Our School

Our purpose is to engage our students in innovative and high quality education and social programs in a friendly and caring environment. The school is a place where learning is fun and our students achieve in ways which provide a basis for continued learning. Our school community forms part of a diverse and larger community, and our focus is on the ability of our students to participate in this local community and beyond.
Vision: EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING
We aspire to achieve Excellence in Learning through our positive school ethos and a climate of respect and trust, underpinned by shared values across the school community.

ALL MEMBERS OF STAFF CONTRIBUTE BY

  • Promoting a climate in which children and young people feel safe, secure and respected.
  • Building supportive, positive and trusting relationships where children and young people will feel valued and listened to.
  • Modelling behaviour which promotes effective learning and wellbeing within the school community.
  • Being sensitive and responsive to each child or young person’s wellbeing and learning needs.
  • Fostering partnerships between students, staff, parents and the wider community.

 

OUR BELIEFS

  • Students have access to a rich, diverse, purposeful and viable curriculum that is sequential and engaging and caters for the diverse learning styles and needs.
  • Students engage through innovative teaching practices and have opportunities to develop knowledge and skills to be successful when they leave school.
  • Students are supported to access an inclusive curriculum in a safe environment.
  • Programs reflect current research and pedagogical practice, integrate technology and AAC tools and involve the wider school community.
EVERY CHILD, EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY DAY
SAFE
RESPONSIBLE
RESPECTFUL

Principal’s Message

It is my pleasure to introduce you to our school Yarraville Special Developmental School (SDS). Yarraville SDS caters for students aged from 5 to 18 years old with a diagnosis of moderate to severe intellectual disability. It has a current enrolment of 60 students.
At Yarraville SDS we are committed to providing a learning environment that values the ability and individuality of each student, ensuring all of our students have the opportunity to flourish and have every success in their learning.
Students are at the centre of everything we do and our dedicated teachers, education support staff and allied health team support our students to learn in ways that provide a basis for continued learning as they grow into safe, respectable and responsible citizens. The school provides a safe, stimulating and flexible learning environment promoting our school vision Excellence in Learning.
We ensure that students have access to tools, programs and resources for the 21st century learner to enable students to have every opportunity to engage and succeed in their learning. We are committed to providing EVERY CHILD, EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY DAY to maximise the potential of each and every student.
We value and welcome parent involvement in the school as vital partners in their children’s education and to ensure students have access to all the supports they require in their learning. RESPECT, SAFETY and RESPONSIBILITY is fundamental to learning, personal growth and quality relationships as staff, students and parents work together to achieve and celebrate ongoing success.

I look forward to discussing our school with you and your family. Please contact me at the school number 03 9314 4919 or via email elaine.quinn@education.vic.gov.au

Elaine Quinn
Principal

Leadership

Elaine Quinn

Elaine Quinn

Principal

Davina D’Menzie

Davina D’Menzie

Assistant Principal

Tim Witcombe

Tim Witcombe

Acting Leading Teacher

Brett Botha

Brett Botha

Business Manager

Jacqueline Wood

Jacqueline Wood

Primary Learning Area Leader

Transport Area

Transport between school and home is provided by Mee’s Bus Lines within a designated transport area, which includes Moonee Ponds, Aberfeldie, Kensington, North Melbourne, Ascot Vale, Avondale heights, Maidstone, Footscray, Spotswood, Newport, Williamstown and Altona.

Buses arrive at the school at 9:00am and depart at 3:00pm.

There are supervisors on all bus runs. Students may attend from outside the designated transport area however, in this case, transport is the responsibility of parents and the above times apply.

Facilities

Click the highlighted rooms to view images
School Plan
Small Yard Big Yard Room 4 Front of the School REC Room Library Sensory Room Kids' Kitchen Cafe Bike Track Corridor Ramp Room 8

Small Yard

Small Yard

Big Yard

Big Yard

Room 4

Room 4

Front of the School

Front of the School

REC Room

REC Room

Library

Library

Sensory Room

Sensory Room

Kids' Kitchen

Kids' Kitchen

Cafe

Cafe

Bike Track

Bike Track

Corridor

Corridor

Ramp

Ramp

Room 8

Room 8

School Council

The following is a breakdown of the major school activities and the responsibilities for the School Council:

  • Finance
  • Curriculum
  • Student management
  • Buildings and grounds
  • Staff employment and management
  • Strategic planning
  • Policy development and review

School Council meetings are every fourth Tuesday of the month, commencing at 6:30pm.

2021 School Council Dates

  • 23rd February
  • 23rd March AGM
  • 27th April
  • 25th May
  • 22nd June
  • 27th July
  • 24th August
  • 26th October
  • 23rd November
  • 14th December

School council members 2021

Principal
Elaine Quinn

School Council President
Kim Mace

School Council Vice President
Demelza Demarte

School Council Treasurer
Adrian Egry

Parent School Council representatives
Janice Aukuso
Kirsty Morrison
Adrian Egry

School representatives
Davina DMenzie
Ana Conti
Heather Monk

Business Manager
Brett Botha

Partnerships with Parents & Carers

Establishing and developing relationships with parents and carers is a central part of our philosophy. It is important to us that all members of our community feel secure, supported and engaged in their learning and play. To achieve this, we establish trust and open communication with families so that there is a consistency in our approach. Children and adolescents learn best when the school and parents work together, and we value the contribution that parents make to our school. We endeavour to provide many opportunities where parents are involved in school life, such as SSGs, communication via Seesaw, surveys, classroom visits, parent morning groups, resource making, assemblies and celebrations at the school.
For our graduating students and those students who are in their final years of school, we regularly work in close communication with families and carers to provide the relevant support and understanding as to their child’s post school opportunities. Our aim is to support students, families, and carers to understand all their options, and assist in creating a conducive plan for when their child transitions out of school. We offer various options for students and families/carers to ascertain information, such as booklets of service providers, presentations by service providers, bus tours of service locations, and trial days for students at selected service locations.

Child Safe Standards

Yarraville Special Developmental School is a Child Safe School and has a zero tolerance of child abuse. Therefore, we fully implement and practice the Child Safe Standards. YSDS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Our school community recognises the importance of, and a responsibility for, ensuring our school is a safe, supportive and enriching environment which respects and fosters the dignity and self-esteem of children and young people, and enables them to thrive in their learning and development.

Every staff member, volunteer, contractor or visitor to the school is required to read and sign the Code of Conduct annually. The Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It also assists in understanding how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement child protection legislation, Department policy, school policies and procedures and professional standards, codes or ethics as these apply to staff and other personnel.

In the event that there is any incident, disclosure or suspicion of child abuse, you must follow the Four Critical Actions For Schools Procedure.

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Four Critical Actions for Schools
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