It’s been a busy and exciting beginning to the school year. This year the Teaching and Learning initiatives are extensive. Not only have we introduced a suite of exciting electives at Years 9 and 10, but also implemented two new programs:

• Thrive across the school which supports students to grow vigorously, to prosper and to realise their goals.
• The Connect Program at Year 9 focuses on collaborative learning, effective communication, critical thinking and life skills.

The Years 9 and 10 Elective Program is an opportunity that allows students to specialise in a range of interest areas, and to engage with a broader set of learning opportunities. These courses are designed to appeal to a variety of interests, to explore big ideas and to promote student connection to areas of study. This initiative will lead students at Years 9 and 10 to either the Victorian Certificate of Education or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning in Years 11 and 12.

Underpinning the school’s teaching and learning initiatives is the school’s vision of:

“Inspiring and empowering members of our school community to achieve their full potential in an inclusive and supportive environment”

Images: 9A, 9B and 10G students participating in team building activities on 16/12/2022

Literacy and Numeracy Tutors

We are pleased to introduce our new literacy and numeracy tutors:

• Olivia Johnson
• Bec Vance
• Jacinda Thadanabath

Our tutors will support students across the school to catch-up on their learning after two years of remote and flexible learning. This government supported program, focuses on key learning areas of need and assist students to achieve their learning goals.

Respectful Relationships

In addition, the suite of Respectful Relationships initiatives will be fully introduced across the school this year. This initiative creates an influential voice across the school, and wider community, that aims to promote gender equity and respectful relations. We aim to continue to develop a workplace where our community feel respected, safe and valued with equal opportunities regardless of gender. We will continue to provide a safe school environment where students can learn about gender equality and respectful relationships in and out of the classroom.

We all look forward to many new and exciting teaching and learning initiatives that will delivered throughout 2022.

Quality Teaching Rounds

We are pleased to confirm that our school will be participating in an exciting new research project into a type of teacher professional development called ‘Quality Teaching Rounds.’

The research is being undertaken by the University of Newcastle. Four teachers from our school, as well as some of their students, will be invited to participate.

Invitations will be sent out to the relevant classes in due course. Student participation is entirely voluntary.

For further information, please contact the research manager, Tim Dean, at qtr- vic@newcastle.edu.au or phone (02) 4985 4300.

Karen Dean
Associate Principal, Staff Development/Leadership