Now that we are in lockdown for at least 4 more weeks we are making adjustments and improvements to the OCL experience for our learners. We have taken into account all of the requests from both staff and parents, and have ultimately made decisions based on what we believe will achieve the best learning outcomes for the students.
Daily Plans with More Explicit Teaching Opportunities
From next week the students will be asked to complete their lessons in the allocated times each day. This means that only English will be taking place in the English time allocated, Mathematics in the allocated time, Specialist subjects in the Specialist times etc. This will ensure that the students are getting the explanations and/or explicit instruction at the beginning of each block, for the lessons within that block only.
The plan for each day is as follows:
If your child is in the Infants grades and you would like some tips on supporting their reading at home, please see attached.
Our staff are keeping track of students who are completing tasks and who are coming on to Zoom to ask for help or advice about what to do next. We understand the importance of students keeping connected to their teachers and their peers, therefore with the extended lockdown we will be aiming to increase the opportunities for students to stay online with their teachers and their peers.
NESA Guidelines for Assessments and Reporting
Principals have been given the flexibility to decide which syllabus outcomes and content they teach and assess for Kindergarten to Year 10 for Semester 2, 2021. Our aim at Claremont College is that we continue to provide a comprehensive well rounded educational experience for all students throughout this semester, where all students are engaged in all Key Learning Areas.
Throughout the term teachers will need to gather assessment data and evidence of learning from the students, for the Semester 2 Reports. Because of this there will be times when parents will be asked not to help their child/ren… even though we love the times you are able to assist.
If your child is finding the OCL experience challenging please contact your child’s teacher, Ms DeRossi or myself, and we will be happy to talk to you about prioritising the learning for your child, during this period.
Depending on the length of the lockdown and further directives from NESA, this information will be updated.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR WEEKS 4-7
Students Onsite
For the students coming onsite, the Claremont Sports uniform can be worn to school every day if the students want to, or if they would prefer to wear their winter uniform, that is ok as well.
Stylus Pens
We encourage students to use a Stylus Pen rather than their finger as much as possible. This is to encourage the development of an appropriate pencil grip, and neatness and accuracy.
Unfortunately…
We are not able to provide the complete set of daily lesson plans the week or day before. With our increased emphasis on explicit instruction opportunities and students doing their work in the set allocated times, differentiation opportunities and working in groups, and as well for our desire for students not to race ahead and not challenge themselves as much as we would like them to, sending out lessons prior to the teaching will not be possible.
Monday Assemblies
From Monday we will begin Monday Assemblies from 9am.
Next week in Week 4, each grade will have a ‘Grade Assembly’.
From Week 5, we will have ‘Whole School Assemblies’.
Parents are welcome to join in… wish us luck with this!
I have recently listened to ‘What Happened to You?’ by Dr Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. There are some really appropriate, research-based reminders for all of us now, especially when many of us feel even more busy than usual because of working from home while juggling Off Campus Learning, and feeling that there are not enough hours in the day. There are two chapters in particular (Ch2 How We Are Loved and Ch9 Relational Hunger in a Modern World) where Dr Perry says that children will not be disadvantaged by a parent or parents who are working long hours or have demanding jobs, it is the way parents interact with children when they are with them that has the most impact. If a parent only has a small amount of time each day with their children it is the quality of time that matters the most, the time to connect, to listen, to laugh, to talk, to play and have parent/child physical contact. It is the tone of voice and interactions with the child, the partner and with every other member of the family that matters, and the absence of phones and other devices while you are spending quality time with your child/ren, that will have the most impact on a child’s upbringing. He also says, especially in a pandemic, parents are not to beat themselves up about not having enough time to spend with their child/ren, but to remember it is the quality of time that matters.
All the best as we move into four more weeks of lockdown.
Janelle Ford
Co-Principal
