WHSC Newsletter

Holiday Homework

& Learning

Teacher tips for making the most of your Easter school holidays at home.

With so much going on in the world these school holidays, it's important to keep yourself safe, engaged, and healthy in both mind and body while staying home as much as possible. While Netflix and YouTube are great ways to kill a few hours, don't forget that there's heaps of simple things you can do to make sure you're ready and raring to learn when the holidays end. To get you in the right headspace, some of our fantastic teaching staff have offered to share their top tips (and their home workstations) to help you form good work routines, plan and use your time productively, and above all, stay positive!

Mr. Pedro Mello | STEM Learning Specialist

I am spending my school holidays planning lessons for my students in science, maths and the technologies for when we return to school, hopefully, next term! Regardless of when we come back, these new lessons will have to look a bit different. Collaboration might no longer mean face-to-face in the classroom but will now be driven by digital platforms. Certainly challenging but also an exciting push into the modern world.

 

To get me through this time I am making sure that work time is work time and relaxing time is relaxing time. I am still waking up early and going through my normal routine, ready to start my day at 8:30 am. Scheduling breaks and eating meals at the right times is essential for me to be successful and keep me motivated! It is also important that when I have my break I leave my work desk, located in our spare room, and I give myself the opportunity to fully unwind. Whether this is by going for a walk with the dog, playing some video games or doing the Himeji Castle 3D puzzle I have been meaning to do for a year!

Ms. Michelle Galea | VCAL / Pathways

I will be spending these holidays looking at the current curriculum and ways that this can be taught remotely for students (if required). I will be making sure that students are offered the best learning opportunities in our digital age and accessing the resources to do this. Work tasks for students will be planned to engage students in the best means possible using the resources that they have available to them. After the holiday period I will be available to respond to students and families regarding learning platforms and opportunities.

 

When you're doing school work at home these holidays, it is important to maintain routines (i.e getting up at the same or similar time and getting showered and dressed). Take the time and make an effort to set up a space for your learning, a space that is not distracting and comfortable. Having headphones might help with distractions as there are likely to be distractions when you are at home.

 

If you're working for a long time, remember to have a break and leave your working space, get up and move around, go outside and get some fresh air, go for a walk (making sure that you are maintaining social distancing), read a book, or partake in your hobbies and interest areas.

 

It is important that we not only look after our physical bodies but our mind as well during this time. There are free meditation and mental health apps that you can use to relax your mind. Here are some of many that are available:

  • Headspace - A free App of meditation and mindfulness activities.
  • Calm - A meditation program aimed at beginners, including programs that that are aimed for more advanced users, sleep stories (for teens and adults), soothing nature sounds and leisure to relax you.
  • Aura - A personalised meditation experience, the app learns by asking you questions, you then receive a 3-minute mindfulness meditation based on your answers. It is designed to help you control your stress and thoughts better to reduce stress and increase positivity.
  • Stop, Breathe, Think - A personalised meditation and mindfulness experience. It delivers meditation and mindfulness strategies based on your current emotions and feelings.

Ms. Genelle Lentini | Performing Arts Leader

Planning for Performing Arts subjects to be potentially run remotely isn’t an easy task… but we’re working all through the holidays to make it a smooth transition! This is my desk space… mug of coffee at the ready, sanitiser on standby (because that’s the reality we live in now), a pink notepad and R2D2 pen (because normal paper and pens are boring), and my avocado stress ball on hand (you all know why). I try and only put things on my desk that I need to focus on for that particular task. If I was marking, I would have a pile of assignments next to me.

 

My chair is comfy and my desk is free from a lot of clutter – because I know I need to focus in the coming days. I also make sure that I have a space in my living room to run practical lessons too! Just because we are working at studying at home these holidays doesn’t mean we can’t be creative and share stories and art – in fact it’s definitely more important than ever! Make sure you are looking after yourself and each other. Get fresh air, listen to music you love that motivates you, and wash your hands!

Mr. Ben Shepherd | Year 7 Coordinator

The prospect of learning and teaching remotely presents all of us with a challenge, and who doesn’t love a challenge, right? Preparedness is key here, having a healthy working space will make this transition easier. Now, my house doesn’t actually have a designated study area (as ordinarily I do most of my work at school – but these are not ordinary times we are living in) so I will be transforming the dining table into a makeshift desk.

 

I like to keep my materials compact so I can easily pack them up and move them around should the need arise (all students have strong locker game, I know you are all accustomed to this!). Being a habitual creature I like to have my notepad and diary right on hand so I don’t miss anything important (a cup of coffee is never far away).

 

We teachers have been meeting regularly using the software MS ‘Teams’ to share ideas, make plans and prepare ourselves for Term 2 -  I consistently make notes on dates, need to know information, and list things I need to do. A great habit I live by is putting my phone in another room when I sit down to plan my lessons or mark student assessments. These devices are a distraction! Try it out, I promise you your productivity will improve.

 

Find the time (when you’re not studying) to check in with your friends and loved ones, stay connected, because it is time like these that we need to lean each other. Lastly, find time for yourself, exercise regularly, eat healthy and stay safe.

Ms. Claire Hanley | Literacy Specialist

"It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Albus Dumbledore.

 

As I sit and work around the online learning opportunities for our students, I feel overwhelmed and anxious, but then I stare at my Lego Hogwarts Castle and feel at ease. Why? Because I don’t have to fight trolls, three headed dogs, Umbridge or Death Eaters! Why do you think??

 

But seriously, I feel at ease learning how to use online platforms because I choose to offer the best education for our students. I don’t have an expert ability to use this technology. Yet. But I choose to get better and I choose to ask for help and collaborate with my peers whenever I can.

 

WHSC have been communicating with each other every day during the last week of term using Teams and other online communication tools. In such difficult times, I am in awe of how the WHSC staff have the energy and engagement to take on this new challenge and tackle the online beast, the way Harry takes on Voldemort. We now ask the community, parents and students to do the same, and we know you will. If we do enter remote learning, our students will need to choose to come on this adventure with us.

Ms. Kerrie Lay | Sport Coordinator

Yes teenagers, the world did exist before the year 2000. I remember the year 2000 well for two reasons:

  1. Cathy Freeman won an amazing gold medal at the Sydney Olympic Games in the 400m. Australia had not won this event since the 1964 games in Tokyo.
  2. The AFL Grand Final win by the mighty Bombers against the Demons was the culmination of a fantastic season by Essendon. (James Hird captain, Kevin Sheedy coach)

I work from home in my study that has reminders of these two events. I prefer lots of light and fresh air when working, so my desk is next to a window and usually open. A list of things to do, a clear working space, and a hair band help me be most productive (hair in my face is very annoying). Creating an organised space to work and listing tasks to be completed would be my best advice for students working at home these holidays.

 

I feel very grateful to work with fantastic colleagues that support me. Challenging times create opportunities to learn together. It’s important to show gratitude and kindness to those around us, and be considerate of others’ space if we end up in lock down and working remotely for a period of time. Work hard and keep well.