Learning & Teaching

Goals & Intended Outcomes

• Foster an enduring love of learning and strive for excellence in learning through engaging programs and quality teaching • Maintaining high expectations for students to reach their full potential • Celebrating academic growth and effort in individual learners evidenced by data analysis • To continue to develop a holistic education for students through combined academic and wellbeing programs • Ensuring that learning growth in literacy and numeracy continue to be strengthened across the curriculum • That all students can access learning at the level required to meet individual needs

Achievements

This year's teaching and learning programs commenced with a renewed sense of enthusiasm enhanced by the never-again-taken-for-granted ability to be on campus with one another. At the end of January, the staff of St Kevin's spent time re-grouping, reflecting, planning, and declaring to remain resilient regardless of what unfolded. Not only did we want to ensure students could achieve their academic potential, but in a time like never before (COVID-19), our teachers deeply felt their responsibility to ensure that student safety, student wellbeing, and student voice underpinned our education vision. This year teachers have made an effort to capture the 'good' from our lockdowns, taking both our learnings and adaptability, into the future. A generous amount of time has been spent reviewing and expanding new skill-sets, that have been rapidly adopted by students and teachers alike. That said, when all students commenced the school year back on campus, the buzz around teaching and learning, back in the classroom, in person, was tangible for all. Not one moment was wasted as we all knew not to take any amount of time onsite for granted. The academic culture that St Kevin's College has sustained over numerous years remains impressive and students must be rewarded for their efforts and achievements along the way. In addition to our celebration of students' academic excellence with Principal's Study Awards, this year we expanded our definition of success by introducing the Principal's Growth Awards. These awards are to recognise and congratulate students who have persisted, despite the difficult times, with their learning. In particular, we identified students who may not be achieving the top results in their cohort, but those who have shown the greatest amount of improvement at any level. It is students like these who are the greatest role models for their peers.

As lockdowns returned throughout the year, we worked closely with our wellbeing and pastoral teams to provide ongoing student support to not only keep up with the rigour of coursework and assessment, but to also look after one's wellbeing along the way. In particular, a series of Wellbeing Webinars targeted at each year level, where both students and parents/carers attended, provided a great platform to gain information and support. It was events such as these that provided hope, knowing that the St Kevin's community was on this journey together. Throughout the year the Middle School teachers concentrated on staying focused and connected. Connection with peers, with teachers, and with learning. The challenges of being online did not stop our teachers reaching out, nor our students engaging in extra work to address deficits in their learning. Additional assistance was offered through the Middle School Study Sessions program where teachers met with students in Years 7 and 8 to assist with homework and revision of an afternoon. Support with organisation, goal setting, learning strategies and assessment preparation was also provided. Senior students were thoroughly supported throughout the year with a range of after school study initiatives. During our time onsite, the Albert Street Study Centre was well-utilised each day by the Year 12 cohort. It provided an ideal space for students to undertake individual work or collaborate with their peers. The boys were guided by the assistance of their teachers and a team of Old Collegian Tutors. Furthermore, students were offered the option to pre-book appointments with tutors, in order to plan their work more effectively. The desire to achieve was palatable, with students accepting the hard work that needed to take place. During the period of remote learning in Term Three, the study program moved online. As the term progressed, opportunities for individual tuition were complemented with further initiatives aimed to promote peer-to-peer learning. In particular, students were invited to form their own study groups, which ran on College-supervised google meets with the assistance of Old Collegian tutors. While such collaboration has been an integral component of our VCE success in the past, this year it also helped to maintain a sense of connection during the lengthy period of lockdown. The Student Academic Committee played a vital role in providing feedback and suggestions on behalf of the student body to best support the teaching and learning at the College both onsite and online throughout 2021. I am most grateful for their input, particularly in injecting energy and ideas into the Year 12 Holiday Revision Programs. The Year 12 Winter Holiday Program was a great success with students attending online and onsite lectures and workshops. In particular, it was wonderful to see students coming together, learning from one another, in peer-led lectures. The September Holiday Program saw 47 teachers present over 100 different online revision opportunities for the Year 12 Cohort. This program included: wellbeing gatherings, lectures, workshops, individual consultations and trial examinations with over 200 students logging on each day. During this time, it was particularly important to lift students' spirits and academic potential when they needed it most. Boys were provided with a platform to set goals to achieve their personal best for the examination period. Our culture of collaboration, determination and hard work to achieve one's personal best ensured in 2021. The additional academic support programs across all year levels, coupled with the quality teaching and learning that takes place within the classrooms, sets St Kevin's College apart, as we strive for excellence in all that we do. While staff are to be thanked for their ongoing support of students, it is a credit to the boys who lap these opportunities up and who motivate all of us to continue to work together in order to achieve.

STUDENT LEARNING OUCOMES

• We are seeing very consistent results in NAPLAN for Years 3 and 5 from 2019 to 2021, with increases across the board • Year 7 results show improvement in all areas from 2019 to 2021 with a high consistency in Numeracy • Year 9 NAPLAN sees a slight dip in 2021 due to COVID-19. This is noted by the College with actions implemented for these student in the senior years