Support

We know everyone learns differently, in different ways and at different paces. That is why our staff are specialists in flexible teaching and multi-sensory education.

Catherine McAuley School has been certified by Australian Dyslexia Association (ADA) for its multi-sensory approach to literacy and was among the first in South Australia to receive accreditation from the ADA to deliver Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) in the classroom. Our staff regularly undertake professional development and further training to continually improve and hone their skills. You can read more about our MSL program below.

Our staff are dedicated to ensuring your child gets the most they can out of their learning and will support families every step of the way to cater for the individual needs of every student in our care.

Small Mercies Transition Program

Catherine McAuley School’s Small Mercies Transition Program is about helping our Receptions become comfortable and happy within our school environment. We provide a wonderful opportunity for students to be immersed in the school community, its routines and structures prior to beginning school full time.

The flexible program caters for individual students, offering a series of three sessions to ensure a smooth and positive transition from the Pre-School experience into the formal school setting. Throughout each session the students will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of rich learning experiences which may include school prayer and a specialist lesson.

Students will be given their own “Small Mercies” book to record their experiences through drawing, writing and pasting.

Taking responsibility for learning and behaviour

We expect all of our students to behave respectfully with everyone. We teach a variety of ways to help them learn to moderate their behaviour, particularly focusing on positive approaches to all aspects of their relationships with others.

Our personal responsibility policy aims at children taking responsibility for their actions and directing their energies towards positive strategies and behaviours. We offer a variety of special programs to cater for individual student needs:

• Adaptive Education: ESO Curriculum support in class
• Fine and Gross Motor room
• Playroom
• Program Achieve
• Peer Mediation

Accredited Multisensory Structured Language School

                             

Craigmore’s Catherine McAuley School is accredited by the Australian Dyslexia Association (ADA) to deliver Multisensory Structured Language (MSL) in the classroom. Catherine McAuley School is one of the first schools in South Australia to be accredited by the Australian Dyslexia Association.

MSL is founded upon scientific reading principles and multi-sensory techniques and equips teachers with the skills and knowledge to teach language and literacy in a direct, explicit, systematic, cumulative and structured manner. MSL instruction involves the simultaneous use of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic-tactile pathways to enhance memory and learning of written language. Through this approach, teachers and their students rely on all three pathways for learning.

MSL approach is employed from Reception for all students to help with their spelling and reading instruction. This pedagogy is also being employed as intervention for students in years one to five to accelerate their literacy development and is delivering pleasing results.