Message from Mr Whelan

Hello everyone

Our newsletter editor John Gowland is an expert user of InDesign and puts big hours in to produce an excellent product. He is now trialling iNewsletter, with the aim of reducing the time taken to produce the newsletter and increasing the hours he can give in support of learning and teaching in the College. Any feedback on this format will be appreciated: kcc-info@ww.catholic.edu.au  

It does not lend itself to hardcopy printing like inDesign and we will look at what is best to do for those who still appreciate the hardcopy. Thanks to John for his continued work in this area.

Our prayers and support are with Sue, Emily, Jack, Max and Molly McCaig following the loss of Peter last week. Many staff and students joined the huge and moving funeral ceremony at the Ganmain Sportsground on Wednesday. Max and Molly are students at Kildare while Jack and Emily are recent graduates.

     Eternal rest grant to him O Lord

     And let perpetual light shine upon him.

     Amen

We have been working hard this year on professional learning for teachers in the area of effective classroom practice. Teachers attend a coaching session, go on learning walks to observe other classes and focus on improving elements of their own practice in the classes they teach. Many teachers request a classroom learning survey to obtain feedback from students about how elements of the class are going. Many of you have seen the survey before. Here it is for those who have not: classroom survey.

We are receiving clear and consistent messages from these surveys from students across the College. These include:

• They understand and recognise elements of effective lessons.
• They appreciate the consistency of language and practice used by teachers.
• They want other students to try their hardest for the benefit of the class team.
• They resent the actions of students who disrupt learning or diminish the work of colleagues or teacher.

This work is helping students develop a language for talking about their learning and for talking about teaching. It is helping them express dissatisfaction with those who interrupt or inhibit learning. It is providing further justification for teachers to continue to work on improving classroom practice and to ask some students to do more. Thank you to all involved in this productive work. It is bringing improved learning to individuals and classes.

All the best