Wodonga Government Schools Alternative Learning

Provision Program information

Wodonga Flexible Learning Centre is a campus of Wodonga Senior Secondary College

and is located at 4 Bowman Court, Wodonga. From the beginning of 2015 there will be
programs that cater for students across all years of formal education. We will have
programs across Foundation to Year 5, Years 5 to 8 and Years 9 to 12. The Foundations
to Year 5 and the Years 5 to 8 programs are funded by schools and capped, so new
enrolments can only be accepted through schools and when space becomes available.
Foundation to Year 5
This program focuses on providing a learning environment that will be supportive for
students who experience difficulty with successfully participating in education at their
school.
Students will be part of a group of 9-10 students supported by two teachers, Donna
Tulloch-McDonnell and Greg Glasson for two days each week. The students will also
attend their home school for the remaining three days each week.
While the program will have a focus on literacy and numeracy skills, teachers will also
work intensively with students, families, youth support agencies and base schools to
address the barriers impacting on engagement in a respectful and professional
manner.
Monday and Tuesday will focus on students who have difficulties managing their
behaviour in the traditional school environment. We will be working with them closely
on developing strategies to manage their behaviours. Wednesday will be used for the
teaching staff to support families, advise schools and liaise with relevant agencies with
implementing these trialed strategies to aid in an improvement in behavior and
learning of the students enrolled.
Our Thursday and Friday program will focus on students who have issues around
connectedness to school and learning with attendance below 80% of the expected
rate. The program will have a focus of nurturing a sense of community with the group,
self-esteem, confidence and a healthy attitude to learning. The aim of the program will
be to increase attendance. These students are still to be selected from the data we
have received from schools. We will work with these students to reengage them in
school and their learning and thus increasing attendance rates.
Program information
Group 1 Thursdays and Fridays attendance based criteria
Criteria for referral in this program is:

attendance below 80 %.
Length attendance has been a concern, how long has attendance been poor, is it
historic or recent
Occurrence rate, is it regular, spasmodic or large chunks of time
What sort of behaviours are exhibited at school when the child does attend,
anxiety, reclusiveness, lack of connectedness
Unexplained absences, those with high numbers of unexplained absences may
have a family that is disconnected from learning, education or the school
Lack of engagement with professionals may be a criteria or something that
becomes part of the picture in looking at each individual child

Professional diagnosis has been made of anxiety, depression, etc

Has been in multiple schools, family school hops when things get a bit difficult
DEECD has been notified of school attendance issues or concerns

Group 2 Mondays and Tuesdays behaviour based criteria

Criteria for referral in this program is
Numbers of suspensions, and what for
On shortened day programs, and how long for
Severe Behaviour Disorder
Physically aggressive behaviour
Threatening behaviour, verbally aggressive language
Anger, lack of self control, inability or willingness to regulate behaviour
Has been in multiple schools, family school hops when things get a bit difficult
Defiant behaviour
Professional diagnosis for behaviour disorder of some sort
Years 5 8 enrolment CRITERIA
Criteria

Numbers of suspensions, and what for

On shortened day programs, and how long for
Severe Behaviour Disorder
Physically aggressive behaviour
Threatening behaviour, verbally aggressive language
Anger, lack of self control, inability or willingness to regulate behaviour
Has been in multiple schools, family school hops when things get a bit difficult
Defiant behaviour
Professional diagnosis for behaviour disorder of some sort
School has exhausted their capacity to provide an engaging curriculum for the
student.
Students who do not attend school sufficiently, and are therefore at risk of not
completing or continuing in school, or are more out of school than in

The Years 5 8 would have an enrolment capacity of around 12-16 students,

depending on their individual needs and identified barriers to participation.
The program will focus on pathways for the students, fostering a greater
understanding of the link between their education, learning and employment
possibilities. For some students this needs to be enhanced over time, and to begin
very early in their education. This will include workplace visits and visits by employers
to the program, pathways planning, resume writing, mock interviews, work
placements, volunteer placements, mentor provision and connections with local
pathway agencies.
The Program will also be looking at Healthy Living, The Local Community and Values
Building.
Students will attend the program from 9am 11.45 (students returning to their classes
by 12pm) Monday to Friday, with the notion that WMYC students will be able to
participate from period 4 onwards. Feedback will be provided to the school and
families weekly.
Years 9 12
Program details

This area of the Wodonga Flexible Learning Centre has been in development since
2010. Students can be referred to this program at any time of the year, and generally
come through schools or agency referrals. This program has the following possibilities
for young people

Certificate II in General Education for Adults (CGEA)

Certificate III in Media, through the Gordon Institute of TAFE and Lightmare Studios
as a traineeship
Art
Certificate II in Childrens Services
Metals program
Dual enrolment in subjects through Wodonga Senior Secondary College, e.g. VCE,
Years 10 & 11
Young parents program, both online and through pen and paper

Huw Derwentsmith
Wodonga Flexible Learning Centre
28.11.14