Principal Team Editorial

Focused Attention

If you have been following the news recently, you’d be aware of the increasing challenges that schools face in fostering positive student behaviour, learning, wellbeing and attendance outcomes.  Supporting students to navigate their teenage years successfully is a significant challenge for teachers and parents particularly in a world where social media, gaming addiction and peer influence has escalated. 

More than ever, being able to harness student attention in the classroom and sustain it for an extended period of time is challenging, and it takes skill and expertise to do this well. 

At Wantirna College, we have embraced research evidence provided by leading educational experts that outlines the most successful ways in harnessing focused attention and then maximising learning opportunities once teachers have it. Essentially, if students aren’t focused and not giving their full attention in class, they are going to struggle to engage properly in their learning. 

In our classrooms this term, we have implemented a school-wide approach to establishing and embedding rules and routines that facilitate focused attention and learning. Having clear and predictable routines ensure students understand what is expected of them and facilitates the efficiency and effectiveness of a lesson. Eventually routines become habits and teachers can move more quickly into meaningful parts of the lesson where students are cognitively engaged and learning. 

Throughout this term, leaders have been spending considerable time visiting classrooms and supporting teachers in embedding routines to support and foster student engagement and focussed attention. Our collective approach is having a significant impact with calm and focused classrooms that provide students positive learning environments to thrive in. 

Attention and focus | Australian Education Research Organisation

Rules and routines | Australian Education Research Organisation

Mooroop Naming Ceremony 

Monday 21st June, 9am

Save the date!! Parents and carers are invited to celebrate the opening of our new competition grade basketball stadium and Performing Arts spaces on the very first day of Term 3. We look forward to officially naming the four spaces of the Mooroop Centre after indigenous artists and athletes and we’ve asked local MP Jackson Taylor to throw the first hoop – no pressure! 

Families are welcome to attend.

Please RSVP HERE. 

Alumni Evening & Tour

Tuesday 17th June, 7pm

We look forward to hosting former students and staff at our very first Alumni event on Tuesday. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with the school, hear from past Principals and participate in a tour. If you are interested in coming along, please RSVP HERE.

Carrie Wallis

Principal