At Joondalup Education Support Centre, we provide all students with a combined Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) specialist educational program. This program immerses students in a creative, initiative, and explorative learning journey. Students are motivated to explore and utilise their creative skills to solve problems and think critically.

During STEM lessons, students learn about the engineering design process where they ask/answer questions, create plans, draw diagrams, build models, and test and evaluate the effectiveness of their finished project against a design brief. Students start to develop resilience through challenging hands-on project-based tasks and activities that explore STEM concepts and encourages students to re-design as required. Students investigate different forms of technology using virtual reality, 3D printing and robotics. Through sensory learning, structured play and interactive experiences, STEM is inclusive to all ability levels. Allowing students to use their five senses to discover, observe and inquire about the world around them.

Sustainability

In 2015 Joondalup Education Support Centre began their journey to become a sustainable school. We are now recognised by Sustainable Schools WA as having measures in place to ensure our ongoing commitment to sustainability. We have a dedicated Sustainability Specialist teacher who delivers authentic learning opportunities to enhance student learning in this area.

At Joondalup Schools we believe that educating the students, staff and community in sustainable practices will lead to more informed choices. We encompass environmental responsibility, staff and student wellbeing and community partnership. These include links with our Noongar community, afterschool garden clubs, wellbeing days, craft clubs and various partnerships with outside organisations.

We are a community recycling hub for coffee pods, Cash for Containers, dental hygiene products, dishcare products, plastic bottle tops, paper/cardboard and writing implements. We have formed a solid partnership with Terracycle Australia who forward these recyclables onto Australian based companies to turn back into products.

Our multi award winning school vegetable garden has been nurtured now for 6 years by the students, staff and the community. For three successive years we have taken out place ribbons for produce at both the Perth Royal Show and the Wanneroo Show and our school program has been showcased at statewide Sustainability Forum.

We have won various grants and partnered with Junior Landcare and Tucker Bush. In 2020 we became a case study school for our vegetable garden and newly planted native bush tucker garden.

We have 2 productive worm farms which produce enough organic ‘worm wee’ to keep our garden healthy and productive. Our two 1500l water tanks that supply water for the summer months and the students have learnt that this is a precious commodity that we need to conserve.

Vegetables and herbs have been planted in raised garden beds. They have been measured, studied, cared for, harvested and used to prepare healthy food. Excess vegetables are now freely shared with the community via a Grow Free Cart. The ethos being, ‘Take what you need and give what you can’. The garden is an inclusive learning environment for all students, based on a sustainable model of reusing, recycling, repurposing and rethinking.

Sustainability is at the forefront of all our decisions. The students are our future.

The Arts

The Arts are an important area for all children as it not only teaches specific skills and concepts but facilitates resilience, health and overall well-being.

Our students transition to a dedicated art room and are taught by a qualified art teacher who will enhance your child’s creative outlook. Through art your child will also be practicing

• Fine motor skills. Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk and paintbrushes helps children develop their fine motor muscles. This development will help your child with writing, buttoning a coat and other tasks that require controlled movements.
• Cognitive development. Art can help children learn and practice skills like patterning and cause and effect (i.e., “If I push very hard with a crayon the color is darker.”). They can also practice critical thinking skills by making a mental plan or picture of what they intend to create and following through on their plan.
• Math skills. Children can learn, create and begin to understand concepts like size, shape, making comparisons, counting and spatial reasoning.
• Language skills. As children describe and share their artwork, as well as their process, they develop language skills. You can encourage this development by actively listening and asking open-ended questions in return. It is also a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary words regarding their project (i.e., texture).