Red Cliffs Secondary College Newsletter

From the Principal

Term 4 Pathway back to onsite learning

Last weekend the Premier outlined a scheduled plan for all aspects of gradually reopening the state, including a model for returning education back onsite.  Schools have some level of control over this model.  Not all schools are the same, and in Sunraysia, we are unique as being the only 7-12 state school provider.

 

Whilst remote learning has been a challenge for all students, the impact on students in their final years of secondary education has been particularly difficult.  A huge emphasis is placed on the importance of the last years of schooling, which in turn places additional strains on the students.  Throwing a pandemic and remote learning on top of this has made year 12 and also year 11 an extremely difficult time.  The amount of time left in the school year for these students is also much shorter than it is for other year levels.

 

For these reasons, when students are allowed to return to school during term 4, we will be bringing back our year 12 and year 11 students (and for year 10's studying a unit 2 subject) earlier than our year 7 - 10 students.  This will allow our senior students to have privileged and prioritised time with their subject teachers.  

 

The Plan for return is below:

Week One, commencing Monday October 5th.

  • Monday 5th
    • Remote learning for all students, all year levels.
    • Onsite supervision for the small number of students who have been attending onsite (as per current situation)
  • Tuesday 6th
    • Same as Monday
  • Wednesday 7th
    • Same as Monday/Tuesday, however:
    • GAT being held in the Gymnasium.  Students who are completing a 3/4 subject will sit the General Achievement Test.  The GAT will have greater significance for students this year and is a vital part of their assessment.
    • Mask wearing will be required
  • Thursday 8th
    • Pupil Free/Webex Free Day
    • There will be no online classes provided this day, nor will there be any onsite supervision available.  This day will provide time for all staff to return back to school and collaborate with colleagues in order to prepare programs and to modify curriculum content ready for the rest of the year for all year levels.
  • Friday 9th
    • Year 11 and 12 students (and year 10’s who do a unit 2 subject) are on site for classes at school (those at TAFE/TTC will be at those locations)
    • The normal Friday timetable is followed for these students, therefore providing them with one single of each of their unit 2 and 4 subjects
    • Teachers of these subjects will be on site to teach these classes face to face
    • Mask wearing will be required.
    • Year 7-10 classes – remote learning.

Week Two, commencing October 12th

  • Monday 12th
    • Year 11 and 12 students (and year 10’s who do a unit 2 subject) are on site for classes at school  
    • The normal Monday timetable is followed for these students, therefore providing them with a double of half of their unit 2 and 4 subjects
    • Teachers of these subjects will be on site to teach these classes face to face
    • Mask wearing will be required.
    • Year 7-10 classes – remote learning will continue.
    • Onsite supervision for the small number of students who have been attending onsite (as per current situation)
  • Tuesday
    • Year 11 and 12 students (and year 10’s who do a unit 2 subject) are on site for classes at school  
    • The normal Tuesday timetable is followed for these students, therefore providing them with a double of the other half of their unit 2 and 4 subjects
    • Teachers of these subjects will be on site to teach these classes face to face
    • Mask wearing will be required.
    • Year 7-10 classes – remote learning.
    • Onsite supervision for the small number of students who have been attending onsite (as per current situation)
  • Wednesday - Friday
    • All students return to school – all year levels, all subjects
    • Normal timetable
    • All staff working onsite
    • Mask wearing required

Week 3 onwards – normal program.

 

This model provides the following:

  • It provides a “safety bubble” around the GAT, ensuring that it can go ahead with very little risk of infection
  • It priortises time for our senior students, who have limited time before their school year finishes

Supporting our senior students in their final stages of their secondary schooling is vitally important to our school.  I hope that all families can appreciate this and recognise the importance for our senior students in their last few weeks of their secondary schooling.

 

We have one more week of remote learning for term 3, before the commencement of the school holidays.  I cannot thank our school community enough for their resilience and support for our students during these past weeks.