12 April 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principals Report

A big welcome to all new and returning students. What a start to the year we have had already! This year is going to be filled with lots of engaging and educating activities, enriching curriculum, and most of all lots of empowerment.

Our newsletter is already full of pictures of our students having a go and challenging themselves to achieve their best. Ms Flood’s class have been working on their english, maths and have started getting their resumes ready for WPL. They have been earning lots of points on Mathletics and getting certificates. With Mrs Sharp they also used their team work skills to work together and create a volcano which they painted and then created eruptions. This was very exciting. Ms V will join FG03 as the classroom Teacher for Term 2.

Miss Higham’s class have started WPL and are shining as superstars at their workplaces! They are developing their cooking skills making some yummy food whilst learning important skills like how to hold and use a knife correctly in the kitchen.

Ms Tolomei and Ms Lucas’s class have also been busy this term, they are learning about different countries around the world, trying out food from these countries. They have made some pretty cool cartoons using the computers and presented them at our virtue assembly. Students are also working on updating their resume and getting ready for their WPL placements next term.

No Way Bully Day was Friday 15th March. Students discussed what bullying is and how to help and support friends who may be being bullied. They created “Unique Me” posters in Art, patted a koala and dingo and held a python and finished the day spraying their hair all crazy colours.

Music Rocks happens every Tuesday and students have been thoroughly enjoying jamming on different instruments. They are learning to play the electric guitar, drums, bass, keyboard and singing lead vocals. Some students also attended Music Rocks at the Rosemount on Saturday 6th April. We had two groups perform. They rocked the crowded with their fantastic versions of “Shotgun” and “Happy”. Well done to our rock stars who attended and thanks to the ‘groupies’ that came and supported.

“Rapid Fire” Cricket Carnival was held earlier this term and students did extremely well competing against 8 other schools. We came 2nd in Division 2 and 4th in Division 1 with some students winning medals for their sportsmanship and attitude on the day. A big thank you to Ms Wyllie’s efforts in organising the excursion and leading the training sessions before the carnival.

The JTC ‘Enchanted Ball’ saw 5 Year 12 students join the JTC students at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club for an amazing night. The girls looked beautiful in their dresses and the boys looked so handsome in their suits. The highlight of the night would have to be the dance floor with everyone getting up and dancing the night away. Adam was voted ‘Best Dancer of the Night’ before competing in a dance off with another student which he was again voted the winner! Fantastic night was had by everyone!

The option and VET classes have definitely been keeping our students busy with an assortment of activities:

• Cadets - knot tying, learning about Australian cities and States, our flags, flora and fauna.
• Retail – cooking the sausage sizzle and developing their customer services skills
• Visage – demonstrating the knowledge of applying makeup, hair styling, manicures and pedicures.
• Workshop – creating their wooden tables, work mate or planter boxes
• Construction – learning how to render walls and most importantly, how to be safe in the workplace
• Art – Visual Arts students have created their own wearable art headpieces with the help of visiting artist Jodie Davidson.

We have a Year 12 school camp coming up to Canberra 13th May – 17th May. Students (and staff) are getting very excited for this. There will be lots to do and see around the capital of Australia. A final meeting with parents and students on the 7th of May.

On a final note, football season has started; students and staff can wear their footy colours (no singlets) to school on Fridays.

Enjoy the Easter break and be safe on the roads

Tash Hawkins and Amanda Flood

Dates to Remember

Classroom News

FG03

Amanda Flood

This term has seen students make a steady start to the year. They have made new friends, settled in well to class and completed a big chunk of testing in the first few weeks. With a lot of changes occurring, students have adapted well and learnt a lot. Our class is full of awesome students and we enjoy having fun while we learn. Some of the main things we have been working on:

English – writing in full sentences using adjectives and listing our items using correct punctuation. Spelling has also been a focus along with the latest lessons involving sending emails to staff using their student accounts.

Maths – we have been investigating whole numbers – counting, ordering, adding together.

WPL – we have started gathering information to work on our resumes. Also, some students have been practicing answering the phone in class, as well as, reading and understanding signs.

Virtues – students have been working hard on random acts of kindness, gaining a better understanding of honesty, respect, cooperation and kindness. Students have also started is their gratitude chains. This gives them an opportunity for self-reflection on how they have seen or received actions from others.

Lifeskills – students have started cooking. They have made burgers and pizzas with garlic bread. Both smelt amazing and everyone enjoyed their food.

