From the Head of Learning and Teaching – Term 4 Learning

Term 4 at MLC School has always looked a bit different to other schools. Yes, there is that collective sigh of relief when the last test has been sat, essay written, and project submitted but this does not mean the learning has ceased. At MLC School we value learning for learning’s sake not just because it is on the test or will have a grade assigned to it. Providing our students with space where there is no high stakes assessment is essential if we are to encourage them to make mistakes, experiment and engage in a level of cognitive play. Term 4 is the optimal time for the exploration of topics that go beyond mandated curriculum and for courses to delve more deeply into areas of interest to the students and develop their academic curiosity which is essential to learning.  There is also the opportunity for the learning to look different.

All our courses in Year 7 – Year 9 are continuous courses. This means that while Year 7 may have completed all their assessments they will continue to learn and consolidate their knowledge, skills and understanding in readiness for their Year 8 studies, particularly in core subjects such as English, Science and Mathematics. Design projects will continue in Technology just as the artmaking will continue to develop in Visual Arts. Music and Drama will continue to hone the girl’s performance skills and there is no shortage of grammar and vocabulary to learn in their language studies.

The process will be similar for our Year 8 students. Yes, there are some subjects they will not be continuing with beyond Year 8 now that they have selected their electives for Year 9, but they should continue to work with the same sustained diligence that they have all year making the most of the time left in each course.

Year 9 will continue their Stage 5 studies, and each faculty has units of work planned that will provide them with continuity of learning into Year 10.

Year 10 will commence their immersion in Week 5 (starting Monday 11 November 2024) and when they return in Week 6 (commencing Monday 18 November 2024), they will commence a program specially designed by the Heads of Department to prepare them for their Year 11 studies. For more detail on this please refer to the article in this newsletter from our Academic Care Coordinator David Posker-Hill.

For our Year 11 students this term signals the start of the final leg of their journey with us. In the IB students will be commencing their Extended Essays and preparation for IA’s will be occurring in all subjects. For our HSC cohort the HSC assessment program will commence, and they will receive details of this program in Week 3 (starting Monday 28 October 2024).   

At MLC School we do not stop planning and delivering high quality learning experiences for our students just because assessments have been completed. Each faculty has planned a full year of learning that will continue until the end of Term 4.

– Linda Emms
Head of Learning and Teaching