Teachers and students working 

hard during COVID

The following comments are from a sampling of students from Years 7-12 highlighting positive areas of their learning online. 

This feedback is important for students to be able to convey during this difficult time. Despite the desire for everyone to be at school, there is still so much to celebrate within our St Andrews learning community. 

• One element of online teaching I find engaging is when teachers do zooms- it helps clarify the content and the work. For example, when the teacher teaches lessons as they would regularly do with a whiteboard, and we take down notes. This ensures we learn the content, do examples and do not fall behind in the course. This method of teaching has been very engaging, as I feel like I am in class learning.
• Fun lessons, group work and lessons with fun challenges
• I enjoy the flexibility we have with online learning. We can do things a bit differently, take our time and work with other people to complete tasks and get things done. Personally what helps me is setting alarms just like normal bell times in school help me to keep alert of my schedule.
• I enjoy the short zoom lessons that are provided every few lessons to catch up with the class and explain work for the week. I also appreciate it when teachers give us further time to complete lessons. This allows me to make sure I can finish all tasks and catch up with work.
• When the teachers provide positive feedback and let me know how I can improve. When they thank me for handing in my work it helps me to remember they are around and supportive.
• Having zoom calls and giving a reasonable amount of work that doesn't overwhelm me.
• Zoom calls with teachers and feedback from them have helped me engage in online lessons.
• In Math's zoom calls every lesson has helped me understand the topic and in English the videos which the teacher has added to the lesson have helped me understand the play we are learning about.
• I know that I am learning when I am involved in online learning as I am able to understand the content for the lesson and how it relates to other aspects related to it.
• The learning strategies that have been most helpful is when the teacher provides a simple explanation of the work, whether through Zoom or video.
• I get help during online learning as the teachers will have provided sources (video, texts) to refer to that help me understand the content. There is also help provided by the teacher through feedback as well as from family if needed.
• Giving us examples and running through the work and asking us if we need more clarification, and the willingness to spend the whole lesson to re-explain it to you if you don’t understand
• I know I’m learning when teachers give me feedback and tell me that they believe I’ve been learning a lot and doing well in the work set.
• In some classes we go through the answers of our last lessons on a zoom to check whether or not we’ve done the work correctly. I’ve also found it especially helpful in English that I’ve been provided with feedback for all my responses.
• I know if my learning is going well when I receive feedback from teachers. All my teachers provide feedback once work is submitted which is helpful when trying to figure out if the work I've done is correct.
• It’s comforting when teachers are a bit lenient. Mentally, reassurance is the best help at the moment because it gives students guidance on how we are going in terms of school work and gives us peace of mind. That mental reassurance is a big help in itself and I really appreciate it from my teachers.
• Doing things at my own pace but also with guidance - eg. bulk work being set up and must be completed by a particular date ( it gives me a chance to work at my own pace but also continuously go back to it because it’s a lot to be done but the fun part is that I get to do it at my own pace).
• The use of feedback is very helpful. It is also helpful that some teachers are checking in on our wellbeing.
• I think that doing a quick zoom call is helpful to become motivated and start work. It also makes the work easier to understand.
• The teaching strategies which help me engage with my online lessons are timely feedback from my teachers on my work and things I can improve on as well as things I should be continuing.
• Some learning strategies which have been most helpful during online learning is that I am receiving constructive feedback on my work and the zoom meetings help me understand the concept of the lesson.
• During the class, teachers open the google doc and give feedback on how I can improve. I find this very helpful because it allows me to easily and quickly improve my work during the day.
• For my learning, I find zooms at the start of the lesson helps me understand what we are learning about just like what would happen on a normal school day helpful for me. I also like receiving feedback from all my teachers about how I went during that lesson and what I can do to improve!
• My Math subject posts videos explaining the formula and question. Other strategies that are also very helpful is included in my Science class which includes a doc with videos and the work. A zoom is much appreciated since as mentioned it is the closest to the classroom.
• When the teacher hosts a zoom I find it easier to understand the work. When I ask a question my teachers respond quickly, they also give me useful feedback.
• The teaching strategies that are engaging in my online learning is the fact that teachers zoom us to explain the work but to also catch up. I enjoy the talk and it makes my day a little better.

HSC Misadventure Process

Students submitting practical HSC projects, oral examinations or performances, will have a Misadventure submitted to NESA to support each student in their HSC Examination. The Misadventure submission will not require the student to issue any documentation, as this will be completed on the student’s behalf. 

The Misadventure will enable NESA to consider the students achievement across all areas of their subject in order to determine whether any adjustments to their mark is warranted. 

Students are encouraged to continue to work hard and achieve their best.

   Year 11 and 12 Assessment Period

Students in Year 11 and 12 will have their School Examination Blocks replaced by online Assessment blocks. The reason for this is to ensure that every student and staff member remains safe. 

Some students may wish to go to school to do their assessments. The reason for this foir example, maybe that the whole family is at home during lockdown and focus is difficult, or other students may have inconsistent technology. The students will be issued with a survey where they can indicate whether they intend on coming to school for their assessment. 

A strict COVID Risk Management Plan will be in place so that every student and staff member in attendance is safe and adhering to Government COVID instructions. 

Students will arrive for their assessment and may leave directly after the assessment. 

It is important that every student makes every attempt to focus and work hard for their final assessments. 

Year 11 and 12 Assessment Block Timetables

Students will receive their final Assessment Schedules next week. Every attempt has been made to ensure that students have the bes possible timetable. 

Students will also receive online protocols information. 

Assessments will often enable students to complete the assessment in sections so students can have a rest from screens. 

It is important that every student adheres to the instructions and protocols. 

If a student experiences something unexpected, please contact Mrs Deschamps or your Wellbeing Leader of Learning straight away, so we can discuss the next steps. 

EVERYTHING MATTERS!

Years 7 -10 need to work hard during Term 3 in every lesson every day. Everything a student does in Years 7-10, contributes to their overall semester grade. It is important that students do not worry about assessment tasks, the work they are doing every lesson every day is equally important. 

In particular application of feedback is an essential ingredient for improvement and should be every students main focus in every lesson. 

So work hard at all times, apply feedback and see your results continue to improve!