From Br Steve fsc
This time of the year is a very busy time for schools. Teachers and department heads are reviewing their annual plans, completing their reporting to line managers, and planning for 2021. However necessary good strategic planning and reflection is, the true test of a successful school is the subsequent life of the students; the kind of people they become; the extent to which they are fulfilling their potential, using their gifts and talents to the best of their ability, for the betterment of all.
Teaching is not only a noble profession but also a great privilege. As I stand at the end of the drive each afternoon, I recall how the students before me have grown and matured over the year; how they have risen to the challenges beset them; how they have walked the talk. I am both very proud of their efforts and humbled by their achievements. I commend the Year 10 student鈥檚 incredible performance of Chariots of Fire this past week as an example of such.
Reflecting on the past year one of the initiatives for the College was the Literacy Strategy focused on reading and writing
across the curriculum. A need identified in our Allwell, NAPLAN and HSC data. The College professional development plan focused on developing common strategies to improve the teaching and learning of reading and writing in all subjects. Research shows that consistency and collective efficacy, teacher clarity, feedback, and high expectations with strong school leadership are what matter most in raising underachievement. Teachers were required to profile their students in their classes to identify the learning abilities of each student and each class, especially in terms of writing and to use the common language and methodology in the teaching of writing in their subjects. I commend Patrick Harb (Year 8) who was the only boy shortlisted in the Sydney Living Museums Writing Competition and was announced winner this week.
The impact of the Writing and Read-to-Succeed programs over the past two years has seen a continued and significant improvement in both Allwell and NAPLAN results with real (scaled) growth averages much higher than State and AIS/Similar School scores in reading, writing, grammar and mathematics compared with students in previous year. This represents added value attributed to the student鈥檚 own motivation, effort and desire to do their best, and the teacher鈥檚 school wide consistent approach to pedagogy and lesson design in the teaching of foundation skills and content in their subject. I commend both students and teachers for this achievement as encouragement to continue this journey.
In planning for next year, the College will continue its focus on teaching foundation skills in reading, writing and numeracy and inspiring students to aspire to greatness. It is the attitude to aspire from which independent and lifelong learning stems.
Br Steve fsc
Principal