PARENT INFORMATION 2020 - Hervey Bay Special School
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2020 PARENT INFORMATION
PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME
Hervey Bay Special School is an Education Queensland P-12 school with approximately 100 students. The school
delivers a range of educational programs that represent best practice for students with intellectual disability and other
significant disabilities. Our 2020 Annual Improvement Plan has three priority areas: increasing the communication
capabilities of students, building staff capability to deliver the Australian Curriculum in a differentiated manner to
meet the learning needs of all students and Positive Behaviour for Learning. The full AIP can be viewed on our school
website.
Our school provides a safe and supportive learning environment where every student can experience success every
day. Through knowing and understanding their learners, teachers develop age appropriate learning opportunities,
pitched at a challenging but achievable level for each student. Personal and social skills are explicitly taught as part of
our PBL (Positive Behaviour for Learning) curriculum and we promote the health and wellbeing of all students.
HBSS staff are committed to working in partnership with families and caregivers as well as other organisations that
support our students’ learning and wellbeing.
We greatly value our partnership with parents and carers. Open, honest communication and mutual trust and respect
provides the foundation for positive partnerships between home and school. These relationships are imperative in
achieving the best educational outcomes for students.
This booklet has been designed to assist parents and carers to understand the general management and operational
information vital for the smooth running of our school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Reno Tieppo
Principal
Contact Details
Phone: (07) 4197 1777 Fax: (07) 4197 1700
Address: 23 Frangipanni Avenue
Scarness Qld 4655
Website: www.herveybayspecs.eq.edu.au
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
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Attendance
Please contact the office if your child will be absent from school. If possible, advise how many days they will be
absent.
Student attendance is recorded on arrival, in class each day.
DOES ATTENDANCE REALLY MATTER?
1 or 2 days a week does not seem much but ………
And over 5 years of
If a
That schooling that is the
student
equals ….. equivalent of
misses …..
losing …..
1 day each
20 days
1 semester of learning YES
(4 weeks)
fortnight time
“Every
per year
40 days
1 day each
(8 weeks) 1 year of learning time
Day
week
per year
80 days
2 days
Counts!!”
(16 weeks) 2 years of learning time
each week
per year
120 days
3 days
(24 weeks) 3 years of learning time
each week
per year
OFFICE HOURS
The general office is open from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday
UNEXPLAINED ABSENCES
You will be notified of any unexplained absence in the morning of the day your child is absent via an SMS.
It is the parents responsibility to advise the school when a student will be absent from school and for what reason.
You may advise of an absence by:
1. Phoning 4917 1777 and advising administration
2. Advising administration staff or teachers of students absence personally
Please ensure that your mobile phone details are up to date to assist in the facilitating of this process.
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School Profile
Hervey Bay Special School is located in Hervey Bay, in Education Queensland’s North Coast Region. It has been servicing
the community of Hervey Bay since 1986. The school has grown considerably during this time and we currently have
97 students enrolled at our school. Students must have an Intellectual Disability and many students have other verified
disabilities.
Statement of Purpose
Hervey Bay Special School is dedicated to discovering the best within all students through high quality educational and
social experiences that expose them to new ideas, new ways and new possibilities for future success. We have a clear
focus on lifelong learning outcomes for students underpinned by an environment of positive behaviour support.
Central to the students’ learning are the relationships among students, teachers, parents/carers and the community.
School
Leaving Age
The age at which students can leave a Special School is the same as for students in state high schools and is governed
by the Education Queensland policy: ‘Allocation of State Education’. Parents/carers can request a copy of this policy
from the school office. At this school, the majority of students complete 26 Semesters of State Education either at the
end of the year in which they turn 17 or at the end of the year in which they turn 18.
Individual Support Plans
Teachers meet with parents/carers to discuss the Individual Support Plan during term one and three of the school
year. During these meetings, the Individual Curriculum Plan (ICP) is discussed. The ICP documents the level at which
the student is accessing the mandated Australian Curriculum, strategies, and adjustments that are in place to ensure
access to the curriculum at the student’s level. Individual Literacy and Numeracy goals set by the class teacher are also
discussed during this meeting.
In addition, for students in the Care and Protection of the Department of Communities, Child Safety, an Education
Support Plan is written and reviewed.
