About Cire Community School
Cire Community School is a co-educational independent secondary school that offers flexible learning opportunities that are an alternative to mainstream schooling. The wellbeing of each of our students is paramount. We enjoy a growing reputation for the programs we have pioneered to meet the needs of our students and work tirelessly to make our school one of choice. Cire Community School provides quality education and personal development opportunities that are hands-on, project-based and relevant in order to engage our students in their secondary education and life beyond school. We create pathways to employment, further education and a positive future for our students. Offering four convenient campus locations, Berwick (years 7 to 12), Lilydale (years 7 to 12), Monbulk (prep to year 12) and Yarra Junction (years 5 to 12).
About our school
At Cire, we do school differently.
Our Community School is an innovative not-for-profit co-educational secondary school, serving the Yarra Ranges and beyond with campuses at Berwick, Lilydale, Monbulk and Yarra Junction
We are a school of choice, catering for approximately 380 students requiring flexible education. Our young people benefit greatly from our engaging and innovative approach to individualised education across all year levels.
Cire Community School aims to empower our young people through hands-on learning opportunities in a trusted, safe and welcoming environment where students feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
We guide students on a learning journey that caters directly to their individual needs and provides them with the life skills and knowledge required to be successful in their community. To achieve this, we aim for each student to:
learn self-regulation and coping skills
improve their ability to have respectful and healthy relationships
improve literacy and numeracy skills
transition successfully to further study or work.
Why choose us?
We provide positive and inclusive educational experiences, together with high levels of social and emotional support to enable our students to engage in their secondary schooling, work towards and achieve their goals, and be successful within their communities.
A trauma-informed school, our driving philosophy of unconditional positive regard for others is expressed daily through our practice of safety and respect for every member of our school family. We apply a strength-based model that builds on existing personal strengths to help empower our students.
We are proud of the programs and approaches we have pioneered and our personal development opportunities that are hands-on, engaging and relevant to our young people. We are recognised for our:
very high staff/student ratio
highly trained staff in the Berry Street Model
large and exceptionally skilled wellbeing support team
students are individually welcomed onto campus each day
alignment with the Future Schools Alliance commitment to future-focused learning
nourishing breakfast program available to all students, as well as fresh fruit throughout the day.
To be as inclusive as possible, minimise stress and reduce any potential barriers, there is no uniform and no homework. We provide all learning resources including a Google chrome book for each student. There are no transport issues because we operate a free school bus service.
Each student has their own pathways plan with individual learning goals. This Individual Learning Plan (ILP) is reviewed regularly to ensure it is relevant and realistic. It helps students set, and aspire to, achievable goals as they work towards building a positive future.
Classes are well resourced, with programs to support the individual learning styles of each student as well as two staff members in every room. Class sizes are small with flexible groupings of students. It is a welcoming environment and students comment that it is has a family-like feel.
Our mission
Cire Community School strives to provide a learning environment where:
Students can create and experience success in their learning, personal and social development.
Students can engage in structured and positive community activities to foster their sense of connection to the community as a valued and active member.
Students are supported to develop the academic and social skills to successfully transition from childhood to young adulthood and beyond.
Individual learning needs can be met in a supportive and flexible manner.
The highest standards of Applied Learning are delivered.
Success is not just measured in academic terms but in the development of resilience and maturity.
Our Philosophy
Cire Community School provides an educational environment that is framed in the emerging understandings of childhood development, including the impacts of childhood trauma and student learning. We believe that all young people should be able to positively engage in their education regardless of their life circumstances and any barriers to learning. Education should not just focus on academic attributes but on the whole person, providing active support for their social and emotional development while supporting the development of knowledge and skills needed for a rapidly changing world.
Democracy
Principles and Practice of Australian Democracy
Cire Community School promotes and supports the principles and practices of Australian democracy through our commitment to:
an elected government
the rule of law
equal rights for all before the law
freedom of religion
freedom of speech and association
the values of openness and tolerance.
Our students
Our students have experienced significant barriers to completing their education and are at risk of disengaging from school.
Cire Community School offers an alternative to mainstream schooling with flexible learning opportunities to suit individual needs. Through our therapeutic approach to teaching and learning, we help our students build self-regulatory and relational capacities.
We believe that students flourish when the school community is held to high expectations and students receive the support that best meets their individual learning needs and goals.
Bus service
To maximise student access to our campuses at Yarra Junction, Lilydale, Berwick and Mt Evelyn, Cire provides a free bus service from Badger Creek, Healesville, Cockatoo, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Lilydale and Mt Evelyn.
Campuses
Our campuses
Yarra Junction – years 5 to 12
Lilydale – years 7 to 12
Monbulk – prep to year 12
Berwick – years 7 to 12
