Schools as text looking at the whole

school
Understand the importance of effective communication with students
and colleagues to develop positive relationships.
Graduate Standards AITSL 6.3 and 7.1
Describe the school in
terms of its
demographics,
appearance and
resources (be general
here and do not name
the school).

Private, catholic, boys school.

Students from a moderately high socio-economic community.
There is a VERY strong emphasis on expected good
behaviour, meticulous manners and christian values of
respect for others. School motto is visible everywhere and
provides a very real focus; "Today's boys, tomorrow's
gentlemen."
Students are polite, well dressed and attentive to staff at all
times.
They have strong leadership from the principal that is ever
present. A community of staff that work collaboratively and
genuinely care for the long term wellbeing of the students.

Plan and teach class lessons.

What were the roles and
responsibilities of the
teaching staff you
observed?

Run a mentor class at the start of each day with students

from yr 7 - yr 12.
Liase daily via email and phone with parents about student
performance, wellbeing.
Organise and run extra curricular clubs, interstate and
overseas excursions in their field.
Take rostered turns for supervision of students at recess,
lunch and after school.
Provide guidance / support to graduate and prac teachers.
Be available in department offices for students on every
break between classes and before/ after school.

EDN550ProfessionalExperienceInformationforPreServiceTeachers2016

What did you observe

non-teaching staff doing
to support teaching and
learning in the school?

Admin staff: fielding phone calls, photocopying, locating

students, locating available rooms when needed.
Principal: Provides leadership at weekly staff meetings,
assemblies, school gatherings. Unifies staff and students in
what is important regarding student learning outcomes and
behaviour expectations.
Canteen Staff: Feeds everyone. Good nutrition is essential
for students to learn and staff to work.
ICT Staff: When these staff are not helpful for whatever
reason, it makes the teaching staff's job of running lessons
very difficult. When they are helpful, they are invaluable.
Cleaners / Gardeners: Maintains the grounds to a standard
that reflects and supports the whole school culture.

Students
You will have observed
the diverse nature of your
classes. How was this
diversity supported?

Diversity was supported through teacher attitudes. Some

students are loud and others are quiet. Try to encourage
participation but always with respect for the nature of the
student.
Diversity of capability is supported through streaming.
Moving between the streams is common. The maths
department staff all support streaming.
Different learning styles are catered for through teacher
attitudes. My mentor encouraged me to be mindful of
catering for different learning styles in my lesson planning.
Resources are readily available for support including ICT.
Every student has an identical laptop on a shared network.

EDN550ProfessionalExperienceInformationforPreServiceTeachers2016

Function of Schools
Did you observe the
The school is linked with 'Caritas', an international aid
connection of your
schools with the broader organisation. They run a program that involves every student
community? How did this in the school.
happen?
At assembly, the principal discussed the 37 refugee babies
being sent back to Nauru from Australia. He hung banners
representing the schools views from the main gates. He
offered to discuss this position with any students, parents or
members of the community that wanted more information.
The school held a community mass after school hours to
celebrate the start of the school year. All families were
invited.
Parents and past pupils are invited to, and attend,
assemblies.

What do you think the

function of school is?

The primary function of this school is to nurture boys into an

ideal view of 'gentlemen' through a set of Christian values of
respect for others and self.
There is a strong focus on academic performance but not at
the expense of the primary function.

EDN550ProfessionalExperienceInformationforPreServiceTeachers2016