25 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Term 3 has been very busy as you can see from our fabulous newsletter. Incursions and excursions resumed and students were able to get back to their work placements.

Congrats to Griffen and Tess on winning the Football tipping contest. Both were presented with chocolates for their fabulous efforts and next year will start with a handicap!!

I am very proud of our manufacturing group for the creation of duffel bags, chemo bags, joey pouches and bird stands. All these items have been donated to our community organisations.

With mixed feelings I would like to say that I will be leaving John Tonkin College ESC for a fixed term 12-month contract. I will be moving to Dianella Secondary Education Support Centre to be a Deputy Principal, where hopefully I will gain a variety of valuable experience to bring back to John Tonkin College ESC.

I would like to welcome the new Principal Cran Collis to John Tonkin College ESC who has had a lot of experience within the Education Support Sector. He will be a major asset to our school. Sadly, he is an Eagles supporter but I won’t hold that against him.

Have a safe break and enjoy the beautiful spring weather

Tash Hawkins
Principal

Dates to Remember

Classroom News

FG03

Kristin Lucas and Laura Tolomei

This term in FG03 we have been focusing on financial literacy. We opened mock online bank accounts with the students creating documents to make up 100 points of ID. We have been learning banking terms and in Term 4 we will be practicing making online transactions as well as paying bills online. We have also been looking at everyday budgeting and have practiced shopping for the best price on big ticket items. We will also be working out living budgets and discovering how expensive living with roommates can be! Measuring and perimeter were also part of our mathematics learning. We have also looked at communicating in the workplace, set goals for our learning, and revisited to track our progress toward achieving them. We discovered our learning type (Visual, Auditory or Kinaesthetic) as well as investigated our personal barriers to learning and how we can overcome them. Each Monday we are the official Breakfast Club Chefs. I can assure you that we know our way around a kitchen now! We prepare morning tea for the school including setting the menu, setting up for service, creating delicious food, including some of the wonderful recipes from our upcoming cookbook. We have made homemade sausage rolls, zucchini slice, brownies, fried bread and many toasties. The students are using mathematics, workplace safety and reading in a real world application by exhibiting kitchen safety and hygiene practices, reading and interpreting recipes and doubling and halving as necessary. In the midst of all that we enjoyed a trip to SciTech and learned how to code to make robots go where and how fast we want them to move. We have had a very busy term!

T1

Julie Higham

This term we have learned about the virtue of responsibility. We have been discussing that we are responsible for our own thoughts and behaviour, but that we are not responsible for other people’s thoughts and actions. We have linked this to the circle of control. We presented the assembly this term on the theme of Responsibility, and Mason was a fantastic MC. Sherin wowed us with her performance of ‘Let it Go’, Lachie and Jayden shared their work and Taliah showed us what a beautiful voice she has by singing Faded by Alan Walker. We were very proud of our achievements.

We have continued our fortnightly cooking lessons, and students are working confidently and independently to produce fabulous dishes. The T1 staff are blown away by the high-level of safety awareness that the students are displaying. Great job guys!

Creative Manufacturing

Trish Bradford/Lorna Craggs/Tess Wyllie

What an exciting time term 3 has been!

The students have been working extremely hard to complete all the items they have been making for their chosen charities.

They have experienced challenges and triumphs in this process but at no time did they complain or give up, this is a true testament to them all.

We went on an excursion on the 2nd of September to deliver all the items, it was so wonderful to see the students so proud of what they had achieved. They were fortunate enough to have joey and bird snuggles.

To date the students have made:

35 Duffle bags
28 Chemo bags
30 Joey pouches
2 Wooden bird stands and
5 Perches and a couple of hanging toys for the birds

When the students delivered all the items it was so wonderful to see how proud they were of themselves and the realisation of the positive affect they have created for others in our community. I’m so proud of you all.

Retail

Kristin Lucas/Nat Harris/Jacquie Willcocks/Peter McClay

Our amazing Retail students have been working hard towards finishing their paperwork for the end of term as well as holding weekly sausage sizzles for the campus. Thankfully we were able to get back to normal with our sausage sizzles after the COVID-19 interruption.

Our day starts with a walk to Woolworths for our supplies, then paperwork needs to be done before recess. After recess we are busily preparing - slicing onions and buns, filling the esky, packing the trolley and setting up our work area. The students have become very confident and work independently with all of the preparation work and the clean-up.

Their confidence has grown rapidly with all of the different tasks that they have to perform during service. Each week they are in control of a different service position – on the cash register, cooking on the BBQ, handing out the drinks and main service of the hotdogs. Whichever student is working on the cash register they then assist with balancing the till and preparing the float for the following week.

