The Long Journey through Remote Learning

Term 3 this year had 10 weeks and all but 2 weeks were spent in remote learning and teaching. We weren’t expecting this after we got through multiple, lengthy lockdowns last year, and, as yet, we are still uncertain of what’s ahead.

A tribute to the strength and resilience of our teachers who have just forged on. We know teaching in cyberspace is not a preferred model but our teachers have embraced this challenge and worked hard to educate our young people and stay sane in the process.

Thank you to all who have tried to keep students engaged this term, and that includes parents and families who have shouldered much responsibility ensuring their children are getting to their online classes and working hard. They have faced many computer and internet connection issues, as well as flagging enthusiasm and mental health issues. It is significant that there is now much emphasis on our need to foster mental health and the need to directly support engagement in education more than ever before.

We understand that many students have been thriving regardless but we also know that schools face a very real challenge of catching children up on their social and interpersonal skills that have been impossible to develop during repeated lockdowns. These will be a focus for us when our school returns.

Wellbeing Activities for Students and Staff

Student Wellbeing activities for students have been running once a week. These activities started with ‘Emotions’, then ‘Managing Stress’, then conclude with ‘Gratitude’ on Friday. Both students and staff have commented on how useful and worthwhile they have been! Thank you to the Wellbeing Team for organising these.

We have been running ‘Good On Yas’ for staff every week this term. This started as a jar for a weekly draw from nominations in the staff room but is now an online form where colleagues nominate others for the box of chocolates by highlighting how they have demonstrated the college values of Collaboration, Inclusivity or Growth.

We have been running Staff Friday night drinks in our personal rooms for a chance for staff to briefly catch up. Last week we ran a quiz about the campus which was a bit of fun before the weekend e.g. what was our school’s original motto?

During this last week of term staff and students are celebrating remote learning by running a competition to “bring your best background”. Our favorite so far is below:

Finally, last week Campus Leaders, Team Leaders and Campus Principals made a short video of support and encouragement for all students. We are looking at an even better repeat performance!

SLPs

Greater bookings than ever before contributed to a lot of fantastic Student Led Presentations on September 2 and 3. A large number of students made a 10 minute presentation to their families along with their Homegroup teacher and another teacher, focussing on their learning, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and goals. Their SLP demonstrated how students can take ownership over their learning and celebrate progress at school.

For many families and parents it was an emotional day - many teachers reported parents being quite emotional during the online presentations, beaming with pride or perhaps showing a few tears.

At the moment, leadership teams on each junior campus are contacting all students who were not able to present, offering them the opportunity to ‘redeem’ their SLP.

Thank you to all staff for facilitating the two days and well done to all students!

ABCN Aspirations Program

Twenty students from Kings Park and Sydenham Campuses have been participating in the ABCN Aspirations Mentoring program this term. The aspirations program is designed to familiarise students with the working world and equip them with skills to build a successful career. The

program this year has seen the students working with mentors from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Tomorrow will be the fourth and final session for the students. Whilst the program normally sees the students travel into the headquarters of the mentor company, this time around our students have had to undertake the program remotely.

The mentors have been talking about how they got into the line of work they are in, the journey they took to get there, what they like about doing their job among a number of other valuable mentoring sessions. Thank you Greg and your team for offering these experiences to our students.

A testimonial from Todd (one of the Campus Student Leaders at Kings Park):

The ABCN Aspirations program was a great benefit in helping me learn about the world of work and exposed me to the reality of the different stages of employment. With group-specific mentors, I was able to receive one-to-one help and learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses, my personal brand, and attributes employers actively look for in various industries. ABCN aided me in building skills in order to have a successful career, and was a great external program to participate in. Not only was this program educational and worthwhile, but it was also fun and engaging, with a positive environment and a wide range of activities and hands-on (online) work to complete. It was an honour to be chosen for this, as this enlightened my knowledge, provided me with insightful information, and helped me to learn about the world around me. Kind regards, Todd 10T1

eLearning

A strategy to improve student agency and parental engagement resulted in the eLearning team moving away from the staff eLearning weekly tips to student and family eLearning weekly tips in term 3. You would all have seen the Compass support videos and documents on a range of areas from understanding student attendance percentages to how to update your details in Compass.

To offer your thoughts on the success of this initiative and to provide input on future communications to families and students please provide your feedback via this online form, https://forms.gle/EDeedLP26mNDjD8m8

Course Selections

The pathways and student management teams have worked in groups and individually with students to give them advice and information as they choose subjects for next year.

We have this information sooner than any year before and are able to make staffing and subject decisions based on student need and interest.

Tutoring Program

Tutoring of a large number of students has continued with mixed success throughout the remote learning period. Many students and teachers have reported how beneficial this has been even though it has been difficult to connect via video-conferencing.

All tutors complete an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that focuses on a learning goal with each tutored student. This IEP is informed by an analysis of learning data and conversations between student, teacher and tutor.

Building Works

The paving area near the soccer pitch has been improved. Also the L Team staff office renovation has been completed and now we are preparing quotes for carpet tiles.

Additional Student Programs

Pasifika Thrive

This program finished for year 8 & 9 Islanders in semester 1 but we have secured a special deal to continue with the program in semester 2. We have targeted our year 7 students to begin in semester 2. This has moved to online delivery in term 3.

MENTOA Mentoring Program

Program offered to disengaged year 9 and 10 students, using physical activity and teamwork to improve engagement at school. This program started in July at Kings Park, but was postponed until we return to school due to the physical nature of this program.

All the best

Mr Mark Nugent and Mr Lance Petherick

Campus Principals

Sydenham News