Learning and Teaching Update

News from the learning and Teaching world 

Dear Parents and Caregivers

These are times none of us could have imagined, and as children around the world struggle to process the realities that COVID-19 has ushered into their lives, they need our calm, thoughtful guidance more than ever. School, which so often provides stability and structure for children, is no longer a constant. It is our responsibility as teachers, parents, and caregivers to maintain a positive outlook and focus on staying healthy and engaging in constructive activity so that we can support and guide children through these difficult and uncertain days.  

We understand the anxiety that many families are feeling about their children not being able to benefit from teaching in the classroom each day.  Families are anxious that children not fall behind, and educators are anxious about fulfilling their roles as educators through this time. Your voice, your steady guidance, and your familiar face are all sources of security during an unpredictable time.

Week 3 Highlights

This week some teachers have trialled small focus teaching groups. These groups have been introduced with some students across the school, with different teachers and in different year levels. This is really new for all of us as we have never been trained in this way of teaching, nor have we ever done this before! But our teachers are a passionate group of educators who have gone above and beyond to learn, adapt and try new ways to reach their students and help them learn. Despite many challenges and limited time to prepare, teachers have shown great resilience and resourcefulness in creating opportunities to comfort and engage students.They have demonstrated a phenomenal ability to problem-solve, face these new challenges with energy, and share their learnings with each other. 

Week 4 - Specialist Day

Starting in week 4, we have also made the decision to have a day of Specialist classes for each year level. On one day each week, your child’s class will have the Specialist Lessons of Performing Arts, Physical Education, Visual Art and Japanese. On this day, a Specialist Teacher will do the morning check in via Google and continue to be available to respond to questions during the day about the activities posted. The Specialists will communicate with your child’s class to let them know who will be doing the check in.

There is no ideal situation right now for children, for families, or for educators, and we can only focus on doing our best with the resources that make the most sense for instructional continuity at this unprecedented time. Our empathy, patience, and flexibility have been and will continue to be our most important strengths in the days ahead. 

I take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly the parents, caregivers and adults who are spending time at home helping your children learn. We understand how challenging this is, whatever be the circumstances in your home! We as a learning community are thankful for your support, and we are always available to help. A huge appreciation for our students who are trying their best at home to check in with their teachers, complete some tasks and ask for help! We are so proud of all of you! 

Let's keep learning, reaching out  and being kind to one another!

Glennis Kerr

Teaching and Learning Leader

Our Discovery Room (STEM/STEAM/MAKERSPACE/TINKERING)

A very exciting project that we are working on in isolation is the development of our Discovery space, a concept born from our Year 3/4 learners. We had an empty space, a beautiful, light filled space that needed some love and our student voice has asked for many things to be in there. Their wish list included, a giant world map (we have one ready to install as well as several lovely old world and different aspect maps, interesting books about different cultures, facts about Prime Ministers, a green screen, building equipment and making tools. The space is developing and will enable, more cooking (beyond our student kitchens we already have, sewing, robotics, programming, constructing, designing, problem solving, and so much more. Now that we have one to one ipads in 3-6 and trolleys to share in P-2, there is so much our students want to do with their new devices and new knowledge. It is time to apply it! We are currently sorting new equipment into plastic tubs so that we are ready to timetable our classes in when we return.