by the class teacher who will outline the time, itinerary, transport, special requirements and the cost.
6. CLASS STRUCTURE
Classes are organised across the Junior, Middle, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary phases of schooling. The number of classes can vary from year to year depending on how many new enrolments we have, how many students move to other schools, and how many Senior students graduate.
Before the classes are finalised for the start of the next school year and students placed within particular groups, a great deal of discussion and organisation needs to occur. It is important to ensure that classes are structured to ensure that the best learning can occur for all students. It would not be wise for example, to place all students who are in a wheelchair in the same class, as it would be difficult to have all their physical and educational needs met in this way. Some of the other issues that are taken into account are any behaviour issues, appropriate role models, friendships, and co-dependencies that may need to be addressed.
Classes are organised around the specific needs of each individual student in the school setting. None of the teachers know which class they will have for the following year during the process of designing the class groups. We ‘workshop’ the class groups as a whole staff. This ensures that students are placed in a class with peers alongside whom they will definitely perform to the best of their ability. Only when these discussions are finalised and all the issues addressed, are final class lists shared with families.
As can occur, the best planning cannot foresee everything. At the beginning of the new year, up to and including the official Department of Education,Training and Employment Day 8, there can be changes made. This is when staffing is finalised, taking account of final student numbers, and on occasions this can necessitate an unavoidable change in class arrangements.
7. COMMUNICATION
Communication between school and parents/carers is extremely important and valued highly by all at Beenleigh Special School. Regular informal communication is encouraged and is complemented by the following more formal methods of communication:
Ø Monthly newsletters
Ø Parent Information meetings
Ø P&C Association monthly meetings
Ø Teacher – Parent communication books
Ø Program planning (ILP or SETP) meetings
Please ensure changes of phone numbers, address, emergency contact numbers or official care arrangements are communicated to the school promptly.
At all times, telephone communication with school staff should be made via the school’s main number. If it is after hours, a message can be left on the school’s answering machine. It is not appropriate for staff to communicate with parents/carers from home or mobile phone numbers or via text messages and this is discouraged.
8. COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS
It is important that students are able to transfer knowledge and skills learned within the classroom and school setting into the “real” community. Consequently, some of the students will be involved in a variety of community-based learning programs throughout the year. These will be linked to ILP/curriculum goals and designed to complement activities and programs introduced at school. These programs will be discussed with parents through the communication book, notes to parents and at ISP meetings. These programs are carefully planned by teachers and must have prior approval of the Principal. Planning covers learning goals, budget for the activity, and risk assessment and safety management.