Principal's Report

Maximising learning growth to ensure all students can thrive.

Action Learning Tasks

Did you know that our teachers also have learning tasks that they complete? Whilst we may be teachers, we are also learners, and part of our culture is to continue to learn new things so that we can be the best educators possible for our students. To support the learning of our teachers, we implement Action Learning Tasks. These tasks allow teachers to focus on building their skills and improving their practice in a particular area. 

For Semester 2, our teachers are completing Action Learning Tasks (ALT’s) focused on using Learning Pathways within a unit of work. Learning Pathways are a form of rubric that map all the skills that students will learn in a particular area. As students progress along the pathway, the skills expected become more advanced and complex. Unlike a rubric, a Learning Pathway is not only used to assess a student’s skill at the end of the unit of learning. A Learning Pathway is used at multiple times throughout the unit so that the student can see what they can do and what they need to do next (goal). Teachers then use this information to adapt their teaching to meet students at their point of need. As they go through this process several times within a unit, the teaching becomes more targeted and students can see their continued learning growth as they make their way along the pathway. 

Our teachers are currently trialling the use of Learning Pathways across a unit of work in Year 7 classes. Some teachers are also trialling this in other year levels. In doing so, our teachers are exploring the delivery of the Learning Pathway to students as a developmental tool to track growth and inform point of need teaching.   We are excited to see the outcome of this trial. From early reports, we are confident that this will have positive outcomes for our students. 

Learning Walks

Our Leadership Team has recently been conducting Learning Walks throughout the school. These Learning Walks are an integral part of our Shared Practice model, where groups of teachers visit various classrooms to observe and reflect on the implementation of the College’s teaching and learning priorities. The goal is to spark meaningful conversations about teaching practices, supporting a shared vision of high-quality instruction that maximises student learning growth.

This term, the Learning Walks have focused on observing key areas such as Student Engagement, Stimulated Learning and Respect. In addition, we have been holding student focus groups at each year level to gather insights on these same focus areas. The evidence and feedback gathered from both the Learning Walks and the Student Focus Groups will guide our future planning and strategies, ensuring that we continue to enhance learning outcomes and create an environment where all students can thrive.

Right to disconnect

You may have heard recently about the Right to disconnect, an amendment to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023. The legislation makes explicit that all employees have the right to refuse contact from their employer or a third party (this includes students and/or parents) outside of their normal working hours, unless that refusal is unreasonable. This means that under this new amendment to the legislation, staff at Lilydale Heights College are not obliged to monitor, read or respond to contact that occurs outside their normal working hours.

We have a wonderful College community and I believe that this new amendment will not have a great impact on us. Our students and families already know that they can reach out to staff via phone or email during school hours, and that our staff will respond as soon as possible around their teaching and administration responsibilities. When emailing staff outside of school hours, our community understands and respects that staff will respond to them during school hours. In doing so, our staff have the opportunity to disconnect and recharge once they leave the College. Strong partnerships with families are incredibly important to us, and by working together, we can continue to provide the best support for our students.

Japan Tour

In a few weeks time, 24 students and four staff (including myself) will be heading overseas to Japan on an incredible tour. Students will have the amazing opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, visit our sister school and explore the wonders of Takamatsu, Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and Ohta. Please keep an eye on Facebook as I am sure we will be sending through many photos of the trip. 

On behalf of the students, their families and staff, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Richard Myddleton, Penne Evans and Mayumi Takahashi-Chan for their organisation of this wonderful experience for our students. Organising an overseas trip for a school takes over a year to organise and I am incredibly grateful that we can offer opportunities like this to students at Lilydale Heights College.  

Shane Kruger

Principal.