Teaching & Learning during COVID

To ensure continuity of learning while maintaining the wellbeing for students, staff and their families we adapted our learning and teaching model significantly. Years 7 - 10 focussed on English, Mathematics and Health and Physical Education and offered students much more choice about what they studied through project-based learning and a reduced subject load. From this came a range of learnings about ourselves and our students.

Students liked and demonstrated a greater independence and autonomy over their learning. They liked to be able to control the pace and have flexibility and were highly self-reflective. They also really enjoyed exploring their passions through project-based learning.

Staff were very adaptable, flexible and capable of enormous change. They developed their level of care for students, worked extremely hard to pivot the delivery of knowledge and skills online. We were also quick to transform our use of technology to enhance learning like never before.

Steve McPhail

AP: Learning and Teaching

Year 10

We had quite an unusual year in 2020 at Killester College. The good news is that both staff and students were able to adjust all that they knew about the running of a school in order to come through all of the challenges, to the other side. 

I was very proud of my Year 10 cohort. They attended online Google classroom sessions and were able to complete and submit work in a variety of different forums. Of special note, were the Passion Projects that the girls did during first Semester. The girls were unable to complete a number of their practical and elective subjects, and so were instead asked to create their own project of whatever they were passionate about. We were very lucky to return to school, albeit for a short period, where students were able to present their projects to the rest of the Year level. So much of the work that was produced was of an excellent standard and showed what many were capable of if there was something truly driving them. Congratulations to all of the students, in the other levels as well. 

Coming back to school in 2021 has brought new challenges, such as social issues with friends who have not been seen for an extended period; not having the opportunity to complete any exams during Year 10; and getting used to the routines of school all over again. I am confident that the resilience the students showed in the past year will help them move through the hurdles of VCE and their general school life

Trelene Luecke

Year 11 Student Development Leader

Student Passion Projects during COVID 2020