Leader of Learning – Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment – Lisa Romberg

A special welcome to the 2025 academic school year, especially our families that are new to the College.  We hope that your daughter has enjoyed her first weeks at OLMC. 

It was a pleasure to meet some parents at the Information Evenings this week and last. 

• Learning at OLM – opportunities to engage with your daughter about her learning
• Assessment Handbooks for 2025
• Communication Channel with OLM staff
• Home learning – what is expected and how to help your daughter
• Study Skills – a fabulous resource for all families
• Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning
• External Competitions – Opportunities for 2025

1. Visible Learning

OLM Catholic College is a school that embraces visible learning. Each lesson, teachers will go over the ‘Learning Intentions’ and ‘Success Criteria’. We would love for you to engage in your daughter’s learning by asking her what she has learnt today or this week in a particular subject. We hope that she talks to you about what she has learnt and how she knows she has been successful in her learning and what she is still to master. Engaging with her in this way strengthens her learning, helping her consolidate what she has learnt and moving this from short term to long term memory. Below is a little more about LISCs

LEARNING INTENTIONS (LI)	LEARNING INTENTIONS – Science
Learning intentions describe what students will learn (i.e. knowledge, concepts, skills and dispositions) Learning intentions directly link to the curriculum/syllabus	To classify and organise organisms based on observable features
SUCCESS CRITERIA (SC)	SUCCESS CRITERIA
Provide further details related to the knowledge and/or skills that are at the focus of the learning.	Label and list examples of organisms according to similarities and differences in particular features Identify organisms using a key provided Compare organisms using a keyCreate a key to identify organisms

2. Assessment Handbooks

The assessment handbooks have been published for each Year Group. LOCATIONS:  College Website → College Life → Student Life→ then under each Year Group Heading COMPASS → Community → School Documentation

Please take time to read the handbook with your daughter’s taking note of assessment dates using the term planners. Links to these are provided in the table below.

We ask that if you have regular medical/dental appointments that you please try and avoid dates of assessment tasks. If you are able to reschedule any appointments that have already been made, that would be appreciated.

We encourage you to be aware of the expectations of your daughter if she is absent for a task.

Taking responsibility for her own learning is part of your daughter’s educational journey, thank you for supporting us in assisting your daughter grow in this area.

Summary of Missed Assessment Task expectations and Term Schedules

3. Communication Channels

At OLM Catholic College Burraneer we value the partnership between school and home in assisting each student to thrive as a learner. Should you wish to discuss your daughter’s learning or wellbeing, we ask that you use the appropriate communication channel.

Contact details for the College Leadership Team, the Instructional Leaders, Curriculum and Wellbeing and other key staff members can be found at the beginning of all Assessment Handbooks – Link

Communication channel	Learning	Wellbeing
First point of contact	Classroom Teacher To discuss your daughter’s learning in a subject.	Homeroom Teacher To discuss your daughter’s wellbeing and school life.
Second point of contact You’re seeking clarification on your first level of contact.	KLA Instructional Leader  Can assist with questions about assessment tasks, subject content or overall learning  in a subject.	Instructional Leader of Wellbeing  Can assist with specific issues related to your daughter’s wellbeing at home or school.
Third point of contact You’re seeking clarification on your second level of contact.	Leader of Learning, Curriculum, Pedagogy & Assessment Can assist with concerns across subjects or tasks.	Leader of Wellbeing Can assist with complex or consistent wellbeing concerns alongside ILWs.
Fourth point of contact You’re seeking clarification on your third level of contact.	Assistant Principal
Fifth point of contact	Principal

4. Home Learning

Home Learning is vital to equip students to be effective independent learners, as well as to consolidate knowledge learned in school time. Students need to practise study skills, learn how to manage their time and ensure that spaced revision becomes habitual rather than incidental. Home study is especially valuable for focusing areas of weakness that can become cemented if not addressed. Teachers can individualise and facilitate this process if the student is able to articulate the areas in which they are struggling well before formal assessments reveal the difficulty.  Home study helps students learn how to prioritise tasks, problem solve and take responsibility for their own learning. It is also an important way for parents to be part of the learning process and to emphasise and value that learning is an ongoing endeavour.

