THE
EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE
The Toogoolawa Program aims to
01
Develop good character traits in the students so they can become responsible members of society.
02
Prepare students for returning to a mainstream school, attending a TAFE college, entering the workforce or moving to another alternative education site.
03
Structure the school environment so that each student succeeds much more than he fails, and comes to see all mistakes as further opportunities for learning.
01
Develop good character traits in the students so they can become responsible members of society.
02
Prepare students for returning to a mainstream school, attending a TAFE college, entering the workforce or moving to another alternative education site.
03
Structure the school environment so that each student succeeds much more than he fails, and comes to see all mistakes as further opportunities for learning.
PEDAGOGY
The teaching methods at Toogoolawa School are designed to 'draw out from within'
the five universal Human Values
(Love - Truth - Peace - Right Conduct - Non-violence)
inherent in each student.
For students to live full lives according to their innate Human Values, certain situational prompts and teaching methods are required.
ROLE MODEL
The first and most important catalyst is the example of good character set by teachers and parents. Good role models are crucial to a student's emotional wellbeing.
All classes and programs have a primary aim to nourish the body, mind and heart.
Thought of the Week, Storytelling
Ideal as a teaching medium for illustrating moral and ethical principles. It counters negative images held by the students and inspires desire in the student to emulate the virtues demonstrated by the characters described.
Silent Sitting
This technique, run by students, occurs before lessons. The aim is to teach students to become a master of their body and mind. The focus on being mindful develops self-awareness and self-control and is especially helpful for students that are challenged to sit still.
Quotations and Prayers
The students have weekly inspirational quotations to explore which are based on the five Human Values and, because Toogoolawa is a multi-faith environment, they recite universal prayers every day. These help the students develop a positive philosophy for living.
Group Activities
Students apply their moral understanding to interactions with others and the environment, learn how to cooperate with others, grow in confidence and solve ethical problems.
Outdoor Activities
Opportunities are provided for students to balance their academic endeavours with outdoor activities, expend some energy and learn about teamwork, trust, friendship, and the importance of nature.
Quiet Time
Gives students an opportunity to start each day grounded and connected to themselves at a very deep level. Students realise they don't have to create silence. Silence already exists within them. They simply enter into silence via the breath or a word.
Let Me Learn
Students are offered the opportunity to use the Tomatis® Method, which is a form of sound therapy that re-patterns the connection between the ear, the brain, the body and even the heart at the emotional level. In this way, students improve their lives, especially their auditory and sensory processing, emotional balance and their overall quality of life. Based on neuroplasiticity, the Tomatis® Method Method benefits people through a gentle holisitic and individualised listening re-education.
Community Service
Boys are given the wonderful opportunity to repay the community that supports them. Whether it is feeding the homeless, collecting rubbish from the Pimpama River or helping the intellectually disadvantaged, community service opens the heart to those less fortunate.
iRest
Has been used by practitioners to assist people who have suffered trauma, attachment or PTSD. iRest complements our Quiet Time because it offers deep relaxation. Boys learn how to release negative emotions and thought patterns, calm the nervous system and develop a deep capacity to meet any and all circumstances they encounter in life.
Food for Families
Toogoolawa School has a partnership with Foodbank to purchase and collect healthy food. One of our amazing volunteers visits Foodbank weekly to purchase and collect food, pack it into boxes and then distributes these to families that are interested in receiving them. There is no criteria to obtain one of these packages other than a willingness to receive.
Heartmath
Students use a computer based program that provides biofeedback information that helps identify the optimal psychological state for learning performance and resilience. While in this state our brain, nervous system and other bodily systems function with increased efficiency.
Work Experience
Caring providers give eligible students the opportunity to join the workforce for one or two days a week. Boys can spend their time in mechanical workshops, theatres, home hardware centres, bike shops and have a taste of life on the other side of the counter.
Student Council
Students from each class are elected every term to join the student council. The boys bring up issues that are relevant to them and their classmates in a caring and sharing environment. The council gives students an opportunity to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Yoga
A trained yoga teacher and staff member offers students the opportunity to practice yoga. Yoga is known to offer increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone. Yoga improves respiration, energy and vitality.
Healthy Lifestyle
Toogoolawa provides students, to the best of our ability, a preservative and processed sugar free lunch. We have a beautiful organic garden which grows a lot of vegetables that the students and staff eat for lunch.
Physical Education
Students are involved in daily physical education activities. These include dodge ball, hand ball, football, cricket, to name a few and our weekly participation in 'Team Up" a program at the Beenleigh PCYC run by our fabulous volunteer Damo.
Virtues Program
The Virtues Program was honoured by The United Nations as a model program for families of all cultures. Staff use the Virtues Program in building relationships with students in the hope that our boys will role model the same virtues at home.
