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Sunshine Teaching Unit WHAT
IS IT? The Sunshine Teaching Unit, located in Leith
Ave Sunshine, is an alternative educational setting offering a short-term(one
term/ten week) program for students with behavioural/social-emotional
problems. It is run by the Department of Education, and is based at the
Senior Campus of Sunshine College. The unit is presently staffed by two
teachers. The unit aims to assist schools in increasing and maintaining the
participation of "at-risk" students in the regular classroom. WHO
IS IT FOR? The program caters for male and female
post-primary students in the Western Metropolitan Region. They are students
experiencing serious problems in schooling that are primarily of a
social-emotional nature, including truancy, where school-based solutions have
been tried without success. The students must have a school to attend on
completion of the program, and there must be agreement from all parties
involved as to the appropriateness of the placement. The student's
participation must be voluntary. THE
PROGRAM Students work towards specific behavioural
goals established at an assessment meeting prior to commencement. The program
aims to raise students' self esteem and develop social skills that will
assist them in their return to regular school. This is achieved directly
through individual counseling and indirectly through class activities, which
include Maths/English, Social Studies, Art/Craft, Personal Development, Sport
and a weekly excursion. Students attend the program for one term,
approximately ten weeks. The program operates in normal school hours (9:00am -
3:00pm), on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Students return to their
regular schools on Wednesdays. FAMILY
SUPPORT Unit staff liaise with the students'
parents/guardians during the course of the program. REINTEGRATION Relevant staff from the student's school
visit the program to facilitate continuity and successful
reintegration. Program staff meet with student's regular teachers
at the completion of placement, provide a written report to the school, student
and parents and undertake reintegration support after the student's return to
school.
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