Learning & Teaching News

Getting a Headstart

We’re partnering with @EdroloHQ to give teachers and students in our senior school extra superpowers in 2023 💪⚡💥 Our students are using Edrolo to: 

• Time travel: Students can watch videos prior to class and get ahead on key concepts, so they’re ready to ask questions in class. Plus they can revise and revisit content taught in class (especially useful if they need extra time to learn a concept or miss a class) 
• Read minds: Video solutions and assessment rubrics so they can understand the content and what assessors are looking for in responses. 
• Have x-tra focus: All lesson content and questions in one place, easy to navigate and track their progress. 

Our students in Accounting, Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, English, Food Studies, General Mathematics, Health & Human Development, History, Legal Studies, Mathematical Methods, Media, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Specialist Mathematics, Art: Marking & Exhibiting, and Visual Communication & Design have access to Edrolo online. If they’ve missed school or are absent they can check out what they might have missed, in addition to speaking with their classroom teacher. Edrolo is used by 250,000+ students in 1,100+ schools across Australia, and we’re excited to be offering Edrolo to our students.

New Semester Eve

Staff at St. Peter’s College will spend Monday, 14 November, completing their marking and updating SPACE grades to conclude the 2022 academic year. Following that, on Tuesday, November 15th students will return to school to partake in a variety of activities with a curriculum and pastoral focus. 

Our Year 10’s and 11’s will attend exam feedback sessions with their teachers - with the aim to learn from their efforts in their first year of VCE and set their sights on success in their final year of schooling. 

Year 7, 8 and 9 students across the school will be participating in Peer Support sessions, pastoral sessions, House Christmas decorations, sports activities, and of course - returning their 2022 textbooks to the library so they can be prepared for their new owners! 

Headstart

On Wednesday, 16 November, St. Peter’s College staff and students will embark on our Headstart program. Headstart aims to support the transition from the 2022 academic year to 2023. It provides an educational advantage to all students by strengthening their skills through the seamless continuation of their learning journey. 

There are numerous benefits to starting the new academic year after the conclusion of the examination period. For our seniors, learning how to be better prepared for the rigours of VCE and VCE/VM requirements will help to build confidence with the content and experience some early successes in their classes. It will also ensure that the post-examination period is dedicated to the continuation of the learning journey, and provides an opportunity for subject changes before we return next year - limiting disruption to Unit 1 and Unit 3 sequences. Teachers have prepared coursework and learning experiences that will assist with the assessments that students will undertake in the new year. Work undertaken during Headstart will contribute to assessment and reporting for the year ahead.

For all students, Headstart provides an opportunity to undertake some independent study over the summer break. Pastorally, students will be able to familiarise themselves with their new classrooms and classmates which alleviates a lot of the anxieties students might experience over the extended break, so they can hit the ground running with a positive mindset when we all return to school in February. 

And while we encourage our students to reconnect with friends, family and leisure pursuits, we remind our VCE students of the importance of completing holiday homework tasks. It is essential to remember that VCE is about ranking. If there are other students from other schools using holiday time to get ahead, it is only natural that they stand to gain an advantage in the ranking. The VCE rewards hard work. Raw talent can go some way towards success, but our education system is designed to reward practice and persistence. That is what is fair and equitable about VCE; it is also why it is so challenging. 

Subject Changes

It is essential that students pick the right subjects. But, it is inevitable that some students find themselves in a subject that does not suit their career aspirations or area of interest, and subsequently needs to change. 

This needs to be done as quickly as possible. Joining a class several weeks into Term puts a student at a disadvantage. Therefore, we are happy for students to apply for subject changes, but they must be aware that the closing date is Week 2 of Headstart. 

The process for a subject change (below) has been shared with students.

1. Speak with your House Leader.  They will create an Operoo subject change form that gets sent for approval to the Curriculum Team.
2. Parents will receive an Operoo form to sign.  Once they sign this, the office will process the change.
3. Once your new subject appears on your timetable, you may then, and only then, attend that class.

Jade Smith                                                                          David Hansen

Learning & Teaching Pedagogical Coach            Deputy Principal - Learning & Teaching

– Cranbourne