Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
Claremont News
136A Robertson Road
Silkstone. Ipswich. 4304
Ph.: 07 3813 5333
Fax: 07 3813 5300
Newsletter Number: 17
Principal: Trish Thiedeman
Webpage: www.claremonspecs.eq.edu.au
Email: admin@claremonspecs.eq.edu.au
P&C President: Bryony Churchill
Date: 9 November 2015
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN
Dear Parents and Carers,
At the beginning of 2015, all schools received funding (Claremont $46,230) under the Great Results
Guarantee initiative to support the implementation of school-based programs to support and improve the
learning outcomes of students. The original agreement can be found on our website along with the 2015
snapshot report which identifies current outcomes. www.claremonspecs.eq.edu.au
The report includes the following results:
During 2015, we have focused on maximising the benefits of this funding for our students. After reviewing
our Great Results Guarantee agreement, it is clear that we are on track to meet or exceed our targeted
student outcomes. We continue to implement our strategies to ensure that every student succeeds.
Strategies implemented include:
 Established a professional learning community of school teachers to support implementation of
Intensive Interactions pedagogy within the school.
 Engaged a coach to enhance implementation of Intensive Interactions and built teacher capacity in
knowledge and delivery.
 Increased teachers' repertoire of effective teaching and assessment strategies for implementing the
Four Blocks Literacy Model across all areas.
 Enrolled the school in Special Education Training Alliance RTO to deliver senior school certificate
courses.
 Purchased additional specialized learning tools and resources in literacy, numeracy, ASDAN to
support the implementation, teaching, assessment, and reporting of communication, literacy,
numeracy and ASDAN.
During 2016 and 2017, the school will continue to receive funding under the Investing for Success funding.
Facebook: Social media is a wonderful tool, however it must be used wisely and safely by our students. It
can, if not monitored, become an avenue for inappropriate comments, bullying, and cause unnecessary
anxiety among students. When this occurs outside of school it can affect the behaviour and learning of
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
students at school. I would appreciate parent support in this area and ask you to speak with your child
about the appropriate use of Facebook.
Lawn Bowls: Approximately 145 students from Ipswich, Claremont, Ipswich West, Goodna and Western
Suburbs Special Schools participated in the lawn bowls carnival. Congratulations to the Claremont staff for
keeping the students hydrated and cool during the carnival with the temperature nudging the 30 degree
mark. The final count at the end of the lawn bowls competition placed Claremont Special School second in
the competition. Well done Claremont!
Golf Challenge: Students in E1 and J4 will participate in the First Swing Inclusive Golf Challenge
organised by First Swing Golf, Queensland and supported by Sporting Schools at the Corinda Pitch n Putt
on Thursday 19 November 2015. Coaching will be conducted by qualified golf coaches from First Swing
Golf Club who currently coach the students’ golf under the Sporting Schools program. Good luck!
Special Schools’ Showcase: On Thursday 3 December the Ipswich Special Schools will celebrate
International Day of Disability with a Showcase at Ipswich Special School. Parents are invited to attend the
event. Our school will showcase our programs and activities, so please keep this day free so you can come
along and have a look.
Disco: The P and C would like to thank the parents for their support of the disco on Friday. A wonderful
time was had by all. A big thank you to Liam P for being the DJ on the night and doing an excellent job.
Dates to remember:




Lawn bowls: Thursday 19 November
End of year concert: Tuesday 1 December
Showcase: Thursday 3 December
Senior graduation dinner and awards night Tuesday 8 December
Have a great week!
Regards
Trish Thiedeman
Principal
I can learn
Damien,
Sam
S,
Madison, Amy, Reece,
Channi, Alana, Jacob,
Nicholas K, Casey,
Caleb,
Dominique,
Cameron,
Angela,
Liam
I am respectful
Damien, Sam S,
Madison,
Amy,
Reece, Dalton, PJ
I am responsible
Damien, Sam S,
Madison,
Amy,
Reece,
Lachlan,
Brooklyn, Harley,
Anthony, Dharna,
Jordan, Declan C,
Sharni
I am safe
Damien, Sam S,
Madison, Amy,
Reece, Chelsea,
Moses, Devon
PRINCIPAL’S
Damien B
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
WORKING WITH THE GENERAL CAPABILITIES IN C6
The students of C6 work with a section of the Australian Curriculum called the General Capabilities, with
our focus being on Literacy and Numeracy. As the students in the class all currently experience
communication difficulties, Literacy is a very important teaching and learning component because without
fundamental literacy skills communication is significantly impeded. We focus heavily on not only the
literacy skills of writing, shared reading and alphabet and word knowledge but on making literacy personally
meaningful to each student. This includes providing pictures and videos of students engaging in activities
which become the basis for their writing, and working together to create class texts about familiar and new
experiences. These are skills we have been working on for the last 12 months. To be successful in literacy
it means all the students and staff are becoming more confident in modelling, observing and using our
PODDS.
