Education Support Mary Rice Learning Centre

Novice Debating Left to Right: Andrew Le, Nicholas Ellison, Jeremy Hansen, Samuel D’Souza, Ms Tanya Vranjes Absent: Basil Gerad Cyril, Matthew D’Souza

Trinity Team 1 for the AHISA competition Senior Debating Back Row: Dane Colman, Jack Kay, Jonathon Stapleton, Mr Richard Herrmann, Harry Price, Blake D’Souza, Thomas Coltrona Front Row: Joshua Rouphael, Daniel Tomasi, Liam Pardini, William Colreavy, Paul Shaw Absent: Andrew Bottega, Michael De Felice, Brock Hickey, Benjamin Kruize, Jake Tana

Junior Debating Back Row: Liam Crevola, Callum Dewsbury, Yiming Dong, Mr Peter Jones Front Row: Gianni Cunningham, Trung Le, Mark Leung, Hamish Townsend Absent: Joseph Turner, Colin Rapkoch, Don Hoang, Alexander Gordon, Ben Pizzuto, Michael Hayes

Mrs Lissa Coleman Director of Education Support

This year there was a big jump in staff numbers of the Education Support Department. With approximately eight education assistants, many more boys are being supported in their learning journeys. As in 2012, teamwork is essential to achieve many goals and it is important to address not only the symptoms of a problem, but also the cause. In Education Support we cater for those with a disability, those with a learning issue and those with high ability so it was certainly a busy and fruitful year.

Education Support Team Mrs Catherine Ryan, Mrs Fiona Pagano, Ms Marieke Aan Dan Boom, Mr John Overton, Mrs Debbie Viskovich, Ms Lissa Coleman, Mrs Donna Landon, Mrs Darlene Levitt Absent: Ms Samantha Pekaar, Ms Shirley Fullam

Teamwork

Teamwork continues to be an important part of Education Support. The partnership between parents, teachers and the students is essential for growth and development. Constant communication and the distribution of relevant information is how the department functions best. I thank the dedicated education assistants and Ricki Boe, who undertook whatever was necessary, sometimes in challenging circumstances, to ensure that a high standard of education support continued to be provided for students in Years 4–12. I also thank John Overton for his outstanding management of the Certificate II Business course. His professionalism, intelligence and excellent work ethic contributed to the continued success of the program.

Going into classes to support students, identifying students in need of support, helping teachers to differentiate programs, writing curriculum adjustment plans, running the Quick Smart program, designing and creating support materials, conducting, modifying and supervising assessments, accompanying students on excursions and camps, attending case management meetings, communicating with teachers, parents and specialists, keeping detailed records, writing funding applications. The team’s compassion, ability to develop rapport with students, commitment to equity of opportunity, initiative and willingness to go beyond the call of duty is very much a part of the College ethos.

The Education Support team is aided by a number of specialists who enhance the quality of support that Trinity offers students. I had the pleasure of working with two skilled psychologists: Ioanna Culleton and Aveen O’Brien all year. It is a testament to their dedication that hardly a beat was missed in the support of students and the management of case loads. Gary Malarkey (’70) and Karrene McLernon provided valuable insight into the needs of our Indigenous students. Jacqui Cole from WAIDE and Rebecca Hunt from Vision Education have contributed significantly to the support of students. The boys also benefited from the input of the Therapy Focus team, led by Natalie Retamal, who ran a Thursday lunchtime social skills program. The guidance and support of the Catholic Education Office’s Students with Disability consultant, Val McKelvey, has been instrumental in the success of programs this year. Her advice and experience are greatly appreciated. Val ran learning sessions for the education assistants on the combined Professional Development Day with Mercedes College. Val was also very helpful with the Funding Application for students with disabilities.

Extension

Ricki Boe continues to do a sterling job in catering for the Years 4–6 students who require remediation and/ or extension. Activities have included research into animals under threat, photo competition entries, scriptwriting, robotics and the Evening of Eminence. Once again, a team of boys took part in the Hale School Philosothon. Yianni Kakulas (8.4), Jack Biasin (9.1), Daniel Martinez (10.4), Joseph Marino (10.7) (Reserve) and Andrew Bottega (11.1) represented Trinity in a communities of enquiry on topics such as: Will machines ever be human? Or is there an intrinsic morality in the free market?