Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
Claremont News
136A Robertson Road
Silkstone. Ipswich. 4304
Ph.: 07 3813 5333
Fax: 07 3813 5300
Principal: Trish Thiedeman
Webpage: www.claremonspecs.eq.edu.au
Email: [email protected]
P&C President: Bryony Churchill
Newsletter Number: 18
Date: 21 November 2016
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S PEN
Dear Parents and Carers
It was a privilege to attend the Compass Employment Service’s graduation at Brothers’ last Monday for our
senior students who were awarded their Certificate 11 through the school-based traineeship program.
Sueandra, Amanda, Peter and Billy were all awarded their certificates with Peter also achieving the runner
up award for trainee of the year in the Ipswich area. Claremont and Ms. Wright also received special
acknowledgement for their valuable contribution to the program and initiative in leading the way with the
introduction of the program to special schools.
Claremont also received a state award for the healthiest tuckshop menu in Qld state special schools. The
award was presented by the member for parliament Jennifer Howard to the students at school last Monday.
Well done to our hospitality students and Mrs Kemp and Mrs Ruthenberg.
Please remember the following:

The last tuckshop for the year is this Thursday.
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem

Text Book Allowance Scheme 2017. Parents of students 12 years and over were sent home the
permission form to sign and return to the school. The scheme allows the school to purchase all
books, stationary supplies for students and some equipment so parents do not have to supply at the
beginning of the year. If you have not returned the form please provide to the school ASAP.

Senior school graduation dinner Tuesday 29 November. Just a reminder to parents and families
of students graduating to inform the school if you are attending the dinner and ceremony. The cost
of the dinner is $20 per head excluding the student graduating. All monies need to be paid prior to
the day.

Junior school end of year celebration Monday 5 December. Parents and families are invited to
attend the special event. Please RSVP by Friday 25 November on the note provided last Monday.

Middle and senior school end of year celebration Tuesday 6 December. Families are invited to
attend the end of year event and bar-be-que. An invitation is attached to the newsletter. Please
RSVP to assist the P and C with catering by Monday 5 December.

Semester reports will be sent home to parents by Friday 2 December.

Class teachers 2017. Parents will be notified by mail at the conclusion of the school year
Have a great week!
Regards
Trish Thiedeman
Principal
SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AWARDS
I can learn
Ernest, Tyler F,
Ashleigh, Zarhra,
Adam, Dimmy, Kye C,
Chloe
I am respectful
Jacob K, Michael,
David, Jarrod,
Warwick, Angela,
Josh, Ben, Kye,
Chloe
I am responsible
Tray
M,
Liam,
Josh,
Angela,
Warwick, James,
Kaytee-Roze, Luke
B,
Mikayla,
Maverick,
Kye,
Chloe
I am safe
Kye, Chloe,
Dominique, Nathan
J, Samuel, Ryan,
Moses
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
TUCKSHOP VOUCHERS
Winners of our tuckshop vouchers for the last five weeks were:Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
-
Anthony B4, Ryan C5
Jamahl E1, David M2
Eli M1, Adam B2
Warwick M2, Michael M2
Nicky D1
PODD PIZZA PARTY
By Miss Emma
During the last two weeks Claremont has continued to run Class PODD pizza parties at school. In Week 6 C6, J4 and J7 had their pizza parties. During Week 7 - B3, C3, D1 and D4 had their pizza parties. It has
been wonderful seeing the students create completely individualised pizzas and expressing their opinions
and preferences using their PODDs. It has also been fantastic to see the students engage in both the
literacy and language activities leading up to the pizza parties as well as seeing them enjoy the hands-on
experience of making their own pizza creations with their PODDs.
FOUR BLOCKS LITERACY ACHIEVEMENTS
By Miss Annalise
Wow, what an amazing year it has been for literacy at Claremont! Our data shows that students’ ability to
read and write has gone from strength to strength this year. The staff have developed their practice in
relation to the teaching of reading and writing by participating in the Winter Literacy Intensive, engaging
with Jane Farrall during her visits to the school, and taking part in other professional development activities.
This semester we focused on developing students’ writing. Staff participated in targeted professional
development across Semester Two in relation to writing, and the majority of students’ Individual Curriculum
Plan (ICP) goals focused on this area. You will get to see how you child’s writing has developed when you
received their report card towards the end of term. I look forward to seeing what the students at Claremont
Special School achieve in 2017.
.
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
INTENSIVE INTERACTIONS
By Mr. Ben
For quite a few of our students, Intensive Interaction is a significant component of their daily schooling. It
supports social and communicative understandings, particularly for people at the earliest stages of learning.
Without communication and social connectedness, it is extremely difficult to engage with the world around
you. By supporting our student’s understandings of fundamental communication, we are enabling them to
relate, interact and enjoy being with other people.
During 2016, staff from across the school have been involved in a
range of professional development activities to further our school’s
ability to deliver this important approach to learning. Each fortnight,
staff have come together to learn, discuss and obtain feedback about
their practice as communication partners. This ongoing development
across the year is evident in the quality of the student-staff
interactions that have been occurring.
Understanding and using eye contacts, enjoying being with another
person and understanding personal space are just some of the fundamentals of communication.
Some of our teachers have also completed an Advanced 8 Day Training course during 2016. In their own
weekend and holiday time, these dedicated staff were able to network with schools from around
Queensland and engage with theoretical and practical ways of using intensive interaction with their
students.
Staff development has led to improved classroom practices for incorporating intensive interaction. It has
also led to the establishment of a weekly II Free-fall activity. This is a session where students from a range
of classes come together and interact with people they don’t usually come into contact with. This is
incredibly important to ensure each of our students has a wide variety of opportunities to interact with
different people and in different environments.
The use of Intensive Interaction has been growing since its introduction to Australia in 2006. This year was
the inaugural International Intensive Interaction Week. Our school participated through creating some
student montages of video to share. These will be released before the end of the year to families who
participated.
Now that the year is coming to an end, the video evidence of our students is being reviewed and
moderated. This is an exciting process when you get to see a student interacting with another person at
their best.
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE
Newsletter of the Claremont State Special School Community
Respect Independence Communication High self esteem
Intensive Interaction is finding opportunities to connect with a
student. It can involve picking up a toy or object that interests the
student as a way of joining in with them.
A lot of work has gone into the development of Intensive
Interaction this year and would not have been possible without the
support of our Intensive Interaction Coach Janee Williamson. We
are lucky to have such dedicated staff who have contributed so
much of their own time to learning and using this approach with
the students who need it most.
RoleM ACHIEVEMENTS
By Mr Johan
Johan Venter
The first year of RoleM implementation at our school was a great success
and something we are very proud of. Data collected through diagnostic
assessments in the beginning, middle and end of the year indicate an
overall increase in our students’ mathematical understanding.
Whilst observing classes during Maths lessons,
it is clear that students greatly enjoyed the
learning experiences and actively participated
with the different resources RoleM offers.
Our staff are very committed to RoleM implementation and has taken personal
time during holidays and time after school to participate in professional
development sessions provided both at school and away.
The continuous commitment by all of our school personnel through means of
peer-to-peer observations, discussions and a Professional Learning
Community represented by all the sectors in the school, will continue to
ensure the students’ successful engagement and progress in Mathematics.
TUCKSHOP NEWS
We are still looking for donations towards our Christmas Hampers. If you can help with
Christmas cakes, puddings or pies, nuts, crackers, canned beetroot or corn, lollies please
send it into the office.
A big THANKYOU to those who have already donated and purchased tickets.
School Expectations: I CAN LEARN, I AM RESPECTFUL, I AM RESPONSIBLE, I AM SAFE