Home Learning Guidelines:

Stage 4: Students should be spending up to 1 ½ hours per night on home learning

Stage 5: Students should be spending up to 2 hours per night on home learning

Stage 6: Students should be spending between 2 ½ to 3 hours per night on home learning

HOME LEARNING – WHAT CAN STUDENTS DO?

Write questions to clarify

If there are areas that need clarification students should write down those questions so that they can ask their teacher the next day.

Read Ahead

Students should read ahead in their textbooks, read their prescribed text or read relevant source material well before this material is addressed in the classroom. This will assist them when they come to the content in class as the information is more familiar to them.

Prepare study summaries

Students should prepare study summaries each week. Some subjects have very specific content that must be learnt, and dot point summaries in these subjects can be highly beneficial. Summaries should be brief and concise, they should be “written” in a way that best suits the students learning style(s). Pictures, tables, mind maps, short notes, flow carts can all be used. Simply re-writing notes without modification or adaptation is not helpful.

These summaries should be reviewed on a regular basis so the content is lodged in the long term memory.

Past Papers (especially for Years 11 and 12)  

Students should prepare for examinations by completing Past Papers. These should be done twice. 

The first time students should review their study summaries and then put them away. They should then complete the Past Paper without looking at their summary. They should make sure they use techniques taught in class to unpack the question, brainstorm technical terms and scaffold an answer.

The second time they do the Past Paper they should change the pen colour that they use and complete the paper with their study notes, class notes and text book. They should remember to add any technical terms missed. This process helps refine whether they know the content or not.

5. Study Skills

Every student and their family has a subscription to the following Study Skills Library. It is a fabulous resource for all students, parents and teachers.

We encourage you to look at this resource with your daughter as it has many valuable tips, resources and information about many aspects of student life. Each newsletter I will include an article written by Dr Prue Salter the founder of this fabulous resource.

The Role of Curiosity in Learning

Fuel Your Studies with the Power of ‘Why’

Curiosity is a superpower in disguise. It’s what drives us to ask questions, seek answers, and explore the world around us. When you bring curiosity to your studies, learning transforms from a chore into an adventure. Instead of memorising facts, you uncover connections, develop insights, and truly understand the material. So, how can you harness curiosity to enhance your study routine?

1. Ask Questions—Constantly

Curiosity starts with a question. As you study, pause to ask yourself questions like:

• “Why does this happen?”
• “What if this were different?”
• “How does this relate to what I already know?”

For example, when learning about historical events, don’t just focus on what happened—ask why it happened, who benefited, and how it impacted the future. Questions like these deepen your understanding and make the material stick.

Tip: Keep a ‘Curiosity Journal’ where you jot down interesting questions as you study. Research the answers later to satisfy your curiosity.

2. Connect Topics to Your Interests

When you relate what you’re studying to something you’re passionate about, it becomes far more engaging. For instance:

• If you love sports, explore the physics behind a soccer kick or the biology of endurance.
• If you’re into art, investigate how historical events influenced artistic movements.

Drawing these connections helps you see the relevance of your studies in everyday life and keeps your motivation high.

Tip: Use analogies from your hobbies to simplify complex ideas. For example, think of the heart as a pump in an engine if you’re into mechanics.

3. Go Beyond the Textbook

Curiosity thrives when you explore beyond the surface. Don’t limit yourself to the assigned reading—dive deeper by:

• Watching documentaries or YouTube explainers on the topic.
• Exploring online resources like Khan Academy or National Geographic.
• Asking your teacher for extra material or recommendations.

Tip: This extra effort doesn’t just expand your knowledge—it also shows your teachers that you’re genuinely engaged with the subject.

