House works for Toolooa students
18 August 2009
By Andie Gatti
Gladstone's Toolooa State High's purpose built 'house', in which at-risk students are taught life skills such as cooking, washing and budgeting.
Gladstone's Toolooa State High School is giving the term 'home schooling' a new meaning with the addition of a full-scale house to its grounds.
Learning support head of department Cathey Hale said Toolooa House, four years in the planning, opened last April.
'Four years ago we had a vision of enabling all our students to prepare for life beyond school,' Ms Hale said.
'As we had a group of at-risk students, some of whom had a disability, were pregnant or had social-emotional problems, this vision needed to accommodate a holistic approach to the individual.
'A large number of students needed guidance in obtaining the real-life skills necessary to become independent adults so it was agreed the most appropriate teaching area would be a house.'
Ms Hale said students were taught life skills such as cooking, gardening, washing, shopping, budgeting, personal hygiene, house cleaning, self-esteem, job preparation and tenancy tips.
'We wanted to make these classes as realistic as possible as well as making the house a very homely environment because, for some of our students, it will be the only consistent home they experience,' she said.
Ms Hale said the three-bedroom, furnished house was ideal for staff meetings with parents and outside agencies, and for teaching an array of subjects, not just life skills.
'We have Pathways 2 Success, a program for Year 8 students who aren't meeting numeracy and literacy benchmarks,' she said.
'Many of these students also have associated self-esteem concerns. Conducting the classes in a perceived non-threatening, homelike environment helps to build confidence and the students are more relaxed.'
'I teach a boys' English class and if they get a bit distracted in class, I'll move them over to the house where they can sit on the lounge or at the kitchen table. It's amazing how productive they become.'
Ms Hale said the $310,000 relocatable home was built and furnished with an Education Queensland Smart State Subsidy Scheme grant, in-kind support from service clubs, especially Rotary, and a lot of community help.
'Even ex-students who are now tradespeople were roped in to connect the electricity and plumbing,' she said.
'Students are doing up the gardens, have put in ramps and our art students are making a mosaic path. Everybody is offering support in this worthwhile project.'
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