Our Special Education unit at Pittwater High School is called Cabrananga, an Aboriginal name meaning "resting mind".
We believe that every student can learn and has the right to access the curriculum in a supportive environment. We provide quality teaching and learning experiences which will enable every student to reach their potential.
Our role as educators in Cabrananga is to facilitate the inclusion of students with a disability into a comprehensive High School. We help to equip the students with the skills to enable them to navigate daily school life in a supportive and caring environment.
Cabrananga, we have three classes designed to meet the individual needs of our 21 students. We have two Autism (ASD) classes and one Multi Categorical (MC) class made up of seven students ranging from Years 7-12.
All Cabrananga classes have a highly experienced teacher and student learning support officer (SLSO) who tailor the learning to the students' personalised needs and interests.
Pittwater is an inclusive school where all students are known, valued and cared for. Cabrananga is located at the front of the school with attractive local coastal images on our buildings. We promote inclusion and reverse inclusion where we encourage mainstream students to utilise our classrooms while spending recess and lunch times in our playground with the students from Cabrananga.
Students are supported within the unit and around the school participating in whole school activities, sport, assemblies, excursions, community access, work experience, TAFE and integrated lessons. Cabrananga follows the integrated model where students are supported and encouraged to develop the skills to attend mainstream lessons with modifications and adjustments made to the learning.
Senior students in Years 11 and 12 can access Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses within the school or TAFE delivered vocational courses (TVET).
Cabrananga, offers two modes of learning programs, one being the general curriculum and the other is Life Skills. Life Skills courses are designed to provide options for students with a disablity who cannot access the regular course outcomes. Within these courses, Life Skills outcomes are delivered in an individual way where students are assessed on their ability to achieve an outcome with or without support. Students can combine general curriculum with life skills courses as part of their own individual program of study. Students and parents are actively encouraged to participate each year in planning of their program of study by attending individual education planning (IEP) meetings.
Throughout the year, students in Cabrananga participate in social outings, interschool sporting events and participate in the Sail ability program. These events provide our students with hands-on life skills which develop their independence and social skills to reach their own personal goals.
Applications for placement are through the Access Request Process . An Access Request is arranged by your local DoE school's Learning Support Team. If you are currently enrolled in a private or Non-Department of Education school, you will need to contact your local DoE school to arrange for an access request.
All offers of student enrolment in Cabrananga is through the placement panel process within the DoE. All offers depend on the availablity of vacancies.
