Issue 8 2023 - Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

Kate Fleay

Many things have taken place since the last newsletter, despite it feeling like time has flown. I have enjoyed my time at WACoA Denmark immensely when 5 weeks turned into 15 weeks, it feels like it was meant to be. I look forward to stepping in for relief next year as needed and I’m very excited about the process, opportunities and structures the College has planned for 2024. 

Exams

The Year 11 ATAR students completed their Exams in Week 6 as did the External Year 12 Exams that we hosted at the College. The Year 11 students trialled the new exam venue of Transportable 3 away from the noise of the sheds and gave positive reviews. I was very impressed with the effort the students went to in their study leading up to the exams and the mature way they approached this week. 

Congratulations to all our Year 12 students who took part in the External Exams, it is a momentous time and I would like to acknowledge the work you put in leading up to these exams over the past two years. A big thank you to everyone who helped in the set up and maintaining of the space throughout the three weeks. This extends to the other students and teachers who were tending to their daily schooling, thank you for your respect and flexibility while students underwent the exams.

Graduation

It was lovely to be a part of the graduation on the 17th November. All the students were so well presented and it was lovely to see these young adults proudly moving on to their next faze of life. Listening to our guest speaker, I hope they have friendships that they hold dear to them for life. It has been great to get to know them and I wish them all the best.

Leavers Alive

On the 21st November, students in Year 10 attended a follow up session from their RAC excursion earlier in the term. Denmark Senior High School hosted it this year, and it was a great chance for students to witness a simulated emergency scenario with all the emergency services involved. They had the opportunity to ask questions of the responders and it was a valuable time for them to meet the town’s volunteers and emergency service personnel. 

Professional Learning

On Wednesday of week nine, teachers headed off to Albany for their afterschool meeting which was held at Spencer Park Primary School, who are a Quality Teaching Specialist school. It was an opportunity to hear how they improved classroom practice across their school and get some advice on current best classroom practice, ask colleagues questions, and gain some great instructional strategies. All of this will form a foundation for teaching and learning at the College in 2024 as we work through the Department of Education’s Teaching for Impact.

‘Teaching for Impact outlines what effective teachers believe, what they know and what they do to have high impact on student outcomes.’ (Dept. of Education)

Kate Fleay
Program Coordinator - Teaching and Learning
WACOA – Denmark