Marist Centre

The Marist Centre is a specialist education facility supporting students with an intellectual disability through accessing a range of mainstream and specialised subjects with a focus on life skill development.

In the senior years, pathways for career options or further study are developed and students focus on completing their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Our aim is to provide a holistic educational approach focused on developing students’ confidence, engagement, decision making and independence both academically and socially.

Lavalla Centre

Students with specific learning difficulties are catered for in the regular classroom and in a withdrawn setting. The Lavalla Centre provides a removed learning environment for individuals and small groups.

Identified students receive individual case management. Students access interactive software programs, resources and support.

Middle School students access programmed literacy and numeracy support and an opportunity for support with mainstream subjects.

In the senior years assistance is provide with mainstream subjects, subject selection and post school pathways planning.

English as a Second Language

Students whose families use languages other than English are eligible for ESL support. This is delivered in the classroom or in tailored learning sessions as individuals or groups.

The ESL support helps students with developmental English language needs and provides them with:

• a more sophisticated vocabulary
• a stronger focus on English grammar patterns and construction
• better tense construction
• a focus on punctuation and meaning
• assistance in forming handwriting
• assistance in cohesive writing
• improved pronunciation and speech delivery. 

These and other language skills are developed in lessons conducted by a qualified ESL specialist teacher. Support takes place within the classroom or in alternative quiet locations to allow for individual focus.

Gifted and Talented

We recognise that gifted learners have unique educational needs. Students with advanced abilities thrive when they are challenged, engaged, and supported in developing their strengths.

Our Gifted and Talented learning approach provides opportunities for students to extend their learning, explore their interests and achieve their personal best in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The College uses the internationally recognised Gagné Model of Giftedness and Talent to guide our understanding of gifted learners. Giftedness refers to natural abilities that are significantly above age peers. With the right learning opportunities and support, these abilities can develop into high levels of achievement and talent.

Gifted learners benefit from appropriate challenge and opportunities to learn with like-minded peers. At Cardijn, learning is tailored to individual needs.

This may include:

• Classroom differentiation
• Extension and enrichment opportunities
• Curriculum compacting to move through known content more efficiently
• Subject acceleration where appropriate
• Year-level acceleration in carefully considered cases

These options are planned in partnership with students, families and staff to support the best possible learning outcomes.