Good afternoon Gympie Special School families and friends.

It has been wonderful to see all of the students settled back at school after the winter break.  I am excited about Term 3 and very much looking forward to reading some of the poems and rhymes our students will be producing in their Semester 2 Literacy Unit of work.

Gympie Special School Athletics

Following our school athletics carnival, Mr Dale and I had the privilege of going through all of the results and selecting a team of multi-class athletes to represent our school at the District Athletics Carnival to be held at Albert Park on the 5^th and 6^th of August.  A really big congratulations to the following students:

Arley

Hayley

Rosie

Lukas

Shyanne

Zane

Rory

Gorgia T

Savannah

Oscar

Jasmine

Maddie

Lochlan

Cody

Ant

Jordan H

Students who compete in the district athletics could then be selected in the Gympie Zone Athletics Team and have the opportunity to compete in the Wide Bay Athletics Trials.  We are cheering for each and every one of them…watch this space.

FUTURES PLANNING WITH P.A.T.H.

Preparing our students with the best possible post-school options is extremely important.  As part of this preparation, our Year 10 students will have the opportunity to complete a P.A.T.H. this term.  P.A.T.H. is a very student-focussed process that highlights their strengths, abilities and dreams for the future and then provides a pathway to get to there. (insert picture here DP PATH)

P.A.T.H. stand for Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope.

• It is a globally recognised visual person-centred planning and goal setting tool developed by Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint and John O’Brien.
• It uses graphics to map out a vision of a desirable future for an individual or a group of people.
• A person can be assured their goals and dreams are correctly expressed
• It helps participants and their supporters focus on NDIS goals, implementation of the goals and future planning

What is the process?

• The year 10 student (pathfinder) is supported by those who care about them, and who are interested in helping them move toward their goals.
• Two of Gympie Special School trained staff facilitate the process
• We use colourful images and drawings that provide memories without relying on words.
• These images and colours assist in creative thinking, provide energy and support memory.
• Goals are set, as part of the journey, then actions to achieve the goals are recorded.

https://youtu.be/FOX_uwIbPXQ

Year 10 parents and carers will receive an invitation to attend a P.A.T.H. meeting for their child this week.  We are very much looking forward to completing this process with you and your child.