Victorian Conference

Back to News

Reflections on Education 2009

Posted on Nov 22, 2009

Reflections on Learning and Teaching in Adventist Schools Victoria in 2009
Sandra England
Adventist Schools Victoria
Schools Development Officer - Learning and Teaching

The last few weeks have seen students sitting exams, teachers writing reports and school communities preparing for end-of-year events: all signifying the Year End is upon us. What better time to reflect on the many fine initiatives that have occurred throughout 2009 in learning and teaching in Adventist Schools Victoria (ASV).

Spiritual Growth
The most important focus for ASV teachers and school leaders has always been to work with God through their learning and teaching, to help their students connect with Jesus Christ and His saving Grace and to develop within them Christian characters.
2009 was no exception. Primarily, this focus was seen in Bible classes, homeroom worship programs and chapels. A number of our schools also complimented these classes with both values & character development and resiliency & well-being initiatives. Our teachers continued to be encouraged to seek out ways to integrate spiritual development and character building themes into their regular learning and teaching disciplines.
Early in the year (moving forward with our goal of connecting students with Christ), twenty of our primary and secondary Bible teachers participated in an Adventist Schools Australia/New Zealand sponsored unit-writer's workshop. This deeply spiritual time culminated in the production of several draft units for the emerging ‘Encounter' Spiritual Development program. This new syllabus will be resourced and rolled out in our schools over the next few years, and I am delighted that some Victorian teachers were able to be a part of this work.
Our teachers and students have also continued to be involved in preparing for Special Emphasis programs such as Week of Prayer and church programs. Bible topics and themes from these events have often been integrated into learning and teaching in domains such as literacy, information & communications technology, drama, art and music.
I reflect too on how often our enthusiastic Chaplains have been involved in our classrooms - collaborating with teachers to teach Bible, tell stories of God and His love, connecting with our students and their families and taking Bible studies. ASV chaplains continued to make a vital contribution to maintaining each school's special character within learning and teaching.

Educational Achievement
Of course, as well as caring for our students' spiritual development and eternal welfare, our teachers are also in the business of preparing students for the vital role of good, useful citizenship, as well as developing skills for life-long learning.
In 2009, we initiated undertakings in order to enhance this work. Several schools participated in Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV)-led Australian Government Quality Teacher Program (AGQTP) projects, and all schools received AISV targeted funding for numeracy, literacy and other projects. Aimed at increasing student achievement The AGQTP and targeted funding projects also provided Professional Learning (previously referred to as professional development) for school leadership teams and teachers in various areas. Most of the projects provided access to learning and teaching resources, while in two of our schools, they involved the teachers in action research.
Years 3,5,7 & 9 across our schools once again participated in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Analysis of the 2009 results, both at school level as well as ASV, is well in hand and it has been noted that a number of our Year Groups have shown improved outcomes.
While this is pleasing, our aim is always to improve student achievement, so school leadership teams, along with their staff, are in the process of using NAPLAN results and other relevant data to identify specific strengths and weaknesses. Learning and teaching decisions are now being made for 2010.

Professional Development
School teams have also begun to set 2010 goals for teacher and leader Professional Learning (PL), thus continuing to enhance best practice in our schools. To further put this PL and consequent changes in teacher practice into perspective, throughout this last year, many of our schools have worked with consultants to implement focused, whole-school PL. The 2010 projects will reflect and expand on these initiatives across the system.
For a number of years ASV has had a Learning and Teaching Council, with membership comprising school curriculum coordinators and teacher representatives, collectively working to develop system-wide initiatives. A major focus this year was to provide for this team of leaders a degree of continued PL through professional reading. Our council also kept a keen eye on the ‘Encounter' Bible syllabus developments, as well as the moves toward the new National Curriculum.
Part of the council's annualised strategic plan is to recruit teacher/leaders to work voluntarily with ASV personnel to bring teachers together in workshops for mutual support and learning. In 2009, successful workshops were held at different venues for primary teachers across two levels and secondary teachers of mathematics and health/physical education.

One final reflection: New initiatives often require changes in school culture and in teacher practice. Excellent teachers, by nature and nurture, can become life-long learners. I thank our teachers for their commitment in 2009 and commend them to our wonderful God as they move on in to a new school year. I believe that they will continue to be willing to rise to the challenges presented to them for improving and developing their teaching practice.

And as we do move ahead may we all continue to remember that we have a Leader who is always with us, and while He tells us we ‘can do nothing without Him', He also exclaims ‘[you] CAN do ALL things through [Jesus Christ] who strengthens...[you]'. (Philippians 4:13).
Claim this promise!