| San Sisto teacher receives national recognition for novel | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/San-Sisto-teacher-receives-national-recognition-for-novel.aspx | San Sisto teacher receives national recognition for novel | <p></p><p>Brisbane writer and San Sisto College teacher, Richard Yaxley has been
announced as winner of the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult
Literature.</p><p>Richard, is the Program Leader of Learning Enhancement and a
Literature Teacher at the College, was presented with the Award, one of
the nation’s most prestigious literary honours, at the end of 2018. The judging
committee lauded his novel, This Is My Song, as a “rich, beautifully written
and multi-layered novel … [which] explores the damage that secrets can do. It
is poignant, memorable and intensely moving.”</p><p>Richard described winning such an honour as “a rare and
wonderful event in the life of an author,” and said, “I was thrilled to be
shortlisted and to be at the ceremony in the company of many other
distinguished writers. Winning was unbelievable … still is.”</p><p>This is not the first major award for Richard, with his
verse novel Drink the Air winning the 2010 Queensland Premier's Literary Award
for Young Adult Fiction. </p><p>This Is My Song, his fourth novel for young adults, was
sparked by a European holiday in which he visited the Holocaust Memorial in
Prague and saw paintings and drawings done by children from Theresienstadt
concentration camp.</p><p>“It was an incredibly moving experience,” he said, “and one
which gave me the impetus to begin my story. Novels need a heart, and the art
of those children provided it. I hope my work is, in some small way, a tribute
to their courage and idealism.”</p><p>The novel, written as a triptych, tells the story of Rafael
Ullman, an aspiring musician born in Bamberg, in Bavaria, who as a is sent to a
Nazi concentration camp. He survives this horrific experience, in part by his
musical ability. Following the war, he moves to the wilds of Canada with his
wife and daughter and later joins his daughter and grandson in Australia. </p><p>The judges commended Richard on the manner in which the
novel explores the way the terrible events of the Holocaust affect the
generations following, sometimes in ways even they don't understand, indicating
that, “Each section of the book is told by one of the family—Rafael, Annie and
finally grandson Joe. Each narrative voice is authentic and utterly convincing.”</p><p>When he’s not writing, Richard works with the students at
San Sisto College in a range of ways. </p><p>“It’s very rewarding,” he said. “Young people keep you
grounded. Personal success is affirming but I really enjoy seeing our students
grow into independence. If they can take any inspiration from my own
achievements, then that’s a lovely bonus.” </p><p>Richard advises anyone who wants to write a book to “just go
for it.”</p><p>“There are no secret formulas,” he said. “Get it onto the
page and go from there. Accept that there is a substantial investment of time
and emotion, and work hard. After that, anything can happen.”</p>
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| Collaborative Learning | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Collaborative-Learning.aspx | Collaborative Learning | <p>The Year 10 English classes have started the year in the spirit of ‘Seeking Connectedness’ through inquiry research and collaborative learning. What does this all mean? Working together in small groups, students are tasked with working together to develop an understanding in a particular focus area and then to consider how best to convey that understanding to the rest of the class through a seminar presentation.<br></p><p>Collaboration and teamwork is considered to be a highly desirable skill in both the learning context and the workforce and so this activity work enhances knowledge, and skills in interaction and engagement with different perspectives. </p><p>During the student presentations, the rest of the class recorded their understanding through Cornell notes, an efficient and effective way of active listening to enable them to synthesise their newly acquired knowledge into a concise summary. This is an additional invaluable skill within school and beyond at university level. Each seminar was insightful, engaging and informative and provided a solid contextual foundation for a deeper appreciation of our focus novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.</p><p>Students reflected on this activity and their experience of collaborative learning:<br></p><ul><li><p>I liked doing collaborative learning with a group on a PowerPoint. I worked really well with my group and had fun learning about the topic and creating a PowerPoint. I liked sharing the work and researching in a group. it made it easy to make a PowerPoint over such a big topic. It was fun. </p></li><li><p>I found that working with others made the research task easier in the way of collecting information. The facts I wasn't able to find, my group helped me to organise what I needed. Working together helps make the entire group closer and better at communicating with others. </p></li><li><p>I found that the collaborative task we did during the past three lessons, helped make the task engaging and enjoyable. Having to present to the class proved what we learnt about each of our topics and listening to others presentations helped to understand our terms topic.</p><br></li></ul> | | | | | | | | | |
| Learning and Teaching In Our Classrooms | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Learning-and-Teaching-In-Our-Classrooms.aspx | Learning and Teaching In Our Classrooms | <p>As the school year begins our focus is on identifying the
learning needs of our students and working together to create learning goals in
each subject. At the start of Term 1, in our classrooms, teachers are working on setting
learning goals with students and classes to ensure steady and achievable
improvement throughout the year.</p><p>At home, this would
be an ideal time to review last year’s Semester Two report and talk about
setting realistic and achievable goals for the year. It is important that our
goals are set in the “Goldilocks” zone: not too simple and not too difficult.
