ST MARY MacKillop College Swan Hill is fostering an inclusive environment for every child with a range of wellbeing and support programs across the school.
The learning diversity team at the school has 16 dedicated staff members to support students of different abilities and circumstances.
Learning diversity leader Sally Op’t Hoog said the school had programs designed to cater to the differing needs of students so every child thrives academically, and socially.
“We make sure that we support students with a disability or a disorder, and make sure that they participate on the same basis as everyone else,” she said.
“We work with parents, as well as teachers and learning support officers so they can accommodate students in the classroom.”
Ms Op’t Hoog said academic intervention programs such as QuickSmart and MacqLit can help students with disabilities with their numeracy and literacy at school.
“We also run a program called Toe by Toe, which is a phonemic awareness program to help children with their reading,” she said.
“We also have The Listening Program, which is a brain-based intervention program to support new neural pathways in the brain.”
Ms Op’t Hoog said the school had a mentoring program for students with autism called I CAN.
The sessions are designed to help autistic students navigate school, as well as prepare them for post-school pathways.
“We have a lot of programs to support our students because everything is about making sure they are participating with everyone else and that no one gets left out,” Ms Op’t Hoog said.
“Parents can have some peace of mind knowing that their child is in a safe and inclusive environment here at St Mary MacKillop College.”
Ms Op’t Hoog said parents had been very satisfied from the support from the learning-diversity team at the college.
During the years of supporting students with disabilities, Ms Op’t Hoog recalled one student who was thriving socially and academically by the time they finished their schooling.
“When he started school, he would hide under a table and not come out and engage with people and he didn’t want to attempt his work,” she said.
“But by the time he finished school his mother, who thought he would never be able to finish school, was so grateful that she donated money to the school to build a sensory room.
“The sensory room at St Mary MacKillop College is designed to accommodate students when they feel overwhelmed, so they have a safe space to be themselves.”
