Deputy Principal’s Report – Week 3, Term 1 2024

The 2024 school year has started very positively again this year with the introduction of the new House System resulting in students being grouped into their House for ‘Home Group’, which is now called ‘House Group’. The House System has meant students are now forming friendships with students in all year levels across the school, which will be an additional support structure for each student as they progress from year to year. We have also introduced a new Pastoral Care Program called ‘Thrive’, which will promote House Spirit, focus on relationship building and aim to improve student wellbeing.

All Year 7, Year 12, International Students and Astra/SHIP students attended their first day for 2024 on the Tuesday of Week 1 following the student free day. The Year 7 students began their school year with a ‘Woodville Week’, aimed at supporting their transition into ‘Our’ Woodville High School. Activities included team building workshops, school tours, an introduction to ICT, learning about identity, wellbeing and the development of a learning profile. Feedback from the week was extremely positive and the students did a remarkable job transitioning into high school for the first time. The additional time in the school without Year 9, 10 and 11 students, enabled the Year 7 students to feel more comfortable and to adjust to the new environment at their own pace, which they did superbly.

The Year 12 students began their final year of high school by coming together in the Learning Hub for the first two lessons of the day to set the scene for the year and to discuss expectations and events for the year ahead. Mrs Daniela Piteo and her team ensured there was time for the students to meet with their new House Group teacher and to become more familiar with SEQTA, our new Learner Management System. Year 12 subjects began on day one after recess, to maximise the time the students have with their subject teachers due to the shorter year that all Year 12 students face. The Year 12’s have made a positive start to the year so far and I know they are all looking forward to their Year 12 School Formal on Friday 8 March (Week 6).

All other students returned on Wednesday of Week 1 which was the first time the whole school community were together for 2024. We started the day with an extended House Group lesson, to provide time for our new vertically grouped students to get to know each other and be prepared for the year ahead. All students began their timetabled lessons after recess on the Wednesday, in a similar structure to the Year 12’s and quickly settled into their new routine, following their timetable on SEQTA. With the new SEQTA system now in place, we will no longer be providing Snapshot Reports four weeks prior to the end of the assessment window. Instead, students and families will be able to access live results via SEQTA Learn and SEQTA Engage. Students will be able to receive continuous feedback throughout a term regarding their progress and achievement that the teachers will provide using their SEQTA Marksbook. So that we effectively track and monitor student achievement and growth, the Learner Review Model will provide students with a case manager to support them to be successful each term. We will allocate these case managers based of a child’s progress four weeks prior to the end of each assessment window. As part of this case management process, students may be encouraged to attend our Homework Centres, which are open during break times and after school. Learning Area leaders are rostered into the Lower Penny Building for recess and lunch time to provide one-on-one tutoring support for students who require it. After school, our Homework Centres are staffed by teacher staff, SSO’s and tutors to support students to access additional support when required. Below is a list of the Homework Centres and when they are available for future reference:

This year we have continued the school’s investment into Studiosity, which is an online learning platform, connecting Year 11 and Year 12 students in real-time with live experts to get writing feedback and 24/7 support with subject specific questions. The school has invested in Studiosity for all Year 11-12 students to support them with their study again this year. Students are now able to submit their written work into Studiosity for feedback from a literacy expert, which is sent back to them within 24 hours. The feedback is focused on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. It is recommended that students use this feature prior to submitting a draft to their teacher. Students can also log into their Studiosity account and ask a subject expert how to solve a problem or answer a question specific to the subject they are learning. The Studiosity tutor will provide support until the query has been resolved. Studiosity provides a fantastic opportunity for students to access 24/7 support and feedback on their written tasks. The two services are listed below:

• Connect Live: Students can ask a question or draw a diagram and get immediate help via live chat with a qualified Subject Specialist, across all core subject areas (Maths, English, Sciences, study skills).
• Writing Feedback: Students can upload any written draft and receive fast, actionable feedback that helps them think about and review their own work.

Students also have access to over 750 practice tests and downloadable worksheets with their accounts. These quizzes are available across English, maths, chemistry, physics and biology for Year 5 through to Year 12 levels, including NAPLAN-specific content. Every year we see the impact of this service on those students who access it in regards to their improved confidence and self-efficacy, as well as academic results. Year 11 and 12 students should have already received an activation email in their school email account to set up their details on Studiosity. The Term 1 assessment window will close on Thursday 28 March (Week 9) prior to the Easter Friday Public Holiday. Our teachers will finish their marking and finalise their Term 1 reports throughout Week 10 ready for the end of the term. Term 1 summary reports will be accessible electronically via SEQTA on the last day of term. Families can request a printed copy by calling or emailing the front office. Students and families will have the opportunity to discuss the Term 1 reports at our Learning Conference Evening on Wednesday 1 May (Week 1, Term 2). Information will be sent home to families later this term.

As this is the first newsletter for 2024, I would like to share with you the highlights of 2023, which I have listed below:

• 4 x Merits at Stage 2
• 100% SACE completion
• Second year for Year 7 students completed at Our Woodville
• Continued implementation of our Curriculum Review Days throughout 2023
• Completion of curriculum mapping Year 7-12
• ARC Culturally Responsive Schooling Project Year 2 completed in partnership with UniSA
• Planning and development of a VR Learning Lab for Term 1 2024
• Innovation of reporting informed by our Reporting Committee moving to a continuous reporting model from the start of 2024
• Successful implementation of the 2023 Braiding Project
• Implementation of the Learner Review Model to track and monitor student learning
• Successful Course Counselling Process in Term 3 2023
• SEQTA units have been constructed for the start of 2024
• Implementation of Languages grant to maintain students learning Indonesian into Year 11
• Literacy & Numeracy Intervention Team implementing new innovative model for 2023 and 2024
• A record number of pre-service teachers mentored by our staff
• Continued implementation of Studiosity to support our Year 11 and 12 students
• Continued collaboration with sister school in Indonesian through the Bridge Program to develop a children’s book in both English and Indonesian
• Artificial Intelligence Guidelines have been developed to support students, staff and families to know when AI can be used for learning purpose
• Further connections to business and industry have been established within our learning design
• The successful implemented of Year 7 subject Project Nova, which was a finalist at the ‘Future Anything Annual Awards’ for innovation

If you have any questions about the report and would like to speak with me about any else, please send me an email: luke.smith563@schools.sa.edu.au

Luke Smith

Deputy Principal