Too simple and there is no effort required; too challenging and it is
frustrating. </p><p>The question we ask in the classroom is - what is the next
level for this student and how can we help them to achieve it? In our classrooms teachers will be talking to
students about strategies that help them learn and what they identify as their
challenges. Learning should provide challenge, it does require effort. These
discussions help the teacher choose which combination of strategies will best
suit the needs of the students in their classroom to provide the right amount
of challenge and support.</p><p>Research on learning effectiveness (<a href="http://www.evidencebasedteaching.org.au/hatties-2017-updated-list/">Hattie, 2017</a>) states
that two of the most effective impacts on student improvement are: the
teacher’s estimate of the student’s achievement potential; and the
self-reported grade prediction from the student. This is a powerful combination
so it is vital that we start the year in alignment. If we strengthen this
with support from home, we have already begun to achieve our college theme for
the year: Seeking Connectedness by working together towards clearly defined and
achievable learning goals.</p><p>Looking forward, the
end of the year should bring a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only
progress, but the effort it takes to make it happen. Proud moments for our
students are earned through hard work.
We can celebrate the effort and guide through the challenges when we
have a shared understanding of what progressing through learning looks like for
each student.</p>
<font face="Calibri"></font><font size="3"></font><font color="#000000"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><p>Mrs Cara Robinson-Taylor<br>Academic
Leader: Learning and Teaching</p><p></p> | | | | | | | | | |
| STEM | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/STEM.aspx | STEM | <p>In 2019 we will have two new science laboratories. One of these new labs will be devoted to physics and robotics, two core elements of STEM education at San Sisto. This STEM lab will boast an open plan floor which will enable students to explore expansive hands on learning experiences in a multitude of flexible arrangements.<br></p><p>Another addition will be a Teaching Wall which enhances the use of space on the wall of a classroom. There will be floor to ceiling space for multiple visual displays, white boards, projectors and storage all at the front of the room, this will enhance the students experience and add to an atmosphere of excellence in learning and teaching.<br></p><p>Science staff have been training this year in several STEM initiatives and together with our hydroponics, chemical titration, microbiology, engineering and traditional physics, chemistry and biology courses, STEM at San Sisto will be growing significantly in 2019.<br></p> | | | | | | | | | |
| Integrity 2018 with Griffith University | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/Integrity-2018-with-Griffith-University.aspx | Integrity 2018 with Griffith University | <p>A group of Year 10 girls from San Sisto’s Salamanca Program for Gifted and Talented students recently took the opportunity to participate in a program called Integrity 2018, run by Griffith University. The aim of the day is to bring together students from around Brisbane to listen to numerous guest speakers and converse about some of today’s ‘big picture’ topics. </p><p>The day started off with a spiritual performance by the band Big Law. This was followed by a welcome by Griffith University’s Pro Vice Chancellor, Paul Mazerolle, who introduced ‘Lightning Talks’, an hour of listening to inspirational people from all over the world giving students a brief overview of who they were, what they do and why they do it. These speakers included Clare Press, an ethical fashion activist, advocating for the recycling of fabrics in the fashion industry; Zimbabwean Evan Mawarire, the founder of the hashtag #ThisFlag movement; Jodie Ginsberg, challenging views on censorship; Julian Baggini, who educated students on different philosophical beliefs around the world; Victor Perton, the founder of the Australian Leadership Project; and Jean Lee, an expert on media representations of North Korea. </p><p>After these intriguing talks, students were divided up and allocated a member of the panel to delve further into their expertise. Our San Sisto students were lucky enough to be put with Julian Baggini, who helped them to wrap their heads around some of the world’s big moral questions. The group spoke about what factors may affect the answers to these questions and what makes something a moral issue. <br></p><p>Following these sessions, a keynote was delivered by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a former Google Data Scientist. Seth gave students the inside scoop on what Google can find out about us based on internet activities … even going as far as saying that whether someone likes a picture of curly fries or not is linked to that person’s IQ! </p><p>The last session of the day was a panel discussion of memes, selfies and cyberhate. The panel, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, Joanne Orlando and Matt Beard, educated students on the internet’s moral compass which was incredibly thought-provoking. </p> | | | | | | | | | |
| Excellence in Science | | http://www.sansisto.qld.edu.au/latest-news/Pages/San-Sisto’s-Excellent-Science.aspx | Excellence in Science | <p>Recently, twelve Year 11 and 12 Chemistry students once again competed as four teams in the Australian National Titration Competition organised by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus.</p><p>San Sisto is developing a rich tradition of excellence in this competition. </p><p><span style="color:#1d2129;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;word-spacing:0px;display:inline !important;white-space:normal;orphans:2;widows:2;float:none;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#1d2129;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;word-spacing:0px;display:inline !important;white-space:normal;orphans:2;widows:2;float:none;background-color:#ffffff;"></span><span style="color:#1d2129;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;word-spacing:0px;display:inline !important;white-space:normal;orphans:2;widows:2;float:none;background-color:#ffffff;">The competition involves an extremely accurate analysis of the concentrations of solutions of acid and base. There is a high level of skill involved both at the practical and theoretical levels. Students must be dedicated and be committed to many hours of training in the laboratory to obtain the skill levels required for this competition.</span> Of our four teams, one won third place, as well as one individual Gold and two individual Silver awards.</span></p><p><span style="color:#1d2129;text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-family:helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;word-spacing:0px;display:inline !important;white-space:normal;orphans:2;widows:2;float:none;background-color:#ffffff;"></span>In total over one-hundred and forty teams competed in the South East Queensland competition with three San Sisto students plaing in the top five overall in our South East Region. What skill! This enabled them to participate in the National Finals at the University of Queensland again this year.</p><p>Congratulations to all girls involved and our sincere thanks to Mr Gillett for his support and encouragement and to Dr Belinda Todd for her support from the Laboratory prep room.</p><p></p> | | | | | | | | | |
