Ripley Valley State Secondary College eNewsletter

Student Support Services - Inclusion

2022: Highlights

SSS moved to J Block!
Lunch time programs to support students with social connections.
Introduced Maths Intervention Trial in Year 8.
Expanded on our Reading support in Year 7 and 8.
Reading Club has had a massive impact on those students attending with grades and confidence improving.
Homework Club continued to provide support for all students involved.
Received Positive Feedback from Regional Office around our processes for supporting students and their academic progress.
Time Out space was introduced to support students with high anxiety.
Positive feedback around our Transition Program, Personalised Learning Plans and transparency of support for students.
Introduction of more Inclusion Coaches!
R U Okay Day!
Disability Action Week- provided a platform to showcase ability over disability with a wheelchair basketball game of students verse teachers.

Staffing Update:

We say a big farewell to Ms Jamei Pertzel as term four draws to a close, as she will be moving on to new adventures.
We thank her for her dedication and work in the Inclusion space, and wish her all the best for her future.

We welcome Mr Tim Barclay as an addition to our Inclusion team. Tim will be stepping in as an Inclusion Coach and supporting staff with their planning and teaching of students with diverse needs.

My name is Tim Barclay, and I will be joining the student support team in 2023 as an Inclusions Coach, which sees me working alongside students and staff to ensure the best learning can occur for all our students.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know you and your young adult, and working together throughout 2023.

I started at Ripley Valley State Secondary College in 2021 as a Science and STEM teacher, and have loved being a part of the school and its community as it grows.

In my current teaching position, I coordinate our Ignite Excellence program, and have had the privilege of acting as Head of Department for Science and Year 9 for semester 2.

I am very passionate about teaching and educating students and watching them grow in their studies, and into young adults. I am also very passionate about inclusion for all students, including gifted and talented, and enjoy learning just as much from the students as the students learn from myself and others.

Transitions

Children, just like adults, experience feelings as they anticipate or react to transitions. Sometimes children will engage in challenging behaviours as a result of this anticipation. Sometimes they will react excited and others may become anxious and over-whelmed. Every feeling is valid. That is why it is so important that we support our young people, identify their feelings and build resilience in times of transition.

Parents can promote successful transitions by:

Checking in with their child about their feelings.
Communicating with the school if they are concerned.
Creating a predictable routine for school.
Helping their child/ren feel safe and secure during these times.

One way we have seen success for students in the transition between year levels or schools is having a clearly defined routine for their week. This is a great activity to promote organisation and help keep your child on track whilst they learn.

Check out this example:

A blank template:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday

For more information, check out the resources from Positive Partnerships:

https://www.positivepartnerships.com.au/resources/practical-tools-information-sheets/supporting-transitions-in-the-secondary-years-and-beyond

Finally, we hope that you all have a wonderful break over Christmas and New Year Celebration. We look forward to supporting you in 2023.

In Support Services you will find:

Head of Department Inclusion	Rhiannon Kemp
Guidance Officer	Janet Ingram
Speech and Language Pathologist	Nicole Anderson
Inclusion Coordinator (Coach)	Tim Barclay
Chaplain	Kristian Atkins
Defence School Mentor	Tracy Cooper
Youth Support Worker	Alicia Pickerill
Support Services Administrator	Rachael Pratt
Industry Liasion Officer	Marnie George

Rhiannon Kemp

Head of Inclusion

studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au