Curriculum and Teaching
By 2020 Hervey Bay Special School will have implemented the nationally mandated Australian Curriculum in all
learning areas (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), HPE, Technologies, The Arts and
Languages.) The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 are intended to
give students with disability, the same rights as other students, including the right to education and training ‘on the
same basis’, as students without disability. (ACARA, 2014)
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Units of work are delivered in an age appropriate context focusing on each
student’s ability level. The HBSS Curriculum Assessment Reporting Plan (CARP)
ensures that there is a structured approach to the teaching of Australian
Curriculum learning areas. These learning areas remain standardised across the
school, so that students have access to curriculum at their ability level from
Foundation (Prep) level to Year 10. For students who are still working towards
Foundation level, the focus and goals target the development of communication
skills whilst giving students exposure to concepts and content from the
Foundation curriculum.
Parents/carers are consulted in relation to curriculum decisions at bi-annual
meetings to discuss the Individual Student Plan.
Senior students work on the QCIA (Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement) with goals determined in
collaboration with parents/ carers (see senior information).
School Organisation
Early Years Juncture:
The Early Years Juncture provides programs for students from Prep age to year 2
Primary Juncture:
The Primary Juncture provides programs for students in years 3 to 6.
Secondary Juncture:
Secondary Juncture provides programs for students in years 7 to 9.
Senior Juncture:
The Senior Juncture includes students in years 10, 11 and 12 (ages vary from 15 to 18 years). The team (parents /
carers, teachers, teacher aides, other agencies and the student where appropriate) develop a SET Plan (Senior
Education and Training Plan) using the P.A.T.H (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) philosophy. The SET Plan
maps out each young person’s learning program over their senior phase of schooling through the attainment of specific
goals that work towards the achievement of a Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA) and / or
employment options.
Who is responsible for ensuring that each student has a Senior Education and Training Plan?
The main learning provider – in this case Hervey Bay Special School - is responsible for ensuring that all Year 10 students
have a SET Plan. For most young people, this will be finalised during Year 10 at school.
What is the role of parents or guardians in developing the Senior Education and Training Plan?
Parents or guardians are encouraged to support their children in developing the plan in Term One of Year 11 and
supporting their children over the next two years during the Transition Phase of Learning.
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Five Areas of the QCIA (Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement) and how ASDAN (Award Scheme
Developmental Accreditation Network) align:
Curriculum Organiser Learning Focuses ASDAN
Communication and Language Comprehension
Technologies Language Use TECHNOLOGY
Operations of digital and other
technologies
Community, Citizenship Active Citizenship in the local and INDEPENDENCE
wider community
and the Environment
Personal and Living Health & Wellbeing PERSONAL
Dimensions Every day numeracy skills
Vocational and Transition Skills for life beyond school EMPLOYABILITY
Activities
Leisure and Recreation Physical activities for leisure and SOCIAL
recreation
The Senior Juncture uses the above QCIA organisers to focus on preparing students for post school and adult life.
Literacy and Numeracy is explicitly taught throughout these areas focusing on real life skills. Students have the
opportunity to trial different external work experience placements such as working at local shops, working at the Op-
shop, working at a local mechanics and also to participate in school based business programs such as
“Coffee@Hervey’s coffee shop, recycling program, car wash and detail service, and school tuckshop to name a few.
Come and enjoy a wonderfully brewed coffee at the
schools coffee shop. Our barista-trained students as
part of their work programs make coffee. ‘Coffee @
Hervey’s’ opens from 10.30am Fridays (please check
with school office or Facebook page to ensure open).
All parents and family welcome.
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Off Campus Opportunities
Throughout the year students at Hervey Bay Special School have an opportunity to participate in external activities.
Some of these may include:
Swimming Lessons: Swimming is taught in terms one and four at the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre by qualified
swim instructors. Junctures rotate so all students from P-10 have an opportunity to participate in learn to swim
lessons and/or water safety and water familiarisation activities.
Community Based Instruction: Community based instruction in Senior Schooling is intended to gradually
transition students to life beyond school. It involves a variety of activities such as dancing classes, participation
in services and programs delivered by external providers, visits to the local library and other public venues.
Students undertake travel training as part of their CBI.
Students from Prep to Year 9 participate in Community based Learning linked to areas of study and the units being
undertaken throughout the semester. These may be culminating activities for a unit of work or activities that are
directly linked to learning in a particular area.
Specialised Student Services
Teaching staff can access these services through the Principal to support the delivery of educational programs.
Advisory Visiting Teacher/s are available to access for Low Incidence Disability areas such as Hearing Impairment,
Physical Impairment and Vision Impairment.
Therapists include physiotherapist, occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist.
Visiting EQ Nurse
Guidance Officer - Carries out assessment and provides assistance with enrolment of students, verification
assessments, reviewing student’s placement at the request of parents or the school.
