Tomorrow (25 October) is the day that we celebrate World Teachers' Day in Australia. I take this opportunity to thank the teachers and all staff who work for your children at St Brendan-Shaw College. I include all staff because in their interactions and by their example, everyone here ‘teaches’ something to our students, whether it is the importance of doing your job to the best of your ability, or the need to be flexible to achieve the best outcome for an organisation.
For those who are charged with the responsibility to deliver the curriculum, I would like to share what we do to ensure that we provide high-quality learning experiences for our students. Every teacher takes part in a performance feedback and development process. We use a tool called Educator Impact (EI) as part of this process. This aligns with the Australian Institute for Teaching and Scool Leadership’s (AITSL’s) Professional Standards for Teachers. The process sees every teacher allocated to a Professional Learning Team (PLT). EI requires that each teacher completes a personal reflection, against the Standards, on their teaching. Then one of the members of their PLT observes their classroom teaching, completing a feedback form. Finally, students are invited to give their feedback of their teacher. (This is done via allocation to ensure that students are not overwhelmed by the number of surveys that they must complete.) The teacher then receives feedback that shows the alignment (or otherwise) of the three sources for each of the Standards. Their strengths and areas for growth are identified and this forms a discussion point between them and their mentor. They then develop goals and Professional Learning applications are aligned to these goals.
This all sits beside their usual planning, preparation, marking, formative and summative assessments, risk assessments for excursions and incursions to support and stimulate learning. In addition, supported by other staff, they deal with complex wellbeing scenarios. Thus, World Teachers Day provides an opportunity to thank the selfless professionals and their support staff. On your behalf, I thank them for what they do.
Next Thursday afternoon, at 2:00 pm in Jubilee Chapel, we will hold a memorial Mass for the Dead. We especially pray for those who died while students at the College as well as staff. All are welcome to attend.
Please keep Mrs Healey and Mr D Peters in your prayers on the death of Mrs Healey’s mother and Mr Peters’ wife’s grandmother.
Eternal rest, grant unto her, O LORD,
And let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
I will keep you in my Prayers.
Frank Pisano
