Last week ended with the exciting news that our debating team has continued their success, moving on to the finals .... their hard work and dedication is certainly paying off.
This week saw a number of our teaching staff take on their second lesson of AUSLAN on a Monday afternoon at the Aurora School. We are sure they are learning (and practicing) many new skills that will enhance their ability to communicate with our deaf/hearing impaired students as well as share with others. It would be interesting to chat with them about the challenges of taking on new learning and the strategies that are helping them through this. After all, that is what we ask of our students!
... Tuesday began with keen English students engaging with the English Competition.
At the end of the day the curriculum team were finalising the invigoration of the 2012 curriculum, 8 days short of one year from when the first Working Party session was held on 13/6/2010!
For the first three periods of Wednesday, all Year 11 students participated in the 'Fit to Drive' program.
The day ended with the inaugural meeting of the new Working Parties for 2011set up to support the implementation of the new curriculum in 2012. Congratulations to all participants. It was a very focused and productive first meeting.
The "Maths is Fun" mantra took on a new tone. When close to eighty students worked hard and in silence on the Maths Competition on Thursday. Students from all year levels had lots of fun!
Also on Thursday the College Captains attended a joint meeting at Box Hill Centro with neighbouring school student leaders. Talking to other Captains and discussing the types of activities they are involved with affirmed the great work they are doing as a leadership group and gave new ideas for future activities and ways of going about them.
9B continued on their intergenerational journey. It is wonderful to see the learning that students gain from speaking and listening to elderly people in our community and the joy that the elderly gain from passing on their thoughts.
At the end of the day staff actively engaged in literacy and numeracy professional learning, developed by the Literacy and Numeracy working party. It was highlighted again how important it is for all of us to be explicitly using strategies that focus on the vocabulary needed for understanding and success in our curriculum areas. Our challenge is to ensure we plan for and take time in our classes to focus on these strategies.
S Block painting continues to progress with S7 now nearing completion..... this is the final classroom to be given new coats of paint. Only a couple of spaces to go before the carpet can be replaced.
Friday saw the first College Assembly for the term with the theme of the assembly being "Safe and Secure". Listening to the speaker from Ambulance Victoria, once again highlighted how as a community at large we all have a responsibility to ensure our safety and that of others by being aware. The speaker from World Vision also highlighted how fortunate we are and encouraged us to participate in the 40 Hour Famine to support those less fortunate. Maybe it is time to think about setting ourselves a challenge to go without something for 40 hours!!!
Year Level assemblies being held straight after was an opportunity for some YLL to address their cohort. Year 12s began their journey towards tertiary selection. Whilst other year levels began preparatory work for their future course selections.
This blog has mentioned some of the activities that are planned to supplement what happens in our classrooms. however it is the learning that occurs in the classrooms and the continued focus on high quality teaching and learning that enable these types of activities or events to be successful. Congratulations.
This YouTube clip provides some food for thought around how technology might/could/maybe is, being used around us all the time.
Have a lovely weekend.
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