From the Principal

Through the Student’s Eyes

In 2019 we are making a concerted effort to shift the lens a little to purposefully focus on our students, considering their viewpoint and enhancing their capacity and involvement in the learning process. The expected consequence will be an increase in student connectedness and ownership.

In the student survey it was indicated that students want more agency in their learning. We have taken this seriously and a staff team has been involved in a project entitled Amplify which has the aim of empowering students to enhance their engagement and enrich their participation. It is about creating the conditions, employing the practices and developing the behaviours and attitudes to learning that are conducive to student voice, leadership and agency. The theory is that young people who are able to feel comfortable about airing their opinions in a school environment where they are encouraged and supported will be able to speak more freely out in the world.

We are also aiming for our students to be more accountable, to understand their own learning and the learning process and realise that they have a significant role to play in their learning outcomes and their own success. We have initiated and implemented a Learning to Learn program for year 7 and 8 students with the aim of increasing their ownership of their learning.

We have altered our leadership structure to highlight that students are representing their house as well as their year level. It is hoped that more students will feel connected to their peers and the school and more comfortable to participate and express their ideas and opinions.

We are engaging our students as partners in their own learning through feedback, input into decision making through the SRC and student forums and by seeking ways for them to have some autonomy in their learning so that they will feel more positive about the school, and more readily engage in activities both inside and outside the classroom, thus maximising their learning.

Clare Entwisle