From the Deputy Principal

Professional Learning

It’s quite redundant to proclaim schools as places of learning, but at times we have to remind ourselves that this is a place where everyone learns, not just children. The learning program for staff has been a big topic of conversation recently at St Paul and this is something that schools aren’t always particularly good at sharing with their communities. So, what’s happening at ST Paul?

Leaders in Lutheran Learning Communities

Leaders across Lutheran education in South Australia will gather at St Paul this Friday to reflect on professional learning cultures. Some of the aspects of our program that we are sharing about will include Learning Walks, Coaching and Professional Learning Communities. This will be a day where experienced educators will come and learn with and from each other.

Learning Walks

All teachers have participated in a Learning Walk recently. Learning Walks provide teachers with an opportunity to spend time in a colleague’s class with a small group of their peers and contribute to a reflection process. The focus of this reflection is not on the work of the teacher who hosted the group, but rather to consider how this teachers, classroom and children provokes self-reflection. 

Literacy

Teachers have continued to have time with Lisa Burman to dive deeper into her approaches to school wide literacy development. Recently our PLC leaders have met with Lisa to consider how word inquiry progresses from Reception to Year 6 to assist with planning for next year and beyond.

Mathematics

This year the school has partnered with Lisa-Jane O’Connor from the Primary Maths Association, to look at the way Mathematics is taught at St Paul. This partnership is in its early stages but will continue into next year.

Inquiry with Kath Murdoch 

Recently St Paul hosted Kath Murdoch for a day long visit. Kath is a leading figure in Inquiry Learning and quite possibly the leading expert in this field globally. Kath will spend 4 days with staff next year refining our inquiry approach to learning. Our teachers are very excited about having access to this type of professional development. To give you an idea of Kath’s values, this is an extract from a recent blog of hers…

“What shall we build, you and I? 

Take time to ask your learners what they hope and indeed IMAGINE their classroom community will look and feel like. How might the physical space be arranged? What kind of space will support learning? What kind of relationships do students hope to have with each other? With their teachers? What is your vision for your team?  How will you build a wonderful, collaborative team this year? 

Let’s gather all our tools for a start

What skills and disposition will help us learn together?  What is already in our toolkit as learners? Do we have the tools to manage ourselves, communicate, collaborate, think and be awesome researchers?  What do effective learners DO? What dispositions or attitudes can we cultivate? Do we have the language to talk about these tools for learning? 

 For putting together – and taking apart

How will we help ourselves stay resilient and strong?  How will we view mistakes and failures?  Are we willing to take things apart and start again?  What might we want to ‘take apart’ from the past and put back together in new ways? What might we let go of this year? What needs to change? 

Let’s build a door where there was none

We’ll build a house to be our home

How might we create a safe and supportive community where we ALL feel we belong?  This is more than a classroom or a school – this is a community. How can we make this a truly inclusive place where each person feels seen?”

Stay tuned for more updates about our learning journey with Kath next year!

Jason Fay | Deputy Principal