As part of our commitment to Inclusive Education at Shalom, we provide English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EAL/D) support for eligible students. I am currently meeting with new students who may qualify for assistance by way of regularly speaking another language at home.

These students are often referred to as having English as a Second Language or Dialect (ESL/D) and are those whose first language—the language that was spoken to them, and that the student spoke at home as a baby and when very young—is a language or dialect other than Standard Australian English (SAE) and who may require additional support to develop further proficiency in SAE. ESL/D is more broadly known as EAL/D.

ESL/D learners may include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students,
• immigrants to Australia and temporary visa holders from non-English speaking countries,
• students with a refugee background,
• children born in Australia of migrant heritage where English is not always spoken at home,
• children of deaf adults who use Auslan as their first language.

We take pride in our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) student community and strive to create opportunities that help them participate in all aspects of Shalom school life, both socially, culturally and with an explicit focus on academic progress and facilitating success across our broad curriculum.

This program is designed to assist students with English expression in their current subjects, rather than being an intensive English course or an additional subject.

If you believe your child may be eligible through the support guidelines and benefit from this support, please contact me at maryann_parton@rok.catholic.edu.au  or call 4155 8158 during school hours, Monday to Thursday.

Mrs Maryann Parton
EAL/D Support Teacher
Maryann_Parton@rok.catholic.edu.au