Dear St Anne's Community,

Our prayers have been answered with the recent rain. While the drought is not over, it is nice to see the lift that some proper rain provides for the community.

Last week I attended the Archdiocesan Principal's Retreat in Bowral, NSW. 56 Principals and Catholic Education Office staff spent 3 days working through Education Reform, also known as The Learning Agenda. As part of this agenda, it was decided last year that we will become a pilot school in Explicit Instruction (K-2 only). This is a 3 year pilot program funded and supported by Catholic Education. K-2 teachers have a number of Professional Learning committments this year that will support the program. K-10 teachers will also attend a Professional Learning day on the 27th April in Batemans Bay. More specific information can be found below. K-2 parents will receive seperate details in the coming week. 

School Community Council

I am pleased to announce that we held the School Community Council AGM on Tuesday 10th March and a new executive team was appointed. Congratulations to Margo Townsend on her appointment as Chair of the School Community Council. I look forward to working with Margo and the Community Council in this next chapter of the school. The new Community Council is made up of:

Chair- Margo Townsend

Deputy Chair- Cassie Coddington

Secretary- Christine Collins

Treasurer- Paula Godde

Principal- Grant Haigh

Parish Priest- Fr Sijo Jose

Parent Representatives- Emily Watts, Ben Cassidy

Staff Representative- Kelly-Anne Coleman

Appointed by the Principal- Dennis Sleigh

Well done to our Primary Swimmers on their efforts at the Archdiocesan Primary Swimming Carnival in Narooma on Monday 3/3/20. From all accounts, Will, Chelsea and Lani represented St Anne's with pride.

Thank you to Mrs Sutherland for her work with organising the St Anne's Chess team and for their recent trip to Wagga High School. Great work to our students for winning 2 out 4 games. 

On Tuesday 10th March, 5 of our teachers attended a Numeracy Professional Learning day in Cootamundra (Sacred Heart Central School). Opportunities such as these provide our teachers with a chance to network with other professionals and to engage in rich professional learning. 

The St Anne's Long Lunch is on this weekend and I am looking forward to attending my first one. Thank you to Kris and Kylie Dunstan, Cindy Cassie and Georgina Breust for their work in organising the event. 

I have advertised for a Wood/Metal Industrial Technology Teacher to start at the beginning of Term 2. I would like to thank Mr John Hogan for stepping in at short notice this term. John will be leaving us to focus more of his time on his farm. If you know of anyone that is qualified, please ask them to contact Mr Haigh, via the office. 

Please take the time to read the information in this newsletter about the Coronavirus.

Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot Program

This year St Anne's is one of three Archdiocesan Schools participating in an Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot. This project seeks to improve student outcomes by supporting teachers to develop their classroom practice. Whilst the focus is on K–2 students, the content of the project is relevant for all teachers. At the centre of the program, the model is a twelve-month professional development and instructional coaching program offered by Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond each term for four terms.

Through a combination of professional learning, lesson demonstration (modelling by an instructional coach), lesson observation and feedback, teachers are supported to improve their knowledge of the learning brain and capacity to teach students using instructional strategies that are systematic, direct and explicit. By providing practical professional learning, with follow-up instructional coaching, this program supports teachers to transfer evidence-based strategies into their own practice, in their own classroom, efficiently and effectively. Participating schools will not be required to stop any initiatives or programs currently underway – the explicit teaching and learning project is additive. 

The Explicit Teaching and Learning Pilot experience is a spaced program, over four terms, that includes:

Four hands-on professional learning days
Teachers learn the why and how of explicit instruction through discussion of the evidence, lesson demonstrations with students and video exemplars. Critically, each professional learning day provides teachers with the opportunity to practice explicit lesson delivery with students and receive immediate coaching and feedback.

Multiple rounds of instructional coaching to consolidate learning
In addition to coaching during the professional learning days, teachers are supported as they implement new strategies in their own classrooms. Lorraine Hammond will travel to each school to observe teachers, offer feedback on their instruction and provide opportunities for self-reflection.

Leadership support
Leaders are supported to develop the necessary skills to sustain and embed explicit instruction in the school, including taking part in professional learning, lesson observation and instructional coaching.

Building a network and shared resources
Teachers can support one another and build a network committed to further developing their expertise and sharing resources and materials.

Who will deliver the program?
Associate Professor Lorraine Hammond is a specialist in high-impact instruction, including explicit instruction and direct instruction. She has worked with schools in numerous cities and regions across the country to support the sustainable implementation of effective instruction. She is experienced in coaching leaders, adapting to the challenges of each school’s unique context and working one on one with classroom teachers to support effective practice. Dr Lorraine Hammond will deliver the professional learning, demonstrate lessons, observe lessons and provide feedback for each participant of this project.

Take care,

Grant Haigh