Learning & Teaching News

I hope to give you a snapshot of some of the changes we have implemented this year and a snapshot of what has happened around the College over the last fortnight.

Literacy Program

Our NAPLAN results have shown significant gains in reading and writing which gives great cause for celebration and indicates that the programs we have implemented are having success.

The English as an Additional Language (EAL) teachers include Anthea Zafiropoulos, Gabby O’Connell and Fiona Gallagher who are implementing the new curriculum this year.  They have EAL classes at Years 7 – 9 with the aim of assisting these students to move out of these classes and into Language classes or if appropriate at the higher year level, into other electives. They also work with other students as required at higher levels by withdrawing them for a couple of periods per cycle.

Stacey Chatto is the new Literacy Coach working across both campuses and she has overseen an improvement to our Literacy in Context classes.  We have moved these classes to period 1 and ensured they are only 30-minute duration but more frequent.  We expect this to increase the impact of the MacLit program on literacy skills.  We have several teachers and highly qualified learning support officers doing an excellent job in delivering this program.

Applied Learning & VCE (Vocational Major)

The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning is being phased out and only exists as a senior certificate this year at Year 12.  It has been replaced by a Year 10 Applied Learning Curriculum and VCE Vocational Major at Year 11.  Our Applied Learning teachers have been working hard at aligning the learning outcomes with the Victorian Curriculum to reinvigorate the courses while ensuring that all the best offerings in applied learning at St. Peter’s College has been maintained. 

At Cranbourne, Rhiannon Clark has taken over as the head of the department now known as the Vocational Major & Applied Learning Coach and is overseeing the exciting program.  At Clyde North, Paul Woodbridge continues in this Coaches role and is very pleased with the new learning space with 4 classrooms custom built for our hands on learners.  This will enhance the ability of teachers to deliver a quality program in this new building.

Excursion to The Project

Last Wednesday, Calen Robinson and Jade Smith accompanied the Cranbourne Unit 1&2 and 3&4 VCE Media students to a live screening of The Project, shown nightly on Channel 10 at 7 pm. Students travelled to the Como Centre in South Yarra, where television shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention and The Project are filmed, to be a part of the studio audience.

By experiencing what happens behind the scenes, students were given the chance to develop an understanding of how a daily live one-hour television show is produced. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the production manager as well as the ‘on screen talent’ such as Waleed Ali, Sarah Harris, Gerogie Tunny and Sam Taunton.  The students experienced the chaos and excitement of a live production and asked some great questions which helped all attendees to gain an insight into what happens behind the scenes to bring a final product to air.  I am sure everyone was impressed by Sam Taunton’s favourite teacher Mr Robinson when he flawlessly and effortlessly introduced the next segment live across Australia!

Excursions are just one of the ways our teachers make learning fun and I encourage all parents to ensure they respond promptly to any Operoo requests that they receive for these permissions.

Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge 2023

Scientists realise that there is still much to learn when it comes to the microgravity environment. How will organisations like NASA support astronauts as they travel to the Moon, and beyond to Mars? Students can contribute to this important area of research while developing STEM skills. This 11-week program runs during Term 2 for a team of students in Years 10-12.

Six Year 11 students from Clyde North presented an impressive pitch to the principal, Chris Black, Julie Banda, David Hansen, and the Science Coach, Irene Balder indicating their interest in participating.  The decision was unanimously in favour of sponsoring and supporting these students to undertake this project.  We look forward to finding out more as they embark on articulating a challenge in the space environment and then developing a solution. More information on this program can be found here. 

The students involved are:

Vinuk Kumparaperu Arachchige Don

Neil Gilane

Jonathan Evans

Nikeith Krishnan

Dhyey Parekh

Homework & Study

I publish the following reminder of expectations for our students with respect to homework and study.  This guide is designed to assist students in lower year levels to establish the habit of assigning time at home to commit to schoolwork so that by VCE, they have a well-established routine that will allow them to compete with all students within the state.  This guide does not mean that a student needs to do homework or study every night but explains how weekly totals are determined. I would think it makes sense to do some homework on the weekend, and this is a non-negotiable for senior students.  As students mature, they will learn what timetable best suits them, however, they should seek support from parents and teachers if they are struggling to establish a reasonable routine.  To any student who comes home and says they have no homework or nothing to do, you can always tell them to read.

Year 7: 2 ½ hours per week (30 minutes per night, 5 nights per week).

Year 8: 5 hours per week (1 hour per night, 5 nights per week).

Year 9: 7 ½ hours per week (1 ½ hours per night, 5 nights per week).

Year 10: 10 hours per week (2 hours per night, 5 nights per week).

Year 11: 15 hours per week (3 hours per night, 5 nights per week).

Year 12: 20 hours per week (4 hours per night, 5 nights per week).

Staff Professional Learning

At the conclusion of the 2022 academic year, and preceding the return of our students in 2023, all St Peter’s College staff members joined together to participate in a variety of professional learning opportunities aimed at supporting the development of a high-performance learning culture and promoting strong student learning outcomes. 

In small groups, faculty areas, and as a whole school, we worked collaboratively to develop strategies and build on our skillset in alignment with our Annual Implementation Plan and meet our predetermined school improvement goals. 

As a team, we are committed to promoting and living an experience that is based on collective efficacy - that is, a shared belief that we can all have a positive impact on student achievement despite the other influences that exist in the lives of students that might stand to hinder their success. 

Led by our whole-school Professional Learning and Development plan, and guided by the AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers, we look forward to continuing to engage with professional learning opportunities throughout the year as a means of ensuring that all students are nurtured and given a chance to thrive in their academic abilities. 

David Hansen

Deputy Principal – Learning & Teaching