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Dear Families
I write with some important and exciting information about reporting on our students’ development as learners at Thomas More College.
As well as the standard A-E report which you receive every Term which assesses a level of achievement against year level standards, from this Term we will provide the addition of a Learner Profile.
The Learner Profile is a holistic summary of how a student is developing in all aspects of their schooling. Alongside a record of academic achievement, it provides a visual summary of their demonstration of our Wellbeing Values, Learner Behaviours and engagement through key elements such as attendance, days late and any learning interventions attended. There is a sample of the Learner Profile at the end of this document.
Summarising this feedback to students, which is now explicit in their engagement across all learning areas, is an essential part of a contemporary approach to student achievement and progress through a Learner Profile.
The Leaner Behaviours were introduced at the start of 2020 to sit alongside the student Wellbeing Values. Over the last two years, staff and students have worked collaboratively to name, define, explore and now measure growth in the Wellbeing Values and Learner Behaviours.
In their JET and SET program students are currently engaging in reflecting on and self-assessing their own progress in developing their Learner Behaviours and Wellbeing Values and making goals for further development.
When you combine the elements of developing values and the person, developing as a capable learner and academic achievement, we form a picture of what we are ultimately working towards as a College: supporting and challenging our students to become the Thomas More Shaped (‘T-Shaped) Graduate.
The T-Shaped graduate is our ultimate destination for a Thomas More College Student. No matter where their pathway leads them after TMC, the T-Shaped Graduate has the competencies, understandings, skills and knowledge that they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
In planning to develop the T-Shaped Graduates; teachers plan teaching and learning programs, activities and assessments that are inclusive of the key areas of school for the holistic development of our young people, which are:
- TMC’s Wellbeing Values which are indicative of the young people we aim to develop
- TMC’s Learner Behaviours which aim to develop Thriving People, Capable Leaners and Leaders for the World God Desires
- Our school Vision of developing in students the Wisdom the Seek, Courage to Thrive and the Power to Change.
The Learner Profile shows a summary of a student’s progress towards becoming this T-Shaped Graduate.
This is connected to contemporary work in the SACE Board, CESA’s Living Learning and Leading Framework, as well as international developments, where initially this information seeks to enhance information about learning and wellbeing in addition to traditional A-E progress, moving to having possibly more importance in a cycle of assessment.
This week we have launched the Learner Profile with our students. The connection of the Learner Profile to our work with Wellbeing Values and Learner Behaviours leading to the T-Shaped Graduate, all within a restorative framework, was a key feature of our two staff days at the start of term. Mostly pleasingly, these days (and this work) we have constantly involved students in consultation, preparation and presentation. It was very pleasing to see this work come together in a way that students can name and own their strengths, challenges and development in their own learning.
More information will be available on the Learner Profile closer to reports, which will also involve how it connects to College Awards.
I look forward to being able to share this information as our work progresses.
Take Care
Corey Tavella
Principal
On 21 July, the SACE Board released the results of Semester 1 Stage 2 Research Project.
The Research Project is a compulsory 10 credit subject where students have a unique opportunity to study an area of interest in depth. This subject requires students to use creativity and initiative, while developing the research and presentation skills needed in further study and work.
Students have explored a wide range of topics and have included several creative formats in the presentation of their outcomes. These have included cosplay and video presentations, including one on the development of effective reading techniques for young children. A range of magazine articles were presented, including the impact of injuries on the mental health of elite athletes, the issue of part-time work for secondary school students as well as motorsport safety. Brochures, sway presentations and written reports were also used.
A summary of the initial results:
- 100% successful completion
- 28 results in the A band
- 3 A+ results overall: Masoumeh Rahimi, Tiffany Le and Madeleine Sarapuu
- 13 assessment pieces in the A+ band
- 88 assessment pieces in the A band
I would like to thank the Research Project teachers; Louise Eldridge, Michelle Lange, Melissa Sinapius and Lynda Stewart for their dedication to the students in their care.
Debbie Wherry
Research Project Key Teacher
During Term 2, Year 7 students engaged in a Project Based Learning opportunity. They were tasked to:
- Redesign the community space on Amsterdam Crescent.
- Draw the map of the area
- Ensure they have considered and met the needs of the community
- Consider scale in their drawing
- Label the features on the map
- Apply mapping skills
- Include a design statement
Students visited the Reserve, analysed census data, listened to interviews with local residents and learned about mapping skills and scale. Students had the opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding and develop learner behaviours.
Some students presented their design and ideas to Mr. Tavella and Ms. Baker. They discussed the design process and the connection with the community. They elaborated on how this task gave them the opportunity to develop the TMC Learner Behaviours.
Geography Teacher
Welcome
Welcome to the 1st edition of the Thomas More College Library #librarylife newsletter for Term 3 2020. We hope you all enjoyed your holiday break and were able to catch up with family and friends now that the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
The Library staff look forward to welcoming you all back to the Resource Centre.
Student ID cards
Please remember to have your student ID card with you when you visit the library to work quietly, charge tablets or borrow books. All students are now required to scan their ID cards on the electronic sign in register when working in the library – the paper-based sign in sheet will no longer be available. Students also need to have a note in their diary, signed by their teacher, which library staff need to sight before you sign in.
