Learning and teaching update

Our 2024 Semester 1 has come to an end, and the atmosphere at the College is ‘a buzz’.

This period marks the time in the academic year when students receive feedback on their progress and can establish new learning goals in readiness for the second semester. For our Year 12 students, it’s a time when they still have room for improvement and can strive towards their goals while fully engaging in the busy activities and events of their final year of secondary education.

Student Experience

Throughout the College, learning is alive with energy and enthusiasm. Recently, Middle School hosted Maths Games Day, a celebration of all things numerical and quantifiable. The day was filled with challenges and deep arithmetic thinking, engaging in problem-solving alongside teachers and Mathematical thinkers. Creative digit-inspired costumes were on display as students explored the conceptual intricacies of how Mathematics interacts with the world. While the Middle School Investigate teachers organised the day, it was wonderful to witness the collaborative nature of an event that connected learning and people.

Quality Teachers

Like professionals in any field, teachers undergo continuous learning throughout their careers and Braemar is committed to following the current evidence-based research in education. Consequently, this year’s collective professional development is centred around the key concepts from the Science of Learning. This scientific discipline offers insights into how students learn, the metacognitive processes involved, and most importantly, how knowledge and conceptual understandings can be effectively communicated to students.

Reports

The semester reports will be available at the conclusion of this term. Our reporting approach blends continuous reporting with a summary transcript at the semester’s end. Throughout the term, students can access their assessment results and feedback via SEQTA. This information is also visible to parents which ensures that students, parents and teachers can work together throughout the school year.

Student Voice

Some of our students have recently shared insights into their learning experiences over the last few weeks:

‘Although all the new people in Year 7 completely changed my Braemar life, they have made learning and school work more interesting and fun, and I feel I’m actually learning better with them here.’ - Year 7

‘I really loved Drama this term - we got to rehearse a fun performance!’ - Year 8

‘Starting VCE classes, I’m learning the difference of studying heavy content when it fits what I’m passionate about.’ - Year 10

“I find Edrolo a helpful and useful resource to revise confusing content and selfmark my practice SACs.” - VCE student

What’s notable about these reflections is that they highlight the significance of the small details in the lives of our students and are a reminder that learning is layered and multifaceted, and above all relies on connection.

Ms Sharon Hitti

Dean of Learning and Teaching