Principal's Report
Remote Learning Update
The highlight of my week was attending the Year 7 & 8 assemblies on Microsoft Teams. I was really pleased to see students presenting live to their peers and sharing their experiences of school work and keeping themselves occupied in isolation.
This week students have also enjoyed their first mentor group meetings and the ability to see and chat with their mentor teacher and classmates. Lots of students have also been engaged in the daily challenges to assist them with learning the various functions and features within Microsoft Teams.
Starting next week, junior students will have the opportunity to attend a session for each of their subjects via Microsoft Teams. Whilst these are not compulsory, we are encouraging students to attend to ask questions about their task for the week, receive feedback on their work along with explicit instruction. Students have been provided with a timetable of their sessions starting next week (with the exception of Year 10 students who were provided with instructions to construct their own).
We know that many students are enjoying the flexibility of when they complete their work. This flexibility is also working for families who are sharing work spaces in the house. This is why we are not making these sessions compulsory. I encourage families to discuss expectations around attendance and develop a plan for the week. It is important that parents and carers are not expected to 'home-school' their children, however we greatly appreciate you working in partnership with us and assisting your child to ensure that there are clear expectations about the completion of work.
Some subjects will be moving to one learning task due for submission every two weeks rather than every week. We are making this change to reduce the workload involved in uploading tasks for subjects with only a small amount of normal contact time each week, particularly practical based subjects where students are usually working on one task over several weeks. These changes are applicable for:
Year 7
Music, Drama, Art, Learning About Me, Food, IT
Year 8
Music, Drama, Art, Learning for Now, Food, IT, PE
Student engagement in the learning tasks continues to be very good (make sure you check out student work page and year level newsletters for example student work) and appears that, for the most part student workload in the junior school is equating to approximately 3-4hrs of work per day. If you have any concerns regarding the workload that you child is being given, that you contact the relevant teacher or coordinator.
Reminder: Year Level Assemblies
Year 7: Mondays 1-1.20pm
Year 8: Wednesdays 1-1.20pm
Year 9: Mondays 11-11.45am
Year 10: Mondays 10-10.30am
Return to Onsite Learning
Despite announcements from the federal government that states will begin to ease social distances rules, there is as yet, no indication regarding when we might return to onsite learning.
I will ensure that we communicate with families in the first instance when their is any updates to share with the school community.
Student Newsletters
It has been great to see students sending in responses to the weekly challenges and examples of their work.
It has also been really motivating to hear the messages from our student leaders. You can view the newsletters via:
Careers
VET/Pathways Coordinator - Karen Talbot will continue to be active and available in supporting students remotely via Microsoft teams: tal@prsc.vic.edu.au
Check out the PRSC Careers website https://www.pattersonriversccareers.com/ It will become a hub of up-to-date information regarding pathways and career choices. It will be updated regularly, including the addition of upcoming virtual University open days, events and VTAC news.
Also, feel free to email: Karen.talbot@education.vic.gov.au
Grade 6-7 Transition Update
Applications for Year 7 enrolment for 2021 have been extended to Friday 29 May 2020 due to COVID-19. Parents will need to return their preference form to their primary school by this date.
Primary schools are in the process of distributing these forms to Grade 6 families. The form can also be found via: bit.ly/DETtransition
Due to the impact of current restrictions on planned transition events, Patterson River Secondary College is making a number of changes to planned events to support grade 6 families this term. These include:
EXCEL (ACADEMIC & SPORTS) TESTING
• Registrations extended
• Testing postponed until later this term/early next term due to the dynamic nature of our programs.
FACEBOOK LIVE EVENTS
• Hear from the Principal and the Transition Team
• Live Q&A
• Tuesday 12 May 4.30 pm
SPEAK TO THE PRINCIPAL OR TRANSITION TEAM
• Arrange a 1:1 or phone or video call
• Arrange a group video call with friends
• To organise call (03) 8770 6700
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Interview process postponed
Further Information:
Mr Daniel Dew
College Principal