If you have lost your ID card, please ask the library staff for an order form so your card can be re-ordered. The cost of replacing a lost ID card is $7.00.
Here is Mrs Webb enjoying her favourite book: ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Describe this book in 6 words: Poetic, Romantic, Curious, Opulent, Powerful and Captivating.
Premier’s Reading Challenge 2020
Don’t forget to record the books you have been reading for this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge. Records are due to be handed in to the Library staff by no later than 21 August 2020 so they can be entered onto the Premier’s data system for processing awards.
Voting for next year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge poster artwork is now open for staff and students to vote on. See the link below to access the web link to the voting page.
Display Cabinet
The Library’s latest display cabinet celebrates the birthday of Author, JK Rowling (31 July 1965) – the creator of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, and many other creative stories during her career as a writer.
In 1990, Joanne Rowling (AKA JK Rowling) conceived the idea of a story about a special young orphan boy named Harry Potter, during a delayed train ride from Manchester to London's King’s Cross Station, mapping out the characters and story line in long hand on pieces of paper she had available with her during her travels.
She worked tirelessly creating characters for her novels, and after five long years she had finally finished the storyline for all 7 novels in the Harry Potter series.
The first novel was published in 1997 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books under her writer’s name of JK Rowling.
Display cabinet.jpg
Inspirational Quote of the Week | #Conversing with the Author ….
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Mondays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursdays: 8:00am - 10:00am
Fridays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
First Saturday of Every Month: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Flinders Open Days 2020
This year you can explore your career options, listen to academics, and chat online with student advisors at a time and a place that works for you. Just choose an online session that suits you and do it your way at Flinders Open Days!
- View over 60 video presentations on careers, study areas and university life
- Learn about course options and career pathways
- Chat online with study area experts
- Take a virtual campus tour
- Hear from current students and alumni
Register Here: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/events-key-dates/open-days#register
University of Adelaide
With a click of a button, you will be transported to a virtual journey through our campus visiting faculty buildings, state-of-the-art facilities, hangout spots and endless greenery.
WHAT CAN I DO ON THE DAY?
This is your gateway into the platform. Register now to make sure you can login and access our virtual Open Day experience on Sunday 16 August, 9am-4pm ACST
University of South Australia Virtual Open Days
Sunday 9 August 12:00pm-6:00pm
Monday 10 August 10:00am-4:00pm
In 2020, UniSA’s Virtual Open Days are only a click away. Explore our virtual exhibition halls, where you can hear from a variety of speakers and find information on degree options, entry pathways, support services, and life as a UniSA student. Tune in live to presentations on the Main Stage, or access on-demand presentations in our virtual degree booths.
Stay up to date by registering to attend - we’ll keep you posted on the event program, info sessions and more. By registering, you’ll also have a chance to win a UniSA Starter Pack valued at $2,500, including a Microsoft Surface Pro 7, a Surface Pro keyboard and stylus pen pack, Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones and a Garmin smart watch.* Terms and conditions apply
Register Here: https://www.bigmarker.com/s/session-series/home
Healthy Eating... Healthy Lifestyles
Thomas More College supports the Rite Bite Strategies introduced for South Australian Schools as well as an overall healthy approach to living and lifestyle. This is an initiative we encourage all of our community to take up, not just our students. The College would like to invite staff, students and parents to contribute recipes which meet these guidelines, as displayed on our website, for our newsletter so that we can all benefit from our collective knowledge and resources. Please enjoy the following recipes.
Chicken and Haloumi Bake with Potato Wedges
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4
Ingredients
4 chicken Maryland’s, trimmed
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, plus extra to serve
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon dried oregano
600g cream delight potatoes, halved, cut into wedges
250g haloumi, cut into 1cm-thick slices
80g baby spinach
Lemon wedges, to serve
Method
Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan-forced.
Place chicken in a roasting pan. Drizzle with half the oil and half the lemon juice. Sprinkle with lemon rind, thyme, rosemary and oregano.
Place potato on a baking tray. Drizzle with remaining oil and lemon juice. Bake chicken and potato for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until chicken is golden and cooked through, adding haloumi to the chicken in the last 20 minutes of cooking time.
Serve chicken and potato with spinach and lemon wedges and sprinkle with extra thyme.
Beer Battered Cauliflower
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 6 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 cup plain flour
⅓ cup cornflour
1 egg yolk
1 cup Victoria Bitter beer
350g cauliflower cut into florets
1 bottle oil for frying
1 lemon cut into wedges to serve
1 cup tartare sauce to serve
1 pinch sea salt to serve
Method
Whisk together the flours in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add the yolk. Gradually pour in the beer, whisking constantly, until a smooth batter forms.
Pour enough oil to come one-third of the way up the side of a wok or large saucepan. Heat over high heat until a cook’s thermometer reaches 180°C. Add the cauliflower to the batter and stir well to coat.
Add half of the cauliflower to the oil and cook for 3 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a rack placed over a baking tray. Repeat with the remaining cauliflower.
Sprinkle with salt and serve with tartare sauce and lemon wedges.