Principal Report 

The professional learning focus for Berwick College teaching staff this year is the role of assessment in learning. Staff have been working in professional learning communities to increase their skill in using a range of instructional strategies to determine student understanding during the lesson. Teachers then participate in classroom observations in order to monitor their teaching response to checks for student understanding. 

The school is also participating in a peer review process where we are working with the leadership teams of Nossal High School, Fountain Gate Secondary College and Gleneagles Secondary College to provide independent feedback on the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model. Berwick College was the first school to showcase our practice earlier this term, during which we undertook a learning walk to assess the level of formative assessment occurring in classrooms. The feedback we received was indeed positive. The strategies we are implementing, in this blind trial, are absolutely having an impact on both teaching and learning at Berwick College. 

An incidental piece of feedback was the significant improvement in our orderly learning environments. 

There are fewer students out of class. 

There are more students engaged in learning.

There are more students being accountable for their own behaviours. 

There are more students demonstrating the school values through the Positive Behaviour Matrix.

This Tuesday, staff will participate in a professional learning day, which focuses on assessment and reporting. This year, we have updated the progress reports so that parents can see how their child is demonstrating the values of the school in their classes. Staff are putting much time and effort into these assessments as it is these learning behaviours that will lead to life long success. We strongly ask parents and carers to engage with the information contained in the progress reports. 

The school is also working to provide meaningful information to parents and carers about student progress against the curriculum. For year 7 -10 students, this means that teachers are providing an assessment of where the student learning currently sits, against the expected standard. On Tuesday teachers will be working to ensure those judgements are accurate and aligned. This will support parents and carers to engage meaningfully with their children about their learning progress in the classroom. 

It should be noted by parents and carers that the recent industrial action will impact the delivery of some of the reporting material. While all teachers have continued professional learning throughout the year, one aspect of the industrial action means that there may be some gaps in the reports provided throughout this term. 

I am excited to share that we have received the preliminary results from the Student Attitudes to School Survey. Across the school there has been a 20% increase in students feeling proud to be a student at this school. I am very much looking forward to sharing more information about this cultural lift when I have all the confirmed results.

The principal team recently attended the Department of Education's state-wide principal conference. It was a privilege to spend two days learning with my colleagues and pushing ourselves into a learning mindset that will ensure Berwick College benefits from the most recent research into such topics as; the science of learning, the role of AI in learning and teaching, and the effective use of a multi-tiered system of support to ensure no student gets left behind. 

Josie Millard - Principal