Ascot Vale Heights School (formerly Ascot Vale Special School) is a state government school that provides high quality education to students with mild intellectual disabilities. We assist students between 5 and 18 years to address their learning difficulties and develop a wide range of life skills that enable them to participate fully in life's daily activities. It is located in the Travancore Estate of Ascot Vale.

The school offers excellent programs to promote the learning and independence skills of all students.

Specialist classes include Physical Education, Music and STEM, Art, and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen and Garden Program.

Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate in their children’s education. A number of information sessions and programs to support parents are held throughout the year.

For further information please visit www.ascotvalehs.vic.edu.au

Key Selection Criteria

• KSC 1 Demonstrate a high-level knowledge of food/horticulture and the ability to apply this knowledge in implementing a Kitchen Garden program with enthusiasm in consultation with the appropriate staff
• KSC 2 Demonstrate a high level of communication skills, and exemplary values and attitudes to engage with students, families, and colleagues.
• KSC 3 Demonstrate the ability to manage a Kitchen Garden Program, making strong curriculum connections through strong pedagogy.
• KSC 4 Demonstrate a strong capacity to work effectively within a team, while being adaptable to teach in a variety of learning environments.
• KSC 5 Demonstrated commitment to professional learning and growth
• KSC 6 Appropriately qualified to deliver VET in schools.

Role and Responsibility:

Our mantra is Growing, Harvesting, Preparing, Sharing.

The aim of the Kitchen Garden Program is to introduce young children to the wonderful world of good food by means of developing a productive food garden, and an exciting kitchen that includes a nurturing place to share food, as an integral part of the school curriculum.

We hope to engage the curiosity of the young students and to help them learn how to grow the very best food in the very best way, how to care for it in the garden, how to recognise when it is ripe and at its best, how to prepare it easily and enjoyably and how to develop an expanding culinary palate and be excited by all of these experiences. We want to convince children to modify their eating habits because the food they are experiencing tastes so good rather than because they are being told to eat some foods and not to eat others.

On taking up the specialist teacher position you will:

• Plan and integrate learning in the kitchen with learning in the garden.
• Plan the weekly menu, incorporating seasonal garden produce; and reinforce key techniques. Pre-prepare elements of the menu if necessary.
• Prepare recipes in a format suitable for children to understand, and arrange photocopies for all classes.
• Shop for extra ingredients within budget guidelines.
• Recruit, coordinate and support volunteers, help organise volunteer events, compile and update volunteer information, and respond to interest from potential volunteers.
• Maintain dry-food stores and monitor equipment needs. Communicate any maintenance or replacement matters to the business manager or maintenance worker.
• Be resourceful about obtaining resources needed for the kitchen; receive donations where possible.
• Provide encouragement, advice and inspiration to other special schools by facilitating group tours and school excursions to the kitchen garden, giving presentations and responding to phone calls and emails. Receive visitors to the kitchen and sometimes accommodate these visitors for lunch with the students.
• Liaise with wider community and nurture relationships with those donating goods to the Kitchen Garden Program.
• Assist with documentation of the project by recording comments on every class and storing menus, worksheets, class surveys and so on.
• Raise awareness in the school community about the Kitchen Garden Program through the weekly newsletter.
• Liaise with the Learning Centre Leaders and the principal team regarding planning issues.

Please ensure that your application (via Recruitment Online) includes:

• a resume including relevant experience, including detailed employment history, as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home and VIT number)
• a response addressing each of the selection criteria (recommended 1 page per criteria)
• Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of at least three referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application/selection criteria.

Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

Applicants wishing further information about the school or this position, are encouraged to contact the Principal, Nancy Sidoti, prior to the closing date of applications. Please contact the General Office on 03-9370 8906 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Classroom Teacher - Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program enquiry via EthicalJobs.