Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Last week I wrote about parent access to Google Classroom as a general concept. This week I want to reinforce the importance of this platform as it will be the ‘launch pad’ for all our student and parent communication for subject content and feedback. To this extent, I have included a ‘how to’ sheet which walks parents through the process of using Google Classroom at the end of this article. The document is also on the SJPC Facebook Page.
Parents checking in with Google Classroom will ensure effective communication links as we prepare our learning community for online learning. This week will begin the transition from direct face to face learning to blended learning (a mix of classroom face to face learning and posting the content online for absent students) and eventually remote learning (where all students are physically absent and lessons are delivered online).
Remote learning will not only be a new concept to traditional teaching but a cultural change for our staff, students and families. We will have technology issues, access issues and frustrations from all parties – I just ask that parents and students be patient and communicate with their teachers via the Google Platform.
As every subject, every classroom and every teacher/class dynamic is different, so too will our Google Classroom offerings and feedback. The professionalism of SJPC teachers will be the ‘constant’ as all teaching staff will deliver interactive content and provide feedback in lieu of classroom interactions. For this I thank our teachers as they have had a minimal amount of time to transition and yet they will still provide a quality Catholic education to our students.
I would also recommend the close reading of all CSO and SJPC emails in recent days as this outlines a great deal of information of how our learning and teaching will work for the remainder of Term 1, 2020. For senior students please keep looking at the Curriculum Google Classroom as Ms Brown and Mrs Reeves have placed many links including VOAs and NESA updates for you to read.
In closing, I would like to highlight the added importance of our electronic resources our College subscribes to. The following resource will be used as a support for our current HSC students but is available for all students and parents at St John Paul College in regards to remote learning.
Our College’s subscription details to Study Skills Handbook are -
Username: stjohnpaul
Password: 89success
As was the case in 2019, we have access to the Elevate Education Student Portal. This online platform contains resources and useful study tips that all SJPC students will find effective. We encourage them to access this Student Portal and try some of the strategies. Students have the password to this site. The password can also be found on the Curriculum Noticeboard.
My thanks to our staff and gratitude to our families’ patience as we manoeuvre through these interesting times and always place the student at the heart of our decision making at St John Paul College.
James Furey
Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching