Special award

By Lilly O’Gorman
PAKENHAM Consolidated School is short-listed for a State Government award in recognition of its support for special needs students.
The school is in the running for the Outstanding Education Support Team Award in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards.
Julie Smith is the co-ordinator of a team of 12 educational aides that developed an afternoon program for students with special needs.
Ms Smith said the program had been a huge success since it started at the beginning of last year.
“Our team of 12 aides felt the need for our special needs (PSD) students to learn more life skills,” Ms Smith said.
“It all happened because of the dedication of our aides and them wanting to better educate and cater for the needs of our students.”
The school also opened a special sensory room last term, and Ms Smith said it was the first time a mainstream school had provided such a facility.
Principal Tanya Roberts said there had been a focus to ensure children who may have had a need to seek specialist schooling had the option to go to a mainstream school and experience success.
“For our school to be nominated is a just reward for the hard work staff put in to ensure every child is catered for,” Ms Roberts said.
Minister for the TeachingProfession Peter Hall congratulated the 36 individual and school finalists for 12 awards, which were announced last Thursday.