Around the School

Whole School Approach to Wellbeing

This is a short introduction video about our whole school approach to wellbeing. 

Drew Hanna 

Wellbeing Coordinator

Differentiation Instruction

This year Fiona Cowan and I are leading staff to further expand their differentiation strategies in the classroom to support students reach their learning goals.  This is an exciting challenge as we explore best practice to further cater to the educational needs of each individual.

Here is a brief snapshot of what we are currently working on:

During the last couple of weeks, we have been developing profiles on each student’s strengths in their preferred learning style (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic). This will assist teachers to develop teaching strategies around content, process and product to cater for individual learning preferences.  

Students may already have a clear understanding of their learning preferences and by identifying other learning styles will provide them with an opportunity to develop a multi-sensory approach to their learning. 

Last year we were fortunate enough to secure funding through the Government’s $12 million Equipment Boost for Schools initiative that provides an opportunity for schools to implement specialised equipment and assistive technologies to support improvements in the whole of school inclusive education practice.

At Doncaster SC we are acutely aware that improved hearing and understanding in a classroom makes a positive difference in your child’s education. To this end, we have purchased the Roger Digimaster 5000 SoundField package. Roger provides clarity and enables all students, not only those with hearing difficulties, to hear and understand better. 

To absorb auditory information and understand context, a student must have access to the clearest sound possible. These skills are not only required for successful academic progress but also necessary for social development (Roger Digimaster promotes its success in these areas)

We are trialling Roger Digimaster in one of the rooms in C Block. 

It is our intention to get feedback from both staff and students who use the room on Roger’s suitability, with the view to expanding the system in future years if it is evidenced to be enhancing student learning.  Already some staff are reporting small, but immediate benefits. For example, one of the Math teachers said: “I can write on the whiteboard to model my teaching and the students still have the clarity of sound when my back is turned to them.”

We have also purchased an assistive technology program called Ghotit Real Writer and Reader. This is a very comprehensive reading and writing assistance solution for users with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia, for those struggling with creating or reading text or for students with English as a second language (ESL). It is easy to use and includes word prediction, context and phonetic spell checker, grammar and punctuation checker, proofreading, screenshot reader to read aloud any text on the screen and dictionary.

This product will also be trialled this year and a sample group of students and their families will be invited to participate in the pilot program and provide feedback on suitability and viability of the product long term.  The sample group has been identified by the college and clinician diagnostic reports that have been provided by families to the college. 

If any family has concerns for their son or daughter’s learning and believes the program may support their child please contact Pamela between Monday and Thursday.

Please note that Ghotit Real Writer and Reader has been purchased to upload on individual laptops.  If the demand to be in the pilot program exceeds the units purchased, priority will be given according to the level of need.  A meeting with interested families will be conducted later in term 1 or early term 2.

In 2019 we have expanded our use of the Education Perfect online education support package. This program has been used in our Language classes for many years and was trialled in our year 7 & 8 English classes last year. Education Perfect has now been added to our booklist for all year 7-9 students. This package provides students with an array of learning activities which are tailored to suit a range of different ability levels. Assessment tasks provide students with a range of suggested activities to complete which address areas of weakness identified in the testing and all tasks provide students with feedback and teacher with a record of student’s results. Teachers can also use this program in class or set tasks from this program for homework and different tasks can be allocated to different students depending on their learning needs. Students can also access and complete these tasks at home and use this program to support or extend their current learning.

We encourage all year 7-9 students to ensure that they can access this program from home and to use this exciting educational tool to assist their studies in Languages, English, Math and Science.

We look forward to keeping you up to date with the progress we make throughout the year.

Pamela Campbell

Fiona Cowan

Differentiated Learning Leaders

Library News

Thank you to all the students and families that have donated their old school textbooks and other resources to the school. These items will go towards the Welfare Library, with the aim of assisting students in their education. I know the families appreciate this support and I thank you for your school community spirit. We look forward to continuing this practice so every student has the opportunity to do their best. We welcome donations all year and you can leave your donated items at the front office.

Sue Hayward

Curriculum Resource Coordinator

Geography Cake Competition

Let Them Eat Cake!

In delicious Doncaster tradition, we are running our annual cake making

competition for DSC’s Open Night in Term 1. The competition is open to

all students. You may bake individually or in small groups. The theme

is GEOGRAPHY. We want to see your fondant and whipped cream

creations in the shape of your favourite country, or the colours of your

favourite flag, or maybe a famous monument that you love. Be creative

and have fun! The categories are –

• Countries
• Landforms
• Landscapes
• Flags
• Maps/Mapping
• Monuments

Completed cakes are due on March 26 and need to be delivered to the Main Staffroom. Entry forms will be available to fill out on the day. Winners are announced at Open Night. If you have any questions, please speak to your Geography/History teacher or email Mr. Cowling at cowling.josh.j@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Josh Cowling

Head of Humanities