STAFFING UPDATE
As we move into the last half of the year there are a few staffing changes across the school. As you are aware, Sarah Bradbury has taken up a Team Leader position within the Department for Education for the remainder of this year, returning in 2024. This has created a domino effect. Congratulations to Matt Simmons who has won the deputy principal role: Inclusive Curriculum and Pedagogy, Fiona Brown who is now Senior Leader; Operations and Culture and Natalie Sarris who will be acting as Student Wellbeing Leader. Olivia Sutton, who is well known to the students in A5, will take over from Natalie from Monday.
AUTHENTIC LEARNING
Authentic Learning is an approach to education that focuses on providing students with real-world, meaningful experiences that prepare them for life beyond the school gates. Why does Reynella Primary school place so much value on authentic learning? Below are some of the key principles of authentic learning that drive us to prioritise authenticity in our classrooms.
Relevance: Authentic learning connects classroom lessons to real-life situations, making the content more relevant and meaningful for students. When students can see the practical applications of what they are learning, they are more engaged and motivated to learn.
Higher Order Thinking Skills: Authentic learning often requires critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. It encourages students to analyse information, synthesize ideas, and apply their knowledge to solve complex problems.
Motivation and Engagement: Engaging students in hands-on, real-world tasks taps into their natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation. This can lead to increased engagement and a deeper level of involvement in the learning process.
Application of Knowledge: Authentic learning encourages students to transfer their knowledge from one context to another. When students encounter similar situations outside the classroom, they can apply the skills and concepts they've learned to navigate those situations effectively.
Collaboration and Communication: Many authentic learning tasks involve collaboration with peers, mirroring the collaborative nature of many real-world scenarios. This helps students develop teamwork, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Long-Term Retention: Because authentic learning experiences are often memorable and personally meaningful, the knowledge and skills gained through these experiences tend to be retained for a longer period of time.
Cultural and Global Understanding: Authentic learning can involve exploring diverse perspectives and real-world issues, promoting cultural awareness and a broader understanding of global challenges.
Preparation for the Future: In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, students need skills that go beyond memorization and regurgitation of facts. Authentic learning equips students with the skills they'll need to thrive in a dynamic and rapidly changing society.
Emotional and Social Development: Authentic learning experiences can evoke emotions and empathy, helping students develop emotional intelligence and a sense of social responsibility.
Lifelong Learning: By engaging in authentic learning experiences, students develop a positive attitude toward learning and become more inclined to seek out learning opportunities throughout their lives.
Each year, our students exemplify authentic learning through our whole-school STEM inquiry. This year, students are exploring the many facets of ‘liveability’ through rich, project-based learning. As always, we are seeing students forming a deeper connection to their curriculum and truly taking hold of their own learning experience. It’s how we believe learning should look.
We can’t wait to showcase this journey once again on Thursday 21 September. Don’t miss it!