Self-Regulation – students have been exploring the 4 Zones of Regulation – blue, green, yellow and red. We explored a lot of different things that may help us when we are feeling agitated (yellow) or angry (red). These lessons are very funny.

Technology – A treat we have enjoyed is using the robots during the afternoon. The Mini Sphero’s, Cozmo Robots and the OSMO platforms are great for engaging students, promoting their creative thinking skills and allowing them to communicate with others and solve problems.

T1

Julie Higham

T1 have had a great start to the year. The staff have enjoyed getting to know their new students and we are looking forward to a fun-filled 2019. We have started our Workplace Learning on Thursdays and we think our Music Rocks lessons are AWESOME!

We are learning lots of new knife skills in our fortnightly cooking lessons, such as bridge hold, claw grip and fork secure, as well as cooking yummy lunches. Next term we are looking forward to going shopping before each cooking lesson and comparing prices and value for money.

We have also enjoyed a fun filled incursion – many thanks to Laura from Conservation Volunteers Australia and Rio Tinto Earth Assist. We had a python, stick insects, a tawny frogmouth, bearded dragon and lots of other native animals visiting our room. We learned about the animals and then drew them. We also planted some plants in our ‘still-in-development’ sensory garden.

T2

Laura Tolomei/Kristin Lucas

Students have well and truly settled into new routines, teachers and timetables. This term we are working on the life skills around planning a holiday. Skills include using the internet to book accommodation, sightseeing and travel. We are learning about budgets, using email and electronic calendar functions and also how to stay safe while travelling.

Each fortnight we cook food from one of the countries the students have chosen to travel to. So far we have had sushi from Japan and gozleme from Turkey. Both were delicious.

On Mondays we are working on preparing for this year’s work experience by practicing interviews and looking at personal learning styles. We are practicing brain gym and have learned that ‘hook ups’ i.e. crossing one leg over the other at the ankle, clasping your hands and rolling them up to your chest helps to calming. The students have also learned three new games; Kubb, which is like giant lawn chess played in teams; Finska, which is like bowling and croquet (which is similar to golf). These games all promote using strategy, teamwork, mathematics, spatial relationships and social skills.

Visage

Trish Bradford/ Marnie Wyllie/Marg Bowman

The Visage students embrace learning how to perform manicures, tinting, shampooing and conditioning hair to industry standards. All students have settled into the way a salon needs to be managed and what is required. Their confidence is slowing developing when performing treatments.

Students are looking forward to participating in our first Salon Day on Wednesday 10th April. Services on offer will be hairdressing (shampooing, treatments, straightening and braids). Beauty treatments: manicure, mini facials, waxing and tinting stations will be set up. Students will be responsible for organising the “clients” and working alongside the industry experts in a very productive and involved manner as they would in a salon. If you would like to make an appointment to be pampered, please call 9583 7311.

Students have the opportunity to purchase their own kits which will allow them to be completely organised and responsible for their own equipment. If your student would like to purchase any of the below, please bring in the money ASAP. At the completion of the course the kits purchased are yours to take home.

Hair $25
Make-up kit $22
Nail Kit $10

Retail

Clare Munro/Nat Harris/Peter McClay

Retail has started off with a ‘banger’, in fact, hundreds of bangers have been cooked during our Wednesday Retail VET program this term. Our Retail team consists of an enthusiastic and capable group of students: Brodie, Sophie, Lachlain, Jack and Jackson as well as a supportive and talented bunch of staff members: Mr McClay, Mrs Christensen, Mrs Harris and our work experience volunteer, Bodhi Carter. We are all looking forward to completing our course work, running our Sausage Sizzle Enterprise and gaining valuable, practical retail experience along the way!

Workshop

Mark Barritt/Amanda Flood/Marg Bowman/Lorna Craggs

In Friday Workshop students have started building their major personal project. Some are building tables; others work mates or planter boxes. All of the students are working really well and adhering to the safety procedures they have been taught.

Students have also been getting excited and having fun learning how to use the 3D Printer and engaging with our new COZMO Robots.

Construction

Mark Barritt/Marg Bowman/Trish Bradford/Amanda Flood

Students have had a good start to the Construction Skills Set with an emphasis on Teamwork and an introduction to Occupational Health and Safety Requirements. Students have started to use basic materials and hand skills whilst practicing their brick laying and rendering skills in preparation for their basic construction project later in the course. They have been learning how to set up and safely use the cement mixer to mix mortar and to use hand tools such as a brickies trowel and a hawk, plasterers trowel and float.

Emergency Cadet Program

Peter McClay/Nat Harris/Sharan Hegney/Julie Higham

The JTCESC Emergency Services Cadets started Term 1 by learning about Australian cities and States, the Australian and Western Australian Flags and our national and state flora and fauna emblems. We have learned all about Canberra, in readiness for the Year 12 Canberra trip in May. We made posters about the attractions and government buildings that we are going to visit and presented our work to the class.

Our new Year 11s have taken their Emergency Services Cadet pledge, promising to uphold the Code of Conduct of Cadets WA. We are proud to have them join our Cadets Corps.

We have also started to learn how and why we tie knots. These include the thumb knot, figure of eight, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches, bowline and how to secure a boat to a wharf.

Workplace Learning

Kristin Lucas/Susie Smith/Marg Bowman

Thank you to all parents/caregivers returning their signed Parent Consent Forms so promptly. We know that at the beginning of the year there is always a barrage of paperwork going home needing your attention – and it can get confusing – appreciate your diligence in completing the forms.

We had an early start to WPL – T1 commenced Week 4 of Term 1. They shall do their 10 weeks and then it will be T2 going out in mid Term 2. T1 students currently on placement are doing a fantastic job and employer feedback has been positive.

As your student is “on the job”, we would ask that you assist in building their confidence and independence by encouraging them to get themselves organised for the workday; e.g. their work wear, preparing food/drink for the day and having their logbook and a pen. Also, if you could remember to give them space during their work day; e.g. refrain from visiting their place of business except for drop off and pick up. Our support staff are on a tight timetable so please be prompt at dropping off and collecting at the designated time. Should a problem arise, your student is not attending WPL or you are running late, please ring our office on 9583 7333 and we shall contact the support person. Also ring the employer to let them know student will not be in.

We are always open to suggestions from parents/caregivers for contacts to local businesses to use in our WPL programme. Your input into where to place your student is happily accepted by the WPL team. Remember that the placement is not always so much about the actual ‘job’, but about the employability skills that we focus on: Teamwork, Learning, Self-Management, Initiative, Communication, Problem-solving, Planning and Organising, Technology, Initiative and Enterprise and Safety and Health. These are the skills that transfer to any job and make for a good grounding in being a productive and effective employee.

In the next few weeks a phone call will be made to each parent/caregiver of T2 students advising/discussing their planned placement. Students from T2 will then be taken for an interview by a WPL team member and the relevant paperwork detailing all employer information will be sent home once a placement is confirmed. Please read and sign the documentation and return to school.

WHO IS WHERE?

Our school is very privileged to have these local businesses support our workplace learning programme; many of whom have done so for over 10 years. Work experience is part of most schools’ curriculum and we heavily rely on the kindness of store managers/business owners to take on our students without reward.

Transition

Jocelyn Carosin

IEP and Transition Meetings

Thank you to all those parents and caregivers who met with me and your child’s teacher over the past month. The meetings allowed for us to discuss your child’s strengths, skills, interests, and support needs. My role as the Transition Coordinator is to help you and your child in planning and developing strategies to include in their Individual Transition Plan (ITP) in preparation for your child achieving the skills they will need to become independent young adults within the community post school life.

Centrelink Visits

As a result, from some of our IEP parent/teacher meetings, I arranged a number of parent/student early morning appointments with you down at Centrelink to help you submit your child’s Disability Support Pension paperwork. As mentioned in the IEP Meetings, I am able to help you complete all the necessary forms. If you are a parent/carer and would like some assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me to arrange a suitable time to go to Centrelink.

Community & Family Support Information Packs

In Week 7, I sent home a Community and Family Support Information pack. The Pack is there if you feel you need help and support but not sure who to turn to. The pack includes contact information of all the different support agencies in Mandurah which are free to access.

There is a few free membership forms included in the Pack if you wanted to sign up to Carers WA. Please let me know if you need a hand in completing the forms, or if you would like me to send the forms to Carers WA on your behalf.

If you would like someone to help support you in making contact with these different organisations, please do not hesitate to contact me and I’ll assist where I can.

JTCESC’s Disability Expo 2019

It’s almost that time again for the annual JTCESC Disability Information Expo. As many of you already know, it is our school’s mission to bring information and awareness of ALL services to ALL people with disabilities. This year our Expo will be later in Term 2. Watch this space for a definite date and then make sure you SAVE THE DATE!!!!

Visual Art Certificate 1

Laura Tolomei

What a talented group of artists we have in our first ever Certificate 1 in Visual Arts. The students have taken to the task of developing their artistic skills with enthusiasm and creativity. The day seems to disappear in a flash as we are all so focused on our work.

This term we are entering into the Mandurah Wearable Art Competition with headpieces. Jodie Davidson, a Perth artist, is helping us with our efforts.

Visual Art

Laura Tolomei

We have had an excellent start to our artistic year. We are learning about lettering and cartooning and students have come up with their own lettering style and tag. Next we will be developing cartooning skills with a view to creating a few cartoon characters of our own.

Breakfast Club

Rebecca Christensen

Breakfast club has been very popular and some of the dishes we have enjoyed are apple pie, carrot cake, banana muffins, porridge, vegemite and cheese scrolls, weetbix slice, oat slice, jelly fruit and custard, vegie sticks and dip, fruit platters and of course the much loved zucchini slice and toasties.

Students often ask me for the recipes that I make in breakfast club so we have decided to make a little recipe book that the students can keep and use at home. It is a work in progress but we will keep you posted.

Here’s the recipe for the vegemite and cheese scrolls

Ingredients

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry (defrosted)
• 6 tbs Vegemite
• 2 cups tasty cheese (grated)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C or 160° fan-forced. Line a baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
2. Spread each sheet with 3 tbsp. of Vegemite and sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over each sheet.
3. Roll each sheet tightly into a scroll and slice the scroll evenly into 12 pieces.
4. Lie on the tray and bake for 10-15 minutes.
5. This recipe makes 24 pieces.

Other News

School Ball

What an evening!

Fairy lights, mystical trees and love hearts decorated the venue to create an “Enchanted Night”.

Beautiful ladies with their sequins and flowing dresses and the gentlemen looking handsome in their suit and ties. Everyone hit the dance floor early, they only sat down briefly to enjoy the scrumptious dinner then it was back to the dance floor. The DJ produced a great playlist to sustain the energy on the floor.

Adam received the best dancer on the night, Monique also danced up a storm, Clayton was a man on a mission to bust out his groove, and it wasn’t long before Tarnieka and Brodie were also up on the dance floor enjoying the dancing as well.

It was wonderful to see our students and JTC mainstream students dancing and mingling together to create amazing memories and friendships.

School Ball by Monique: -

“This year Brodie, Clayton, Adam, Tarnieka, Ms Bradford, Ms Flood and myself all attended the “Enchanted Ball”. The venue was decorated with blue fairy lights, a photo booth and an awesome DJ. All students from JTCESC and JTC were looking very smart in their suits and dresses and the food was amazing. Adam won best dancer of the night, Brodie, Clayton and myself all danced together, with Tarnieka joining the mainstream students on the dance floor.

We took lots of photos, Ms Flood and I also posed as “Charlies Angels” in one photo. We all had big smiles on our faces, it was so much fun, I think we were all great dancers”.

Cricket

All students participated in the “Rapid Fire” inaugural Hills Cricket Carnival on Thursday 28th March at the Hartfield Park in Forrestfield. We competed against 8 other Ed Support Centres, teams were split into 2 divisions. We did extremely well in the 2nd Division and came 2nd and in the 1st Division we finished 4th.

A massive thankyou to Cherie Pirnie from the WACA for organising a wonderful day.

No Way Bullying Day

Students worked in groups during the day and discussed what bullying is, what to do if you are being bullied and identified 5 people they could go to for help if they are being bullied. In groups they ranked types of bullying according to what they thought was most offensive to least offensive. We discussed the differences and similarities in the choices they made and made a point about how different things can be offensive to different people.

In Art we designed and made a “Unique Me” poster; all were very creative and imaginative. We also did crazy hair, with different colours and styles.

We had Kendall from WestOz Willdlife visit us with Judah the koala, Yappa the dingo, a couple of pythons, bearded dragon and a blue tongue lizard, which we were all able to touch and hold—a first experience for some students.

Music Rocks

This year we have introduced a music program into the school, Music Rocks Australia. Dean Blanchard, the Music Rocks director says “We harness the power of music to build back confidence, motor skills and social coordination in a safe, structured environment that brings endless joy.” After only a couple of lessons Music Rocks has proved to be a huge hit with our students. It is awesome to see them harness their inner rock star while playing the musical instruments and singing into the microphones.