Teaching and Learning Principal
Zachary Parr
Welcome to the Teaching & Learning section of our newsletter. Each edition is designed to give families a clear and meaningful window into what students are learning, how we are supporting their growth, and the many opportunities available to them both inside and beyond the classroom.
In this space, you’ll find:
Key Teaching & Learning priorities for the term
Snapshots from classrooms, showcasing engaging learning moments across year levels
Updates on whole‑school initiatives, instructional practices, and innovations
Highlights from co‑curricular programs that enrich learning beyond the timetable
Practical tips to help families support study habits, wellbeing, and engagement at home
Celebrations of effort, progress, and achievement across our student community
By sharing these insights, we aim to strengthen the partnership between school and home—something consistently shown to improve student connection and outcomes. Effective school newsletters help families feel informed, included, and confident about their child’s learning journey, and that is exactly what we strive for here.
Partnering with Families:
We know that families play a vital role in supporting learning beyond the classroom. This term, we have been working to make learning more visible to students and families—through clear learning goals, feedback processes, and consistent communication.
You may have noticed:
Greater clarity around what students are learning and why
Ongoing feedback that helps students understand their next steps
Increased opportunities for students to reflect on their progress
These approaches are designed to help students take ownership of their learning, while also allowing families to engage in meaningful conversations at home.
A simple but powerful strategy is asking your child:
What did you learn today?
What challenged you?
What are you working towards next?
Looking Ahead: Learning Over the Holidays
The holiday break is an important time for students to rest and recharge. Alongside this, small, consistent learning habits can make a significant difference in maintaining momentum into next term.
Many schools encourage families to focus on a balance of wellbeing, curiosity, and light academic engagement during breaks rather than formal “schoolwork.” [sequenzy.com]
We encourage students to:
Read regularly – even 10–15 minutes a day builds vocabulary and comprehension
Stay curious – explore interests, documentaries, podcasts or real-world problem solving
Practise organisation – preparing for next term by reflecting on goals or reviewing feedback
Maintain routine where possible – sleep, balance, and structure support readiness for learning
For senior students, this may also include revision or consolidation of key concepts, particularly in subjects where sequential understanding is important, whilst keeping up with holiday homework set
Year 9 City Experience Week
This week, our Year 9 students stepped beyond the classroom and into the heart of Melbourne as part of our annual City Experience Week. The program provided students with a range of opportunities to develop teamwork, independence and problem-solving skills while exploring some of Melbourne's most iconic locations.
Throughout the week, students participated in a variety of engaging activities, including the Amazing Race, Escape Room challenges, a tour of the MCG, visits to the Old Melbourne Gaol and the Shrine of Remembrance, and an exploration of the Queen Victoria Market. Students also engaged with important social issues through The Big Issue program, encouraging them to reflect on the experiences of others and develop a greater understanding of their community.
The week also included shared group lunches, providing students with opportunities to build connections with their peers and enjoy the social aspects of the program. Students finished their experience with an immersive IMAX screening of Arctic 3D, which was both educational and entertaining.
Most importantly, our Year 9 students represented the school with pride. They demonstrated maturity, respect and enthusiasm throughout the week and embraced every challenge and opportunity presented to them.
A sincere thank you to Adam and Christina and other staff who organised and supervised the program. Their dedication helped create a memorable experience that combined learning, personal growth and fun. We are incredibly proud of our Year 9 students and the positive way they engaged with all aspects of City Experience Week.
Celebrating Learning – What’s Happening in Classrooms.
Ms Schoch Year 8 Science – Circuits and Electricity
Year 8 students have been actively exploring series and parallel circuits, combining theory with hands-on investigation to deepen their understanding of how electricity works.
In the lesson pictured, students worked collaboratively to build circuits arranged both in a line (series) and side by side (parallel). Through this practical task, they were able to observe how current flows differently, and how this impacts the performance and reliability of each circuit. It was particularly encouraging to see students problem-solve, test ideas, and refine their designs as they worked.
Students are developing their ability to:
Use correct circuit symbols and diagrams
Explain how current and voltage behave in different circuit types
Describe the key differences between series and parallel circuits using real examples
This lesson is a strong example of our focus on active, visible learning, where students are not only understanding concepts but applying them through experimentation and discussion.
Ms Pandit Year 7 English class - A Long Walk to Water
This week, students explored resilience in times of war and conflict through A Long Walk to Water
They focused on completing their third body paragraph, using the topic sentence:“Linda Sue Park demonstrates the benefits of staying resilient when faced with difficult situations.”
Students also reviewed earlier paragraphs and used class brainstorming to strengthen their ideas and evidence. It’s been great to see their growing confidence in explaining complex themes.
Ms Tigas Year 7 Art - Perspective Art
This week in Art, students explored perspective and how artists create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. They focused on using key art elements—colour, shape, and line—to bring their ideas to life.
Students created imaginative name designs by layering and stacking block letters in different sizes and positions. By making letters larger at the bottom and smaller towards the top, they experimented with perspective to create a sense of space.
They also filled gaps with patterns using shape and line, before adding colour to enhance their final piece.
It’s been great to see students showing creativity and confidence as they apply these new skills!
Homework Club
Norwood Secondary College understands that students have different learning strengths, preferences and interests and may approach learning activities and homework differently. If parents/carers are concerned their child may not understand the homework tasks that have been set, or if their child is spending a long period of time completing their homework, we encourage parents/carers to speak to their child’s teacher.
Students who may benefit from support completing their homework tasks are encouraged to attend Homework Club held in the College Library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 3.15 and 4.15pm. Parent/carer permission is required to attend. Please complete the form below and return it to the General Office.
*For information on the school's Homework Policy, visit the Junior and Senior School Handbooks.