From the Management Team

As the dust settles on the start of the year and students and staff fall into the rhythm of study and lessons, there is a real sense of purposeful learning occurring. Walking through the school during lesson times gives a sense of great calm and energetic focus. What has been exciting for me has been seeing the new learning spaces in action. As we prepare for the formal opening next week, much reflection has been had on these spaces; their purposes and actual use. The independent space in Plaza 1 has been well utilised by senior students on study lines. The Plaza 2 areas, designed to allow for more collaborative work, have seen classes use this space as extensions of their own rooms.  The TV and collaborative work tables have been used well by pairs and small groups to discuss projects, with many enjoying the extra comfort of the seating.

While the building is just a building in many respects, the purposeful creation of the Vision for Learners and the way the building reflects it is a privilege to witness. The space is the vision in action. The three key areas of the Vision for Learners, Independence, Interdependence and Collective Action can all be seen `in action' in the space. Students can choose to find a quiet space to work independently, to work out how they will best learn the material before them and work through it in a more private and individual way. When there is merit working together to further understanding, a group can meet easily to discuss and work together. When students wish to meet together in committee groups, to make suggestions, to write proposals and to meet to plan how they can make a difference to their school and to their community , there is Senatus 1 and 2 which have been heavily used by the SAT teams.

The other exciting thing for me is the way the Vision for Learners is tied also to making regular feedback to students, more accessible to parents.  By moving into a more continuous feedback model where parents can see more regularly student results and comments on a student's progress on Edumate, we are placing all of those who impact learning - students, parents and teachers in contact in new ways. Some elements will remain the same - parents will be able to meet teachers face- to-face at Learning Conversations, that will now to be held at the end of this term.  Parents and teachers will still be able to keep in contact via email or meetings outside of Learning Conversations, in the same way they always have been able to work together to support student learning. The other element that will remain the same is the summary end of semester report which will note a student's achievement, attitude to learning and a comment from the Care Group teacher.

The Year 7 classes are leading the College in their development of ways students can reflect on their learning, both strengths and challenges, set learning goals and share these with their parents and teacher, in a more formal student- led conferencing style format. The Year 9 Village leaders have started to show their ability to collaborate to develop an engaging and relevant program for their Villages on Tuesdays.  After just three weeks this program has been incredibly successful.

Year 10 students have started to engage with their mentors, meeting them for the second time this week.  Year 11 and 12 students have already commenced using their Options Infinity time. Students are excited about the opportunity to have a mentor and what they could bring to their development as young people who are independent and focused learners, who have the ability to work collaboratively with a range of people across many purposes and in the end, young people who have the skills and other attributes necessary to impact the communities and world in which they live.

These are exciting times across the College and we look forward to the benefits to students that the new spaces will continue to bring. In keeping with the theme for the term, students are encouraged to respect the students who for the past two years have been working on this whole project alongside staff. These students were prepared to invest and share their idea and desires for a place of learning knowing full well that they would not be at the College to enjoy them - this indeed is one example of  paying it forward.

Sandra Barry

Director of Learning

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6)