It has been a busy and exciting time in the Teaching and Learning space as we continue to focus on supporting every student in their learning journey.
This week, PSG interviews are underway. These conversations are a valuable opportunity to gather feedback from families and staff on how best to support individual students. The insights gained through these interviews help us refine strategies and provide targeted support to ensure every student can thrive.
Our Year 7 Primary School Transition Day was another highlight. On this day, staff from our College met with teachers from the Catholic and public primary schools that our 2026 Year 7 students will be coming from. The focus was on building strong connections with these schools and sharing valuable insights, so that we can best support students as they prepare for their transition from primary to secondary school.
In classrooms, teachers continue to explore and apply the 5Es instructional model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate as a framework to support all learners. Recently, our focus has been on the Explain phase, where teachers make thinking explicit, connect new knowledge to prior learning, and model strategies that guide students toward deeper understanding.
A key part of this work has been developing confidence with the “I Do, We Do, You Do” gradual release model. This structured approach begins with the teacher explicitly modelling the learning process (I Do), then moving into guided practice with students (We Do), before providing opportunities for independent application (You Do). This sequence supports learners by providing clarity, scaffolding and opportunities to practise and consolidate their skills.
To strengthen this practice, the Instructional Practice Team has been delivering targeted professional learning and working alongside staff to deepen pedagogical knowledge and classroom techniques. The team has been helping teachers refine their use of explicit instruction and embed strategies that support all students to achieve success.
Families who are interested in further reading on effective teaching practices might like to explore the Australian Education Research Organisation’s article on Explicit Instruction: Explicit instruction | Australian Education Research Organisation
As we look ahead, our focus remains on building strong connections between students, families and staff, and on ensuring that every learner is supported to reach their potential. Grounded in the Mercy values of service, compassion, and respect, our teaching and learning practices are designed to nurture not only academic growth but also the wellbeing and personal development of each student. We thank families for their ongoing partnership in this important work and look forward to continuing the journey together.