Volunteers & Practicum Students - Community (work experience, volunteers & community service), University
(both teaching and therapy), TAFE
Student Diary
The Student Diary is provided for all students to emphasise the importance placed by the school on ready and effective
communication between home and school. Other processes to facilitate communication include the school website,
fortnightly newsletters, school Facebook, interviews, parent information sessions, emails, telephone conversations
and student report cards. If the diary is misplaced another can be purchased at the office for $10.
Whole School Parade
Parade is held every Monday at 2.00pm in the multipurpose building (E block). Parents / carers and visitors are
welcome. This is the opportunity to come together as a school, share information and acknowledge special occasions
and student achievements.
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Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)
We are a PBL school!
PBL applies evidence-based approaches, practices and strategies for all
students to improve learning, safety, decrease problem behaviour, and
establish a positive school culture. Developed over twenty years ago, PBL is
now internationally recognised and used in over 14000 schools worldwide.
‘HERVEY RULES’
Our three school rules feature our school mascot ‘Hervey the Whale’:
Our three school rules feature our school mascot ‘Hervey the Whale’. Gotchas are given to ALL students across ALL
outside classroom areas of the school to recognise when they have demonstrated the school behaviour expectations:
Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be a Learner.
Gotchas go into the draw to win a weekly prize, one student from each juncture is randomly selected from the
juncture Gotcha box and awarded a prize
Gotcha’s are then to be returned to the student (or teacher collect) ready for the students to spend in the ‘Hervey’s
Gotcha’ shop (opening once per term). Students may choose to save their Gotcha’s all year to purchase a better
prize.
Once Gotcha’s have been spent in ‘Hervey’s Gotcha’ shop, the tickets will be placed in a clear cylinder in the office
for all to see.
Each juncture develops their behaviour management and reward system that suits their students’ needs and is age
appropriate.
Each juncture will determine who receives an invitation to the end of term reward activity, based on their reward
system.
One student from every class is selected by the classroom teacher to receive a Student of the Week; these students
can select a prize, an ice-block, popcorn or sensory toy.
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Our PBL team meet every fortnight to discuss and analyse behaviour data, highlight behaviour concerns and
brainstorm measures to control these behaviour concerns and to teach behaviour that is more appropriate.
Behaviour Curriculum and Weekly Explicit Teaching Topics
Expected school behaviours are taught through our Behaviour Curriculum. Every morning, each class will come
together and discuss the day’s events and behaviour expectations. Weekly Explicit Teaching Topics are taught during
morning sessions and throughout the day whenever necessary. Each teacher is given a PBL folder, which includes a
poster for each weekly topic and some lesson ideas. This is a continual work in progress, as junctures will now be
explicitly addressing behaviour specific to their level. We are in the process of making videos to support teaching
lessons and expected behaviours to the students.
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Drop off and Pick up
Students are not to arrive at school prior to 8:15am. From 2.15pm, families can sit and wait on the benches outside
the multipurpose block for students to leave after 2.30pm. At approximately 2.45pm, the gate will be closed and
students can be collected from the front office.
Arrival and Pickup
9Late Arrival:
It is essential for the parent/carer to escort the student to the school office, where the student is marked on the roll
and the class teacher advised by phone. The parent/carer walks with the student to the class area. This procedure is
essential for the school to meet duty of care obligations.
10Early Pickup:
Please come to the office and your child will be called to the office for you to collect. You will need to sign your child
out. Early pickup should only be in the case of appointments. Please do not pick your child up early regularly as a
convenience as it is disruptive to the class.
Parents and Citizens Association (P&C)
Hervey Bay Special School’s Parents & Citizen Association (P & C) are an integral part of our school, helping to raise
our profile and support us to cater for the needs of our students. The P&C engages with various local businesses,
organises fundraisers throughout the year, and works alongside our school community with the aim of helping to
provide an engaging environment for our students. The P&C is committed to supporting our great school and
encourage parents / carers to participate.
President: Sharon Kampman Vice President: Alan Robertson
Secretary: Karen Folley (Deputy Principal) Treasurer: Julie Devling
WE MEET: First Tuesday of each month TIME: 9.30am
WHERE: Hervey Bay Special School Conference Room.
Our school is fortunate to have many organisations that support us in our efforts to provide the best outcomes for our
students. Through generous donations of time and money the school is fully air-conditioned, has seating areas for
students to enjoy their lunch, a well-stocked Resource Centre (Library), new playgrounds, a new kitchen and painted
Multi-purpose Block and so much more. We thank all of our “Friends of HBSS” for their ongoing support.
All parents and carers are welcome to be part of the P&C.
11Transport
As a parent, you have a responsibility for providing or arranging your child's transport between school and home. If
you believe there will be difficulty in getting your child to school, you are able to request an assessment to determine
eligibility for transport assistance. This is a formal assessment undertaken at the school by the Principal. To be eligible,
a student must have a disability that necessitates the provision of transport assistance.
