From The Deputy
With Jess Batey
Welcome to the 2020 school year! We have really hit the ground running this year. We have opened our fabulous new T Block, where students are engaging in the arts, design, and humanities subjects. We’ve welcomed our largest cohort of Year 7 students ever (220 students). We have had our first week with the new timetable, and we’ve welcomed about a dozen new staff as our school grows even larger. Hard to believe we’ve only been back for a couple of weeks!
Our first week of our new timetable was a resounding success, thanks to the professionalism of our staff, along with our sensible and supportive students and community. During Period 5 on Friday, we conducted our first session for the senior students who need a little extra support to achieve their QCE, and we had a lovely independent study session in the library. The majority of our students left school grounds between 1.20pm and 1.45pm, as per our new procedure. I was out the front on bus duty, and I was incredibly impressed with how are students exited the school swiftly and sensibly. There was some traffic congestion out the front of the school, but it cleared quickly, and the drivers were patient and calm, making for a smooth exit for our students.
Once the majority of our students had exited the school, our teachers were hard at work, engaging in ‘Curriculum Clarity Meetings’ for their various subjects. This involves teachers of particular subjects working together to ensure a clear understanding of what is to be taught, including content and skills. The teachers also ensure they’re ‘on the same page’ regarding the conditions of assessment tasks, and make plans to moderate to ensure a consistent application of standards.
Next week, teachers will engage in a session where they conduct analysis of student results. This will better enable our teachers to understand their learners and meet their needs in the classroom, particularly in relation to reading and writing.
Again, we thank our school community for being so supportive of our school, especially in our endeavours that are so progressive. We know that it takes a village to raise a child, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support that we receive.
Jess Batey
A/Deputy Principal