Message from the Director of Learning - Mr Jason Tickner

Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to the parents/guardians of our senior students for the support you have provided in the weeks of remote learning through Term 2. I continue to be proud of the talented and dedicated team of teachers within senior school, who were able to continue to lead and teach our students in challenging times brought on by COVID-19. Our senior students were able to adapt quickly to remote learning, demonstrating great maturity and resilience to overcome a myriad of obstacles. Collectively, our remote teaching and learning program focussed on ensuring the health and safety of our students by maintaining connectedness with their teachers and their peers, while creating safe, supported and stimulated learning within a virtual environment. In our transition back to face-to-face learning, both staff and students within the senior school were able to once again step up and deliver. We have focussed on maintaining high expectations and nurturing authentic relationships with our students, as they returned to the classroom. Moving ever closer to the end of term, students have settled well, and continue to work hard with their teachers to cover course content within their subject areas. With the cancellation of Year 11 exams, both staff and students have had more time to review, refine and submit all course work and assessment tasks to fully demonstrate their abilities and progress in their subject areas.

All staff and students have received comprehensive and regular updates regarding changes to the presentation and content of the VCE and VCAL programs, impacted by COVID-19. All teachers with senior sub-school have done an enormous amount of work to ensure that students have been taken through these changes and the impact to their individual subjects. As sub-school leader, I feel confident that both staff and students are well prepared to move into Semester 2 teaching and learning with optimism, focussing on academic success.

As previously advised, changes to VCE and VCAL programs can be accessed through the

VCAA website:

https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/news-and-events/latest-news/Novel%20coronavirus%20update/Pages/default.aspx.

Currently, senior school management is finalising modifications to external exam and GAT preparations with information disseminated to students early next term.

In the transition back to school, there has also been a strong focus on student wellbeing. It is imperative that students feel supported by their school community, especially in a term, which has had so many changes and challenges placed in front of them. It has been a priority to work with school leadership and student wellbeing to develop and implement responses and processes to support senior students with their wellbeing issues in a timely and effective manner. Last week, a majority of our Year 12 students participated in a mindfulness workshop in iCreate study space-time. This was the first week of a three-week wellbeing program, focussed on providing our senior students with the opportunity and tools to better manage stress and anxiety. In Semester 2, all senior students will participate in this program, further building their capacity to exercise resilience and balance in times of personal hardship.

Approaching the end of term, our senior teachers are also finalising coursework completion and assessments with both VCE and VCAL programs. A number of learning support strategies have been actioned to provide students with additional support outside of the learning within the classroom. Catch-up sessions, subject tutorials and, more recently, lunchtime study groups are now running for students. We are collectively encouraging students to access these opportunities, enhancing their potential for academic success. Additionally, our VCE students are being provided with external opportunities to engage in exam preparation tutorials and resources. This in turn further enhances their ability to revise content and consolidate the learning that is occurring within the classroom. With Term 2 holidays fast approaching, it is imperative that both VCE and VCAL students catch up on outstanding coursework and review content taught in Terms 1 & 2. Please discuss with your son/daughter what holiday homework has been set in their individual subjects, as completion of this work will ensure students begin well in Term 3. Importantly, this work should be balanced with other activities that promote physical and mental health and wellbeing.

In what has been a very busy and tumultuous term, the staff and students within senior sub-school have come through this difficult time with excellence. Our team of teachers now look forward to finishing off the term well, supporting our students’ academic progress and personal development.

Thank you.

Mr Jason Tickner

Remote Learning Reflections

Bad

Worried about how my students would learn

Had I left anything at work – would I be able to get in to get it?

Worried about my awful internet connection at home

More screen time – eyes hurt

How was I going to deliver this?

Students who would not talk or even “chat”

Not seeing the students faces – unable to gauge their understanding quickly

No separation of home and school

Constantly worried I was going to be pulled up by the police when I was out in my car

Worried about me and my family getting the virus

The thought of all those people who were unemployed or lost their jobs made me sad

Good

Being at home with my family

Saving money

PJs all day

No bell

Being safe inside

No driving 1-2 hours a day

Sitting in front of our fire on a rainy day teaching students

Being able to walk my dogs earlier than usual

Having lunch with my son everyday

Watching my puppy playing whilst I was teaching. Hilarious

Peace and quiet of the roads

Petrol prices LOW

Ms Stenning

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Although remote learning was a challenging time for a number of reasons, I was able to draw two great positives from the situation. I was able to acquire a range of new ICT skills competencies that I would not otherwise have had the need to learn. I have now taken these new skills back into the classroom to conduct online tutorials and communicate more effectively with students. Secondly, I was able to have a real impact in my own children’s education while overseeing their remote learning. The time spent has provided me with great insight into their strengths and areas for improvement, which I was able to feedback to their teachers. The experience and time spent with them was unforgettable!

Mr Tickner

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My days during remote learning were largely filled with keeping my toddler aged twins (Marco and Carla) entertained whilst teaching my senior students. Yes there were some hurdles along the way and though it was challenging, I also found it incredibly fun as well. Some of my favourite moments being when my son peeped over behind me to yell out “Hi mummy” in front of my Year 12 Accounting class, my Year 11 Accounting students getting so lost in the recording into accounting records during Period 4 that we went almost 10 minutes overtime because we were so engaged in the learning and progress and also sharing some mindfulness and wellbeing activities with the Year 10s in How the Mind and Body Ticks with Christalia. What I learned most of all is that learning can happen in many forms – and that many of the individuals I have had the pleasure to work with are MORE resilient than they realise themselves. I’m mostly grateful for the closer connection that this experience brought to my relationship with my students and with my colleagues as well. An experience I’ll never forget.

