Catholic Education Tasmania last year introduced a system-wide strategy targeted at an increased focus on improving literacy across all year levels and in all subjects for the students who attend Catholic schools.
The initial stage included every Catholic school identifying a literacy leader who would participate in Professional Learning with the other literacy leaders, bringing this back to the school. The project is evolving and becoming more ambitious, looking to incorporate high-impact teaching practices to improve educational achievement.
Catholic school leaders recently spent a day with Canberra Goulburn Catholic Education peers who have been on this journey for three years. They were very optimistic about its impact on their schools, and we were invited to learn more. Despite being my last year in this role, I believed that this was something I felt the College should explore further. I was thrilled that our School Leadership Team supported what we all recognised as what high-impact teachers already do instinctively.
Since then, we have been delving deeper into the science of learning that provides the foundations that underpin high-impact teaching and learning.
Friday night's Vinnies sleepout was a rewarding experience for the students who participated. While the experience is designed to build awareness and as an act of solidarity, we use the locked Nazareth Centre for security purposes - it is worth reflecting that this is a safeguard that those sleeping on the streets don't have.
I am writing this early due to the Public Holiday for the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Stay safe, keep happy, and I will keep you in my prayers.
Frank Pisano
