· Deputy Principal
:Nil
· Staffing numbers
:Principal 1.0 Admin – Male
Teachers 3.5 – 1 Male – 4 Females.
Includes 3.0 Classroom teachers, 0.4 N.I.T, 0.1 Music.
SSO2 Office Admin – 1 female 37.5 hrs/week
SSO1 Office Admin – 1 female 15 hrs/week
Classroom SSOs – 7 females
The school is a Partnerships 21 site beginning 2001.
25 hours/week accredited access assistant for 2 student’s gastrostomy feed and personal care.
SSO3 ICT Technical Support 2 hrs/week.
GSE1 Groundsperson 2hrs/week.
· OSHC
:Occasional use of the school during holidays for respite services through Options Coordination.
· Enrolment trends
:Steady growth in FTE from 7.5 June 96, 11.6 March 97, 17.1 February 98, 15.7 February 99, 15.2 February 2000, 15.6 February 2001, 15.2 February 2002, 19.6 February 2003, 20 February 2004, 21 February 2005.
This is mainly due to transition planning for reception aged students from Miriam High Special Needs Centre, which is ongoing with further enrolments possible in 2005.
· Special Arrangements
:In conjunction with Community Accommodation and Respite Agency (CARA) the school facilitates respite for parents upon request. This has been for periods of one day up to seven weeks for families from Coober Pedy, Roxby Downs, Whyalla, Cummins and Quorn.
· Year of opening
:Twenty three years in operation. Commenced operating as an Annexe of the Whyalla Special School in 1982. Became autonomous in January 1989 and was known as the Port Augusta Special Learning Centre. The Minister of Education granted School status in April 1990. Received the first School Support Grant. A Principal was appointed in 1991.
· Public transport access
:Local public transport run by the City Council has a stop 25 metres from the school’s front gate.
There are currently 21 students enrolled in the school. Age range is 5-20 years with post compulsory curriculum described in South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) Stage 1 Terms and South Australian Curriculum Statements and Accountability Frameworks (SACSA) used to describe R-10 curriculum.
Of the 21 students 3 are severely and multiply disabled and are totally dependent upon staff for mobility, feeding, dressing and toiletting. Three are non-verbal.
Two students will abscond if they find the opportunity so a secure school environment is a necessity for their safety. The playground was re-fenced in 2000 to further improve security.
Six students identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.
Of the students:
4 Non-verbal
2 Vision impaired
5 Hearing impaired
6 Non-toilet trained
6 Require assistance dressing/feeding
4 Require assistance – mobility
2 Require Gastrostomy feeds
2 Epilepsy
1 Challenging behaviours
Students need high levels of individual care and training in independent living skills and survival skills.
Communication using Augmentative Language and Communication Systems, Picture Exchange Communication System and Makaton signing are given a high priority across the curriculum.
All students have Negotiated Education Plans (NEP) that are monitored and reviewed at significant points of transition. Five students have a Health Care Management Plan.
The school maintains networks with other schools and centres with expertise in the field of disabilities throughout the state.
· Vision
:Port Augusta Special School staff, parents and students working together to provide improved opportunities and resources to develop each student’s maximum potential. Communication, independent living skills and quality life experiences are some of our major focuses for future student outcomes.
· Current Priorities in the form of a Site Learning Plan.
1. A literacy focus in all classes.
2. Exploring the principles of Conductive Education for students well being.
3. To continue effective transition strategies to and from school.
:Providing access to seven areas of study from R-10 except, Languages Other Than English.
Providing SACE Stage 1 to meet the needs of post compulsory students.
Introduction of South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Frameworks.
Addressing individual learning needs of students identified in their Negotiated Education Plans.
To deliver this curriculum we consult and collaborate with other agencies and support services, including Special School Principals Association, visits each term from Kilparrin Teaching and Assessment Unit, the Crippled Children’s Association, the Autistic Association, the Down Syndrome Association and support from the Child Development Unit, Flinders Terrace Health Centre and Port Augusta Hospital’s Paediatrician, Dr Nigel Stewart.
The school has initiated local school inclusions of students into Port Augusta Secondary School to address students learning needs in Technical Studies.
The School Council owns a 12-seater bus and a wheelchair accessible bus that are used to facilitate curriculum beyond the school. The school houses a Snoezelen room. It is a learning environment containing specialised equipment that enables interactive sensory and relaxation experiences for all disabled students with special benefits for severely multiply disabled students. The community is welcome to use this facility.
The weekly swimming programme is an integral part of the Health & PE area of study, vital to student self esteem, coordination skill development and in some cases, therapy.
