In light of increasing pandemic cases due to community transmission, the Victorian premier gifted all school staff with five student free days to prepare for Phase 2 of remote learning. Each and every staff member at #stpatsmbna fully participated in reviewing feedback (see previous post) and redesigning a Flexible Learning program with a number of key changes for our community.
At our school, we are committed to teaching a consistent high-quality and engaging curriculum with one to one and small group student support, a focused wellbeing program, opportunities for enrichment and extension and access to specialist expertise.
Every student is unique. In the coming weeks, we believe we will support every student to flourish during this next phase of remote learning.
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| Staff maintain social distance and work in triads to review practices |
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| All staff presented and shared their knowledge, research and tips for improving remote learning practise |
Key Changes to Home Learning
"We value rich, regular and quality feedback.." St Pat's Shared Vision
Teachers have a reputation for actively seeking feedback on their practices and making adjustments for continual improvement. Some of the key changes that we have made include:
- Home Learning will now be referred to as Flexible Learning
The Home Learning tabs on the #stpatsmbna Learning Community Site have been renamed to Flexible Learning.
- Children will be expected to wear their school uniform both at school and at home for Flexible Learning.
- Specialist classes have been moved to one full day to allow for continuity of class teaching on other days.
- Times removed from the Flexible Learning planner to accommodate flexibility for families.
- Teachers availability has increased (see the Expectations of Teachers below)
- Extra small group sessions and 1:1 or 1:2 sessions will take place (see below)
- Wellbeing and Catholic Identity times have been prioritised
Core Values
Our school Core Values guide our behaviours. In order to be open and honest about how we can all support our children fairly, the following expectations for teachers, students and parents will contribute to the success of Flexible Learning @stpatsmbna
Flexible Learning Guidelines & Expectations for staff, students and parents
Expectations of teachers
Face to face interactions and availability
Face to face interactions and availability
- Classroom teacher is accessible 9 -1.30 every day (except student/teacher break times - 2 x 40 mins). Afternoons will be for teachers to ring parents / respond to emails / provide feedback to students.
- Every child is involved in a whole class Zoom every day and a small group instructional session at least once a week.
- Needs based 1: 1 or 2: 1 sessions will occur with the teacher (parents will be notified in line with child safe requirements)
- Zoom sessions on the Specialist day will be limited to a 10 minute roll call.
- Emails to teachers will be responded to between 8am and 5pm Monday-Friday.
- Teachers will upload the weekly Flexible Learning plan to the Learning Community Site by 2pm every Friday
- Teachers will upload at least one spelling video each week, plus one teacher directed maths and one literacy/reading/writing video or Screencastify each week.
- Instructional time will be kept short and concise (7-10 mins).
- Where possible, teachers will use slides to break down tasks. Students can reference videos or slides multiple times to reinforce strategies, concepts or skills.
- One day each week will be a specialist focus day
- Timely and specific feedback will be provided to every student twice a week. This will be specific to success criteria. One for literacy, one for maths.
- Fortnightly specific feedback to students around specialist areas from specialist teachers
- Link to assessment rubric provided prior to teaching where applicable.
At Home and Onsite
Students will:
- Wear their school uniforms each school day unless it is their birthday or have won a casual clothes award
- Be expected to be “in class” and present at roll call or parents will be notified immediately.
- Be notified when their weekly group and 1:1 or 1:2 meetings will be and are expected to participate.
- Have their videos on and their full name displayed when in Zoom sessions.
- Wear headphones whenever possible to minimise background noise, as appropriate.
- Follow the ICT User Agreement.
- Only engage in the chat or drawing functions on Zoom when directed.
- Follow year level guidelines of work to be submitted each day.
- Contact specialist teachers via email for any questions regarding those subject areas.
As well as the above points, onsite students will:
- Bring resources needed for onsite learning, such as headphones, pencil cases, sheets from take-home packs, chromebooks fully charged (Years 4-6).
- Stay at home if they are unwell.
Parents will:
- Arrange for students' names to appear when logging into Zoom meetings.
- Arrange a learning space that is suitable for learning (minimal background noise).
- Ensure children are wearing school uniforms and are ready for learning.
- Support our Core Values of being respectful and positive in their interactions with children, school staff and other parents. Any concerns should be raised directly with the school.
- Understand that emails to teachers will be responded in a timely manner between 8am and 5pm Monday-Friday. At times, teachers will be involved in Zoom meetings or onsite Flexible Learning and planning sessions.
- Check emails and Flexischools announcements daily to ensure you are receiving necessary communications.
- Understand that the learning program delivered onsite will be the same as the learning program delivered to students undertaking remote learning.
- Keep their children home from onsite Flexible Learning if they are unwell.
We are truly blessed at St Pat's with a talented and dedicated team of staff.
During the week, the staff shared presentations around the programs we currently provide and will continue to offer during Term 3. These include:
- Fine motor skill program
- Oral language program
- Innovations in IT eg Screencastify, video modelling
- Supporting students with language disorders
- Extending tasks for our highly able students
- Differentiated spelling programs
- Personalised Learning Plans and adjustments for students for Term 3
- Assisting parents to read with their child
- Classroom Feedback
- To Know, Worship and Love online RE resource
- Wellbeing practices to alleviate student anxiety
- F-2 Maths - Place Value research and findings to support multiplicative thinking and the importance of place value in the early years
"Our teachers are excellent, dedicated teachers and our children benefit from the interaction with them... My hope is that what was untried, but has now been tested, may be improved for everyone’s benefit. We are all in this together, as the sign on the front fence says, and it is my sincere hope that we can learn from the trial of Term 2 to make Term 3 a more positive experience for ALL our children and families " St Pat's Parent
At our school, we are committed to teaching a consistent high-quality and engaging curriculum with one to one and small group student support, a focused wellbeing program, opportunities for enrichment and extension and access to specialist expertise.
Every student is unique.
In the coming weeks, we believe we will support every student to flourish as we transition from Home Learning to Flexible Learning.
Acknowledgements:
To the staff from #stpatsmbna for their commitment to developing a Flexible Learning program and a willingness to share their gifts and talents with each other and our children
To the staff from #stpatsmbna for their commitment to developing a Flexible Learning program and a willingness to share their gifts and talents with each other and our children
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