Secondary News

" Nothing about us, without us, is for us." 

I think the way schools have traditionally taught kids can best be described as learning done 'to' the student. Educators and educational policy makers have decided what should be included in the curriculum and how it should be taught and assessed. 

Standards and narrow measures of academic success based around achieving a high ATAR have been the hallmark of our educational system.  This approach to education has not really considered the impact of this type of learning on the actual learners themselves, who often have been passive participants in the learning process. 

However, over the past few years there has been a global shift in thinking around the purpose of learning. Employers now want to see evidence of the development of learning skills, not just the acquisition of knowledge, and it has become increasingly apparent that education needs to embrace a new paradigm, where the development and fostering of these skills, such as critical and creative thinking, effective communication, collaboration, and problem solving are as important as the core academic curriculum. 

As educators, we also recognise the need to provide an environment where our kids can learn to make good decisions, to practice discernment and to take responsibility for their own learning.

This is why I love the quote at the beginning of this article.  As teachers, we have always been 'for kids', but we haven't always 'included' our kids in the process of learning. As Christians, we believe that each of our kids is created with a unique set of skills, dispositions, and capabilities, but the focus on achievement standards in education hasn't always allowed us to celebrate this uniqueness. 

Over the past two years we have been re-thinking our approach to education in the Secondary school. We are creating a new learning framework, which focusses on progress growth and skill development, and seeks to actively engage our kids in the process of learning. 

An important aspect to this framework is the recognition that learning is ubiquitous, it doesn't just happen within the classroom, but in every aspect of school life. To that end, we would like to introduce a NEW initiative in the secondary school - IMPACT LEARNING. 

Impact Learning is the result of re-imagining and re-designing our approach to extra-curricular, enrichment and extension activities.  The end result of this design process was the creation of the IMPACT LEARNING PORTAL, an online space which makes visible all of the learning opportunities that happen predominantly outside the classroom, including all of the activities offered through our Music, Creative Arts and Sports programs, faculty specific events and competitions, and lunchtime clubs. 

The aim of the Impact Learning Portal is for our kids to be inspired, to explore learning experiences that align with their passions and interests, and to actively engage them in the process of choosing activities that foster their creativity, encourage their curiosity, and develop broader, transferable skills, which are becoming increasingly more important to their future participation in the world of work.  

I encourage you to check out the new Impact Learning Portal with your child/ren, who have been introduced to the portal over the last week. The portal can be accessed via Schoolbox. 

A Step-by-Step Guide which takes you through the different features can be downloaded here. 

Over the course of the year there may be some amendments or additions to the portal as more opportunities become available, and these will be notified via Schoolbox News. I hope you enjoy viewing the range of activities that are available for your child/ren to explore in the Impact Learning space!