Events
PORTFOLIO EVENING, 9 December 2009
The portfolio evening is the last Vera family function of the year. It will take place on Wednesday evening 9 December at 18h30 promptly. Marc van Zyl is the co-ordinating teacher for 2009.
Our portfolio evening is a highlight of the year. Our learners each receive a box filled with examples of the work they have done during the year. It is a reflection and sample of how the Individualized Educational Development Plan for each learner was delivered. The link between the IEDP and what is presented in the box, is explicit and should be clear to anyone perusing the work. It is an effective way to offer a comprehensive end of year report to parents and other interested parties.
Staff get the opportunity to present one of their learner’s portfolios to their colleagues on the two Wednesday afternoons preceding the evening. This affords the opportunity to learn from each other and share ideas. It also demonstrates how relevant and interlinked our IEDP’S are.
Our learners are proud to receive their portfolios from our guest of honour. Jana Forester, our psychologist for the last eight years and now in private practise, will perform this duty. Many of our learners have kept their portfolio’s of previous years. Parents have shared this with us on the feedback forms we ask them to complete after the event.
SCHOOL LEAVERS FUNCTION ,10 December 2009
When our senior learners leave the school at the end of the year in which they turn eighteen, we organize an evening farewell party for them and their parents. Staff that have been directly and recently involved with their education are also invited. The candlelight meal is served in the dining room. There are a few last pleasant surprises to send them off on their future life paths. The 2009 function will be held on Thursday evening, 10 December at 18h30.
PECS TRAINING 11 to 15 January 2010
Our teachers, teacher assistants and hostel staff will again have the privilege to be trained in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). For some it will be a refresher and for others the first experience of having the specialists from the UK in our school for a week. The first two days will be focused on theoretical input that will be offered in the hall. The rest of the week will be spend in the classrooms and hostels where the trainers will offer support with our implementation. This is a crucial aspect of our staff training model as it assures correct execution of the system. It builds the capacity and confidence of our staff. After the trainers have left our resident speech therapists continue to monitor performance. When the staff have had ample opportunity to implement PECS, each teacher, assistant and hostel staff member get the opportunity to explain to their colleagues how PECS impacted on their curriculum delivery. It is also an opportunity for staff to share successes and challenges with each other and to be supported.