From the Leader of Pedagogy

Staff Reflections 2021

"Teaching is the essential profession, the one that makes all professions possible".

David Haselkorn

As we come to the end of the year teachers are able to reflect on their experiences and growth for the last twelve months. Our staff have strived to develop a collaborative learning community committed to improving the faith, learning and wellbeing of our students.

 It is a time for staff to recognise and reflect on progress, pat themselves on the back for the great things they do and celebrate the growth in their learners. The role of a teacher is one of the most important jobs in society, leaving a lasting impact on students into adulthood. 

Our St Mary's staff have worked so hard this year navigating another dynamic and challenging educational landscape at St Mary's in 2021. I am grateful for the privilege of being able to work with each teaching team across the school and hope that the holidays give all teachers and families time to rest and recharge ready for another exciting year of learning in 2022. 

Here are just a few of the many things our teachers are proud of this year:

• "We are proud of the way we work collaboratively to cater for the needs of all learners. We have a strong belief that inquiry-based learning supports our students to achieve their highest potential. The students embraced inquiry-based learning and achieved results that they did not expect themselves to achieve"
• "We have worked collaboratively together, planning and sharing appropriately. As a team, we have managed the needs of diverse learners well"
• "Due to COVID, this is our second year of performing pieces on the xylophones for the end of year presentation. I am thrilled to see the increased development of the students on these instruments as a result. They are playing more complex rhythms with much more confidence and pitch accuracy than last year"
• "The team worked closely with each other to provide a safe, structured learning environment with a play-based centred approach. The children have grown and matured and are now ready for ‘Big School’. We welcome them into the St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Family with open arms".
• "We are proud of the way we team teach. We have developed a strong working relationship that is honest and supportive which has helped our learning environment. We are happy with how the Kindy kids have matured especially with how independent they are and in their kindness to each other".
• "We are proud of the way we have communicated and picked up where we left off after remote learning to be able to complete all KLA requirements, especially InitiaLit. We are happy that they are more resilient than they were at the beginning of the year. We are proud of how they have bounced back after remote learning. We hope that they continue to be resilient and always willing to have a go".
• "We are proud we have been resilient through changes and challenges. We have survived and adapted. We are impressed with Year 2 students' growth, especially in their reading. They have become proud school students and contribute to a positive school environment".
• "We are proud of the way we have adapted to so much change. We have supported each other and our students through challenges and growth. We are happy with how our students demonstrate increased self-control, resilience and responsibility".
• "We are proud of the team we have become across our flexible learning space. We have developed an easy-going and professional teaching relationship with the children as our main focus. We are proud of how the year 4 kids have grown in their commitment to their learning. Year 4 have grown in confidence across the board showing eagerness to join in and have a go".
• "We have been proud of how well we worked in our stage team and feel we have had amazing collaboration and collegial discussion. We had worked hard, had fun and grown as teachers. We are excited by writing growth especially with narrative and persuasive texts. We have been really impressed by their general growth and maturity as the year has progressed. Year 5 students also handled the difficulties of Covid lockdown really well"
• "We are proud of our cross-stage collaboration both between teachers and also by students within English. We are excited to see the growth in student knowledge, especially in English during Semester 2."