The philosophy of a Catholic school like Chisholm Catholic College is inclusion and justice for all students regardless of whether they have a learning difficulty or not. Our Mission Statement is that no child is left behind.
In line with this, the Learning Support Department at Chisholm helps all students reach their potential. Currently the Learning Support Team consists of one full-time teacher, one part-time teacher, and 9 Teacher Aides.
We support students in the classroom by working with the classroom teachers, with the team coming into the classroom and helping those students having difficulty. We support students outside the classroom by meeting with students on an 'as needed' basis or with regular withdrawal from normal classes.
We support not only those with learning difficulties and verified disorders but also those students who may be gifted in certain areas. We also support the enrolment process for those students with special needs and develop individual education programs for those with verified disorders or disabilities.
Programs co-ordinated by the Learning Support Team include, Reading Program, an EALD (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) Support Program for those from non-English speaking backgrounds. We also participate in Optiminds, an interschool problem solving competition and STEM - Science, Technology, English, Maths.
We also work closely with Guidance Couselling to support learning setback that may arise from social emitonal issues and with Vocational Education to assist students so that no child is left behind.
Language and Literacy
Language and literacy are important skills needed for success at high school.
For those students who are verified with a Speech Language disorder, Brisbane Catholic Education offers a Speech Pathologist who can offer the school advice on reports and also conduct assessments. Chisholm aslo employs a Speech Pathologist for one day a week.
In Year 8 we may offer your child an alternative to the Language Other Than English subject by involving them in a program designed to keep your child in touch with the curriculum. We also have a reading program.
Middle School learning support
As we are a Catholic school, we
provide for the learning needs of all students – through programs and
initiatives designed to help those students who have additional academic needs
or whose families use languages other than English at home.
We know that students have
different styles of learning and a wide range of abilities. For this reason, teachers have a primary
focus to strive for students to experience success, regardless of individual
ability levels. This means that students are supported, extended and enriched
based upon their natural abilities and performances in class. As a team, teachers focus on individual
learners and are informed by each student and their experiences in the
classroom using collaborative and reflective teaching practices.
English as an additional Language or dialect (EALD)
We are committed to providing education that includes all students’ language, cultural and religious backgrounds. We have many students who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For many of these students, English will be a second or additional language to their home language.
English as an additional Language or dialect (EALD) students are a diverse group. They are usually:
- learners newly arrived to Australia
- learners of migrant heritage, born in Australia
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who speak traditional languages, creoles or dialects
Our EALD program assists these students to acquire English language proficiency necessary to achieve learning outcomes at a level comparable to and consistent with their overall general ability. Chisholm Catholic College has an EALD Teacher who comes to the school once a week to work with students and other support staff are also available through the normal support processes.