We began the week with our students completing their student attitudes to school surveys. This data is collated and made available to us in Term 3. We then analyse it and use it to inform strategies for our school improvement plans for the following year.
Our Leadership Team met on Tuesday after school to prepare our opening presentation to staff on differentiation. We discussed how best to introduce the concept and challenge staff to think deeply about the issue. We are using the Microsoft Office program, One Note, to model how e learning can assist differentiation.
During period 4 this Tuesday, our Year 12 students saw a presentation called "Free to Go" from the RACV. This deals with issues such as purchasing a car, safe driving, tips to assist gaining your license etc.
Before school on Wednesday, our Elite Fitness Squad and Waverley International Netball Teams were at school and training hard by 7:45. Great dedication by our students and staff. I am sure it will bring about great results.
On Wednesday we had our second Assembly for the Term./ The value we focused on was "Love of Learning" The assembly concluded with a message to all students to remind them they must take their planner to all classes and take it home each night. Parents should be checking them daily. Students should be entering homework details in each day.
Students were also reminded that they are to be in full College uniform on their way to school and home from school. It is unacceptable to wear items of clothing/ footwear to or from school that are not on our uniform list. If it is raining, they should wear their waterproof Forest Hill College jacket, and/ or use an umbrella. Likewise, although winter is almost upon us, and it can be cold, we do have a blazer and a waterproof jacket to provide adequate warmth, as uniform items. Students are not to wear hoodies/ non uniform items as outer garments for extra warmth.
Students participated in their bully polls following assembly, and the data we collect assists us greatly eliminate harassment from our school.
Student leaders who have been negotiating our new uniform policy with us presented their progress to the student body to seek further feedback from them prior to seeking parent input. Parents will be provided with an opportunity to influence our uniform policy late this Term, or early next Term. Stay tuned for this date.
On Wednesday 10 Year 10 students worked to establish some improvements to their locker bay area. We are in the process of opening a new locker bay for them and refurbishing both the Year 10 and Year 8 locker bays and the toilets adjacent them. We have had some leaks during the rain, and plumbers have begun rectifying these. A painter has provided us with a quote to paint them, and we are repairing the ceilings. All of this work is designed to provide the best possible facilities we can for our students. Thanks Andrew 10A Jason 10B Sam 10A Patrick 10A Louis 10 Jean-Luc 10C Sam 10C Tobias 10A Josh 10A Harrison 10C Tim 10A
Wednesday also was the opening of our refurbished Common Room. Available to all students and supervised by our Well-being Team, the room is open each lunchtime and recess. Students play board games and talk to each other in a warm and comfortable supervised environment. Over 40 students have been in there each break since it has opened.
The Metlink Great Transport Race was held on Thursday. 8 students participated in the race. It involved using public transport to navigate themselves around the City of Whitehorse and answer a series of challenges.
On a wet and soggy Thursday, 56 hardy Forest Hill College students braved the elements and represented our school magnificently in the District Cross Country. Thanks to all staff and students who went to the event, we are all very proud of you.
After school on Thursday staff begun their Professional Learning work on differentiation. 31 teachers worked together to look at our current practice and begin auditing it across world wide recognised practices associated with differentiating the learning experience for students. We are very excited at this journey we are on, and believe very strongly, this will be a clear point of difference for our school.
This Friday lunchtime, as I walked the yard, I observed our Soccer, Badminton and Basketball Teams training, our band rehearsing and the Common Room full of students playing Chess, Monopoly, Connect 4 and other games. There are lots of activities happening to engage and occupy students at lunch. Thanks to all of our dedicated staff for making this possible.
Our Professional Learning clip for the week once again focuses on differentiation. It takes a look at how a school in the USA were able to become extremely high performing through teacher collaboration.
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