LATEST UPDATE 16/9/2020

Well good afternoon and welcome to the last week of term 3.
In some ways that excites me (I think we could all do with a break) and in some ways it scares me a little that the year is passing by so quickly!
 
Now, there is a lot of information below, so make yourself a coffee and strap yourself in, please read it all.
 
To keep you in the loop:

• We have received new Information from DET regarding changes to the return to school arrangements for Term 4
• We had a plan, and at 6:30pm last night, part of our plan has needed to change, again!
• I have had a heap of questions around this so , here is my attempt to be as clear as I can be!

 
Term 4 will look like this:

• If you have Primary school children ……. They will return to school face to face on Monday 5th October ….
  That is Day 1 term 4. Yippee!
• Primary schools do have the option to stagger this, so check with your Primary for exact details.
• Students of BSC will remain on remote learning for week 1 Term 4 and ALL students will return to face to face learning on Monday the 12th October. Yippee!
• This remains exactly the same as we had been planning for.  

 
Things to take note of:

• The only students that will be on site during week 1 term 4, will be students from VCE / VCAL who are completing essential work tasks assessments.
• This may include some year 10 students.
• This remains exactly the same as it has been up to now.
• Please see below the plan for Friday 9th October.

 

• ACER testing: This is going to be a critical feature of the first week back

 
WHY are we planning this? Because, we have been out and remote for so long, because term 4 will be very quick, because we need to prepare everyone for a great jump start into 2021 AND we want a really clear snapshot of where your child’s learning is right now.
Everything we do at BSC is wrapped in the belief in high quality, we want excellent teaching practice, we want growth in our learners.
So to get this right, we need to know exactly, at what point of learning our students are returning to us.
 
HOW will we do this?

• All students during their English and Maths classes during week1, will complete pre testing using ACER testing.
• (same as earlier in the year, so the students are very familiar with it)
• Your support at home, during these testing sessions will be invaluable in maximising the gains we can make during the time left in Term 4.

 
Then WHAT, the outcome will be, we will use this for

• This will give the teachers a base line for their work moving into Term 4 and a valuable piece of assessment at this time.
• Help us achieve: All students to complete with a high degree of fidelity. Thanks!

 
 
Week 1 Term 4, will take this shape!
Monday 5th Oct
Remote Learning as usual
 
Tuesday 6th Oct
Remote Learning as usual
 
Wednesday 7th Oct
GAT for all students completing unit 3 and 4 subjects
The GAT is on site / Covid protocols in place
Remote Learning as usual for all other students
 
Thursday 8th Oct
Remote Learning as usual
 
Friday 9th Oct
Work left on Compass for students, but NO Webex today
Staff will be working in KLA teams for planning
Ready to hit the road running on Monday 12th
  

• Friday 9th will see staff working together to plan for the rest of Term 4. PLUS ….to give students and teachers important TIME to catch up
• Staff have already developed plan A, but now we need plan B, because of the shortened term face to face.
• We usually have 10 weeks in term 4, face to face (Nothing usual about this year)
• Week 1 is remote and there are other interruptions during the Term, such as Cup Day and Grand Final Public Holiday.
• This year we are planning a full 2 week transition program for all students during weeks 9 and 10. (Moving between the year levels)
• This is so important to ensure all our students are really well set up for a strong start in 2021.
• I am certainly excited about what this is looking like ……. Some fantastic work being completed here.
• We will be giving out more information about this during the Term (As the event gets closer)
• This will also see the development of a Year 12 (2021) Study camp for 3 days  (Covid permitting)
• This will focus and prepare the students, arming them with tasks for the holiday period.
• Leaving a maximum of 7 weeks for all other students, so we must address and re do the plan, to ensure that we hit the “essentials of learning for term 4 in all areas.

 
I know there is a lot in this, but to make the understatement of the year ………………… “There is a lot going on”!
 
Thanks and always happy to chat.
Trudie Nagle
 

term 4

Well hello and welcome to some good news!
We have a plan and we have a date that will see all of our students back on site for face to face learning!
Yippee!
 
I must be honest and say that I was a bit confused after the Premiers announcement yesterday, so I had to take the time to “read, re-read and listen again”.
In an effort to be clear to all, please read below.
 
