APA News
FEEDBACK Literate Learners
Last newsletter, I provided information about Term 4 Reporting and the defintion and purpose of assessment in the classrooms at St Saviour's Primary. In this newsletter, I would like to provide some information around the purpose and principles of effective feedback in the classroom.
The Toowoomba Catholic Schools' Assessment, Feedback and Reporting Framework defines feedback as information:
- for the learner and the teacher about the learner's performance
- about performance relative to learning goals
- based on evidence of learning
- from the teacher, from the student or from peers
- leading to changes in teacher and student behaviour
At St Saviour's Primary, teachers strive to give effective feedback that is designed to achieve improvement in student learning by continuously driving a student's performance towards a learning goal. This leads to positive changes in teaching and learning behaviour and significant improvements in student outcomes.
A student's learning goal may be based around writing, comprehension, fluency when reading, measurement or many other concepts in the Australian Curriculum. Students may have one learning goal or many learning goals depending on their age. The essential message is that the most valuable feedback helps the student improve their learning and that is our aim at St Saviour's Primary School.
STEM SHOWCASE
Our Year 3-6 students are busy preparing for our STEM Showcase for 2020. This showcase will be held on Thursday November 12 in the Mercy Centre until 12pm.
It is an opportunity for Year 6 students from Our Lady of Lourdes to come to St Saviour's and for our students to teach them what they have been learning in STEM. Many of the lessons will be focussed around the design thinking approach and using digital tools to solve problems.
The students will be showcasing thier work with Codey Rockies, Microbits, CoSpaces and 3D Printing.
Following the STEM Showcase the Year 6 students will participate in some fun sporting games against the students from OLOL.
VISUAL ART AND STEM OPEN MORNING
Following on from the STEM Showcase, we are planning on having an open morning for parents, where students from Prep to Year 6 can celebrate what they have been learning in STEM and also Visual Art.
This morning is planned to take place on November 27, so please mark it in your calendar. This will obviously take place pending COVID restrictions.
Toowoomba Catholic Schools' Excellence Awards
Last night, three staff members from St Saviour's Primary attended the Toowoomba Catholic Schools' Excellence Awards. Congratulations to Anne Woodcroft-Brown who won the award for educational support. Our other two finalists were Monica Conway in the expert early career teacher category and Kristi-Lee Hall in the volunteer category.
All three ladies are very deserving of this recognition.
WORLD Teachers' Day
Australia will celebrate and thank the teaching profession on World Teachers’ Day - Friday 30 October.
Teachers (with support from parents and carers) have ensured education continues across the country this year, despite major challenges. It’s reinforced the significant role teachers play in the lives of children and students, their families and communities.
On Friday 30 October, say a big thank you to teachers and celebrate the bright future of teaching. At St Saviour's Primary School the P&F Association will be providing a breakfast for all of the staff to say thanks!
Sam Hannant
APA