Education Support Mary Rice Learning Centre

Ms Lissa Coleman Director of Education Support “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Albert Einstein

The year 2014 was a year of change, adaptation and progress for Education Support. To enable us to provide more opportunities and personal success for our students, the College leadership made the decision to appoint the following positions: a Gifted and Talented Coordinator (.4FTE), a Learning Support teacher (.5FTE) and a Speech Pathologist (.1FTE).

These appointments recognise the valuable work that education support has been doing so far and the need to go beyond that and extend opportunities for our students.

Ms Donette Firkins was appointed Learning Support teacher Years 7 and 8. She has been a wonderful addition to the College with her many years of experience in special education.

Miss Deborah Smit was appointed Speech Pathologist and works predominately with the junior and middle school years providing intervention, therapy and diagnostic testing at the College. She has been amazing this year and the College hopes to increase her contact time next year. Mr Richard Herrmann was appointed Gifted and Talented Coordinator and has proven to be a wonderful addition to the team with his enthusiasm, professionalism and wisdom. Under his guidance the program has gone from strength to strength. Again the College hopes to increase his time in 2015.

Support continues for all our students where the department endeavours to provide equity and fairness for them all. This support includes: testing, case management, identifying and communicating with parents, special exam arrangements, decision making about how resources are to be used throughout the College and staffing. With expanding knowledge, time and staffing Education Support will move further forward in 2015.

Programs such as QuickSmart, Sound Way to Reading, Writing and Spelling, Certificate II Business could not be delivered without the support of the College leadership. These are programs that are research- based and have proven to be very successful.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data for Students with Disabilities (NCCD for SWD)

In 2014 Trinity College was asked to take part in the NCCD for SWD. This data will be used by the Australian Government to deliver information about how schools accommodate their students with a view to improve funding. For the first time teachers are being asked how much time they take to make changes and which students need the most support. The College was delighted to have been chosen as a pilot school in this area.

Education Support Staff outside the Mary Rice Learning Centre Back row: Catherine Ryan, John Overton, William Brock, Lissa Coleman Front row: Fiona Pagano, Donette Firkins, Darlene Levett, Debbie Viskovich Absent: Donna Landon and Deb Smit

Funding for Students with Disabilities

Also in 2014, the Catholic Education Office invited the College to take part in the funding process for students with disabilities to assist in gaining clearer insights into how Catholic schools fund and accommodate their students. This process was very interesting and enabled the funding applications to become more streamlined and appropriate.

Junior School Gifted and Talented

This year was the first Trinity took part in the Clued Up Kids competition for WA schools. Aimed at Years 5 and 6, Clued Up Kids strives to teach children, in a non-threatening and fun environment, about the consequences of breaking the law. Students investigated a fictitious criminal offence, a one hit assault, using statements, photographs and scientific evidence. The investigation was carried out in their gifted and talented classes working with Ms Ricki Boe from March to May.

Congratulations to the Trinity College ‘detectives’: Sri Dharmapuri (6W), Luke Kelly (6B), Benjamin Jasper (6B), Willem Lamers (6W), Cameron Pell (6B), William Rowney (6B) and Kinta Pinchin-Yamada (6G).

During the investigation students were allowed to ask the team at Francis Burt Law Education Centre six questions. At the end of the investigation, they had to nominate one of three suspects as the offender, and provide evidence to support their theory. Presenting this information in a creative manner was a further challenge of the competition.

The team of Trinity gifted and talented students from Year 6 were excited to be the winners of the inaugural WA Clued Up Kids Competition. On Friday 13 June an assembly was held in Gibney Hall where the team was presented with the trophy and each member was presented with a medallion, a certificate and a pen. Ms Elizabeth Needham from the Francis Burt Chambers; Dean of Curtin University Law School and representative of the Law Society of Western Australia, Professor Paul Fairall and Police Education Liaison Officer, Youth Policing Division, Western Australia Police, Sergeant Garry Corker, attended the assembly to present the prizes.

Trinity College is truly an inclusive educational environment that produces students who have strong ideals, who are well-rounded and who are Men for Others. Our students don’t just listen to rhetoric they are active participants in the community as they learn, grow and strive for personal excellence. Education support provides all our students with opportunities to excel.

I take this opportunity to thank all my staff for their personal commitment to our students – they go above and beyond what they are asked to do.

Junior School Clued Up Kids Team receive their awards from representatives from Francis Burt Law Education Program. Teachers like Dinette, John and Richard have supported me wholeheartedly throughout 2014 and I truly appreciate their worth. Learning Support/Gifted and Talented Coordinator Junior School, Mrs Ricki Boe, is someone that cannot be praised highly enough for her hard work and expertise. Speech Pathologist, Miss Deb Smit, is also to be thanked for her tireless efforts and continued flexibility when it comes to last minute changes, a pre-requisite in a busy school. Finally my thanks to all the education assistants who work one-to-one with our students and are the heartbeat of the College. To Catherine, Fiona, Darlene, Donna and Debbie, your efforts and hard work are greatly appreciated. To Mr Will Brock, our first male education assistant, what would we do without your good humour, compassion and experience?

Ms Lissa Coleman Director of Education Support

Hale Philosothon Team Left to Right: Jack Biasan (10.2), Daniel Macmillan (9.2), Joseph Pinto (8.8), Daniel Martinez (11.7), Reserve not pictured was Rohan James (10.2)

The acquisition of new furniture for the Mary Rice Centre provides a fresh learning area for students