4. Create Your Own ‘What If’ Scenarios

Challenge yourself to think critically by imagining alternative outcomes or scenarios. For example:

• What if a historical battle had gone the other way?
• What if ecosystems lost key species?
• How might a technological invention evolve in the future?

Tip: This kind of thinking fuels curiosity and builds critical thinking skills.

Stay Curious, Stay Engaged

Curiosity is the engine of learning. By asking questions, connecting topics to your interests, and exploring beyond the textbook, you can transform even the most challenging subjects into exciting puzzles to solve. Remember, every discovery you make builds your understanding and sharpens your skills. So next time you sit down to study, channel your inner detective and let curiosity guide the way.

You can learn more at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

School username: OLMBurraneer

School password: Mercy

6. Tuesday Afternoon Open Learning

Our Afternoon Open Learning has moved to Tuesday this year and will start on the 4 March . This will be held in the Library each Tuesday afternoon from 3pm until 4pm.  This time will provide students with the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students, complete any group tasks or learning experiences or provide a quiet space for study and home learning. In addition teachers will be available to assist students with their learning. This includes: * assistance with time management and planning * tips and tricks to developing study tools such as mind maps, study notes, flash cards * subject specialists who can help answer questions

7. External Competitions 2025 – Open to all students

Free competitions are open to all students and are particularly targeted to students who have special interests and abilities in these areas. Where there is a cost involved, students can approach Miss Romberg or Mrs Burden to enquire about participating.

Dates	Competition	Details
Writing Competitions
14/02/2025	Aniko Press Summer Flash Fiction Competition	Open100 words
Entries open: Saturday 1 March 2025. Submissions close: Monday 30 June 2025.	Dorethea MacKellar Poetry Competition	K-12 (various categories)
Entries open: Saturday, 4 January 2025 Entries close: Monday, 24 February 2025	Mulga Bill Awards	All ages free entry Poetry
	RAS AB Paterson Bush Poetry Award	Poetry award Age categories K-6, 7-12 Prize: Family Pass to the Royal Easter Show
13/04/2025	CYA – Hatchlings	8-18 year Picture book writers and artists
15/05/2025	Boree Log Poetry Competition	Bush poetry
Entries open:  11 February, 2025 Entries close: ? May 2025	What Matters? Writing Competition	Writing on real world issues Various forms accepted Year 5-12
31/08/2025	FAW Tasmania Beatrice Clarke Award	For Poets aged 14 and under
Mathematics
4 February — 25 March 2025	IM²C International Mathematical Modeling Challenge https://www.immchallenge.org.au/	7-12
Registrations open: Feb 2025 Information session: April 2025	Investigating with Mathematics	K-12
See website for the range of competitions Maths Challenge Monday 3 March to Friday 27 June 2025	Australian Maths Trust	3-12
Science
Exam dates: 4-7 August 2025 Exam dates: 11 & 13 June 2025	Australian Science Olympiads  Jnr Science Olympiads	11-12 7-10
Open soon	Young Scientists	K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12
Team registrations: 11 October 2024 – 19 June 2025 Submissions: 20 June – 23 July 2025	Australian STEM video game challenge	Years 3-12
HSIE
Registrations open Submissions due by: 22 August 2025	National History Challenge	Theme: Crisis and Response. Primary 1 (up to Year 4), Primary 2 (Years 5 and 6), Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10, Senior (Years 11 – 12) Free
Visual and Creative Arts and Media
Submissions due: TBC August 2025	Photography Head on	K-12 (no theme) $1 per submission
	National Song-Writing Competition	K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 Free entry
Thinking and Problem Solving
Training for Facilitators 7th March	Future Problem Solving	Primary Program (non-competitive) 5-6 7-9 10-12
Term 1 Workshops TBA Challenges released & Team Nomination opens | Saturday 19th July Team Nomination closes | Wednesday 6th August	Tournament of Minds	Primary and Secondary divisions

Miss Lisa Romberg, Leader of Learning: Integrated Curriculum, Pedagogy, Assessment.