Teaching & Learning

In Greater Shepparton we have been fortunate enough to return to face-to-face teaching unlike our colleagues and students in Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire. We feel very fortunate that we are in the current position where we are able to facilitate learning in a face-to-face capacity whilst adhering to strict social distancing and hygiene protocols. Both students and staff have adapted tremendously to the new safety procedures in place to support the effective teaching and learning at Greater Shepparton Secondary College. 

 

In Term 3 all students at Greater Shepparton Secondary College will be selecting their subjects for 2021. This process will involve providing each student with a detailed subject selection booklet, holding student information sessions, hosting parent information sessions, and ensuring a rigorous subject counselling process takes place. Please see below the key dates for Senior Subject Selection:

 

-  Term 3/Week 3 – Students provided with “Senior Students Pathways Guide”

-  Term 3/Week 3 (Tuesday 28th July) – Student Information Session

-  Term 3/Week 3 (Tuesday 28th July) – Parent Information Session. This will be a virtual presentation.

-  Term 3/Week 3-6 – Student Subject Counselling

 

Information and dates around subject selections at all Year levels will be distributed through various communication channels, including Compass and the Newsletter.

 

In preparation for 2021 and ensuring a meticulous Year 8 into 9 subject selection process, Greater Shepparton Secondary College have established a Year 9 Curriculum Review Team. The team have been working with staff on the Mooroopna Campus to review the electives that were offered in 2020. 

 

There have been several new and innovative additions to the Year 9 elective program, including an AVID elective and a variety of extension electives.

 

The staff at Greater Shepparton Secondary College will participate in a Curriculum Day on Thursday 6th August. This will be a pupil-free day for all students. 

 

The focus of the professional learning will be on the effective implementation of our We LEARN Instructional Model. In the morning session Dr William Dejean will continue his work with Greater Shepparton Secondary College with an online presentation about differentiation and classroom engagement strategies.

 

 In the remaining sessions staff will work in their Campus-based Domain groups to write best-practice Instructional Model

lesson plans and to continue writing our new and innovative Year 8 and Year 10 curriculum 

for 2021.

 

Genevieve Simson, Megan Michalaidis and the Teaching and Learning Assistant Principals (Amy Gallacher, Stacie Lundberg, Julie Jerome and Kirsten Tozer) are working together to construct a series of professional learning videos on the various elements of the Greater Shepparton Secondary College Instructional Model. 

 

These videos will be rolled out across Term 3 in Campus professional learning sessions. The videos will also provide as a resource for all staff to revisit and they will support new staff to the College as part of the College Induction Process.

 

Term 3 will be a busy, but very productive Term for Domain Leaders and staff, as they will be actively engaging in writing the new Year 8 and 10 curriculum. Teaching and Learning Leaders will ensure that the eLearning strategies we learnt during flexible and remote learning are firmly embedded in our new curriculum. 

 

We are looking forward to 2021 when all students at all three campuses will be learning the same best-practice curriculum in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.

 

Megan Michalaidis

 

Associate Principal of Teaching & Learning

 

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION OF COMMON ASSESSED TASKS AT GREATER SHEPPARTON SECONDARY COLLEGE

As part of our plans  for involving our parents as partners in learning, we have introduced Common Assessment Tasks for each subject. 

 

We aim to give specific and effective feedback to our students that provides them with guidance on their next steps in learning, and to open this feedback up to parents. This means that in each Semester, for each subject, students will be expected to complete three Common Assessed Tasks (CATs). These tasks will give everyone an indication of their growth in learning. 

 

Students and parents will be informed, well before the due date for each task, through our Compass portal. This will enable students to see the specific skills and knowledge that their teachers are assessing them against, which assists them to set smart goals for their learning thus improving their academic achievement. Teacher feedback will also be provided regularly through our Compass Portal, which students and parents alike will be able to read. Compass provides us a wonderful opportunity to communicate with parents and students about learning outcomes. We encourage our parents and students to feel free to check this site regularly for updates as upcoming assessments are made visible. 

 

Caitey Wilton  

 

VCE English and Sociology

PLC and Data Leading Teacher