Ms Briffa

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My first reactions and feelings towards remote learning were utterly selfish. I was excited to be able to stay home with my pets, to catch a few episodes of ‘The Office’ in my lunch break, even to have a cheeky nap in my bed in spare periods when I was feeling particularly drained. However, as I properly started to plan and prepare, I saw that I would have to rely greatly on my IT skills and literacy. This made me feel both apprehensive and excited – after many years of guilt at the small forests I’ve consumed with my photocopying, I would finally be able to practise using the vast array of digital resources and programs that I’d heard about during my studies at uni, and those that have come out and been developed since. Remote Learning meant that I got to be more creative with my iPad (and my Apple Pencil!). It meant that I got to explore resources that helped my students for whom English was a second language access and understand the work (thanks Immersive Reader). It meant that I could help my students develop their skills and confidence as independent learners, helping them expand their inquiry and questioning. It also meant that I had a lot more headaches from looking at a screen all day. It also meant that I felt a bit lonely talking to screen names and avatars when no one would turn their cameras on. It also meant that I missed seeing my friends and colleagues, and hearing the excited voices of students around school.

Overall, remote learning was a learning experience for me. I enjoyed so much of it but also learned to appreciate my students more. I’m excited to use the skills I have learned during remote learning in my classroom moving forward, and to make up for all the forests I’ve killed over the years.

I do miss hanging out with my dog though . . .

Ms Papagiannopoulos

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Remote learning was an interesting time for everyone. It was hard talking to myself as everyone was shy and had their cameras and microphones turned off. But we had weekly catch ups after class in small groups to see how everyone was going. Did you all see the other Ms Luong during our remote classes? She was the supervisor to that made sure everyone was logging in and waving hi!

Biology brine shrimp experiment at home!!

Nothing was going to stop us not completing our outcome “practical investigation”! For students completing Unit 1 Biology, they were lucky to have experimental kits delivered to their houses (a big thanks to Ms Phillips and delivery courier). Students had to investigate how different concentration of salty water affect the rate of hatching brine shrimp eggs. Students were able to observe, analyse and discuss their experiment in the safety of their own home. They could see the brine shrimp busy swimming and constantly bumping into the side of the petri dishes. The students completing Unit 3 Biology have currently prepared their experiment at home and are waiting for brine shrimps to hatch!

Ms. Luong-Nguyen

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Starting a new position with a new VCAL Foundation group, and 2 junior science classes, it was an interesting challenge trying to establish a connection with the groups, and create an interesting and challenging curriculum, whilst getting to know students I had never met in person.

The routine of ‘home work’ and lockdown was something I liked. Living in an eerily quiet city was definitely ‘different’ but I had hope and a strong feeling that we as a nation could ‘manage’ the COVID 19, as the Westall community has managed it since return to school for seniors and juniors.

Mr Vevers

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Remote learning during these unusual times

Required us to think outside the box all the time

With possibilities for us to grow and thrive

Our 21st century learners sitting in their hives

Explored the online world with vigour and jive.

Ms Vasilakis

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TEACHERS ON CALL

(Tune of Brick in the Wall)

We all learnt in remote education

Learning on ‘Teams’ while being at home

No face to face lessons in the classroom

Teachers set the work, when roll marking was done

Hey teachers we did it on our own

All in all we are just great students for all

All in all we are just great students standing tall

We met on ‘Teams’, with mikes and cameras,

Meeting at 9 for period one

Doing daily reviews and giving responses

Missing our friends, but sleep-ins were fun

Hey Teachers you helped us learn from home

Even getting our SACs and CATs done

After all we are just student legends, us all

After all we have, great teachers on call

Ms Jarvis

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Ms Sakurai

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I was amazed, impressed and humbled by the students and their dedication to their education. Our students have shown such depth and maturity, and proven how resilient they all are. I am proud to be your teacher and coordinator. This time has not been easy for anyone and your approach has been nothing short of astounding! These students will go into the world better people and you have experienced an event that we can talk about for decades.

Mr Bandara

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I enjoyed the remote learning experience. The challenging aspect was that, unlike in a 'face to face' interaction, I could not gauge if some students were understanding the concepts. I missed interacting with my colleagues as well. This period also accelerated the rate at which I was acquiring, learning and using ICT skills. I really appreciate that the student attendance (Chemistry) was great at the VCE level and mostly they were handing in their work. They were also actively participating in class discussions/CFUs via 'chat' in teams.

Not being caught up in the commute was great bonus, although at times it did feel like there was no separation between school time and personal time.

Ms Buyya

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VCAL Product Design

The students in VCAL Product Design are almost at the end of completing Unit 1.

Unit 1 looks at redeveloping an existing product, analysing the many features of the product and acknowledging the Intellectual property of the designer. The VCAL students explored high end designers that inspired their final product design idea. Students worked towards a production plan, sourced preferred materials and developed processes that were successful. Students worked in a range of media and materials, such as fabric and garment construction, timber and furniture design as well as making accessories using fabrics for bags and jewellery racks. Many of the designs are work in progress though some completed ideas are showcased here.

Ms. Helen Ifandis

Arts Coordinator

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