OConnor Education Support Centre Boulder
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| O'CONNOR EDUCATION SUPPORT CENTRE PRINCIPAL:Mrs Linda MacDonnell REGISTRAR: Mrs Joan Larcombe (Mon-Wed) Mrs Evelyn Rootman (Thurs-Fri) 5 teachers (5.6 FTE) 8 Education Assistants AIEO (Tuesdays) Learning Support Coordinator(.1FTE) SCHOOL ETHOS We nurture each and every student so as to enable them to reach their full potential to be the very best community member they can and to feel proud of their achievements. SCHOOL PURPOSE O'Connor Education Support Centre (OESC) endeavours to encourage an acceptance of each child's individual needs and abilities in the areas of social, emotional and academic development. In order to meet their social needs students are guided in their emotional development, which incorporates self worth, self-esteem and an awareness of the need for appropriate behaviour. All staff focus on developing appropriate social skills in their students through community orientation and excursion programs so enabling them to function successfully in the community. This is further enhanced by the inclusion of students into the Primary School through Integration Classes, Reverse Integration Classes and participation in all school events. It is the goal of all OESC staff to provide a nurturing environment, in which every child feels safe, protected, challenged and supporeted in their endeavours for excellence. O'Connor Education Support Centre is a Department of Education and Training School that caters for students with mild through to multiple and severe intellectual disabilities. OESC currently runs four classes with a total enrolment of twenty-six students, with five teachers and nine (part-time & full time) education assistants. Students are placed within classes according to age and ability. In 2007 OESC run four mixed ability classes. ESC 1 - Pre-Primary Early Intervention ESC 2 - Years 1 & 2 ESC 3 - Year 3 - 5 ESC 4 - Year 5,6, & 7 For three days a week, mid morning three ESC classes will be divided into four groups for literacy and numeracy. OESC also implements support programs that play a vital role within the ESC as they are specifically designed and implemented to meet the individual and specific needs of each and every student. OESC staff are highly dedicated professionals who are both trained and experienced in working with students with special needs. A number of staff are trained both in Senior First Aid and their Bronze Medallion. The staff work collaboratively within a team to collectively meet the needs of each OESC student. Specialist programs offered in 2007 are: · Literacy, Numeracy, Society and Enviroment, The Arts, Science, Technology and Health and Physical Education · Indigenous Education Support Studies and Aboriginal Culture · LOTE: Wangkatha language (with Dot Forrest) · Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy/Speech Therapy · Hydrotherapy and in term swimming · Cooking and Excursions · Protective Behaviours · Library Studies · Music and movement to music · PATHS(Promoting Alternative Thinking Skills) · Integration of ESC into primary school classes (These include Music,Art,Science, PE) · Reverse Integration for small groups of Primary School Student into ESC classes OESC parents will join the OPS P&C Association in 2007 but will continue to operate a School Council Group and Finance Committee with parents involved in decision-making processes. OESC has developed close working links with parents in an effort to maximise educational benefits for their students. OESC prides itself on its liaison with outside agencies such as the Department of Community Development, the Disabilities Services Commission, Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital therapists and the School Psychology Service. Although functioning as a separate school to that of O'Connor PS, collaborative links have been developed in an effort to enhance learning and socialisation opportunities for all O'Connor students. OESC students participate in all school events including sports days, assemblies, concerts and theme days. Integration and reverse integration play an important role in teaching values like caring, responsibility, friendship and empathy. An Index for Inclusion Committee (started in 2006) will operate in 2007 and will promote Inclusiveness at O'Connor Schools and ensure the running of the Schools Inclusive Plan developed from the Community Survey Results in 2006.OESC endeavours to encourage the acceptance of each child's individual needs and abilities in the 8 learning areas including social, emotional and academic development. In order to meet the social needs students are guided in their emotional development. This incorporates self worth, self-esteem and an awareness of the need for appropriate behaviour. All staff focus on developing appropriate social skills in their students through community orientation, excursion and integration programs with the Primary School. This enables students to have the very best opportunities to function successfully in the community. OUR SCHOOL O'Connor ESC is a school for Intellectually Disabled Students set within the school setting of O'Connor Primary School in Boulder. The school is 10 years old and is the newest school in the Kalgoorlie/Boulder city. The school was completed in July 1996 in the newly developed O'Connor/ Fairway area near the airport. The school boundaries include the areas of O'Connor , Victory Heights, Fairways and Sommerville. The ESC however enrols students from the greater Kalgoorlie/Boulder Area. The buildings at O'Connor Primary School and Education Support Centre are built in classroom clusters with the ESC classrooms and facilities situated within the school next to Primary school classrooms .This setting