This year numeracy has taken the class in a new direction. We have moved away from structured desktop
activities to a play based approach where the students engage, explore and manipulate a range of
materials such as blocks, bottle caps, numeracy resources, toys and everyday items such as boxes and
containers. Through observing and supporting students in their play, staff are modelling the PODD to
comment on numeracy concepts such as the language of position and counting. Through cooking and
sensory play we are exploring the concepts of part and whole. Staff have adjusted to being on the floor
and having a seemingly ‘unstructured’ approach to numeracy and the students have enjoyed the freedom
to engage in activities that are more like ‘fun’ and have started demonstrating ways to engage with items
that they have not previously demonstrated. The great beauty is that the students aren’t aware that whilst
they are laughing and being creative they are learning new concepts and new ways.
NUMERACY IS FUN! – C3
C3 have been working hard on their numeracy
skills. Everyday C3 students are exposed to
numeracy. Recently, we have been learning
about directional words to locate or move an
object. We used big boxes and had a lot of fun
while learning. On a daily basis, we are learning
throughout the day with concrete materials that
we use in our daily life. We count objects or sort
them out according to their length during
playtime, we measure cups of flour when
cooking. Numeracy is everywhere and we love
learning!
THE JUNIOR SAUSAGE SIZZLE WAS A SIZZLING SUCCESS!
Overall, $247 was raised across the school which has brought down costs for our Sea World trip from $24
per head to $9.50. This will assist families at this busy time of year with Christmas quickly approaching. Our
students are extremely excited and counting down the days until our much anticipated excursion.
A huge thank you must be noted to all the staff and students who helped out on the day. Thank you Miss
Neva and her students who stepped in and assisted with cooking the barbeque at the last minute to assist
Miss Kristy to cook over 150+ sausages. We would like to say a big thank you to Miss Megan who opened
up the kitchen and assisted our senior students in distribution of the delicious sausages to the school. Mr
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
Mark and Mr Shane thank you for setting up the barbeque in preparation for the busy day – especially with
the Lawn Bowls carnival also occurring on the day.
Lastly, we would like to thank all of the staff and families who donated the items we needed to make this
sausage sizzle such a success. It is important to mention, not one sausage was burnt on the day – despite
the scorching hot weather.
Get Lost in a good book this summer
Register NOW for the Ipswich Libraries Summer Reading Club!
6 November 2015 – 20 January 2016
Underwater worlds, alternate universes, epic adventures, mythical creatures and so much more
await discovery — what will you uncover?
Pick up a Lost Worlds Guide Book from any branch of Ipswich Libraries or jump online to register.
Weekly prize draws!
Creative Challenges!
Holiday Workshops!
For more information or to register online visit: www.library.ipswich.qld.gov.au/events/summer-reading-club
National prizes are also up for grabs for those who participate in the National Summer Reading Club online
writing activities at www.summerreadingclub.org.au
CHAPPY’S CORNER
A very BIG thank you to all those who supported the chaplaincy program by supporting the “Cookie Dough”
fundraiser. Your dough will be available for collection on Wednesday 11 November from 2pm in the school
hall. We are now half way through the fourth term and students are all hard at work preparing for the
anticipated Christmas concert.
Our chaplaincy programs are running well with continued enjoyment by all those who participate in our
drumming program. Our breakfast program is well supported each week. Once again thank you to all those
who have supplied cereals, jams, honey throughout the year, and a very big thank you to YMCA Logan for
their continued support and supply of our staple food items such as bread, milk etc.
Chappy Bill
Mobile: 0416888573
Email: bills@chappy.org.au
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE