An Insightful Journey

Many of our students, having only previously experienced a traditional schooling context, after a few weeks of remote learning had insights into learning possibilities that they had never had access to before.

Despite the initial pressures and difficulties in learning how to learn from home, they now know how to access class tasks via Compass, collaborate and ask questions using Microsoft Teams, utilise tools such as Edrolo, Clickview and a range of Apps for learning to navigate the workload, and when completed, upload exit passes and learning tasks to provide and gain feedback to and from teachers and each other.

I have also discovered that some students have used the time to undertake and complete micro credentials or short courses where they have learnt new skills or pursued an area of passion to sharpen their knowledge base. This is indeed a major area for future innovation in education.

Many of the conversations I have had suggested that our students liked deciding what they wanted to learn and when and where they learn it. If there were other priorities that needed to be met they were able to organize their learning time to enable both to be successfully navigated. There were no bells and other elements that forced learning into segmented bits or highly controlled structures.

The key elements that seemed to work were to plan and organize your day, create the learning environment that enabled you to work effectively by yourself or with others, and to seek help from adults (parents and teachers) when needed. This of course meant minimizing the distractions!

It was also evident that many missed the physical contacts that were not possible in the remote learning environment. As well as the wide range of societal structures schools like Ringwood provide, the human connections around learning provided in a school environment are clearly important.

In early term 3 , there will be lots of further opportunity to consider what the future of schooling might be in a post-COVID world. The Department of Education is undertaking a summit to capture some of this learning and our own College Council is considering how they can support some of the positive elements within our community on a continuing basis.

What is very clear to me is that the industrial model of schooling is definitely on its last legs and is no longer fit for purpose. As adults our traditional views of schooling have been absolutely challenged, whether as a parent or teacher. The pandemic has provided the realisation that one size does not fit all and that opportunities for real learning exist beyond the traditional four walls of the classroom and the subjects that are taught within them.

Our young people can continue to provide us with some great insights into how this could be better framed to bridge the gap between how they live and learn.

Michael Phillips OAM

Principal

Transition from Remote to Face to Face Learning

It is amazing to see the quick transition that both students and staff have made from remote learning back in the usual face-to-face teaching and learning! In the space of less than two weeks, now all students and staff have immersed themselves back in the RSC environment. The College is once again a very busy place, with students thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to have returned to school. For some, it seems that remote learning is almost a distant memory.

Yesterday VCAA released the detailed 2020 VCE examination timetable for students undertaking Unit 3 & 4 studies. For any students and/or parents who have not already viewed this timetable, please click here to view the 2020 examination timetable.

For our VCE students, next week brings the end of Units 1 and 3 within their respective studies and for our Year 7 – 10 students, we move towards the end of a very unique semester, with many semester-based and elective studies drawing to a close. With that brings the excitement for many students looking forward to the studies they will be undertaking from the beginning of Term 3.

I would like to remind students and parents that next Tuesday (23rd of June) is a correction day for staff and a pupil free day for students. While on the matter of students reports, the semester one reports will be published on Compass at a different time this year. These reports will be available at the conclusion of the first week of next term.

We eagerly await information regarding the potential further easing and changing of COVID-19 related advice and restrictions. With this in mind, we hope to see further normality return to the school environment at some stage during Term 3, but as we have done so since the pandemic began, the College will ensure that students, parents and staff are constantly updated with the latest guidance and advice for our school community.

Finally, a massive thank-you to the many students who have been vigilant in maintaining and practicing good hygiene habits. Please continue to keep up your efforts, for the health and safety of not only yourself, but our wider school community.

Matt Tucker

Acting Assistant Principal

Our New Normal… from the College Council President

As we approach the end of this unique Term 2 of 2020, I would like to say a huge WELCOME BACK to all RSC students and staff to our college and to on-campus learning!

The College Council met last night, possibly for our last Zoom meeting, and council members all spoke about how well the students have settled in back at school, and how happy they are to be back. Students have shown remarkable resilience, adaptability and positivity after undergoing a challenging 10 weeks with remote learning in isolation. It has been a history making time… and has been one of the longest physical absences that students have ever had in their school lives. We have seen RSC Students embrace the ‘new normal’ and adapt well to the different routines, the additional hygiene and sanitizing measures that are in place, and to some quite imaginative and different ways of doing things.

It was a very happy reunion for the parent members of ‘Extra pArts’ on Tuesday night, with an enthusiastic buzz in the costume room and lots of laughter as we got straight back into sorting, hanging, labeling and planning for the costumes for this year’s production of The Wedding Singer.

Even though the show may be in a different format and on different dates, we are all so excited that the show will go on in some way! (Please keep an eye out for some announcements in Term 3!). There was an uplifting and positive buzz amongst the students at production rehearsal, and a great sense of enthusiasm, excitement and energy as they could finally rehearse in person and work hard to create the show.

In reflection, whilst it has been a challenging time for many, it has also been fascinating time…. where we have seen many interesting and positive things that have come about because of the Pandemic.

I myself have been empowered by my sudden increase in digital skills. Learning to use such platforms as Zoom, Google Meets and others has not only allowed my role as president to continue, it has enabled me to become quite digitally capable. This has been great for someone my age, who is used to her kids managing this kind of thing! I have also seen my family, friends, peers, council colleagues; work colleagues and students rapidly embrace digital technology in imaginative and innovative ways in order to continue their lives, their work and their education.

I have enjoyed life slowing down a bit and become simpler and less hectic. I have heard others talk about how they have enjoyed spending so much more time with family, their siblings and their pets. It has also been a time for reflection and given some people more depth and insight into life, and how they see it and live it.

There are many things….and I am sure everyone would have something different to share from their own experiences during Covid-19 times, however there is one group who I believe I can fully speak on behalf of, a group who have all truly benefited most of all out of the Pandemic……. and that would be our pets! Even though there will be a high number of cases of separation anxiety, I believe our pets have had a fantastic 3 months at home and I think if they could speak, they would highly recommend lock-down to continue!

I will leave you with a poem called “After the Pandemic…..What if?” This poem reflects on the many positive perspectives that children may gain from going through lock-down in isolation and are now living the ‘new normal’.

After the Pandemic, What If……..

What if they have more empathy, they enjoy a family connection, they become closer to their siblings?

What if they can be more creative, imaginative and entertain themselves?

What if they grow more in their love of reading and expressing themselves in writing?

What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyards and balconies, or sitting near a window in the peaceful quietness?

What if they notice the birds and the trees, and different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?

What if they learn to cook, organise their space, do their laundry and help keep a well run home?

What if they learn to stretch a dollar and live with less?

What if they learn to make a shopping list and plan meals to cook at home?

What if they learn the difference between want and need?

What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good in sharing the small delights of every day?

What if they realise the great value of our teachers and educational professionals, our librarians, our public servants and our mentors?

What if they realise the value of our previously less visible essential workers like health workers, truck drivers, grocers, cashiers…….just to name a few who have taken care of us when we were in isolation?

What if, among all children across the world in the Pandemic, great leaders emerge who had the benefit of a slower pace and simpler life, to truly learn what really matters?........

Please stay safe and have a good term break, and we will see you in Term 3, on-campus!

Teresa Lodge College Council President

RSC Connections

Connecting the Community of Ringwood Secondary College

Issue 10 · 19 Jun 2020

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