Teaching and Learning

MyConnect 2 – Our 2024 Digital Bookshelf

In 2024, we are excited to be implementing the use of Campion Book’s Digital Platform MyConnect 2 for both staff and students.

We believe that this will come with many benefits including:

• resources being accessible through a single sign on platform 
• unnecessary for students to carry texts books to and from school
• teachers will be able to embed additional information into digital texts and upload other materials for students
• digital versions tend to be less expensive than hardcopy
• MyConnect 2 provides an immersive reading experience
• major sustainability benefit 
• excellent technical support provided through Campion Books

Please see link here for more information from Campion and Check Compass News for 2024 booklists. 

Headstart and Student Reports

As we finalise student reports and introduce students to the 2024 content throughout Headstart, we can reflect on what has been a highly successful year for Teaching and Learning.

Masterclasses, Year 7 & 8 Reading Program, PAT Testing, supporting teacher practice and pedagogy, Professional Learning Community Inquiries, Domain initiatives, mentoring graduate teachers, supporting graduate teachers to achieve their VIT, is to name just some of the work that our Learning Specialists have undertaken this year.

I’d like to thank our fantastic Learning Specialists including Mr Mark Fernandez, Mr Denholm Pickering, Ms Laura Washington and Ms Laura Suckling for their dedicated support of our students and of our staff and for bringing their particular expertise to their roles. In 2024, Mark will be leading the Humanities Domain and Denholm is our Year Level Leader for year 12 students. The ‘Lauras’ will continue in their current roles focusing on Academic Excellence and Data, Assessment and Reporting.

I welcome Ms Amanda Jacobs to the role of Acting Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning and know that she will lead an amazing team in 2024. 

Ms Jennifer Howard - Acting Assistant Principal 

English Writing Masterclass - with Fantasy Author James Islington

Last week Year 7 select students from both SEAL and mainstream experienced a creative writing workshop.

Run by James Islington, whose fantasy series The Licanius Trilogy has sold millions worldwide, the workshop ran over 4 periods and was designed to inspire students to imaginatively improve their writing. Students brought a piece of creative writing that they had written themselves to the session and refined it based on activities and feedback from James, as well as the expert teacher facilitators. 

Feedback from the workshop indicates students found it highly engaging and relished the opportunity to benefit from James' expertise. 

A key aspect of the workshop involved the possibility of students' work being published online - details will be sent through Compass when the stories are published, so please keep an eye out.

Denholm Pickering & Laura Washington