Learning & Teaching News
Welcome Back
Welcome back to another year - fingers crossed 2021 is a little more predictable than 2020! I’d also like to extend a special welcome to all of our new students. I hope you’re starting to become a little more familiar with your timetables, teachers and classrooms, and that you’re feeling supported and confident in your learning.
Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT)
As part of our regular testing cycle, all new students recently completed Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) in Reading, Mathematics, STEM, Vocabulary and Abstract Reasoning. I’m happy to report that nearly all students completed all of their assigned tests. Teachers will be able to use this data to help with differentiation, target resources to students’ needs, identify and extend high-achieving students, and allow for us to track the overall growth of our students as they progress when we will run the second round of testing in late 2021.
Remote Schooling
Whilst a return to remote schooling was a prospect many of us would have been happy to leave in 2020, it was extremely pleasing to see how effortlessly we were able to revert back to our Zoom sessions during the 5-day ‘circuit breaker’. Unfortunately, we can’t be sure that these short lockdown periods won’t happen again, and so all we can do is to prepare ourselves as best as we can. This means that all students need to ensure that their laptops were correctly onboarded with the school software and that they have internet access at home. If you or your child have any questions or concerns about these requirements, please reach out to your Learning Advisor or House Leader.
Tutor Learning Initiative (Tutoring Program)
The Tutor Learning Initiative is designed to support students in addressing any gaps in their learning owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure that no student is left behind.
As part of the Victorian Government’s Tutoring Learning Initiative, St. Peter’s College has employed a number of teaching professionals to work as tutors in 2021. These tutors will aim to support students that may have fallen behind academically during 2020.
With an emphasis on literacy and numeracy, we aim to run these tutoring sessions on-site both within the classroom and outside the classroom. All tutoring sessions are to be run during class time and not after or before school, or during recess or lunchtimes. It is important to us that students view this initiative as an opportunity, and not as a punishment. This also means that other avenues for assistance, such as Homework Club or Maths Help, are not impacted.
With the additional support of tutors, St. Peter’s College can ensure that our students have the additional and targeted support they need to succeed in their academic studies for 2021 and beyond.
In analysing data through Progressive Achievement Testing (PAT) held in November 2020 and early February this year, we have identified a number of students that might benefit from working with a tutor for the duration of this initiative. We will make contact with these families before the end of the term to provide some more information.
Jade Smith
Acting Learning Systems & Data Coach
Junior Mathematics Year 7 and 8
We often get parents and guardians asking staff in the Mathematics Department how they can best help their students. We wanted to share this diagram with you to give you some direction when it comes to the Maths Pathways program for students in Year 7-8.
In most cases, students will be required to complete a minimum of 6 modules per cycle in Maths Pathways in Years 7 and 8. If you would like to check on the progress of your child, you can log into the Parent Portal at any time using your son or daughter's Maths Pathways login. Each student will have their login details, but their maths teacher will also be able to provide this on request.
Middle Years Mathematics
At Years 9 and 10 we are looking to set up study habits that will serve our students as they go into VCE whether that be in Mathematics, or any other subject. This year, the Maths Department has provided each Year 9 and 10 maths student with an exercise book designed to teach them how to put together a bound reference that will assist them in relevant assessments throughout the year. In VCE, depending on the Mathematics study they plan to take, this bound reference is used in SACs throughout the year, and their examination(s). By learning in the middle years what best helps them to achieve - worked examples, diagrams, formulae - by the time they commence their VCE studies, they will have already identified the best combination that will assist them in experiencing success.
Even though we’ve only just started 2021, we would also like to encourage students to start thinking about their Maths choices for 2022 (which will come around far more quickly than any of us can imagine). Do you want to study Maths Methods or Specialist Maths in VCE? What do you need to know now in order to set yourself up for success? What do you need to start doing now to achieve your goals? Talk to your teachers - if they can’t answer your questions, they will point you to someone who can.
VCE Mathematics
VCE students have already begun how to study effectively through a company called Elevate in school last week. These sessions gave the students valuable insight into how to study effectively in a group or by themselves. It would be beneficial to students to begin looking at courses run externally to prepare them for their SACs and end of year exams. These are run on weekends and in the school holidays by external companies such as TSSM and TSFX. If you are interested in further details, please ask your Maths teacher.
Tania Brown and Jessica Ashcroft
Maths Coaches - Clyde North and Cranbourne Campuses
Mr David Hansen
Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching