OFFICER SPECIALIST SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 11, Jul 20 2017 Dates to Remember Tuesday August 1 st : SSG night 3.00-9.00pm. Teachers will arrange times with you. Tuesday September 12 th : Middle School Arts Celebration Evening: More information soon Thursday September 14 th : Junior School Arts Celebration Day: More information soon Thursday September 14 th : Senior School Arts Celebration Evening: More information soon Tuesday 15th August :Parent Club at 9:15am in the Common Room Term Dates Term One: 30 th January to 31 st March Term Two: 18 th April to 30 th June Term Three: 17 th July to 22 nd September Term Four: 9 th October to 22 Nd December School Contact Details Phone: (03) 5943 2800 Fax: (03) 5943 2888 Email: officer.ss@edumail.vic.gov.au
Principal s Corner Hello everyone and welcome back to a very wintery Term 3! There were lots of happy faces on Tuesday when the students returned to school and even more happy faces on the parents who were dropping them off! Please make sure students come with warm clothes to wear outside during these cold moths and make sure everything is NAMED. Sue - Principal We started the term with a staff training day, working on strategies and supports for students and families dealing with Autism. Although the focus was Autism there were many aspects of the day relevant to all of our students. We will be running a parent and carer workshop later in the year to share valuable information and supports with families. Staff also attended a first aid update in CPR and Anaphylaxis training this week. Please remember that if your child has any changes to their medication or management plans for conditions such as asthma or epilepsy we need written information and you will need to provide the updated plans. Denise Assistant Principal Our Parent Club had a coffee Morning on Thursday this week. The club is an opportunity for parents and carers to get together for a relax, cuppa and chat and everyone is welcome. Some members of the Parent Club are helping out with fundraising and social activities and welcome anyone who would like to participate. TRIVIA NIGHT Our major fundraising event this year will be the OFFICER TRIVIA NIGHT on Saturday October 21 st Please keep that evening free. You can make up a table of friends and family or come along and join a table to join in the fun. We have a group of parents who are seeking donations from different sources. Helene Assistant Principal All families are encouraged to help with prizes for raffles and auctions for the Trivia Night. These can be anything from a box of chocolates to vouchers or even a holiday! If you would like make a donation it would be greatly appreciated. We have a donation box at reception to collect goodies. SECOND HAND UNIFORMS We have some resourceful parents who are collecting second hand school uniforms and will be holding a PRELOVED UNIFORM DAY so that you can come along and for a gold coin, buy second hand uniforms. If you have uniforms you would like to donate please bring them to Admin. We will let you know the date soon. Thanks everyone, Sue, Denise, Helene
STUDENT LEARNING NEWS! Our focus over the past few weeks has been on preparing student reports to go home. The Mid Year report is a progress report regarding how the students are working towards their goals the programs they are participating in and the individual supports we are providing to assist them. It was exciting for me to read the reports over the holidays and see the amazing progress students are making. The programs that staff are providing are certainly giving students a range of wonderful learning opportunities in all areas of their development. Social and Personal Learning is taught as explicitly as English and Maths and enable our students to develop their independence, resilience and social connections. The reports certainly paint a detailed picture of each student and their school experience. Thankyou to the teachers for the many hours of work that goes into writing individualised reports for all students. As you read your child s report please remember that their goals are formulated to be achieved by the end of the school year. Students are not expected to achieve these goals by mid year so a rating of 1 or 2 is to be expected at this time and means the student is progressing towards the achievement of their goal. Student Support Group Meetings will be held on Tuesday August 1 st to give you an opportunity to discuss the report with your child s teacher and we look forward to celebrating their progress with you.
Term 3 Senior School News Congratulations to the students in the Friday Art and Design Group, who have finished their Officer Specialist School Mosaic. Raul and the art group worked very hard each Friday to create the art piece that is proudly displayed in the school foyer. The Senior School will be hosting a Celebration Night on Thursday September 14 th from 6:00 8:00pm. More information will be available in the upcoming weeks. Please save the date, we look forward to parents/guardians and families attending. Courtyard Café Students are very excited for the new Courtyard Café uniforms that have been delivered. By having the uniforms, students are understanding the importance of work uniforms and are developing skills and knowledge needed for the workforce. We look forward to the amazing dishes the students will be creating for staff this term. Until next time, The Senior School Department
Respite Supports and Services for Families MOIRA Respite & Recreation Expo 2017 Come to a free event for families and carers living in Melbourne's south. You'll learn about recreation and respite opportunities for people living with a disability, with a large variety of stalls, shopping and speakers. When: Thursday 3 August 2017, 10.00am- 2.00pm Where: Kingston City Hall, Moorabbin Please register: You are also invited to a free social lunch on the day to relax, unwind and meet other carers (12.00pm - 1.15pm). Please call Dina at Alfred Health Carer Services on 8781 3400 to book as places are limited. FREE NDIS information sessions for carers living in the Southern region Alfred Health Carer Services is aware carers are seeking information about how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will affect them. As a result, they have organised for Carers Victoria to provide four separate information sessions in Melbourne's south, designed to answer your questions. Sessions commence from 16 August and will be held in Moorabbin, Lynbrook, Mornington and Chelsea. For further information: http://www.carersouth.org.au/support-when-you-care-for/caring-for-a -person-with-a-disability/respite-south-disability-resources http://www.carersouth.org.au/assets/disability/time-for-a-break- 2017.pdf
Preparing for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) A practical view This information session is designed to assist people with disabilities, families and carers to get ready for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will commence in Cardinia Shire, the City of Casey and the City of Greater Dandenong on 1 September 2018. The information session will provide: an overview of the NDIS; updates on the Scheme; and tips and ideas to assist in developing your NDIS plan. Presenter Christine Scott Christine works at VALID (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with a Disability Inc.) and has experience in supporting individuals and their families through their transition to the NDIS. Christine is also a parent of a young adult with a disability who has been funded by the NDIS since 2013. Wednesday 16 August Morning session: 10.30am to 12.30pm Evening session: 6.30pm to 8.30pm For further information or to RSVP (requested, as it will assist catering arrangements), please contact Marcia on RSVPs close 5pm, Friday, 11 August 2017