This term we have been involved in International Food Day with mainstream and fundraising for Jeans for Genes day and R U OK Day? It is a great benefit for the students to know that they are contributing to these causes, and they are always eager to be involved and help by making posters to advertise the events.

Construction

Mark Barritt/Penny Madigan/Sheri Henderson

During Term 3 the construction students have been working on completing their rendered and tiled brick archway. They have been practicing teamwork, setting up the work area in the morning and cleaning up and packing away the tools and equipment in the afternoon, and working independently and as a team whilst building their projects. Students have also been practicing wall tiling and had a visit to the Construction Futures Centre.

Emergency Cadet Program

Peter McClay/Nat Harris/Sharan Hegney/Mark Barritt/Julie Higham

During Term 3 we have been studying natural disasters (storms, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, structure fires and bush fires) and how to best protect ourselves and our family members. Each cadet produced a poster on a different natural disaster and then presented it to the entire class.

A major focus in the second half of the term has been around fires in the home - how to avoid them and also how to deal with them. Firstly, we discussed house fires and what could happen if your house caught fire – how could you keep safe? The students were asked to do a fire plan at home. They learnt about how important it is to have an escape plan and a muster point for home. Hopefully your child talked to the family about it.

We learnt how to use a fire blanket, smoke detector and various types of fire extinguishers especially how to deal with an oil fire in the kitchen.

We then learnt how bush fires can start and the best way to escape. Once again having a pre organised plan was the best option. We have seen some amazing videos on all of the topics this term showcasing the ferocity of all of our natural disasters and fires.

We had an excursion to the DFES Education and Heritage Centre where the students were able to explore the history of our fire service in Western Australia and also get interactive with the fire truck and personal protective equipment that the fire fighters wear. Upstairs in the building they explored the natural disasters displays. During their visit they completed a quiz which the students took to the challenge with ease. We had a quick lunch in the city before heading back on the train.

The students have had the opportunity to learn how to use a fire extinguisher with an incursion late in the term. They will receive a certificate for participating in the activity.

Finally, we have been planning for the school camp at the end of the year. We are heading to Albany so have lots to organise. There are plenty of activities planned and the students are looking forward to it.

Workplace Learning

Marg Bowman

The success of Workplace Learning is dependent on the generosity of the employers. Without them the programme would not give the students the opportunity to experience the real world of work, develop their employability skills, independence and confidence.

We have received glowing reports from our employers on how well the students have worked in their respective placements. The fact that the students have represented not only themselves, but also the school in such a good light, allows us to contact those employers again in 2021 to ask for their support with WPL.

The majority of students were also diligent in completing their logbooks prior to attending the Workplace Learning lesson on a Friday.

A big thank you to all students for doing such an excellent job!

Art

Laura Tolomei/Jacquie Willocks/Charm Guest/Lorna Craggs

During art classes this term we took on a bit of a challenge. We had a go at tile mosaic. The finished tiles will be placed on the amphitheatre seats near the art room.

We started as all good design processes start, with some research and making an ideas board. The theme of the work is the flora and fauna of the Peel region. We found pictures of suitable plants and animals and stuck them to our ideas wall. Students then chose their subject and transferred the image onto the mosaic base. We then cut and shaped tile pieces to fit the image. Cutting and shaping the tiles was the most challenging but the nearly finished mosaics look fabulous. I can’t wait to see what they look like grouted and mounted.

Health & Phys Ed

Chris Wilton

Physical Education in Term 3 has seen our students successfully engage in basketball and hockey. Our school was visited by Hockey WA where each year group was able to participate in a specialised training sessions, learning the fundamentals of the game. The students that participated were exemplary in their behaviour and attitude, having lots of fun and building on their skills.

In addition to learning the specific skills and gameplay associated with the sports, focus has been given to further develop teamwork and sportsmanship. Students have had continued opportunities to participate in activities where fitness and gross motor skills are enhanced.

Breakfast Club

Rebecca Christensen

Pizza scrolls Makes 12

INGREDIENTS

2 rashers bacon, trimmed, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups self-raising flour
30g butter, chopped
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons pizza sauce
1 cup grated cheese

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add bacon, cook for 3 minutes, or until golden. Set aside on paper towels.
3. Sift flour into a bowl, add butter. Rub butter into flour until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre, add milk. Mix with flat-bladed knife until mixture forms a soft dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead until smooth.
4. Roll out to a 30cm x 23cm rectangle. Spread pizza sauce over dough, leaving a 1cm strip along one long side. Sprinkle bacon and cheese over sauce, roll up like a swiss roll. Cut into 12 rounds, taking care not to squash roll.
5. Lay scrolls at onto prepared baking tray, about 3cm apart. Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Transition

Janine Robertson

JTCESC & APM Disability Awareness Expo 2020

Come and meet with a wide range of stall holders of disability service providers, inclusive sporting groups and community based organisations.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gain information on post school options and community engagement for our students and all people with disabilities, parents, families and carers within the Mandurah community.

