From the Wellbeing and Inclusion Team

Many thanks to Martine Turnbull who took on the role of Assistant Principal – Inclusion in my absence last term. We offer a range of interventions at Renmark High School to support students’ wellbeing and engagement. Here is a sample of some of last term’s highlights in this space.

MacqLit

12 students moved through the MaquLit reading intervention program which includes phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, fluency, and comprehension activities. Research shows this program helps secondary students, who have gaps in their reading, to make significant gains in decoding, spelling, and reading fluency. Identified students committed to four 30-minute sessions each week, improving their skills to such a level that they were able to graduate out of the program. This is a significant achievement, resulting in the students improving their access to learning materials across all subject areas. The program was facilitated by classroom SSO, Sharen Vasey throughout terms 2 and 3.

Literacy Acceleration

Martine collaborated with Biljana Elliot - Senior Leader Literacy and Global Perspectives and Jo Cole – Pedagogy Coach last term to trial a reading acceleration program. Ten students from the year 7 English classes who were showing reading competency at or just below the SEA (Standard of Educational Achievement) were involved in a targeted group intervention. Students committed to specific reading practise with a staff member 3 times per week. Evidence from department approved screening tool DIBELS reflects strong improvements. We aim to extend this to year 8 students this term.

Aboriginal Ambassador Program

This program, developed through the Riverland Secondary Schools Alliance, provides a meaningful platform for Aboriginal students to explore leadership, identity, and voice. We are continually looking at ways to involve our ambassadors in sharing this important role with staff and students at our site. Our ambassadors are Declan Blacksell, Amalia Roberts, Geoffrey Morgan, Nadine Murray and Mia Shorrock.

Transition

Last week we welcomed year 6 students to our site for their final 'Come and Try' visit. Students participated in lessons including agriculture, French, home ec, wood tech, food tech and music. They enjoyed mingling with high school students on the adventure equipment on the mound at recess and had the opportunity to peruse the Open Day displays in the library during Care Group.

The next time the students will be at the high school is in week 7, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 25 and 26 November. Students will need to be dropped off and then collected from the high school on these days and will not attend their primary school sites. Parents are invited to attend an information evening on Tuesday 25 November in the Elaine Balfour-Ogilvy Library. This session will provide you with all the information you need to know about your student transitioning to Renmark High.

Further information will be provided via your student in the coming weeks.

Danielle Weeks
Director of Inclusion