From the Principal
Bonjour à tous.
This week we will submit the desktop review. It has been a great experience of celebration seeing all the wonderful things that we do here at Bunbury SHS. Even our weaknesses, which we all know, are actively being worked on from a positive perspective to get better.
A growth mind set is a defining feature of our school. We as staff, look for areas of growth and focus our energy on it. Sometimes too much, and we forget to celebrate all the wonderful things that we do. The IPS review is certainly highlighting for me the wonderful work that is done across the school.
Feedback, like the type we will no doubt get from the review, is also a great source of growth. Like that feedback, there are numerous opportunities for us to receive feedback. The peer observation process is one. The work done on school development days and through the coffee club providing support for implementation has ensured that all staff are trained and experienced in this style of focused, goal orientated growth. I encourage you all to seek support to ensure you are able to incorporate Peer Observation as a regular activity of your professional life.
Last Friday I “Rolled up my Sleeve for WA” and had my second Pfizer vaccine shot. There are now a number of general practice clinics offering the COVID vaccine in Bunbury. My experience at the COVID vaccination centre in the Home Maker Centre was excellent. The operation there is very efficient and the staff very supportive and caring.
This week the Premier has opened up access to the COVID vaccination to 16 to 29-year-olds, so please be aware, clinics could get increasingly busier and even some of our students may be getting the vaccine.
Unlike the previous lockdowns where schools stayed open, I don’t believe that this will happen should we have a Delta outbreak. We are prepared should the school be closed with our Remote Learning Plan.
En Avant
Mike Sinagra
Principal
STAFF SHOUTOUTS!
Friday night I slept out with the students. Luckily this year it was not as cold as previously but the plight of homelessness, in particular the invisible homeless impact, was rammed home by the speakers on the night. Some of our students live this experience. Needing to live with relatives or friends or sleeping in temporary accommodation. Sometimes, sharing facilities that are not designed for the number of people using them.
Please be aware that these are some of the issues impacting some of our students each day. Thank you to Luke and Danelle who arranged this event.
QUESTIONING AND FEEDBACK
Probing questions
In order to keep students developing their understanding, it is important to ask questions that make them ask “why do I think like that?” Well-chosen questions help students to link ideas, connect concrete and abstract ideas and extrapolate old ideas.
Ask a question
Use one of the question techniques that we have discussed already
- Cold Call
- Think Pair Share
- Check for Understanding
Follow-up with a probing question
Here is a list to help.
- What's the connection between A and B?
- Is that always true or only in this case?
- Is there another example?
- What would be the most important factor?
- If we changed this what would happen to that?
Listen and Probe further
Continue to explore the students’ schema, listen carefully and probe further
- Well if that’s true what about this?
- Is there another way to explain it?
- How is that different to the previous example?
NUTS AND BOLTS
Next Monday is the SDD. An agenda has already been sent. This day will be very focused on the training and support staff need to deliver the Emotion Learning Program in 2022.
The School newsletter goes out this week. Although there has been only a short time since our last newsletter there has been a huge number of opportunities for students for us to share with the school community.
Thank you to all the staff who arrange these events. Your time and efforts are really appreciated by the students and their parents. Ensuring that we use our media platforms to share the stories is sometimes an added but necessary burden.