Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people ~ Dennis Prager
Anson Street School prides itself on implementing innovative programs in order to support our 135 students with diverse learning needs. A large staff of more than 100 teachers, support officers, administration officers, general assistants, farm assistants and therapists support students.
I am excited about the range of positive education initiatives we have implemented across the school, including our character pillars of hope, kindness, gratitude and curiosity. Our school is focused on using a trauma informed framework, utilising the expertise of psychologists and therapists.
This year marks the fourth year of our Strategic Improvement Plan.
All NSW Public Schools have a strategic direction to monitor and demonstrate student improvement and growth. At Anson Street School we have developed an evidenced-based method of measuring student growth using the Goal Attainment Scale. The focus areas are literacy, numeracy, explicit teaching and wellbeing. Staff are committed to setting SMART goals for students during Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) meetings and working with families to help each child achieve their goals.
Our specialist staff provide an interesting array of subjects and opportunities for the students. Breakaways continue this year which offer a range of activities at lunchtime. These activities include mindful art which will allow students to use art for therapy, de-stress, and enable them to show their creativity in a range of expressive forms; radio school, gym circuit, computer club, cooking, BMX riding, relaxation, climbing zone, and Barista Cafe.
The Engine Room is a hub that provides students with a space to learn and practice emotional and sensory regulation. We are fortunate to be working with an occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech pathologist, and dietitian who support our students and continue to build the capacity of our staff. This year we hope to add a paediatrician to the health professionals supporting our school.
The award-winning Skills House incorporates the Retreat, the Home Zone, the Job Centre, the Youth Shed and Cafe. Students learn functional living, personal and work skills to enable them to achieve independence in their life beyond school.
The Orange Learning Centre on the Campus site continues to improve with the use of the Keystone Paradigm. The overlap between behaviour, emotion, sensation and thought is the keystone to building character and to bringing about lasting behavioural change in the lives of students affected by trauma. We are focussed on reducing social isolation by increasing social skills and self-efficacy so students can better engage with the world around them.
The Zone is a bouldering wall whereby the skills of problem-solving, hand-eye coordination and judgement are developed and enhanced during participation in the sport. Climbing can also provide students the ability to conquer fears, build confidence, self-esteem, and self-reliance, all while developing social connections.
Our two new initiatives for this year are intergenerational learning and radio school, where students will learn how to interview, broadcast and create blogs. Our connection with an aged care facility will foster reciprocal benefits and foster authentic synergy between individuals with disabilities and the elderly.
I look forward to an exciting year and to seeing the tremendous growth in each of our students as they discover the best in themselves.
Melanie Meers
DipArts(Music), GradDip (Education), GradCertEd (Pedagogy), MEd (Leadership & Management), GradCertEd (Learning Support); ProfCert (Positive Education)
NSW Secondary Principals Council Reference Group Leader, Student Wellbeing and Inclusion
Board member, Wangarang Industries
President Zonta Orange
Adjunct Lecturer Charles Sturt University 2013-2017