Senior Assistant Principal – Teaching & Learning
What an amazing term!! 11 weeks is one big challenge for everyone involved. I’m so proud of our high-quality teaching learning programs that supported our students to close Semester 1. This past two weeks it has been lovely to feel the excitement that has surrounded our start of our new semester in line with new subjects for some of our students. It is so incredible to see how the reset of a semester can support a student to shift their behaviours alongside their goals.
We are really seeing growth in our community. There has been an enormous amount of work put into supporting our Year 9 and 10 students through the counselling program. This has been through a series of webinars and on-site workshops which I thank you, our families, for attending. An enormous thank you to Andrea Ganotis, Leading Teacher of Year 9 & Year 10 Curriculum, who has been reinvigorating our careers education in our Education for Life classes so that students are authentically engaging with their Morrisby profiles as they prepare for subject selection.
Behind the scenes we have been evaluating our curriculum structure and programs so that our students have the best subjects to choose from. We want subjects that foster deep, rich learning, subjects that are going to enable them to be prepared for world beyond Auburn. Our Reimagining Curriculum project was launched over 12 months ago when we anticipated the new implementation of the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. With the growth of our school and our student cohorts it was necessary to review our curriculum offerings and ensure that they were not only still in line with student interest, but also to expand these offerings, where possible, to create new and exciting opportunities for our kids. We are so excited to launch these new subjects that our teaching staff have designed this week as students prepare for select their individualised 2026 program. You can find our 2026 Curriculum Handbook on Compass along with our invitation to families to our Senior School Expo in the first week of next term.
Alongside teaching and learning we’ve had several celebrations for our students and that includes a Year 12 formal. It was heartwarming see four tables of teachers to joining the Class of 2025 on the evening, and on the dance floor! There is strong pride in our Year 12 community, and we can’t wait to work with them in the final phase of their schooling journey.
This week we have over 130 Year 10 students completing their Work Experience placements with employers across Melbourne and across the state this program. Our Work experience program ensures that students have on-the-job experience with an industry of their interest so they’re able to experience this firsthand.
Since Monday we’ve had glowing reports from our employers about the high expectation that our students had turning up on time, in correct work uniform and jumping right into any tasks that were shared with them. Our students have been having an array of experiences this week: from making documentaries on the history of the businesses, to completing site inspections with architect firms, blind installation, using accounting software systems and making splints to support patients. It pleases me to know that our students are doing us proud outside our Auburn walls, and we can’t wait to share more of their experiences with you next term when they return.
Our Work Experience program is one that has been redefined and redeveloped this year. We have relocated the time of the year that takes place, strengthening the program ready for our Junior School students to join us in Year 10 in the coming years. We encourage our Year 9 students to start thinking about a placement that they might enjoy next year as they can be quite competitive.
It’s really important to me to acknowledge the work of our Leadership Team. it has been challenging at times due to some missing staff members in a number of portfolios this term and yet I am so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve for our students. Their dedication has meant that our students have not missed an opportunity as a result of any gaps in our staffing model. We are lucky to have a strong community at Auburn who are truly passionate about our students.
The holidays are well and truly deserved by everyone in our community and I’m wishing a safe and restful break with your families. We can’t wait to hear about any holiday adventures, and we are looking forward to starting Term 3 with you soon.
Ella Price
Senior Assistant Principal