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St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

“Better To Illuminate Than Merely Shine” (St Thomas Aquinas). St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane. CONTEXT. St Thomas Aquinas is a small school: - 2005 hit a low of 50 students - steady increase each year - enrolment of 102 at the beginning of 2011. Transient population

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St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

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  1. “Better To Illuminate Than Merely Shine” (St Thomas Aquinas) St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  2. CONTEXT St Thomas Aquinas is a small school: - 2005 hit a low of 50 students - steady increase each year - enrolment of 102 at the beginning of 2011. Transient population - by the end of 2011 nearly 25% of the enrolment left excluding graduating Year 6 students. Poorest school in Archdiocese of Melbourne - high unemployment - high generational poverty - high percentage of single-parent families - high EMA - 70%+ Increasing Catholic population due to Baptismal Program St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  3. CONTEXT (cont) • Most students now have some kindergarten or day-care experience. • Students entering Prep have poor oral language skills. • Social and school-readiness skills are lower than should be. • Some parents either can’t or won’t assist in preparation for Prep. • Literacy testing at beginning of the year shows very low language skills. • AIM and NAPLAN results unacceptably low for too long St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  4. 2009 – Why a change? • Students were not making any head way. • Insight SRC data for students was going backwards from 2007. • Students at Year 3 – 6 were not engaged as we would have liked. • NAPLAN data was poor. • CTLM in it’s first year was having an impact on mathematics attainment and engagement. • LAP was showing some pleasing results for target students. • Our Regional Manager challenged us to do something different. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  5. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  6. The process of learning is valued. Learner focused. Shared responsibility for all students. Being open, flexible and committed to contemporary learning in practice. Frequent and open communication from all. All students can achieve. 6 Pillars of Continuous Improvement St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  7. Behind The Scenes St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  8. Learning & Teaching KEY ISSUES • Disengagement • Student outcomes not improving • Teachers isolated & not feeling supported. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  9. Key Elements • Contemporary practices • Planning • Tracking St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  10. Contemporary Practices Planning Tracking • Building capacity • Differentiated support • Flexible Learning Environments • Personalised Learning • Inquiry model • Collaborative Practices • Community of Learners • Outward facing St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  11. Contemporary PracticesTracking Planning • Collaborative & Collegial • Data Responsiveness • Learning & Teaching Cycle St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  12. Contemporary Practices Planning Tracking • Assessment • Progression of Reading Development (PRD) • Use of technology • PLT logs • Reporting St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  13. Collaborative & Collegial Data ResponsivenessLearning & Teaching Cycle • Explicit protocols • Shared responsibility • Professional learning culture • Building capacity St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  14. Collaborative & Collegial Learning & Teaching Cycle Data Responsiveness • Evidence-based decisions (multiple sources) • Build on prior learning • Differentiated learning • Ongoing collection of data St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  15. Collaborative & Collegial Data Responsiveness Learning & Teaching Cycle St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  16. Time to be Innovative 2010 St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  17. Time to be Innovative 2010 • Doors were opened!! Learning Community • How can we prepare our students to be 21st century learners? • How can we be creative/imaginative? • What is our school’s vision? What learning path will our students take? St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  18. Small Steps • Central Year 3-6 Gathering Area • Collaborative Learning was introduced to students • Students investigated ‘Me as a Learner’ • Multiple Intelligences • Expectations of students & teachers St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  19. Gradual Successful Change • Whole-class focus in numeracy & literacy Years 3-6 • Peer tutoring/modeling • Implementing leaders within the Learning Community • Curriculum planning & time release • Student & teacher reflection- PMI St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  20. 2011- Ready, Fire Aim • Increase of numbers in the Learning Community • 3 x Teachers 60 students • Home Rooms/Learning Hubs • Change in pedagogy – Established a clear vision for contemporary learning & teaching practices St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  21. Collaborative, Purposeful Planning • Data-driven planning • Moderating students’ work • Professional readings/conversations • Reflection – What’s working? • Tracking students using IPAD St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  22. Modes of Learning Open Learning Spaces • Busy Hives • Silent Walls • Learning Theatre • Dinner Table • Construction Site • Comfortable Reading Corner • Sky High Learning Tower St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  23. Student Voice • The Matrix • Student involvement - negotiated tasks • Teacher workshops • Student/teacher feedback • Big picture planning - Taking action in the community St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  24. Open Learning Spaces St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  25. The Matrix St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  26. Teacher Workshops St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  27. Impact of Continuous Improvement St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  28. 2007 2009 2010

  29. Impact St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  30. Impact St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  31. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  32. Pre/Post Comparisons MARCH OCTOBER 18% at/below paragraph phase (33%shift) 82% between interpretive and critical phase • 51% at/below paragraph phase • 0 students at analytical, critical & evaluative phases St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  33. Cohort has moved 3 bands 50% of students in band 5 Expected level ½ way through band 6 Only 1 student (from this group) at expected level in year 3-2008, but 3 students at/above expected level in year 5 Tail has diminished St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  34. Future Directions Learning “FOR,WITH, IN” Community • Family & community engagement through: • Forums e.g. Home Learning • Workshops e.g. Data Transparency • Partnering e.g. School Buddies Program • Decision making e.g. School Board. • Community networks – shared accountability for all students in the Norlane area. • School networks – sharing the knowledge. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

  35. St Thomas Aquinas School Norlane

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