facilitates Integration, Reverse Integration and socialisation of all students with their age appropriate peers.. OESC caters for students with a range of disabilities which is typical of a country ESC. The school has students with severe/multiple disabilities, autism, down syndrome as well as students with mild and moderate Intellectual Disabilities. The ESC offers students inclusive education whilst still having small classes, the expertise of a trained Education Support teachers and the support of Education Assistants in each class. The OESC is a Primary school which offers : * a supportive, purpose built Centre * experienced and trained staff * purpose built change facilities * a snoezelen facility for sensory development * Integration and reverse integration programs with O'Connor Primary School * Close proximity to the Oasis swimming pool for students to be involved in hydrotherapy and DET in -term swimming programs. The Education Support Centre staff work hard to create a supportive ,friendly atmosphere at school and through incorporating hands on relevant programs that are interesting and exciting to be involved in the students want to be involved eg the garden program, shopping program or cooking program. The OESC Behaviour Management Program has been developed over many years. Students are encouraged to learn to control their behaviour using the 'Good Choices' program students are taught to make good choices and demonstrate age appropriate behaviour. Students make good choices and bad choices. A chart is used to monitor choices made both daily and weekly and students support one another at a weekly meeting where students are rewarded for good choices made during the week. Once or twice a year students attend a reward outing earned by good choices at school. In 2005 the PATHS Program (Promoting Alternative Thinking Skills) was introduced which offered students a whole school approach to social skills and thinking skills. Students respond very positively to this program and parents support this program by using the same language at home to ensure generalisation of behaviour skills into the home. Makaton ad Auslan Sign language plays a major role in supporting the understanding of all students at OESC in this program. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication is used with students with severe communication disorders. PLACEMENT COMMITTEE Students are placed at OESC by the Kalgoorlie/Boulder Placement Committee which strives to place Education Support Students in schools as close as possible to their homes and siblings and alongside their age appropriate peers.O'CONNOR SCHOOL BUS O'Connor P&C own a wheelchair bus which was funded by the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and the Sir Lindsay Clarke TRUSTFUND in 2002. This bus is used by OESC and Eastern Goldfields ESC to transport students into the community. This bus has wheelchair accessibility for three or four wheelchairs. This bus is the lifeline into the community for all ESC students and is maintained and administered by the O'Connor P&C Association. It is housed at O'Connor Primary School in a purpose build bus shed COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS 1. Community Garden Project- OESC and OPS using reverse integration to enhance friendship, caring and responsibility 2. OESC and Parent partnership-this partnership is crucial to the effectiveness of the teaching and learning at OESC. Parents are very supportive of the ESC and especially the behaviour management program which need parent support and collaboration to be effective. A recent example of this partnership has been seen in the excellent attendance of parents, siblings and family friends at our Award Night in December 2004. Four families attended following a visit from our AIEO who invited the families to attend and arranged the taxi for students in wheelchairs to attend. 3. Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital Therapists-physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy programs run through the school to enhance student learning and participation. 4. OESC and EGESC- collaboration through curriculum, use of school bus and transition year7 to year 8. 5. O'Connor Primary School Counsellor Program- each year a Year 7 student from the ESC is chosen to represent the ESC and these duties depend on the students ability and understanding. Basic duties include helping at assembly and being a role model in behaviour and wearing school uniform every day. 6. Disability Services Commission /DCD and Local Paediatrician - these partnerships are promoted to serve the needs of individual students and families. 7. Collaborative links have been developed in an effort to enhance learning and socialization opportunities for all O'Connor students. OESC students participate in all school events including sports days, assemblies, concerts and theme days.INCLUSION SURVEY RESULTS 2004 8 surveys were received this year from teachers at O'Connor Primary School. Three new teachers were involved in integration or reverse inclusion this year with 7 OPS teachers completing surveys. All comments were positive with one teacher asking for PD in how to include ESC students into her classroom. Comments included: My students learnt so much about the types and range of disability, dispelled myths about disabilities and have became avid learners of sign language. ESC staff do an excellent job of inclusion. They have offered me many opportunities. I would like ideas on how to integrate ESC students into my class. The teachers and the assistants attended and I found this support wonderful. I love the way that everyone joins in and helps and we become one big family.( Music teacher) | ||||
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