Our Students
Wellbeing
Students learn best when they feel safe and happy.
At Our Lady of La Vang, relationships and wellbeing are at the very heart of what we do. Our children and young people are involved in supportive relationships, are respected, valued and nurtured as capable and confident members of the school community.
Learning is focussed on developing the whole person: socially, cognitively, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
The Heart Beat of La Vang - I belong, I am safe, I communicate, I can learn, I am kind - guide our educators in teaching our values. These are incorporated into Religious Education and the Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum.
Plans to support student learning
We work collaboratively with parents and outside agencies to develop a range of plans to support student learning and well-being within the school setting. These include:
- Personalised Plan for Learning (PPL)
- Positive Programming: Tiers 1, and as required, Tiers 2 and 3
- Moving and Handling, Transfer and Positioning Plans
- Personal Care, Continence Care and Oral Eating and Drinking Plans.
We have an allied health team who work in partnership with teaching staff to ensure that adjustments are in place to provide positive learning experiences for students.
Child safe environment
Every child has the right to be safe.
Schools are mandated child safe environments with legal, policy and procedural requirements for staff and volunteers.
The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) requires its schools to implement child safety policies and practices, including child safety education.
For further information, please visit Safe Environments for All on the Catholic Education South Australia website.
Student communication
Communication comes in many different forms and all students are supported to communicate in a way that meets their needs. Students are supported to use a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies including low tech options (photographic visuals, symbolic visuals, core boards) and high tech options (including iPads with communication applications).
Intensive Interaction
Intensive Interaction is an approach designed to assist students at early levels of development, who are unconventional communicators. Dave Hewett, who developed Intensive Interaction, describes it as ‘working on early interaction abilities- how to enjoy being with other people, to relate, interact, know, understand and practice communication routines’. It assists students to use and understand eye contact, facial expressions, vocalisations leading to speech, take turns in conversations and understand the structure of conversations.
Community inclusion
Students at Our Lady of La Vang access a range of sporting and community programs including choir, gym, aquatics, gardening, special Olympics, Variety events and work experience.
Our school has benefited from a close partnership with Nazareth Catholic Community. We have a shared NDIS and Post School Pathways Expo, access to Nazareth facilities and support from them to run our annual Sports Day.