If eligible for contract transport assistance, it is the parents/carers responsibility to:
ensure that only the eligible child travels via contract transport. Siblings may not travel with the eligible child on
contract transport even though they may travel the same or similar route to school;
ensure that you, or another responsible adult, is present with your child is ready to meet the transport driver at
the specified time and place in the morning;
ensure that you, or another responsible adult, are present in the afternoon to meet the transport driver at the
specified time and place;
support the transport operators in their responsibilities by discussing good travel practices with your child at
home;
immediately tell the school about any concerns you have about transport:
~ tell the school if there are changes in your child's health status;
~ immediately contact the transport operator and the school if your child is going to be absent from school due
to illness etc.
provide any car seats or specialised equipment (e.g. harness or other specialised seating) that your child requires
to travel safely;
advise the school if you are considering a change of address as soon as possible as this may affect your child's
transport arrangements.
Requests for transport assistance for temporary residential accommodation should be made as early as possible. You
are responsible for the delivery of medication and belongings to the residential accommodation and to transport your
child between home and the residential accommodation if this is necessary.
Any request to vary transport arrangements should be discussed with the school. Parents must not approach transport
operators directly to make changes such as change of collection or drop off address or changes to days travelling
School Uniform
Hervey Bay Special School takes pride in their uniform and recommends the uniform be worn on a daily basis. This is
a P & C initiative.
Uniforms are available for purchase from the school office. Please contact the office (4197 1777) for further
information.
Early Years, Primary and Secondary (from prep to year 9)
SCHOOL SHIRT is unisex: $28 JACKET is unisex: $36
12Senior Shirt (years 10, 11 and 12: $33.00
HAT: Hats must be worn when outside. ($12) SHOES: For safety students should wear enclosed
shoes at all times.
The school uniform MUST be worn for all school outings and the yearly school photo.
Medication
As the health and safety of students at our school is a high priority, Education Queensland has incorporated new
procedures for Administering Routine and Emergency Medication and Management of Health conditions.
Management of student’s health conditions, including the administration of medication, is a courtesy provided by a
school consistent with their duty of care to:
Maximise the participation in school activities of students who require medication or special procedures for
managing a health condition; and
Optimise the health, safety and wellbeing to staff and students at our school.
Please note the following:
13 School staff can assist a student with medication under the carer provisions of the Health (Drugs and Poisons)
Regulation (1996) provided that a written request is received from the student’s parent or legal guardian. Staff
must follow the directions on the original pharmacy label attached to the medication container.
School Staff must not administer over-the counter medication, including analgesics, homeopathic or prescribed
medication unless they meet the accountability of a written request from a parent/caregiver accompanied by
written advice from a medical practitioner and with the medication in the original labelled container. The
exception is the reliever puffer, such as Ventolin. If your child has asthma, an Asthma Action Plan must be
obtained from your G.P.
The Role of Parents/Caregivers
Parents/caregivers must undertake the following in relation to the administration of medication and/or
management of health conditions.
Notify the school in writing of a health condition requiring medication at school.
Request the school in writing to administer prescribed medication or to assist in the management of a health
condition.
Notify the school in writing of any requests and/or guidelines from medical practitioners including potential side
effects or adverse reactions.
Provide the medication in the original labelled container and submit to the office.
Ensure the medication is not out of date and has an original pharmacy label with the student’s name, dosage and
time to be taken.
Notify the office in writing when a change of dosage is required. This instruction must be accompanied by a letter
from a medical practitioner.
Advise the office in writing and collect the medication when it is no longer required at school.
Please note that medication sent into school without an original pharmacy labelled container will not be accepted.
Lunches
We encourage healthy eating habits and the school requires that morning teas and lunches are made from suitable
foods and drinks – water is preferred. We recommend items such as fruit, yoghurt, sandwiches, juice and water.
Students who bring ‘junk food’ will be requested to choose more wisely. Owing to impacts on concentration and
learning, cola or Coca Cola and other caffeine or sugary products, and highly flavoured or preserved snacks, are not
permitted for student consumption during the school day.
Technical Devices
Students are not encouraged to bring personal technical devices including iPads, iPods, mobile phones etc to school.
If they do so, they must abide by strict rules. Phones must be switched off and handed into the main office for the day.
Students may collect these at the end of the school day. If students do not hand in their mobile phones at the start of
the day and then use them, parents/carers will be called to come and collect from the main office.
Exception is if personal devices used for communication. This must be discussed and documented in their ISP.
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