Weekly shopping excursions and cooking are an integral part of the Society & Environment area of study.
The school also participates in weekly Aquatics classes in Terms 1 and 4 at the newly opened Port Augusta Aquatic Centre.
:An annual Sports Day is held on a rotational basis with Whyalla, Port Pirie and Port Lincoln Special Schools.
:The school joins in Aboriginal Cultural Week activities with Willsden Primary School, Crocfest and community based Reconciliation week. The school is a member of the Dare to lead coalition and has a “buddy” school Holland Street School, Geraldton, W.A.
· Leadership structure
:Principal 1.0 Admin provides some NIT to teachers. Teaching staff are expected to take leadership role in the school ie OHS&W PAC AEU trained panellist. SSOs currently assume like responsibilities, EO representative for panels, maintenance and garaging of the school bus, mentor for trainee SSOs, minute secretary to staff meetings, school council and ASSPA committee.
· Staff support systems
:Cooperative classroom workgroups and teamwork across the school is an expectation of all staff eg the principal and school secretary work in classes on a needs basis. All staff deal with toiletting/personal care, feeding and lifting and handling issues.
· Staff utilisation policies
:All SSOs are paid for half an hour to attend weekly staff meetings. This is followed by a teachers meeting with the principal.
· Access to special staff
:The school is visited by Kilparrin Teaching and Assessment Unit staff once per term and staff from Crippled Children's Association once per term. The school has access to DETE Speech Pathologists, Guidance Officer and Behaviour Management Support personnel. They visit the school on a regular basis and have direct input to student programming. Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists from Flinders Terrace Health Centre Child Development Unit regularly visit the school. This unit institutes reviews for students in transition to the school at which parents attend. Pika Wiya Aboriginal Health Centre can be contacted at any time.
The school can also call directly on the services of the Port Augusta Hospital’s paediatrician.
Support service is available from the visiting teacher service of Disability Services Northern Country.
The school has a close working relationship with Options Coordination in planning transition from school and respite provision for parents.
The school is in the same district as the Whyalla Special School, which presents opportunities for exchange of ideas, support and information and joint training and development. These have all been pursued in the past.
· Complexity placement points
:0.5
· Isolation placement points
:2.0
· Shorter terms
:No
· Travelling time
:No
· Housing assistance
:No
· Cooling for school buildings
:Reverse cycle refrigerated air conditioning in all classrooms, administration block and students kitchen.
· Cash in lieu of removal allowance
:Yes
· Additional increment allowance
:No
· Aboriginal/Anangu schools
:No
· Medical and dental treatment expenses
:Yes
· Locality allowances
:No
· Relocation assistance
:Yes
· Principal’s telephone costs
:Yes
· Special Education Clothing Allowance
:Yes
:Weekly meetings of Principal and teaching staff for programme and student review. Whole staff meetings after school hours. SSOs are paid for a half an hour/week to attend these meetings
Our small school council currently meets twice a term.
We publish a school Newsletter once a term. All students have diaries for daily communication with parents.
The school receives ASSPA funding and is a level 2-Disadvantaged school.
:The City of Port Augusta, 300kms north of Adelaide, is situated at the head of Spencer Gulf and at the foothills of the Flinders Ranges, and is a city with a long and proud history.
The city, which is built on both sides of Spencer Gulf, has a population of more than 15000 people and caters to the needs of families living on sheep and cattle stations in the far north and smaller surrounding towns.
The Open Access College, School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service are based at Port Augusta.
Community facilities include:
- Large public hospital and central health clinic.
- Four medical centres as well as doctors in private practice.
- Two dental clinics.
- One major commercial area and four shopping centres located throughout the city.
- Numerous parklands and playgrounds.
- Small airport and Stateliner Bus Service.
- Rail freight and passenger transport available.
- Northern region power station – ETSA.
- Wadlata tourist centre – two small theatres.
Educational facilities:
- Six primary schools.
- Secondary school.
- Pre-school, kindergarten and day care facilities.
- Special school.
- Caritas College – R-12 college, MacKillop House – Hostel for Rural Students.
- Spencer Institute TAFE.
Sporting and Leisure options:
- Football, netball, basketball, tennis, croquet, bowls, badminton, baseball, softball and swimming clubs
- 18 hole greened golf course, Dirt circuit racing
- Martial arts clubs, including tai chi and judo
- YMCA, Gym/circuits, Curdnatta Art Group
- Fishing, swimming and yachting in Spencer Gulf
- Staff housing is available through OGEH
For further community information contact:
Corporation of Port Augusta
PO Box 1704
Port Augusta SA 5700
Phone: (08) 8641 9100