Where: Mandurah Forum
Date: Friday 30th October 2020
Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm

We look forward to seeing you there at this free event.

JTCESC STUDENTS

This has been a busy time for supporting the Year 12 students towards post school options in 2021. I am in the process of meeting with the South Metro TAFE, and outside providers to enable the parents/carers to gain a wide range of information to support the development of their child’s Individual Transition Plan.

The Year 11 students’ meetings have started with parents and carers to assist with developing plans for going forward into next year as Year 12 students.

It has been lovely to meet so many parents and carers and I look forward to meeting others in Term 4.

WELCOMING SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

The Meadow Springs ESC Year 5-6 students attended a six-week program where students participated in woodwork and cooking sessions. This was very successful with many students showing great teamwork and developing safe practice skills in their groups.

The Year 10 Halls Head ESC students have started their transition days, where they have had the opportunity to meet JTCESC staff and students and becoming familiar with the school campus and enjoying designing their own rockets. This will continue in Week 8, Term 4 where the HHESC students will attend JTCESC for four full days.

At the JTCESC Halls Head ESC Parent Day it was a pleasure to meet so many parents and I look forward to meeting with you throughout your student’s time at JTCESC.

Other News

Bushfire Season 2020/2021

Pre-emptive (planned) school closure during the bushfire season

John Tonkin College ESC has been placed on the Department of Education bushfire zone register as it is located in a designated bushfire risk area.

If a ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger rating has been declared for the City of Mandurah, the school may be required to invoke a pre-emptive (planned) closure. A ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger rating poses a significant threat to the school if a fire starts, it is likely to be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving.

Parents will receive a text message to inform them of a possible pre-emptive closure of the school.

The final decision to pre-emptively close the school will be confirmed with the principal no later than 4.30pm on the day before the pre-emptive closure. If the forecast changes after the 4.30pm deadline, the school remains closed to limit confusion within the school community.

Parents will receive a text message to either confirm or reverse a pre-emptive closure of the school.

Typically, schools will only be required to close for a day at a time. However, this will depend on changing weather conditions. Parents will receive a text message to advise if the school will reopen the day after the pre-emptive closure, or whether it will remain closed.

Parents are encouraged to monitor official bushfire information sources for current information about fire danger ratings:

1. Department of Fire and Emergency Services
- Information line – 13 33 37
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/dfes_wa

2. Local radio
- ABC Emergency WA
- ABC local radio
- 6PR

Footy Tipping

Footy tipping was a tightly fought contest all year. Congratulations to all student and staff who placed their tips each week.

Top tippers were:

Mrs Wyllie - 100
Mrs Bradford - 98
Griffen - 96

Top student tippers:

Griffen - 96
Jack - 86
Mason - 82
Ashton & Joshua - 81
Lily & Sherin - 77
Jai & Taliah - 76
Lachlain - 75
Samantha - 72

2020 School Board

Nigel Irvine

“I was on the Halls Head College ESC School Board while Sherin was a student there in 2017 and 2018.

I joined the John Tonkin College ESC School Board in 2019, and have found it a very worthwhile engagement, which enhanced my knowledge of the school processes and helped understand the education and training pathways available for Sherin”.

JTCESC School Board – Grace McLaughlin, Kristin Lucas, Chelsea Parkey, Tash Hawkins, Trish Magno, Nancy Hartnett, Simon Mills, Nigel Irvine, Sue Hill, Sharyn Pickett

Any parents or carers interested in joining the JTCESC School Board please contact Admin, your support is very much appreciated.

Year 12 Narnia School Ball

Jack, Samantha, Sky, Lachlain, Jai, Lily, Dean, Sherin along with Ms Hawkins and Mrs Bradford attended the Year 12 School Ball. A fantastic night was had by everyone. The food was scrumptious followed by a night of dancing.

Sherin showed everyone how to do the “macarena” and Lachlain cut up the dance floor with “the sprinkler”. Samantha embraced the Narnia theme with her long white gown and tiara, Lily wore a gorgeous wrist corsage that matched her gown and arrived in a Mercedes. Jack, Jai and Sky arrived in style in a limousine, Dean looked dapper as always and kept us entertained with his humorous antidotes.

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