Additional Programs
Mary Brooksbank School offers several additional programs to support students. These programs cater for the social, personal and academic learning needs of students throughout their school life.
Sensory Room
Our Sensory room is equipped with sensory equipment that encourages our students to interact and increase their confidence through play. Sensory stimulation, relaxation and the development of fine and gross motor skills help to enhance our student’s movement, co-ordination and confidence while increasing learning potential and having fun. Sensory assessment and programming is available to support students with identified sensory impairments. These programs are integrated into individual student plans.
Hydrotherapy and Swimming Sessions
Mary Brooksbank School (MBS) features a 15-metre heated pool with mobility access including a ramp and hoist. MBS offers two weekly swimming sessions that are conducted by a qualified Aus Swim instructor with certification in teaching swimming and water safety to children with a disability. Each session is also supervised by a teacher and School Learning Support Officer (SLSO). The hydrotherapy pool has also been utilised by less mobile students to assist with muscle relaxation, control, movement, strength and overall fitness. The staff can use flotation devices and aides with students, to ensure maximum support in the water. We can meet a large variety of student needs using the hydrotherapy pool.
Community Access
There are currently several Community Access programs being run throughout Mary Brooksbank School each individualised to suite the needs of our students. Students learn a variety of life and travel skills through these programs. Some of the many venue’s students visit as part of community access are Mt Annan Gardens, Appin Park, Macarthur Square, Cataract Dam, Ten Pin Bowling, Cinemas, Indoor Sport Centres and the Council Bike Track.
School to Work Program
The School to Work Program for NSW Government Secondary Schools aims to equip students with skills, understandings, and attributes that will enable them to transition from school as smoothly as possible.
Many students during senior years participate in school to work programs. Some of these programs operate in-school and others out-of-school. These programs support transition into work programs. Our goal for in-school programs is to develop safe and appropriate work skills that will promote successful placement in work programs. The goal for out-of-school programs is to match student’s capability to a potential work site once they have finished school.
In-school initiatives include maintaining the permaculture garden, bus washing, can crushing, recycling, hospitality, landscaping, distribution of stores to classrooms and prioritised independent living skills. Out-of-school work programs include participation in The Power Program and shopping for food technology programs. Many work skills are integrated into day-to-day class programs.