Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy will be opening their school to the public today to show off some of the new renovations to the school.

Since opening in September, 2003, the school has been committed to serving students with additional needs.

School principal Jordanna Ardizzone said they recognise and support the individual needs and talents of each student by collaborating with families and community organisations to ensure that every student reaches their ultimate potential.

She said the academy provides services to students ages four through 19 who experience severe multiple challenges and there are currently 15 students, while an additional four are expected to attend in September.

Mrs. Ardizzone said the programme focuses on student independence with emphasis on developing functional academic skills, communication, career/vocational and recreational/leisure skills.

"Some students attend horseback riding, work on their community skills by taking public transportation of having weekly visits to the grocery store to purchase items for their cooking class," she said.

In September 2005, a new curriculum will be used.

The Star Reporter, which is a monthly theme-based curriculum, will enable every student to learn, communicate and participate by using technology such as low and high tech speech output devices, environmental controls and computers with specialised educational computer software.

Mrs. Ardizzone said at the end of each month, a newspaper will be created by the students in accordance with the given theme.

The school has full-time support staff including a school nurse, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a social worker and a part-time adaptive physical education teacher.

Earlier this year a volunteer programme was established where adults assist with supervision and actively assist students with recreational activities during lunch times from 12.15 p.m. to 1 p.m.

"With support, some middle school students are doing a volunteer work experience at Seaview Gym on the North Shore. They fold towels and clean off the gym equipment. Another student has started horticultural training with Agriculture and Fisheries," she said.

As many as seven students are using technology to communicate and actively participate in the curriculum using high tech speech output devices.

Mrs. Ardizzone said students use adaptive switches to activate computers with specialised software and small appliances.

Another student, she said, has started walking on his own, while another visually-impaired student has begun communicating by making a choice between two objects.

She said some students are able to independently ride adaptive tricycles, while other students need minimal assistance.

"Community support has been amazing in successfully establishing a school programme. We would like to thank all those that have supported us in the part two years. Without them, we would not have such a beautiful school," she said.

Since the school opened some major renovations have been made.

These including the addition of a sensory room, an accessible kitchen, wheelchair accessible foot gardens, speech and occupational therapy room, library with books on tape, and accessible and interactive playground and a switch activated automatic door system for entry and exit to the school.

The Open House starts at 10 a.m. and members of the public have been invited to tour the school and talk to teachers about the work they do.