Welcome back! We hope you have adjusted to the fast-paced start to the school year and trust, as evidenced from all the smiling faces in and out of classrooms, that all families are enjoying the beginning of 2021.

At the end of 2020, our three year journey with the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Lighthouse Project came to an end. This does not mean we conclude being a Numeracy Lighthouse. On Thursday March 4 we will have an Open Door Day where we will be inviting teachers from across schools in our diocese into our classrooms. The purpose of the day is to build networks where others can learn some of the effective teaching and learning practices of Mathematics from our teachers at Lourdes. We are very proud of the journey our teachers and learners have travelled and the positive outcomes after the three years. Moving forward we will continue our work in developing Mathematical mindsets, finding curriculum connections and establishing effective teaching practice for the benefit of our learners.

This year we move our focus to the Reading and Writing connection. Upon reflection and consideration of our over time NAPLAN data, feedback from teachers and our Numeracy Lighthouse journey, we decided to nominate the Writing Improvement Strategy as our Tier 2 teaching & learning project for 2021. Tier 2 Projects attract a reduced amount of support from the TCSO and less PD hours than Tier 1 projects. These projects are designed to assist schools to address teaching and learning needs in response to student data.

This of course does not mean we drop everything we have successfully introduced with Numeracy, Reading, Visible Learning and Visible Thinking. The knowledge and quality teaching practice gained from these projects are ongoing and there will be obvious links to what is involved with the Writing Improvement Strategy.

The objectives of the Writing Improvement Strategy are to:

• Establish a diocesan wide approach to the teaching of writing
• Develop successful lifelong learners who are confident, creative and engaged writers
• Develop teacher clarity through deep understanding of the Australian Curriculum
• Support teachers to utilise evidence-based high impact strategies to drive improvement in student learning
• Support teachers to design, plan and organise teaching and learning cycles that reflect learning design alignment.
• Make connections and align practices across all elements of literacy.

We are looking forward to another eventful year in teaching and learning. If you would like further information please contact me or be sure to check in with your class teacher.

Miranda

Miranda Murray

Asistant Principal

miranda.murray@twb.catholic.edu.au