The key points that you need to know are:

• For the rest of term 3 we remain remote for all students.  (This is no surprise really, I always expected this to be the case)
  

 
5 – 9 October (first week of Term 4)

• We remain on remote learning for all students
• BUT, an yes there is a “but”
• A student who is doing VCE or VCAL (including any who are in year 10 and completing a VCAL or VCE subject) may come on site, ONLY to complete an essential piece of assessment. 
  This is the same as it has been during term 3 and it really means only for essential SAC catch ups etc)
• The obvious example of this is: The GAT (General Assessment Test)

All students completing a VCE Unit 3 and 4 subject are required to complete the GAT
AND believe me, this year this is more important than ever!
Hence we have been doing so much work on the practise GAT etc
Organizational details around the GAT will follow soon
Mark Wednesday the 7th October in your calendars now! GAT

• As of Monday 12th October individual schools may stagger the return of students, but everyone must be back on site by Friday 16th October.
• At BSC we will bring all students back to face to face learning as of the 12th! 
  (This is where we differ from Metro, they remain remote, without an end date in sight)
• Face masks will remain compulsory at all times.

 
I know how hard this has been …… It has been difficult for everyone and has had a toll on staff, teachers, families, students and me!
I truly hope that we don’t ever have to return to remote learning for all students.
Remember this was and still is a Health crisis, not a crisis of education.
 
On a brighter note:  Some students have absolutely thrived during this style of learning
I encourage you to talk with me and the staff in the Hubs, if you feel that this maybe a way forward for your child …………
a more blended model if you like.
 
I can’t thank you all enough, this has been darn hard work, and we are certainly not out of the woods yet but we are indeed closer to the finish line now!
 
Keep your eyes open for further updates and I am always happy to chat.
Thanks again
Trudie Nagle
 

Koorie Academy of Excellence student shines in Outer Gippsland

The Outer Gippsland Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE), recently assisted year 11 Bairnsdale Secondary College student, Destiny Harrison, with her application for the Arthur Grassby scholarship. The KAE would like to congratulate Destiny on successfully obtaining this scholarship.
The Arthur Grassby scholarship is for year 11 Secondary College students within the East Gippsland Shire. The aim is to provide the younger generation with an insight into the connection between Gippsland and the Kokoda Trail, and the sacrifices made by men from this community so they can enjoy the lives they live today.
In July 2021, Density, along with other East Gippsland students, will complete the Kokoda trail in Papua New Guinea. Students will research and follow in the footsteps of Arthur Grassby, a Bairnsdale Man, who fought with the 39th Battalion and was in the first Australian troops to encounter the Japanese at Kokoda.
The scholarship will enhance the confidence and leadership skills that Destiny already displays. Destiny is excited to go on this journey as the first Koorie recipient of this scholarship and will be an amazing role model to the remainder of the KAE students.
The staff at the KAE wish Destiny all the best on her leadership Journey. 

​What a brilliant community we live in!

​Through all the despair of recent times, East Gippsland will remain the greatest place on earth to live.
Please take the time to read the Australian Geographic article below and ponder at the tremendous courage and power of community and working together.
 
Trudie

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2020/08/east-gippsland-grit-the-resilience-driving-recovery/

free webinars - Stephen Biddulph ​

Hello to our College community,
The following webinars are FREE and should be of an excellent quality. This is an opportunity for you to listen to and engage with Stephen Biddulph 
Totally up to you.

• Steve is well known to us  all in education, but to quote his website, “Steve Biddulph is one of the world’s best  known parent educators.  
  A psychologist for 30 years, he is now retired but continues to write and teach”.
• His books, such as Raising Boys, Raising Girls and The New Manhood are printed in 31 different languages.
• He has presented seminars to over 140,000 people across 4 continents.
• Steve is offering 3 seminars,  pre-recorded as webinars, for free, to parents in bushfire effected shires in Victoria - Tawong, Alpine and East Gippsland. 
• His team in Melbourne have set up the web links and booking system.

 

Links and dates are below
 
Dates for webinars are as follows:
 
Raising boys:  October 8th 2020  - Booking link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BLDQT
 
Raising Girls: October 29th 2020 - Booking link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BLDRL
 
Secrets of Happy Families: November 19th  2020 - Booking link:  https://www.trybooking.com/BLDRN
 
Enjoy
Trudie
 ​

2020 Student Attitudes to School Survey

click here to access letter 14/08/2020